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Can I obtain a visa for living in Thailand if I buy a house without opening a company?

visa regulations Thai property ownership investment visa NON-O visa board of investment (BOI)Thai Elite visa

Jan 13, 2019

6 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

If I buy a house in one of the islands, for investment or for a living. What’s the situation with visa?

Do I have to open a company with a Thai to be able to live/stay/manage my place?

Is there a minimum for an investment?

For example, if one buy a house for $500k, will he get some sort of visa without a company?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Buying a house in Thailand does not automatically grant a visa or residency rights. For homeowners, opening a company is not necessary just to maintain the property, but possible pathways to acquire a visa include investing a minimum of 10 million baht under specific conditions. The Board of Investment (BOI) offers certain incentives for investments, but typically, residential properties like villas on islands do not qualify. As an alternative, the Thai Elite visa is available for investors. Overall, purchasing property in Thailand does not guarantee visa benefits.

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Robert *******

Well I guess there is enough information given to make the next stap. Good luck.

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Tod *********

you are confusing several things in your attempt to understand the visa you can get when you invest 10 million baht into the country.

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Gregor **********

and this again is not visa related, as holding property in form of a condo or a house does not automatically entitle to any kind of visa. He can open a company and get employed by his own company, obtain a work permit and receive a Non-Imm-B visa, but that's what's to it . . .a lot of circumvening around the essential things

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Ran ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

“your question IS visa related” , and then later - “This has nothing to do with Thai visa advise”. Looks that you take yourself too seriously, you manage a group on FB, not Apple inc.

Take it easy you are not that important 🙂

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Robert *******

The Non Immigrant Visa is maximum a 1 year multiple entry visa. After that you can apply for a 1 year Extension of Stay.

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Gregor **********

. . i can see some of your dreams in free fall from very high expectations . . . .all these advice here has been straightforward. I wish you well and please visit a lawyer specialized on investments and company law

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Robert *******

Talk to a lawyer about opening a company. This has nothing to do with Thai visa advice. AS said one of the things is that Thais own minimum 51 % and you max 49 %, but investment into this company must be shared by all owners.

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Gregor **********

like we said before: a property ownership is not tied to any visa regulation, meaning the owning a company or property does not automatically result in the Thai giving you a visa for longstay. Like I said: two separate issues

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Gregor **********

no visa as company owner. Only a Non-Imm-B visa as for being employed by a Thai company of which you can own the maximum of 49%

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Ran ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Gregor *********

so the visa I get for ? For having a company with a Thai co founder?

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Gregor **********

you can "own" the company factually, but nominally & legally it is alway 49% you and 51% Thai partners

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Gregor **********

Ran Tur yes you can buy a hotel (not the land) in the name of the company which belongs to you by 49%. Or you can buy it in the name of your Thai wife or girlfriend, or any other thai "partner".Or you can buy a leasehold right for maximum of 30 years in your name

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Ran ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

oh that’s what I was looking for. Exactly. So it’s the opposite, Thai “hire” them?

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Ran ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Gregor *********

talked with them, all of them - it’s bought.

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Robert *******

They first set up a company with Thai partners, the Thai partner applies for the Work Permit and the foreigner gets company documents to apply for the Non Immigrant B visa.

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Gregor **********

Ran Tur they are mostly leased, not bought . . . partnerships

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Ran ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

and if this house is defined and function as a small hotel? I see many westerns buy and manage hotels, how they do this?

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Gregor **********

you should visit a lawyer who deals in property and company constructs in order to get a broader picture and insight of the laws regarding property in Thailand for foreigners. And at the end buy yourself an Elite visa if you are planning long stay - or if you are over 50 years old, you can get a Non-Imm-O visa based on retirement with ease

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Robert *******

Ran Tur Do not remove please, your question IS visa related. Only the answer is NO, there is no relation between buying a house and getting a visa, unless it goes by investments using the BOI as earlier mentioned.

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Ran ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Gregor *********

ok so remove it, I guess it makes your day

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Ran ******

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Robert *******

You do not need to open a company to maintain or clean the house if you life in that house.

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Gregor **********

"certain BOI deals for certain properties" would not include a villa with swimming pool on one of the islands, though. Maybe for an hotel and for employing Thai staff?

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Robert *******

There are condo complexes offered, but I guess you are right about the villa with pool on the island.

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Robert *******

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Robert *******

As mentioned no special privileges if you buy a house. Unless you invest in property using the Board of Investment in Thailand, they have special deals for certain property

*******************************

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Gregor **********

these are separate issues. To own property in Thailland does not put anyone in a better or worse situation regarding a visa. You do not need to have property in order to buy an Elite Longstay visa, and vice versa: having an Elite Visa does not enable you to buy certain property in Thailand

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Sergey *********

You can buy Thai Elite visa as well. There are some kinds of "investment" visas, but I have no details about them...

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Adrian ************

@Sergey ********

500-000 baht

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Reply to

Adrian ************

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