Q1357. How does a foreign company set up a branch or representative office in Thailand?

Answered by the NYC Visa & Translation team

Several structures exist depending on the purpose: (1) a Representative Office may only perform non-revenue activities such as sourcing goods, quality control, advising the head office, and information reporting; (2) a Branch Office may earn revenue but needs a licence under the Foreign Business Act for restricted activities; (3) a Thai subsidiary is a new Thai juristic person and offers the most flexibility; (4) a Regional Office serves multinational companies under specific conditions. The structures differ in taxation, liability, and procedure. Documents from the foreign parent — such as the certificate of incorporation, financial statements, and power of attorney — must be legalised in the home country and translated into Thai. Our team helps choose the structure, prepare the translated and legalised documents, and file the registration. This is general guidance; requirements and fees change — always verify with the Department of Business Development, the Department of Intellectual Property, or the Revenue Department before proceeding.