Business registration in Thailand — for foreign entrepreneurs
Apr 20, 2026Silom · Experience date Dec 24, 2025
Foreign-owned Thai Limited Company: minimum 3 shareholders required, 49% maximum foreign ownership (51% must be Thai) under general rules. Foreign Business Act exceptions allow 100% foreign ownership in some sectors or with BOI promotion. Process: 10,000–25,000 THB minimum registered capital, company name reservation (Department of Business Development, DBD), memorandum of association, tax registration. Full setup: 2–4 weeks, cost 30,000–80,000 THB with a Thai law firm. American Treaty of Amity: US citizens can own 100% of Thai company under this treaty — consult a lawyer.
Contributor: David Okonkwo BOI (Board of Investment) visa — the premium option for eligible companies
Apr 14, 2026Bang Na · Experience date Jan 1, 2026
If your employer is BOI-promoted (many tech companies and manufacturers in Thailand are), the BOI Smart Visa streamlines your work permit and visa process significantly. BOI Smart Visa (Type T — Technology): no work permit required, valid 4 years, no 90-day reporting. Requires: salary of at least 100,000 THB/month, degree in technology/STEM field, employment at BOI-promoted company. Apply at the One-Stop Service Center at Chamchuri Square. Check if your employer has BOI promotion status — it changes the bureaucratic equation completely.
Thai company accounts and invoicing — for registered business owners
Apr 8, 2026Sathorn · Experience date Feb 6, 2026
If you've registered a Thai company: accounting is mandatory. Thai companies must: file monthly VAT returns (PP.30 form) if revenue exceeds 1.8 million THB/year, pay Corporate Income Tax (20% rate), submit financial statements annually to DBD. Accounting services in Bangkok: 3,000–8,000 THB/month for a basic package from a Thai accounting firm. Recommended for English-speaking expat business owners: Acumen (English-language accounting firm in Bangkok), Starboard Advisory, or the big four firms for larger companies. DIY accounting is possible but tax compliance in Thailand is complex — mistakes carry penalties.
Contributor: Carlos Rivera 90-day reporting — how to do it without going to immigration
Mar 26, 2026Phloenchit · Experience date Nov 18, 2025
Non-Immigrant visa holders must report address to immigration every 90 days. Online method (easiest): imm.immigration.go.th — open from 15 days before due date to 7 days after. Requires TM30 to have been filed first. In-person: Chaeng Watthana Immigration (northern Bangkok, MRT Si Rat or BTS nearby), or any immigration office in Thailand. By mail: send TM47 form + passport copy + previous acknowledgment slip to Chaeng Watthana — processing 7–10 days. Fine for missing: 2,000–5,000 THB. Most expats use the online system — takes 5 minutes.
Visa runs from Bangkok — borders and process
Mar 18, 2026Bang Na · Experience date Feb 23, 2026
Common visa run options from Bangkok for tourist/exemption renewal: Poipet, Cambodia (4-hour bus from Mo Chit, 150 THB, cross border, immediate re-entry — but enforcement has tightened, some travelers denied re-entry for frequent runs). Sadao/Padang Besar, Malaysia (12-hour sleeper train from Hua Lamphong, then cross). Vientiane, Laos (1-hour flight, get Non-Immigrant B visa from Thai embassy while there). Best long-term solution: convert to proper Non-Immigrant visa at Thai embassy in your home country or Laos/Vietnam rather than doing tourist visa runs indefinitely.
Work permit in Thailand — required for any paid work
Mar 5, 2026Silom · Experience date Nov 29, 2025
Thailand requires a work permit (ใบอนุญาตทำงาน) for any foreigner doing paid work in Thailand, including remote work technically. Work permits are tied to a specific employer and job description. Process: your employer applies at the Department of Employment with: your Non-Immigrant B visa, 3-year business license copy, employer documentation (company registration, financial statements, list of Thai employees), and your credentials (degree certificates, CV). Cost: 3,000 THB for 1-year permit. Processing: 3–7 business days. Working without a permit: fines up to 100,000 THB.
Contributor: Nadia Dubois Thailand Elite Visa — for wealthy digital nomads and long-stayers
Feb 22, 2026Bang Na · Experience date Dec 2, 2025
Thailand Privilege Card (formerly Thailand Elite Visa) gives 5–20 year residency visas starting from 900,000 THB one-time payment (5 year 'Easy Access' membership). No work permit included — for passive income earners or investors. Benefits: 1-year stamp each entry (vs 90 days), VIP immigration lanes at all airports, concierge service. Does NOT authorize working in Thailand — technically remote workers earning from abroad are in a grey zone but the program is designed for this use case. Widely used by high-net-worth digital nomads.
Contributor: Priya Sharma