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FAQ - Online sale business in Thailand

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Reference to the queries, the advice has received from the relevant officers as follows:Case: Import goods from Europe and sell in Thailand through online

(1) what is the advantage of me having 49% when opening company in Thailand? skip the work permit part because I don’t have the capital required to get that.

RE: The registered company in Thailand is classified as Thai or Foreign company by using the percentage of shareholding ratio. It means, any registered company in Thailand which has foreign shareholding ratio larger than 49% would classify as a foreign company.
To operate the business legally in Thailand, the foreign company is required to check whether the business activity is in the Annexed lists of Foreign Business Act or not. If YES, that company is required to obtain Foreign Business License. Please see the attachment of "Foreign Business Act, B.E.2542 (1999)"
List1: The foreign company is prohibited to operate the specified business.
List2: The foreign company is allowed to operate the specified business with foreign shareholding ratio not larger than 60%
List3: The foreign company is allowed to operate the specified business with foreign shareholding ratio up to 100%
In case that you would like to import goods and sell in Thailand through online, there are 2 alternatives with classified by using shareholding ratio as follows:
1. Thai 51%, Foreign 49% => This is Thai company Thus, this company is not required to obtain Foreign Business License. However, the company is required to obtain the license for selling goods through e-commerce. Please read the instruction at the link at:http://www.dbd.go.th/download/data_srevice/คำชี้แจงการจดทะเบียนพาณิชย์อิเล็กทรอนิกส์.pdf (in Thai only).
2. Thai 49%, Foreign 51% => This is Foreign company Thus, this company is required to obtain Foreign Business License and the license for selling goods through e-commerce.

(2) What if we as partners get problems working with each other and decide to not work as partners, will I still have my rights as 49%?

RE: It depends on the company/shareholders’ decision. Once the company’s shareholding ratio is changed, the company is required to obtain all relevant licensing. For example, at the beginning Thai holds the majority of shares, the company is not required to obtain Foreign Business License. Later, Thai partner sells shares to foreign partner, and foreign shareholding ratio become the majority (foreign shareholding ratio larger than 51%). Thus, the company is required to obtain Foreign Business License.

(3) How much do I need in capital for getting work permit and what happens to the capital that I put, let say 1 million bath, is it deposited in bank as insurance without being touched or will this money be paid in exchange for getting work permit?


RE: The foreigner who wants to work legally in Thailand has to apply for Non-B Visa from Thai Embassy abroad and enter to the Kingdom with Non-B Visa. For more information about the standard process for foreigners who wish to work in Thailand, you could find from the attachment.

In addition, there is a specific rule/regulation that the company also has to take into consideration if hiring the foreign workers. It is specified in the proportion of 2:1:4 which means every 2 million Baht of investment capital, the company is able to hire 1 foreign worker with 4 Thai permanent workers.
For more information about rules/regulations from the Immigration, please read in the link at:https://www.immigration.go.th/law.(in Thai only)
Note: The company is able to use that amount of money to run the business. When you apply for visa and work permit, there are supported documents to clarify the company’s investment capital and paid-up capital, e.g. company’s affidavit, The receipt and current corporate income tax return (Form P.N.D.50), Financial Statement, etc.



(4) What would it approximately cost us to open a company with BOI? Minimum capital investment and project feasibility



1. The minimum capital investment requirement of each project is 1 million baht (excluding cost of land and working capital) unless specified otherwise on the list of activities eligible for investment promotion that is attached to this announcement. As for knowledge-based services, the minimum capital investment requirement is based on the minimum annual salaries expense specified in the list of activities eligible for investment promotion.
2. For newly established projects, the debt-to-equity ratio must not exceed 3 to 1. Expansion projects shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.
3. For projects with an investment value over 750 million baht (excluding cost of land and working capital) the project’s feasibility study must be submitted with details as specified by the Board.
For more information about BOI promotion, please access to the link at:


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