How many years of tax exemption?

A1+ 8 years uncapped · A1–A3 5–8 years · A4 3 years · B1–B2 no CIT exemption but duty-free machinery.

Minimum registered capital?

THB 1M (vs THB 2M/expat for normal companies), ≥ 25% paid-up before BOI filing.

How does Smart Visa link to BOI?

BOI companies sponsor Smart Visas for specialists, investors, executives, and startups — no separate work permit, 4-year stay.

Can I convert an existing company to BOI?

Yes if activities qualify, but exemption applies only to promoted-project revenue (separate accounting).

BOI Investment Promotion Application

ขอส่งเสริมการลงทุน BOI · § License

Quick Answer

Consulting fee THB 80,000–250,000 by project scale — activity-type assessment, 40-page business plan, application filing, BOI clarifications, interview coaching, and Certificate of Promotion delivery.

Timeline: Business plan 3–4 weeks · BOI review 40–60 days · Interview 1 day · Certificate 60–90 days · Total 4–6 months

Official fee: Application fee THB 2,000–5,000 + Certificate fee THB 5,000 (consulting fee separate)

Legal Basis

Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (amended 2017) — filed with the Board of Investment (BOI). Current framework covers 8 targeted sectors (Digital, BCG, EV, Smart Electronics, etc.)

Who Needs This

Foreign businesses wanting 100% ownership, 3–8 year corporate income tax exemption, duty-free machinery imports, unlimited expat quota with Smart Visa.

Required Documents

Investment project plan with CAPEX + Thai employment schedule
3-year historical financials (if any) + 5-year projection
Technology / patent / know-how details (if applicable)
Shareholder structure + management qualifications
Production / service flowchart

Common Pitfalls

Wrong activity code selection → forfeit tax privileges
CAPEX below THB 1M (except select categories) → ineligible
Some activities still require 51% Thai ratio
Skipping merit-based additions (R&D 1–2% revenue) → shorter tax holiday

Typical Use-cases

Software house / SaaS platform (Category 5.7)
EV manufacturing / parts (Category 4.8)
Data Center / Cloud (Category 5.9)
R&D center / Regional HQ

FAQ

How many years of tax exemption?: A1+ 8 years uncapped · A1–A3 5–8 years · A4 3 years · B1–B2 no CIT exemption but duty-free machinery.
Minimum registered capital?: THB 1M (vs THB 2M/expat for normal companies), ≥ 25% paid-up before BOI filing.
How does Smart Visa link to BOI?: BOI companies sponsor Smart Visas for specialists, investors, executives, and startups — no separate work permit, 4-year stay.
Can I convert an existing company to BOI?: Yes if activities qualify, but exemption applies only to promoted-project revenue (separate accounting).