Company Registration in Thailand

If you are interested in company registration in Thailand, you need to complete the procedure with the Business Register. For a quick setup process, you can rely on our Thai lawyers who can represent you and who can also help you carry out other procedures with the Registrar, as it has several other roles.

Quick Facts
Representation in the relationship with the Trade Register (YES/NO)	Yes, our Thai lawyers offer representation services.
Main function of the Registrar	Business registration in Thailand.
Special requirements for foreign-owned businesses (if any)	A Foreign Business License (or Foreign Business Certificate) under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) for restricted activities.
Business registration steps through the Commercial Register	– documents drafting and filing, – papers verification, – Certificate of Registration issuance.
Documents required for registration	– trading name reservation form, – Articles of Association, – proof of legal address, – details about the directors and shareholders.
Possibility to verify business name before registration (YES/NO)	Yes, it is possible to check a trading name before reserving it through our Thai attorneys.
Company due diligence checks	Yes, company due diligence is also available with the Business Registry.
Information about companies available with the Register	– business form, – share capital, – name of directors, – registration status.
Documents issuance	– Certificates of Incorporation, Shareholder Certificates, – Company affidavits for tax and other compliance purposes.
Requirements to file annual financial statements with the Thai Trade Registry (YES/NO)	Yes.
Requirement to update alterations with the Registrar (YES/NO)	Yes.
Updated information to be recorded	– business name changes, – share capital alterations, – shareholder and director amendments.
Requirement to register company dissolutions with the Register (YES/NO)	Yes, company dissolutions must be registered with the Department of Business Development.
Other legal entities that must be registered with the Commercial Register	– sole traders, – foreign-owned companies.
Supervisory authority	Thai Ministry of Commerce.

How to register a company in Thailand

The Trade Register in Thailand is also known as the Department of Business Development, and it is the main authority in charge of receiving the necessary papers for business registration and the issuance of Certificates of Incorporation. To reach this last stage, you need to complete the following steps first:

select a legal form that suits your activities in Thailand and prepare the necessary documents for its registration;
reserve a trading name;
ensure the statutory requirements for company registration in terms of shareholding and management structures for private and public limited liability companies;
file the documents with the Business Development Department for verification;
collect the Registration Certificate.

The entire procedure can be overseen by our attorneys in Thailand, who can also offer representation based on a power of attorney. This can prove very useful for foreign entrepreneurs who want to avoid language barriers.

Documents to prepare for company registration in Thailand

When you register a Thai business, you need to prepare various papers in accordance with the type of company selected. The most complex documentation is associated with the companies, which is why we will focus on them, as follows:

the Memorandum and Articles of Association;
the details of the shareholders and directors;
the trading name reservation form;
bank statement certificates are required in the case of Thai shareholders;
proof of a legal address in Thailand.

To create a sole proprietorship or partnership, there are fewer documents to gather. To simplify matters, you can rely on us for support with the registration of any type of business.

Other functions of the Thai Commercial Register

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Department of Business Development is an important authority, and it has multiple functions. Apart from company registration, it is also possible to:

perform checks on existing companies;
make alterations to existing businesses;
register company dissolutions;
issue various documents to companies;
receive and record financial statements that indicate the correct functioning of enterprises.

The Trade Register is also in charge of registering foreign-owned businesses, among which:

branches;
representative offices.

It must be noted that in the case of foreign-owned enterprises, it is necessary to obtain a Foreign Business License from the Department of Business Development (or a Foreign Business Certificate based on BOI promotion or a treaty) for activities restricted under the Foreign Business Act. Please refer to our law firm in Thailand for additional information on this license.

Recording company amendments with the Business Register

The Registrar operates as a database of the existing companies in Thailand. As such, some alterations brought to a business must be notified with it. Among them are the following:

changes that affect the shareholding or management structures of the enterprise;
legal address alterations;
share capital modifications;
status changes (insolvency, restructuring).

Compliance requirements for Thai companies

The Department of Business Development is overseen by the Thai Ministry of Commerce, and companies must meet specific compliance procedures to avoid penalties. Specifically:

business alterations must be registered no later than 14 days from the date they were changed (e.g., director changes, special resolutions);
the dissolution must be registered within 14 days of the shareholders' resolution to dissolve;
loss of Registration Certificates must be announced within 30 days for the issuance of new ones.

If you want to register a business in Thailand and need support, please contact us.