Creative Thai business practices, legal knowledge for foreignersIf you want to own a company or operate a business in Thailand, it is smart business to first read-up on the legal requirements and Thai business laws.
Thailand restricts and prohibits economical areas and business categories for foreigners primarily in the Foreign Business Act (A.D.1999). Under the Foreign Business Act (FBA) foreigners are prohibited from engaging in most business categories in Thailand, unless an alien business operation permit has been obtained from the Director-General of the Department of Commercial Registration with the approval of the Foreign Business Committee. Separate laws control foreign ownership of land as well as such activities as banking, insurance, finance and shipping.
When it comes to the intent to operate a business as a foreigner in Thailand the approval requirement under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 must be complied with. Foreigners can be granted a foreign business license for certain business categories (or may be granted an exemption based on a treaty or specific act (investment promotion)).
More information (external):
| List 1: | Generally those businesses listed in list 1 are absolutely prohibited to foreigners unless there is an exemption contained in a special law or treaty. |
| List 2: | Refers to businesses owned by foreigners that were in existence and actually operating prior to the enactment of the Foreign Business law. These businesses were permitted to apply for a special Alien Business license and to continue operating. Foreigners, however, are not permitted to start new businesses listed in this category unless they obtain special permission from the Minister with the approval of the Cabinet. |
| List 3: | These businesses are treated in a manner similar to those in list 2 except that the power to grant an Alien Business License to foreigners who wish to start a new business is vested with the Director General and a committee. Exemptions are possible under the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States of America. Also, the Board of Investment may grant exceptions for businesses covered by Lists 2 and 3. |
As it is very complicated and often impossible to obtain a foreign business license most foreigners operate a business without a foreign business license or exemption even though these business categories are restricted or prohibited for foreigners. These foreigners have a work permit issued under a Thai company and operate their business through a Thai limited company. Thai company means under the current Foreign Business Act that half or more of the juristic person's shares are held by Thais. Foreigners are under the current FBA allowed to have majority voting rights and control in a Thai limited company through preference shares and weighted voting rights. The most popular form of business entity among foreign investors is therefore the private limited company.
A Thai company is not subject to the Alien Business Act and when a partly foreign owned Thai company is structured as majority Thai owned it is deemed that the business is operated by a Thai entity (not foreign/alien) and the company will in principle be regarded as a Thai company and therefore, as a Thai juristic person, the company will not be restricted by the Foreign Business Act.
Some foreigners invest in a Thai business and operate a Thai company with a Thai partner or co-director in the company, in such structures it is recomeded to limit the signing power of the (Thai) director.
By using Thai nominee shareholders and a preference share structure foreigners have been able to circumvent foreign ownership and business restrictions through Thai limited companies. The use of preference shares issued to foreigners is allowed under the current Foreign Business Act, however the use of nominees by foreigners is and always has been illegal (sections 36 & 37 FBA).
The (previous) government announced plans to close this loophole by amending the Foreign Business Act. The amendments would mean that companies controlled by foreigners would be deemed foreign companies and would require a foreign business license or would need to restructure the company. The new law would not work retrospective but would affect existing companies. Under the Civil and Commercial Code directors in a company must rotate yearly and be reelected. Under the new law (if the plans would become law) the company would make itself foreign by re-electing the foreigner as a sole director.
Main proposed amendments to the Foreigner Business Act definition under section 4:
The bar on the use of Thai nominee shareholder lies in the foreigner definition in section 4 of the Foreign Business Act, foreigner means:
New regulations, the land office guidelines and business registration rules, continue on this principle and require in certain situations the Thai shareholders in a partly foreign owned company to show the source of their funding. According to new rules the Thai shareholders in a company with foreign participation (company promoters) will be requested to submit evidence of financing used to hold shares, including bank statements and other documents.
The business registration rules do not determine the status of the Thai shareholders (nominee or not) and there is no guarantee that the Thai company would be immune from investigation at a later date, it must prevent the use of Thai nationals as nominees. If Thai nominee shareholders are used (section 36 and 37 Foreign Business Act) will be determined by a criminal investigation, declarations of the suspects involved, evidence submitted and finally by judgment of a court.
Most of the accounting and law offices in the tourist areas like Samui, Pattaya and Phuket aiming their services at foreigners circumvent the new regulations and are now setting up companies as a 100% Thai owned or without foreign management and transfer the shares and company control to the foreigner after the formation and registration of the company. In practice this prevents only a first investigation when registering the company (anti-nominee regulations are circumvented). It does not protect the foreigner from any future checks and investigations, and if there is a breach with the Foreign Business Act or the company is set up as a 'land holding company' the foreigner is liable for severe penalties, criminal prosecution and removal of the company from the Registrar of Companies.
Separate regulations applied by the Land Department control registration of land (real estate) on the name of a partly foreign owned Thai company - read more...
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Practical advice from real lawyers on most common legal issues for expats in Thailand. Samuiforsale provides general Thai legal information and law resources in English over the Internet. The information in Samuiforsale should be used as general Thai legal information but should not be treated as a substitute for specific legal advice concerning individual situations.
