Foreign Business License (FBL)

Legal Basis

The Foreign Business Act defines foreign persons and restricted activity lists. Read actual activities and exceptions: List One is not resolved by an ordinary FBL application; Lists Two and Three have different approval authorities. Certificates for qualifying treaty or promoted activities are distinct from licences. Verify minimum-capital rules and calculations against the activity, regulations and entitlement, rather than relying only on a share percentage.

Who Needs This

Operators falling within the foreign-person definition who need to review Thai operating rights, including companies adding activities or changing ownership in ways affecting existing permissions.

Required Documents

• Corporate and ownership records for foreign-person assessment
• Activities, contracts, revenue and operating-model description
• Funding, expense plan and activity-specific evidence
• Staffing and Thai-benefit information relevant to the authority’s review
• Treaty entitlement, promotion or existing permission records, if any

Common Pitfalls

• Assuming foreign-majority ownership requires FBL for every activity
• Using treaty certification for activities outside its scope
• Treating promotion as covering every non-project operation
• Using outdated capital calculations or confusing capital with fees

Preparation situations (not client histories)

• A consultancy identifying services and rights before contracting
• A promoted company adding operations outside its project
• US investors checking treaty eligibility before a certificate application

FAQ

How does a licence differ from a certificate?

A licence grants permission for an activity the law permits to be licensed. A certificate relies on qualifying entitlements such as a treaty or promotion. Check the legal basis and scope; the names are not interchangeable.

Must every Amity company obtain an FBL?

No universal claim should be made. If treaty criteria are met, check the certificate route and reserved activities with DBD. Not every activity is covered.

Is minimum capital identical for every activity?

Check activity classification, entitlement and statutory calculation rules, including relevant expenses. Ordinary company capital does not replace foreign-business capital requirements.

Does FBL guarantee a work permit?

No. FBL concerns business operating rights; visas and work permits require separate assessment of the applicant, activities and applicable route.

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