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Registering a Company in Thailand — Complete Guide
Short answer first
A Thai limited company is formed by reserving the name, filing the memorandum of association, holding the statutory meeting and registering with the Department of Business Development. Tax and social security registration follow, and foreign shareholding may trigger additional licensing under the Foreign Business Act.
Overall timeline: 1–3 weeks for a straightforward Thai limited company
Documents to prepare
| Item | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Three proposed company names | Checked against existing registrations and restricted words. | Required |
| ID or passport of every promoter and director | With signature specimens. | Required |
| Registered office evidence | Lease or consent letter with the house registration of the property. | Required |
| Shareholding and capital structure | Determines Foreign Business Act treatment and work permit ratios. | If available |
Step-by-step process
- Step 1: Structure advice
Shareholding, capital and objectives are set against your visa and licensing goals.
Timing: 1–2 days
- Step 2: Name reservation
Filed with the DBD and valid for a limited period.
Timing: 1–3 days
- Step 3: Memorandum of association
Objectives, capital and promoters filed.
Timing: 1–3 days
- Step 4: Statutory meeting and registration
Directors appointed and the company registered.
Timing: 1–5 business days
- Step 5: Tax and social security registration
VAT where applicable, corporate tax ID and social security enrolment.
Timing: 3–10 business days
Pitfalls and how to avoid them
Advice from real cases
- Plan work permits at the same time as registration; capital and staffing ratios are linked.
- Open the corporate bank account promptly after registration while documents are fresh.
- Set up bookkeeping from month one — late filings are expensive to unwind.
Prefer us to handle it?
- Legal, accounting and immigration advice from one team.
- Structures designed around the visas and licences you will actually need.
- Documents drafted bilingually for foreign directors.
Send scans for a free assessment — call 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th
Read next
- Thai version of this guide
- English knowledge hub
- English FAQ
- Playbook: Certified Document Translation
- Playbook: NAATI Translation for Australia
- Playbook: Notary Public (Notarial Services Attorney)
- Playbook: MFA Legalization / Apostille
- Playbook: Visa Applications Abroad
- Playbook: Police Clearance Certificate
- Playbook: Thailand Work Permit / Non-B Visa
- Playbook: Marriage and Family Documents
- Playbook: Interpreter Services
- Playbook: Study Abroad Documents
- Playbook: Government Document Retrieval by Proxy
- Playbook: Expat Paperwork in Thailand
- Playbook: Corporate Accounting and Tax
We advise first, then do the work
We advise on shareholding structure and business objectives before incorporation, since later amendments carry cost and affect downstream licences.
- Free case assessment before you commit — send photos of your documents and we tell you what is actually needed.
- A team of licensed attorneys, notarial services attorneys and registered translators, with over 15 years of combined practice.
- We flag risks and alternatives in writing — including when the cheaper or faster route is the correct one.
- We stay with the case after delivery: if the receiving authority asks for more, we advise at no extra consulting fee.
Talk to an adviser: 083-2494999 · LINE @NYC168 · contact@nyclegal.co.th