Updated: 16 June 2026
Setting up a company in Thailand requires more than preparing forms. Foreign investors must consider company structure, director authority, registered address, tax position, licensing requirements, work authorisation planning, and ongoing compliance.
TILA LEGAL assists clients with the legal and corporate structuring required for company establishment in Thailand. Our work focuses on clarity, legal defensibility, and practical execution, so clients understand what they are setting up, what they are signing, and what obligations follow after incorporation.
TILA LEGAL is a private law firm providing corporate and business legal services for foreign investors and business owners in Thailand. TILA LEGAL is not affiliated with any government authority and does not act on behalf of any government agency.
Why Clients Choose a Law Firm Beyond Company Registration?
Company registration is often presented as a simple filing process. In practice, foreign investors must consider business structure, director authority, regulatory requirements, work authorization planning, and ongoing compliance obligations. TILA LEGAL provides legal guidance before documents are signed, helping clients establish a structure that is commercially practical and legally defensible.
Initial enquiries are handled by email to allow our legal team to review your requirements before recommending the appropriate course of action.
Company Registration Services
Company Formation
Legal support for establishing a Thai company and preparing the required corporate documentation.
Legal support for establishing a Thai company and preparing the required corporate documentation.
VAT Registration
Guidance on VAT registration requirements and related compliance matters.
Guidance on VAT registration requirements and related compliance matters.
Business Structuring
Advice on company structure, director authority, and long-term business planning.
Advice on company structure, director authority, and long-term business planning.
Work Permit & Visa Planning
Legal planning for future work authorization and corporate readiness.
Legal planning for future work authorization and corporate readiness.
Registered Office Support
Guidance on registered address requirements and corporate documentation.
Guidance on registered address requirements and corporate documentation.
Corporate Compliance
Ongoing guidance following incorporation, including corporate and regulatory obligations.
Ongoing guidance following incorporation, including corporate and regulatory obligations.
Company Registration in Thailand: Legal Considerations for Foreign Investors
Company registration in Thailand is often described as a simple administrative process. In practice, foreign-invested structures should be reviewed carefully before incorporation. The right structure depends on the client’s business activity, ownership structure, licensing requirements, tax position, and future work permit or visa planning.
TILA LEGAL assists with the legal preparation and coordination required for company formation, while helping clients understand the legal and commercial consequences of the structure selected.
What Our Corporate Legal Service Includes
- Legal consultation on the proposed business structure
- Corporate structure review
- Foreign ownership and control review
- Preparation and coordination of incorporation documents
- Registered address and documentation review
- Tax and VAT readiness guidance
- Work authorisation planning where relevant
- Post-incorporation compliance guidance
What This Service Is Not
TILA LEGAL does not issue government documents, act as a government authority, sell official documents, or provide nominee shareholder services. Our role is to provide legal advisory, document preparation, corporate structuring, and professional coordination for clients establishing and operating a business in Thailand.
The process to register a company in Thailand is mostly straightforward, but there are some difficulties that foreigners often experience. However, with our assistance, the process is relatively simple and easy, and we assist clients in understanding the legal and commercial implications of their proposed ownership and management structure.
Establishing a private limited company is the most popular and easiest way to begin trading legally in the country and to employ staff, to open a bank account, and to deal with tax issues.
TILA Legal is a recognized, leading, one-stop legal firm in Thailand. Their English-speaking lawyers have vast experience partnering with entrepreneurs on their journey to registering a company, offering advice on every aspect of business law and solutions on navigating tricky visa and work permit issues.
What Does Thailand Company Registration Cost?
See Our TILA LEGAL THAI COMPANY REGISTRATION PACKAGES 2026
Initial enquiries are handled by email to allow our legal team to review your requirements before recommending the appropriate course of action.
Overview
Operating similar to a US-based limited liability company, a private limited company in Thailand can be up and running in as little as two weeks with TILA Legal's expert help. Establishing such a company gives you SIX advantages:
- Limited liability means a shareholder is limited to the registered capital they invest;
- There is clear understanding of everyone's legal obligations as all are set out in writing;
- There is in-built flexibility for a limited company to engage in different and licensed business activities;
- There is ability to operate corporate bank accounts, and online banking;
- Hands-on foreign ownership helps maintain a controlling interest;
- The system enables application for work permits for foreign staff.
Interested? Some Need to Know Details
Before you set up and step up into the Thai business landscape, there are a few must-knows to consider.
A limited company will be typically owned by at least two shareholders one of whom is a nominated director. As for company registration in Thailand, it’s important to be aware that at least 51 percent of a company’s shares must be held by Thai citizens. The remaining shares may be held by anyone. The appropriate ownership and management structure depends on the specific circumstances of each business and should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
At least one director is chosen by the shareholders. Only the director(s) is authorized to sign anything on behalf of the company, and individual shareholders are only liable to their percentage of shares.
There needs to be a minimum of 2 million Thai Baht of registered capital in order to be eligible for a work permit. However, this does not mean that you need to have this amount of money to start, it is merely the limited liability of your Thai limited company.
The head office needs to be in Thailand and a Letter of Consent must be obtained from the landlord. If you have some problem to use your address to be a Thai company address TILA Legal can offer our virtual office address services for Thailand company registration and range from 2,000THB monthly (minimum 3 months).
How To Set Up A Thai Limited Company
STEP 1: Registering a Company Name
TILA Legal will submit your preferred company name and two alternatives to the Commerce Ministry's Department of Business Development (DBD). It will be registered if it is not identical to pre-registered existing company name. The name must not violate ministerial rules, will be registered in Thai, and the company must end in Limited.
STEP 2: File a Memorandum of Association (MOA)
The MOA, signed by all shareholders, provides the names and contact details of the company's shareholders, the company's address, registered capital, intended scope of business activities, and the amount of share capital and shares issued to each shareholder.
The MOA must be submitted to the DBD in Bangkok or a province's filing office where the company is based. Once processed, the Ministry of Commerce will issue the company affidavit, certification, list of shareholders and company articles of association. A statutory meeting should be held once the MOA is registered.
STEP 3: Company Tax and VAT Registration
All documents associated with the registration of the company's Tax ID Card and Vat Certificate must be submitted to the Central Filing Office of the Revenue Department. Learn more about VAT registration here.
Also, as part of the process of obtaining a VAT Certificate, you must obtain permission from the landowner of your company’s address if your company does not own the land outright.
There is one other thing to be aware of: if you intend to locate your company in a condominium unit, you may be unable to do so; some condominium buildings have specific provisions with their sales agreements which prohibit the owner from using that unit as a business. Be sure to check your agreement before registering the location of your company.
If you have some problem to use your address to be a Thai company address TILA Legal can offer our virtual office address services for Thailand company registration and range from 2,000THB monthly (minimum 3 months).
STEP 4: Open a corporate bank account with internet banking
Companies can open a corporate bank account in Thailand once company registration is complete. TILA Legal will prepare the required documents and open a corporate bank account on your behalf, but the company directors must be present.
If any of the signatories for the bank account are foreigners, some banks will require each foreign signatory to submit a valid work permit before opening the account. This can be completed within a day. The process for Thai company registration including company bank account will take approximately two weeks. Learn more about opening company bank account here.
STEP 5: Thailand work permit
In order to obtain a Thailand work permit, you must first have a Non-immigrant business visa. (often called a Non-B Visa) or a Thai marriage visa. We will assist you in the application of a Thai work permit and will submit all necessary documentation to the Department of Labor on your behalf. If submitted correctly, an application can be processed in as little as seven days. Learn more about Work Permits in Thailand here, and Non-B Visa here.
STEP 6: Applying for a license for specific activities
Businesses, such as import/export, fitness/gym/spa, recruitment, tour/travel, are required to apply for a specific permission/license. TILA can assist with this application process.
TILA LEGAL: Corporate Legal Support for Foreign Investors
Living in unpredictable times means it is good to have a stable, reliable and transparent partner.
TILA Legal has vast experience helping limited companies navigate the hurdles of registering their business in rapidly-developing Thailand. Our English-language lawyers can lead you through the process quickly and easily, and meet your needs with tailor-made requirements.
Further, for each foreigner working within your company, your company is required to have a registered capital of 2,000,000 THB, i.e. if you have two non-Thai working in your company, it is required to have a registered capital of at least 4,000,000 THB. However this does not mean that you need to have this amount of money to start, it is the limited liability of your Thai limited company.
If you are currently not employed by a Thailand company and wish to apply for a Thailand work permit, you will first need to register a company in Thailand.
Note. You can contact our English-speaking lawyers for more information or submit your business activities, questions and your contact details in the box below.
See Our TILA LEGAL THAI COMPANY REGISTRATION PACKAGES 2026
Note. For Thailand company registration, Thailand work permit, and Thailand visas, please note that TILA LEGAL can advise on the legal requirements applicable to your proposed business activities and assist with the relevant legal procedures where appropriate. Even if additional documents are required, our legal team can advise on the applicable requirements and the available legal options.
