Thailand (TH)
Thailand is one of the world’s largest expat hubs, combining Bangkok’s regional business ecosystem, Chiang Mai’s remote-worker scene, Phuket and Pattaya’s retirement and tourism communities, and strong international schools and hospitals.
Capital: Bangkok
Region: Asia
Language: Thai
Currency: THB (฿)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 35)
Emergency: 191
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Business Setup
Start a business or go freelance in Thailand.
🧑💻 Freelancer / Self-Employed Guide
Steps to register:
- 1 1. Confirm your visa permits the work. Tourist entry, visa exemption, Education (ED), OA retirement, and Tourist (TR) visas do not authorise any form of work in Thailand. DTV permits remote work for overseas clients; LTR Work-from-Thailand category permits one Thai employer plus remote work; Non-B requires a work permit for local employment.
- 2 2. If serving Thai clients or employers, obtain a Non-Immigrant B visa and work permit before starting. Your employer or a lawyer files the work permit at the Department of Employment. Work must match the role, company, and location stated on the permit — side jobs and moonlighting are separate applications.
- 3 3. If remote-working for overseas clients only (no Thai clients, no Thai-source income), assess DTV or LTR eligibility. DTV: THB 10,000 visa fee, USD 500,000 funds or active overseas employment/client contract, 180 days per entry on a 5-year visa. LTR Work-from-Thailand: USD 80,000/year income + employer with USD 150M+ revenue.
- 4 4. Register for Thai tax if you will be resident 180+ days in a tax year. Visit the Revenue Department office in your district with your passport, Thai address evidence (lease), and Thai phone number. Receive a Thai tax ID (TIN / Lek Prajan Phasi) — this goes on tax filings and withholding certificates. Filing deadline: 31 March (paper) or 8 April (e-filing) for PND 90/91.
- 5 5. Check VAT registration. If annual taxable turnover from Thai-source income exceeds THB 1,800,000, VAT registration is mandatory. Register with the Revenue Department using form Phor Por 01. File monthly VAT returns (Phor Por 30) within 15 days of the following month. Foreign-source remote income may not be subject to Thai VAT — get specific advice.
- 6 6. Track invoices, contracts, withholding tax certificates (Baep 50 Tawi), bank statements, and foreign-transfer records monthly. Thai PIT is self-assessed — missing documents create refund and audit problems. If a Thai company pays you, they withhold 3% (service) or different rates depending on activity — collect these certificates for your annual return.
- 7 7. Avoid occupations prohibited to foreigners under the Alien Workers Act B.E. 2551 (2008). Prohibited roles include: accounting, most retail and trading, driving vehicles for hire, tour guiding, agriculture, construction work, hairdressing, Thai massage as a primary occupation, silk weaving, and many craft activities. Confirm permitted scope before taking clients.
- 8 8. Open a Thai bank account for receiving income and paying taxes. Bangkok Bank (best for international wire receipts), Kasikorn Bank (best app), and SCB are expat-friendly. A Thai phone number is required for app access and PromptPay. Income remitted to Thailand by a Thai tax resident is assessable under Revenue Department Instruction Por 162/2566 (effective from 2024 tax year).
Tax registration
Revenue Department (กรมสรรพากร) — rd.go.th. Visit your district revenue office with passport, Thai address evidence, and phone number. For employed individuals, employer files withholding tax monthly and you file PND 91 annually. For mixed/business income, file PND 90. For company income, file CIT (Corporate Income Tax) using PND 51 (estimated) mid-year and PND 50 (final) within 150 days of year-end.
VAT threshold
THB 1,800,000 annual taxable turnover — above this, VAT registration and monthly PP.30 filing is mandatory. Foreign remote-income-only freelancers may be below or outside Thai VAT scope; confirm with a Thai tax adviser.
Invoicing
VAT-registered businesses must issue Tax Invoices (Bai Kamkab Phai Phuangsi) including: supplier name/address/VAT number, buyer name/address, invoice number and date, description of goods/services, value excluding VAT, VAT amount at 7%, and total payable. Non-VAT registrants issue ordinary receipts. Thai companies paying service fees to individuals must withhold 3% and issue a withholding tax certificate (50 Tawi / Baep 50).
Social security
Employees of Thai-registered companies are registered with SSO (Section 33): 5% employee contribution on wages capped at THB 15,000/month (max THB 750/month). Freelancers and self-employed individuals may register voluntarily as Section 39 members (THB 432/month flat) if they were previously Section 33 members. New voluntary registrants with no prior SSO history cannot join Section 39. There is no SSO equivalent to Germany's KSK for creative professionals.
💡 Thailand is attractive for entrepreneurs but not casual undocumented freelancing. The DTV removed the biggest structural problem for remote workers, but tax residency at 180+ days creates filing obligations that many informal freelancers ignore — increasing enforcement risk. Always solve visa, work-permit, and tax structure before taking Thai-source income. Use a Thailand Bar Association-registered lawyer for company setup and a Thai CPA for tax compliance — unregulated agents are common and offer no professional recourse.
🏢 Business Structures
Thai Limited Company · Borisat Chamgat (Private Limited Company)
Limited company / Ltd
No statutory minimum for Thai-majority companies; THB 2,000,000 registered capital is the practical standard per foreign work permit under immigration authority guidance. Foreign Business Licence or BOI applications have sector-specific capital requirements.
Min. capital
2–8 weeks for a basic setup; longer if work permits, BOI promotion, or sector licences are involved.
Setup time
Liability: Limited to unpaid shares — shareholders' personal assets are not at risk beyond their subscribed capital.
Setup cost: THB 40,000–150,000+ including legal fees, DBD registration, memorandum drafting, stamp duty, Revenue Department registration, VAT registration, and work-permit application support.
Best for: Local trading, professional services, consulting firms, restaurants, tech companies, agencies, and any business hiring Thai staff. The standard structure for most registered Thailand businesses.
BOI-Promoted Company · Board of Investment Promoted Company
Incentivised investment company
Project-specific and BOI category-dependent — commonly THB 1,000,000–10,000,000+ minimum investment for promoted categories.
Min. capital
2–6+ months including BOI application review, promotion certificate, company registration, and work-permit processing.
Setup time
Liability: Standard limited-company liability with BOI conditions attached.
Setup cost: High — legal, BOI application, accounting, and ongoing compliance cost; typically THB 200,000–500,000+ to establish, plus annual reporting fees.
Best for: Technology, manufacturing, regional headquarters, digital services, R&D, data centres, smart industries, and targeted investment sectors. BOI promotion allows 100% foreign ownership in permitted categories and faster work-permit processing (3-day approval). Also used by Work-from-Thailand professionals under LTR visa requirements.
Representative Office · Foreign Company Representative Office
Non-revenue liaison office
Minimum inward remittance of THB 3,000,000 over 3 years (or as specified by DBD); first tranche typically THB 750,000 within the first year.
Min. capital
2–4 months including DBD approval and initial work permit.
Setup time
Liability: Foreign parent company bears full liability.
Setup cost: THB 100,000–300,000+ including DBD filing, legal, and accounting setup.
Best for: Market research, sourcing, quality control, and liaison work for a foreign parent company without generating Thai revenue. Cannot sign contracts, earn income, or hold inventory for sale in Thailand.
Branch Office · Foreign Company Branch
Branch of an overseas registered company
Foreign Business Licence and capital remittance requirements apply — typically THB 3,000,000+ inward.
Min. capital
3–6+ months including FBL or FBA exemption approval.
Setup time
Liability: Foreign head office is fully liable for all branch obligations.
Setup cost: High — requires Foreign Business Licence or FBA exemption, legal and DBD processing; typically THB 200,000–400,000+.
Best for: Foreign companies conducting permitted business in Thailand who need a revenue-generating presence without incorporating a separate Thai entity.
Treaty of Amity Company · US Treaty of Amity Company
US-majority-owned Thai company with treaty privileges
Standard limited company registration requirements plus Treaty of Amity certification from the US Embassy and Royal Thai Ministry of Commerce.
Min. capital
2–4+ months including embassy certification and DBD processing.
Setup time
Liability: Standard Thai limited company liability.
Setup cost: Higher than a standard Thai company — legal fees, US Embassy certification, DBD processing; typically THB 150,000–350,000+.
Best for: US citizens and US-majority-owned companies operating in most sectors restricted to Thai nationals under the Foreign Business Act — one of the few legal routes to full US-majority ownership of a Thai company outside BOI.
Sole Proprietorship / Ordinary Partnership · Ran Kha Bukhkon Diao / Huang Saman
Sole trader / general partnership
None required.
Min. capital
Days to 2 weeks for Thai nationals; generally not available as a work-authorised structure for foreigners.
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited personal liability — all business debts are personal debts.
Setup cost: Low Thai registration cost, but not a practical route for foreigners needing a work permit (work permits require a limited company or employer-of-record arrangement).
Best for: Thai nationals running small local businesses. Foreigners working remotely for overseas clients on DTV/LTR should seek specific tax and immigration advice rather than using this structure.
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