Foreign Business Act restrictions and licensing
In short
The Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) restricts certain activities for foreign-majority companies through three annexed lists. Whether a licence, a certificate or a treaty route applies depends on the exact activity, so classification is the first step, not incorporation.
Many businesses discover the restriction after registering the company, when a bank or a government office asks how the activity is permitted. Classifying the intended revenue-generating activity against the three lists before incorporation avoids restructuring later.
Alternative routes exist and may be faster than a licence: BOI promotion under the Investment Promotion Act, an Industrial Estate Authority route, or a treaty-based certificate where one applies. Eligibility is activity-specific and is confirmed with the responsible authority.
What we need from you
- A precise description of the revenue-generating activity
- Intended shareholding structure and nationalities
- Target start date and any customer commitments
- Whether BOI promotion is being considered
Watch out
Nominee shareholding used to look Thai-majority. It is a serious offence and banks and auditors do check. Scope, turnaround and fees are confirmed by IVC staff by phone, LINE or email — this site does not publish prices.
Reviewed as of 2026-08-04. General guidance only, not case-specific advice and not a guarantee of outcome. Government fees, conditions and processing times are set by the responsible authority and can change. This site does not publish prices — please ask our staff.
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