ฉบับภาษาไทย: อ่านหน้านี้เป็นภาษาไทย
Is using a Thai nominee to hold land or shares legal?
Short answer
No. Holding land or shares through a Thai person or company that is merely a front for foreign ownership is an offence under the Land Code and the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542, with criminal penalties for the foreigner, the nominee and assisting parties, and forced disposal of the land.
The structures marketed as workarounds — a Thai company where the Thai shareholders never paid for their shares, preference shares engineered to strip Thai voting rights, or an undisclosed loan-back arrangement — are exactly what enforcement looks for. Land Offices routinely ask Thai shareholders to evidence the source of their subscription money, and the Department of Business Development can investigate share structures. The exposure does not expire; it sits on the asset until it is sold or challenged.
Lawful routes exist and are worth planning properly: freehold condominium ownership within the 49% quota, a registered lease (registration is required for terms over three years under the Civil and Commercial Code), a right of superficies or usufruct registered against the title, a Treaty of Amity company for eligible US nationals, or a genuinely operating BOI-promoted company where land use is permitted. 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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