Facts in this handbook are compiled from official sources such as local authorities. Rules change — confirm the current position through the source links or with the authority before making major decisions.
01Overview
- Region
- Southeast Asia
- Capital
- Bangkok
- Currency
- THB
- Languages
- Thai (official)
- ISO code
- TH / THA
Jurisdictions
- Thailand — National level
China's direct investment
- China's 2025 FDI flow
- 53.3 USD 100m
- End-2025 FDI stock
- 219.5 USD 100m
- Flow rank
- #5 by flow
Source：2025 Statistical Bulletin of China's Outward Foreign Direct Investment ↗ · Flow is for calendar 2025; stock is at end-2025. Flow rank is from Table 8 (top 20); other countries from Annex Tables 1–2 (originally USD 10k, converted to USD 100m; one decimal, two below 1). A negative flow means divestment exceeded new investment that year.
Macro indicators such as GDP and population are not included yet; see official statistics such as the World Bank.
02Market Entry
Industries to study: Manufacturing & plant relocationEVs, batteries & energy storageMedical devices & pharma
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
Foreign Business Act lists restrict foreign ownership in listed activities
- Applies to
- Foreign ownership in restricted businesses is usually capped at 49%, with exceptions via BOI, a foreign business licence or treaties. Since 2026 the DBD has tightened nominee checks; amendments to the Foreign Business Act are under consultation
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Business Development (DBD)Board of Investment (BOI)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Thailand (2024 ed.)consistent
Company registration and foreign business licencesconsistent
03Business Formation
Common legal entity
The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.
Private limited company
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Business Development (DBD)
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
Foreign Business Act lists restrict foreign ownership in listed activities
- Applies to
- Foreign ownership in restricted businesses is usually capped at 49%, with exceptions via BOI, a foreign business licence or treaties. Since 2026 the DBD has tightened nominee checks; amendments to the Foreign Business Act are under consultation
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Business Development (DBD)Board of Investment (BOI)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Thailand (2024 ed.)consistent
Company registration and foreign business licencesconsistent
Registration authority
Primary authority for company or commercial registration.
Department of Business Development (DBD)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Business Development (DBD)
Local director / representative
Whether a locally resident director, manager or representative is required.
No nationality requirement for directors
- Applies to
- Foreign directors working in Thailand need a work permit
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Business Development (DBD)
Foreign-entity setup flow
Main approval stages for a foreign investor setting up an entity (no time estimates).
Name reservation → memorandum registration → incorporation → tax and VAT registration; restricted activities also need a foreign business licence or BOI promotion
- Applies to
- No time estimates given
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Business Development (DBD)Board of Investment (BOI)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
Local registered address
Whether a local registered address or premises is required at incorporation.
A registered address in Thailand is required
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Business Development (DBD)
Beneficial ownership register
Whether companies must keep or file ultimate beneficial owner information.
No standalone beneficial owner register
- Applies to
- Shareholders are filed at registration and in the annual list; banks identify beneficial owners under AML rules; nominee checks tightened from 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Business Development (DBD)
04Taxation
Headline corporate income tax
Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.
20%
- Applies to
- SMEs and BOI-promoted projects may get lower rates or holidays
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Revenue Department
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Thailand (2024 ed.)consistent
Corporate income tax and VATconsistent
Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)
Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.
VAT 7% (statutory 10%, currently reduced to 7%)
- Applies to
- The 7% rate is extended to 30 Sep 2027 by Royal Decree No. 807
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Revenue Department
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Thailand (2024 ed.)consistent
Corporate income tax and VATconsistent
Tax authority
Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.
Revenue Department
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Revenue Department
Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)
General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.
10% withholding generally applies to dividends paid to foreign corporate shareholders
- Applies to
- May be adjusted under treaties or BOI incentives
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Revenue Department
- Cross-check
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Thailand (2024 ed.)not covered
Tax treaty with China
Whether a double taxation agreement with China is in force. Rates and conditions per the treaty text.
In force
- Applies to
- Rates and conditions per the treaty text and STA publications
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- State Taxation Administration (China)
05Banking & Payments
Banking & financial regulator
Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.
Bank of Thailand
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Bank of Thailand
Exchange controls
Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.
Limited exchange control, relatively liberal
- Applies to
- Most capital, trade and service flows move freely with supporting documents; a few need Bank of Thailand approval
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Bank of Thailand
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Thailand (2024 ed.)consistent
06Employment
Labour & work permit authority
Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.
Ministry of Labour (Department of Employment)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour
Foreign employee work permit
Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.
Non-immigrant B visa plus work permit
- Applies to
- Capital and local-staff ratio requirements usually apply; BOI projects may be relaxed
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
Foreign worker permitsconsistent
Social security contributions
Main employer social security schemes for local and foreign employees.
Social Security Office (SSO)
- Applies to
- Employer and employee each pay 5% of monthly wages (capped base); employed foreigners generally covered
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Social Security Office (SSO)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
07Trade & Customs
Customs authority
Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.
Thai Customs Department
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Thai Customs Department
Main free trade agreements
Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).
ASEAN, RCEP, ASEAN–China FTA and others
- Applies to
- Preferential tariffs require meeting rules of origin
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Thai Customs Department
08Investment & Manufacturing
Investment authority / agency
Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.
Board of Investment (BOI)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Board of Investment (BOI)
Free zone / SEZ regime
Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.
Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), industrial estates and BOI zones
- Applies to
- Incentives per EEC and BOI rules
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EEC)Board of Investment (BOI)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Thailand (2025 ed.)consistent
09Digital & IP
Personal data protection law
Main law and regulator governing collection, use and cross-border transfer of personal data.
Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
- Applies to
- Overseen by the Personal Data Protection Committee
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC)
IP office
Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.
Department of Intellectual Property (DIP)
- Applies to
- Trademark rights are territorial; register locally or designate via the Madrid System (check WIPO membership)
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- Department of Intellectual Property (DIP)
10Compliance & Risk
New York Convention party
Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.
Yes
- Applies to
- Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
- Jurisdiction
- Thailand
- Source
- UNCITRAL
Live risk monitoring
Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Asia-Pacific, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.
View Asia-Pacific risk monitor
Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring
11Step-by-Step
Main setup steps in Thailand
- 1Name reservation
- 2memorandum registration
- 3incorporation
- 4tax and VAT registration; restricted activities also need a foreign business licence or BOI promotion
No time estimates given
General checklist (setting up a subsidiary)
- Decide model and jurisdiction
- Confirm licences
- Prepare documents
- Incorporate
- Register for tax
- Open bank account
- Obtain operating licences
- Start operations
Steps follow the setup-procedure fact on this page, without times or fees; rely on the official sources.
12Official Resources
Chinese official resources
Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices
- MOFCOM country investment guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Country tax guide (STA)State Taxation Administration · PDF
- Commercial office中华人民共和国驻泰王国大使馆经济商务处
- MOFCOM going-global platformMOFCOM
- Compliance & security alertsMOFCOM platform
Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.
Local authorities
- Company registrationDepartment of Business Development (DBD)Company registration and foreign business licences · Accessed 2026-11-12
- TaxRevenue DepartmentCorporate income tax and VAT · Accessed 2026-11-12
- InvestmentBoard of Investment (BOI)Investment promotion · Accessed 2026-11-12
- Financial regulationBank of ThailandExchange control and banking supervision · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LabourDepartment of Employment, Ministry of LabourForeign worker permits · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LabourSocial Security Office (SSO)Social security · Accessed 2026-11-12
- CustomsThai Customs DepartmentCustoms · Accessed 2026-11-12
- InvestmentEastern Economic Corridor Office (EEC)Eastern Economic Corridor · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LegislationPersonal Data Protection Committee (PDPC)Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) · Accessed 2026-11-12
- Company registrationDepartment of Intellectual Property (DIP)Trademarks and patents · Accessed 2026-11-12