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Can I own a business in Thailand with a marriage or retirement visa?
Marriage VisaRetirement VisaBusiness Ownership in ThailandWork Permit RegulationsThai Company OwnershipTreaty of AmityVisa Types in ThailandExpat Business Laws
Feb 2, 2026
3 months ago
Marco **********
ORIGINAL POSTERIs the marriage visa or the retirement visa allow me to own a small business ??
TLDR : Answer Summary
A marriage visa allows you to start a business, but you can only actively work if you obtain a work permit through your Thai spouse. In this case, the business may need to be owned in your wife's name (you can hold 49% of the shares). A retirement visa, however, does not permit any form of work at all.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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Ian *******
Yes you can open a company and yes it is
*****
% foreign/thai owned but your 49% shares are preferential having 5:1 voting rights. This way you have some protection / control? If you intend to trade in Thailand you will need a work permit and only on a work visa or marriage visa can you get this.Neil ********
Unless you have a work permit then you can only be a silent partner/ director of the business with 49% sure. 51% has to be Thai.
Not something I would go into unless you understand Thailand. Don’t wing it. Set up a proper Ltd company and run it with full P&L as you would outside Thailand
Not something I would go into unless you understand Thailand. Don’t wing it. Set up a proper Ltd company and run it with full P&L as you would outside Thailand
Marcos **********
Open a 51% Thai / 49% Foreign Company or a 100% Thai Wife Company.
Search Google for Work Permit Services and Hire a company to handle your Work Permit. (Around 15k THB per month)
Search Google for Work Permit Services and Hire a company to handle your Work Permit. (Around 15k THB per month)
Midiah ********
For Americans don't need Thai... 100 percent ownership 💖
John ********
Waste of time reading all this garbage !
Francois *************
No
David *********
Im not sure if you can become a ladyboy ?
Khayaw **********************
You can buy it , but not own it in your name and not work in it , without workpermit !!
Eric **********************
Both will allow it but there is better ways
Alan **********
No nothing to do with being married or single
Ken ********
Check the list of jobs non thais can't do there are about 150 jobs you can't do even on your own business
Nongnuch ********
Your Thai wife can own 100% of a company (means that you are the silent owner in the background) and employ you in a position for which you can get a work permit
Nongnuch ********
Aaron Towns . . I personally know three foreigners who do exactly this, in the jewellery manufacture & export business. So there is nothing to laugh about
Reply to
Nongnuch ********
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Debo *********
Always need a thai partner to open a business
Mick *****
Debo Franchi hard to get a marriage visa without one so one would assume he has a thai partner
Nongnuch ********
Debo Franchi not really.. . . . unless the partner is your wife. Your Thai wife can own 100% of a company (means that you are the silent owner in the background) and employ you in a position for which you can get a work permit
Reply to
Nongnuch ********
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Carlo ******************
Nope
Michael ********
What a mish mash of answers 5555
Scooter *****
Only a
****
Aly *******
Retirement means you retired from work .....
Gordon *******
Is it a bar or massage shop.
If so you're following a long line of Falangs
If so you're following a long line of Falangs
John **********
Generally speaking you can only own a maximum of 49% of a business unless you are American and its a business under the Amity Treaty
Bob ******
Get married own 49%, she owns 51% until you divorce then she gets 100%
Brad *******
Neither
MisterB********
Not.
Whelkome in rules of discrimination
Whelkome in rules of discrimination
Ceri ********
If it from a company out side of Thailand then yes but inside you can only own 49% of it
Lawrence *******
Ceri Mcdade If the spouse is American, according to the Treaty of Amity, he can own 100% of a business without having the required 4 Thai employees.
Nongnuch ********
Lawrence Glynn if . . if . . if . . if . . the OP is French, not American. His wife is Thai, not American . . . . . . . you make ifs . . ifs. . ifs like a parrot 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Ceri ********
Lawrence Glynn yeah and let’s see what happens
Lawrence *******
Ceri Mcdade If one has no business sense or acumen, this venture is not for the faint-hearted.....or one who does not possess the means to successfully invest.😉
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Lawrence *******
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John *********
I suppose you could, but the bigger question is why? My Thai wife had a Thai restaurant in North America and she earned 30 times more in NA than she could have earned in Thailand. You would have to work 480 hours per day to keep up.
Jim ********
John N Kwan that's not an answer to his question
Dan *******
Agreed. Most restaurants close within the first year.
****
fail shortly afterwards.Reply to
Dan *******
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Johnny ******
My wife (we) open a waterfactory soon, can i get a workpermit on that, and how to do ?
Peter **********
Johnny Thai Yes, if you have a registered capital of 2 million baht, and the Thai/Foreigner ratio is
You also need a marriage visa or a business visa
***
You also need a marriage visa or a business visa
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Peter **********
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Pascal ********
With a marriage visa, you can start a business in your wife's name. She can then get you a work visa, allowing you to work. This is the only visa that allows you to work if your wife is the boss.
The retirement visa does not allow you to work, that's why it's called a retirement visa.
The retirement visa does not allow you to work, that's why it's called a retirement visa.
John ******
Pascal Nigout that's incorrect, a LTR visa allows you to work
Andy ***********
John Pete - can you get a work permit on this visa ? This is news
Christopher ******
John Pete even the ‘wealthy pensioner’?
Nongnuch ********
Christopher Frey no, if you choose "Wealthy Foreigner LTR" option, you are not allowed to work
Reply to
Nongnuch ********
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Nongnuch ********
John Pete yes, the LTR can be had for four different categories, of which two of these allow work
Pascal ********
Nongnuch Kamdee Yes, but that's not the question he's asking.
Reply to
Pascal ********
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Pascal ********
John Pete That's not the point!
Reply to
Pascal ********
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Peter **********
Pascal Nigout To obtain a work permit the Thai/foreigner ratio is
***
Pascal ********
Peter Forsgren non pas si tu est marié, dans ce cas là c'est 2 employé thai dont ta femme, donc un seul a embaucher
Si tu es marié c'est divisé par deux c'est deux employés pour un étranger
Si tu es marié c'est divisé par deux c'est deux employés pour un étranger
Nongnuch ********
Pascal Nigout correct. . . . . The 4:1 ratio can be bargained down. The Thai wife 100% owner might even count as two, if she pays her own social security. This reduces the foreigner/Thai ratio to 2:1. And even if she can bargain the ratio down to only 3:1, she hires one of her relatives just on the paper, and is back to a 2:1 ratio
Reply to
Nongnuch ********
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Andrew ********
You can invest with any visa. If you are married to a Thai its alot easier for the buiness to be in their name, you can only own 49% of it
Nongnuch ********
Lawrence Glynn Treaty of Amity is only good for U.S. Citizens. "Marco Beaulieu"? He is French, and his wife is Thai . . . it is rather YOUR expertise which is LACKING 😂😂😂😂
Nongnuch ********
Aaron Towns . . I personally know three foreigners who do exactly this, in the jewellery manufacture & export business. So there is nothing to laugh about
Lawrence *******
Nongnuch Kamdee Several people pointed out Americans can own a business. Your comment clearly made it appear that no one could.
😅🤣😂
😅🤣😂
Reply to
Lawrence *******
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Nongnuch ********
Andrew Romine he doesn't need any shareholders, as his Thai wife can own 100%
Lawrence *******
Nongnuch Kamdee Google Treaty of Amity. Your expertise here is lacking and needs some updating, especially if the spouse is an American. He can own 100% of a business. See moderator John Stanners comments.
Lawrence *******
Nongnuch Kamdee Obviously,I know. I pointed it out.
😅🤣😂 You're a little slow in catching up. 🤣😅😂
😅🤣😂 You're a little slow in catching up. 🤣😅😂
Reply to
Lawrence *******
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Sacha ****
You would need a work permit to actively participate in work, you can apply for a work permit with marriage visa provided you meet the requirements, but not with retirement visa.
Kevin ********
I think on marriage visa you can apply for work visa through your wife ,retirement visa I'm sure you can't work at all
Graham ******
Kevin Largue correct except it's a work permit
Peter **********
Kevin Largue correct
Reply to
Peter **********
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