Foreign Business Act analysis
Advice tailored to the legal, documentary and implementation requirements relevant to foreign business act analysis.
Corporate Law & M&A
Foreign Business License in Thailand
Clarify whether your proposed activities require an FBL, qualify for a certificate or exemption, or fall outside the Foreign Business Act permission regime.
The legal position
A Foreign Business Licence is not a universal requirement
The first question is not whether the business has foreign investment. It is what the Thai operation will do, who will carry it on and which legal route applies.
Some activities may require permission under the Foreign Business Act. Others may be carried on through a certificate, an applicable exemption, BOI promotion, treaty treatment, a sector-specific approval or a route outside the permission regime.
Who is a “foreigner”?
A Thai-registered juristic person may be a foreigner where foreigners hold or invest at least one-half of its capital. Other statutory cases may apply to foreign individuals and entities. Ownership and control should be reviewed together with the activity and legal route.
Lists and exemptions need precise application
The Foreign Business Act contains different groups of restricted activities. The analysis should identify the relevant list, the precise wording of the proposed activity and any conditions attached to the applicable permission route. Separate licences under sector-specific laws may continue to apply.
Preparation matters both before and after the decision
A package may need to address the business plan, ownership, capital, responsible persons and supporting corporate documents. After approval or certification, the business should operate within the approved scope and observe applicable conditions and reporting duties.
How SBC Law can assist
Focused support built around the matter and its commercial context.
Our role is tailored to the route, the evidence and the outcome required—not a standardised package applied to every matter.
FBL and FBC route comparison
Advice tailored to the legal, documentary and implementation requirements relevant to fbl and fbc route comparison.
Ownership and control review
Advice tailored to the legal, documentary and implementation requirements relevant to ownership and control review.
Application and post-approval compliance
Advice tailored to the legal, documentary and implementation requirements relevant to application and post-approval compliance.
Discuss your objectives
Advice shaped around the objective and the operating context.
Tell us what you are planning, what has changed and where you need clarity. Our Bangkok team will help identify the relevant legal pathway.