Registering a company in Thailand is quick. Registering one that can legally employ you, satisfy immigration and survive an audit is a different exercise, and the difference only becomes visible months later when the work permit is refused.
We build the structure backwards from what you actually want to do: the work permit, the visa extension, the bank account and the tax position, then the registration that supports all four.
What actually matters in the structure
- Registered capital, which drives both the work permit and the credibility of the company.
- The shareholding split, and how much practical control the foreign shareholder really has.
- The Thai employee ratio you will need to support a foreign work permit.
- Whether you register for VAT immediately or later, which affects your obligations from month one.
- Social security registration, which immigration and the labour department both look at.
The nominee question, answered straight
You will be offered structures using Thai shareholders who hold shares in name only. These arrangements are common and they are also expressly against Thai law, which means the risk sits entirely with you and becomes real precisely when something goes wrong.
We will explain the legitimate alternatives for your situation, including whether a Treaty of Amity structure, a BOI route or simply a properly capitalised company with genuine Thai partners fits what you are trying to do.
How it works
- 1
Plan
What the business does, who works in it, and whether you need a work permit. The answers determine the structure.
- 2
Reserve and register
Name reservation, memorandum, registration at the Department of Business Development.
- 3
Post registration
Corporate bank account, VAT if applicable, social security registration.
- 4
Work permit
We run the labour department file straight after, using the same company documents.
Frequently asked questions
Can I own 100 percent of a Thai company?
In most business activities a foreigner is limited to a minority shareholding, with real exceptions such as BOI promoted activities and, for US citizens, the Treaty of Amity. Which exception applies to you depends on what the business actually does, and that is the first thing we look at.
How long does registration take?
The registration itself is fast, typically a matter of days once the documents and shareholders are in place. The realistic timeline is driven by the bank account and the work permit that follow it.
Do I need an office address?
Yes, and it needs to be a real address that can be inspected, because the labour department may visit before issuing a work permit. We will tell you what will and will not pass.
Thinking of starting a business in Pattaya?
Tell us what the business will do and whether you need a work permit. We will map the structure in one conversation, before you spend anything.
Related services
- Visa servicesBusiness visa and work permit in PattayaThe Non-Immigrant B entry, the work permit and the yearly extension, handled as one file instead of three separate problems.
- Legal servicesLegal consulting for foreignersA straight answer about where you stand, before it becomes a dispute you are paying to fight.
- Legal servicesContract drafting and reviewSomeone reads the Thai version and tells you what it actually says, before your signature is on it.
- Visa servicesOpening a Thai bank account in PattayaThe account you need before a retirement or marriage extension, opened with the documents the branch actually asks for.