{"id":1613,"date":"2026-07-22T16:48:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T09:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/?p=1613"},"modified":"2026-10-20T09:21:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T02:21:56","slug":"how-to-become-a-100-owner-of-a-company-in-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/how-to-become-a-100-owner-of-a-company-in-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"100% Foreign Ownership of a Thai Company in 2026: BOI, Foreign Business Licence and Other Legal Routes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"lead upa-v2 wp-block-paragraph\">Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Thailand? Yes, but not in every business and not through a standard Thai company with borrowed Thai shareholders. Full foreign ownership is possible through a few legal routes, and each one has its own conditions, costs and timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"lead wp-block-paragraph\">Below: the default 49% rule, the legal routes to 100%, when BOI makes sense and when it does not, why nominees are a trap and how ownership connects with your visa and bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In short<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list glance\"><li><strong>By default, foreigners hold up to 49%<\/strong> in a Thai company that does restricted activities.<\/li><li><strong>100% is possible legally:<\/strong> through BOI promotion, a Foreign Business Licence, an activity that is not restricted, or the US Treaty of Amity for American investors.<\/li><li><strong>BOI is a tool, not a shortcut.<\/strong> It fits manufacturing, technology and export, not every small business.<\/li><li><strong>Nominee shareholders are illegal.<\/strong> We do not arrange them, and banks and the DBD check for them.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The default rule: 49% foreign, 51% Thai<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Foreign Business Act lists activities that are restricted for foreigners. Many services, retail and some trading are on these lists. A company where foreigners hold 50% or more of the shares is treated as foreign and cannot do these activities without permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is why most small foreign-run companies have Thai shareholders with 51%. This is legal only when the Thai shareholders are real investors who own their shares, not people who lend their names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls preload=\"metadata\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/10.-Open-Thai-company-full-owner-can-or-cannot_2.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legal routes to 100% foreign ownership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>BOI promotion.<\/strong> For promoted activities such as manufacturing, technology, software and many export or regional services. Up to 100% foreign ownership, often tax incentives, easier visas and work permits and, in some cases, permission to own land.<\/li><li><strong>Foreign Business Licence.<\/strong> Permission from the Ministry of Commerce to do a restricted activity with foreign majority ownership. It needs higher registered capital, a strong justification and time for approval.<\/li><li><strong>An activity that is not restricted.<\/strong> Some activities, such as many types of manufacturing and export, are not on the restricted lists. A foreign-majority company can do them with the minimum capital required for foreign companies.<\/li><li><strong>US Treaty of Amity.<\/strong> American citizens and US companies can hold the majority in most activities after getting a treaty certificate.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which route fits depends on what the company actually does. The same business can be open to foreigners in one form and restricted in another, so the activity must be described carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">BOI: when it makes sense and when it does not<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls preload=\"metadata\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/43.-Boi-company-in-Thailand_2.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When BOI is a good fit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A factory, supplier or production line in Thailand<\/li><li>Software, technology or digital services that qualify for promotion<\/li><li>Export-oriented business or a regional headquarters<\/li><li>A project with real investment, Thai staff and a business plan<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When a standard company is usually better<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A small service business, agency or freelance work<\/li><li>A restaurant, shop or local retail<\/li><li>A business that needs to start working within weeks<\/li><li>A project without the investment or reporting capacity BOI expects<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BOI approval usually takes a few months including preparation, and a promoted company has to report and meet the conditions of its promotion every year. <a href=\"\/en\/boi-services\/\">BOI promotion in detail<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why nominee shareholders are a trap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A nominee is a Thai shareholder who only lends their name, while the foreigner provides the money and controls the company. Under the Foreign Business Act, this is a criminal offence for the foreigner, the nominee and anyone who helps to arrange it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The DBD checks where the Thai shareholders\u2019 money for the shares came from.<\/li><li>Banks ask who really controls the company and its money.<\/li><li>If the nominee refuses to cooperate, you can lose control of the company and its assets.<\/li><li>A nominee structure can also block your visa, work permit and bank account.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your current company was set up this way, it is better to restructure it legally before a bank or an authority asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ownership, long-term stay and banking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many foreigners, the company is also the basis for a long-term stay: the company employs you, and you get a Non-B visa and a work permit through it. This works only when the company is real: capital, activity, Thai staff where required, accounting and salary paid into your Thai account. <a href=\"\/en\/what-documents-you-need-to-open-a-business-visa-in-thailand\/\">Non-B visa and work permit guide<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banks look at the same structure when they open and review a business account. A clear ownership, a real activity and clean accounting make the account much more stable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Using Thai nominees to get around the 49% rule<\/li><li>Choosing BOI when a standard company would be enough<\/li><li>Describing the business activity vaguely, so it falls under a restricted list<\/li><li>Planning ownership without thinking about visas, work permits and the bank<\/li><li>Ignoring the reporting conditions after BOI approval<\/li><li>Copying another person\u2019s structure without checking your own activity<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A typical situation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A foreigner wants to open an online service business and is told that BOI will give him 100% ownership. After a review, it turns out the business does not qualify for promotion, and a Foreign Business Licence would take too long. The realistic option is a standard Thai company with a real Thai partner, a clear shareholders\u2019 agreement and a plan to move to BOI later if the business grows into a qualifying activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every case is different. The right route depends on the activity, the investment and your plans for visas and banking. <a href=\"\/en\/what-documents-do-you-need-to-open-your-own-thai-company\/\">How to open a company in Thailand<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How we can help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We review your business activity, check whether it is restricted, compare BOI, a Foreign Business Licence and a standard company for your case, and coordinate the application and registration with licensed partners. We do not offer nominee shareholders or other structures that hide foreign control. We are not a law firm: licensed Thai lawyers handle the parts that require them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">BOI eligibility check and roadmap 52,900 THB, full BOI application from 95,900 THB, company setup from 31,900 THB, all including 7% VAT. Government fees are separate. <a href=\"\/en\/pricing-packages\/\">All prices<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions we often hear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a foreigner own 100% of a Thai company?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only in some cases: with BOI promotion, a Foreign Business Licence, an activity that is not restricted or under the US Treaty of Amity. In an ordinary Thai company doing restricted activities, foreigners usually hold up to 49%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is BOI only for big companies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No, but BOI expects a qualifying activity, real investment and annual reporting. For many small service businesses, a standard company is faster and cheaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a 100% foreign company own land?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Usually not. BOI can allow a promoted company to own land for its project. Otherwise, foreign-majority companies usually lease land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if my company already uses nominees?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a legal risk for you and for the Thai shareholders. We can review the structure and help you move to a legal option with licensed lawyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"note wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules on foreign ownership and BOI change, so check your case before you invest.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group ctabox\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want full ownership of your Thai company?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tell us what the company will do and how much you plan to invest. We usually reply the same business day with the realistic route and a written quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/en\/get-quote\/?service=company\">Start your case \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/en\/boi-services\/\">BOI services<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When a foreigner can own 100% of a Thai company, how BOI, a Foreign Business Licence and other routes work, when BOI is not worth it and why nominees are a trap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1654,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"fullwidth","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"unboxed","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"hide","_kad_post_feature":"hide","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-company-boi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1613"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2673,"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1613\/revisions\/2673"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unblockpro.asia\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}