Telecommunications Licence in Thailand (NBTC)
Businesses providing communications to others, such as internet access, VoIP, bulk messaging or device connectivity, may need an NBTC licence. The type depends on whether you run your own network and who you serve.
- Years
- 7
- Languages
- 30+
- Countries
- 94
- Notaries
- 6
For: Start-ups and tech companies offering communications services in Thailand
Reviewed by NYC legal team · บริษัท เอ็นวายซี วีซ่า แอนด์ ทรานสเลชั่น จำกัด
How many types of telecom licence are there in Thailand?
Three, under the Telecommunications Business Act B.E. 2544: Type 1 without a network, Type 2 with or without a network for a limited group, and Type 3 with a network for the public. NBTC issues them.
- Agency
- NBTC
- Types
- 3
Three licence types
- Type 1: no own network, service over others' networks
- Type 2: with or without a network, for a limited group or with limited market impact
- Type 3: own network serving the general public
Services worth checking
- ISPs and gateway services
- VoIP that reaches ordinary phone numbers
- Bulk messaging and aggregation
- IoT connectivity using spectrum
How we work
- 1
Service analysis
Map the service to a licence type
- 2
Structure check
Capital and shareholders against NBTC rules
- 3
Application
Business plan, technical plan, company documents
- 4
File and respond
Submit to the NBTC office and follow the review
Indicative fees
Licence and annual fees follow NBTC notifications
Agency rules change. Check the latest notice with the official agency before you file.
Frequently asked questions
Does an app with chat need a licence?+
Ordinary in-app chat usually does not. If it connects to phone numbers or you sell communications to others, check with NBTC.
Can a foreign company apply directly?+
The applicant must be a Thai-registered entity that meets NBTC shareholder conditions.
📚 Official references
- Telecom licensing— NBTC
Step-by-step preparation guide
รายการเอกสารที่ต้องเตรียม ขั้นตอนแปลและรับรอง พร้อมข้อควรระวังที่ทำให้เอกสารถูกตีกลับ
- Required vs optional document list
- Each step with a realistic time frame
- Why files get rejected — and how to prevent it
- Tips from cases we handle every week
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Official sources — company registration & BOI
The information on this page follows the official sources below. Always check the latest version before you file.
- Department of Business Development — company registration— Department of Business Development
- Board of Investment (BOI) / LTR Visa— Thailand Board of Investment
- Revenue Department — Revenue Code, income tax, VAT— Revenue Department
- PDPC Thailand— PDPC Thailand
- Office of the Council of State — Thai law database— Office of the Council of State
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Frequently asked questions
- What makes a Thai translation 'certified' and who is allowed to certify it?
- A certified translation is a translation issued with a signed certification statement from a translation agency or qualified translator confirming the text is a true and complete rendering of the original. Thailand has no single government translator register for general use, so acceptance depends on the receiving authority: the Department of Consular Affairs accepts translations submitted with the original document for legalization, embassies usually accept agency-certified translations, and some foreign authorities additionally require a sworn or NAATI translator. We confirm the receiving body's rule before translating so the document is not rejected later.
- Do I need the original document or is a scan enough for translation?
- A clear scan is enough to produce the translation, but the original is normally required for the legalization step that follows. The Department of Consular Affairs checks the translation against the original or a certified true copy issued by the responsible Thai authority, so if you plan to legalize, send us a high-resolution scan to start the translation and keep the original ready for submission.
- How should Thai names be spelled in an English translation?
- Always match the spelling printed in the passport, even when it differs from Royal Thai General System transliteration. Authorities compare the translation against the passport and treat any mismatch as a different person, which is one of the most common causes of rejection. If a name has been spelled differently on older documents, we add a spelling-variation note or arrange a name-consistency affidavit.
- How long does a certified translation take and can it be rushed?
- Standard civil documents such as an ID card, house registration, birth or marriage certificate are typically ready in one to two working days, while contracts, court judgments and academic transcripts take longer because of terminology checks. Same-day handling is possible for short standard documents if the scan arrives in the morning; rush handling does not shorten the separate MFA legalization queue.
We advise first, then do the work
Before translating we confirm which form the receiving authority actually accepts — agency certification, MFA legalisation, or a translator declaration before an attorney.
- Free case assessment before you commit — send photos of your documents and we tell you what is actually needed.
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- We stay with the case after delivery: if the receiving authority asks for more, we advise at no extra consulting fee.
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Not sure which service you need? Read the guides
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How to pick a translator accepted by consular, embassy and receiving bodies
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Signature certification, residence, marriage and everyday paperwork
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The correct order of steps before sending documents abroad
- Choosing the right visa and work permit
Compare visa categories and the documents each one needs translated
- Translation by language
English, Chinese, Japanese, European, Arabic, Russian and embassy rules
- Specialized translation
Contracts, financial statements, MSDS, ISO and BOI filings
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