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What are the requirements and challenges for setting up a business and obtaining a business visa in Bangkok?

Business Visa Thai Immigration Setting up a Business Visa Regulations Expat Advice Thailand Business Work Permit Foreign Investment Visa Requirements

Mar 27, 2021

4 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Can anybody advise on setting up a business and a business visa in BKK?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Setting up a business in Bangkok can be quite complex, especially for expats. To obtain a business visa and work permit, one must have a minimum registered capital of 2 million baht, hire at least four Thai employees, and comply with ownership regulations (foreigners can own only 49%). Seeking professional assistance from a lawyer or a reputable legal firm is highly recommended for navigating these challenges. Success in business is possible with thorough market research, effective marketing strategies, and solid financial practices. However, many expats have noted the risks of potential failures, particularly due to insufficient preparation or misunderstanding of the local business climate.

Martin **********

My advice. If you need to ask this question here you are not ready. These informations you should better ask a lawyer in Thailand, best probably a Farang lawyer.

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Jeff ********

Funny (but old) joke (or advice?) about how to become a “Millionaire” in Thailand: first invest a “Billion” baht in a Thai business...

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Christopher ******

I have a Thai Amity company with a clean balance sheet I’d like to sell for real cheap like transfer costs, let’s an American own 99.94% but still need to find 4 employees. In biz since 2007 so has good history, name change not too hard

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Dwight ***********

I started a company here and still running it. I used a legal firm that did everything for me right as they said they would. Bisiness license work permit taxes etc. They were the best investment i've ever made here. I've referred many people to them and they are all happy with the service. Contact them and see for yourself.

@MDG ****************

ask for K. Jui

☆☆☆☆☆

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Russell ******

কিং রোমান এর নাটক দেখুন ও শেয়ার করুন💫💖

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

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Don *********

Lots of people will tell you to contact a law firm. That's like contacting a dentist to help you set a dislocated shoulder.

How about contacting a firm that specializes in helping foreigners to invest in or setting up their business in Thailand?

Hit me up on PM if you want more info. Luck be, I own one such firm.

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Stephen *********

Get referrals for a good attorney

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Nicky ******

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Vyacheslav ************

@Lex ********************************

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Steve *******

Pro tip: Invest in a business in Phnom Penh, Cambodia instead.

That place is on the rise and you'll get a much better return there.

A big bonus is not having to deal with Thai Immigration's bs.

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John *********

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Brahim ******

Contact a law firm. Plenty of them out there.

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Nigel *********

Not too difficult. You do need a good accountant. If they have a good relationship with the Labour department even better. My business comes With aTAT licence that has some extra expenses. But it's working out OK. Bit of a slow process though. Covid slowed things down a bit.

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Zillur ********

@Nigel *********************

hi, What is your total expenses to open tourism business including TAT license. I have a plan when everything will be opened. Please pm me if possible. Thanks 🙏

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Adrián ******************

@Zillur *******

I'm interested, could you share the price?

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Nigel *********

@Zillur *******

BTW. Find a good accountant, a lawyer is useful but in reality will just employ an accountant to do the work.

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Nigel *********

@Zillur *******

pm sent

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LA *********

@Nigel *********************

i would appreciate any info as well.

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LA *********

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Edward ******

There are 3 options.

1: transfer money from overseas any county, equal to 5millions. Rent a shop or place to do business, get agreement,personal ID documents of landlord with your passport copies and bank book,go to see a lawyer he will charge you about $3500 company registration fee,work permit,one year visa. Doing all this first you check the market about your business.there are many occupation and businesses prohibited for the foreigners check it first.if your documents are complete easy to set up . 2: BOI approved company.3 get Merry to a Thai everything easy

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Martin *********

... just remember to bring a large fortune.

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Irene *******

I just PM’d you some information that may help you please check your inbox

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Siddhartha *********

can you please forward that to me too? My mrs is Thai

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Zillur ********

please send me also. I have a plan to open tourism business in Thailand when everything will be opened. Thanks

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Irene *******

@Zillur *******

hi I just messaged you please check your inbox

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Irene *******

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Kool *******

The main elements in setting up a business so you can get a type B visa, and a work permit, that you also must have, is having bt2million in registered capital and that you hire, and pay social security on at least 4 Thai employees for each work permit, and that you can only own 49% of it. 51% of it must be owned by Thais, but they can assign you their voting rights in the corporation. That is the basics.

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Steven ***************

. If you happen to be married to a Thai, its halved.eg. 1 million baht capital and 2 Thai employees

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Kool *******

@Steven **************

Is the OP married to a Thai? If not then your comment doesn't apply

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Steven ***************

. Is he not married to a Thai? Do you know? That's why I said IF. Going by his profile picture it's a high possibility. I'm sure he knows if he is or isn't and can disregard it.

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Steven ***************

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Luciano ***********

With a Visa connected to owning a business in thailand do you still have to renew it every 12 months ?

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Frédéric ******************

@Luciano **********

At the beginning yes. After 5 years you can apply for a permanent residence which is granted with parsimony.

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Frédéric ******************

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Simon *******

a nice reply 🙏🙏🙏

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Simon *******

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Giorgio ******

Asking this question

Here is the proof you're not ready 🤣🤣🤣

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Peter *********

Do your own research

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Winston *********

@Peter ********

but that takes effort.

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Giorgio ******

@Winston ********

business is not for people who can't make an effort.

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Peter *********

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Peter *********

@Winston ********

correct lol 😆

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Peter *********

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Wayne *****

Plenty of biah bars up for sale if you interested in that

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Brian *********

He who dares to tread,

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Falcon *******

better not in Thailand think of another country.

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Falcon *******

Tons of documents...back and forth...a company to do it..cost from Thb$100k

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Alain **********

Thailand is an excellent place to loose your investment, most businesses don’t work out.

I have witnessed x tens of failures, zero successful ones.

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Falcon *******

@Alain *********

very true

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Gary ***********

My advice .....learn the Thai language first or else you must always rely on the good faith of translators. Also...be prepared to do things ''Thai style'' and never show your Falang Jai Rawn side in public. Be prepared to pay a little extra for things that need doing regarding your business...this means paying bribes ! I know of some foreigners who have been successful....and know more that have not. Business in Thailand is a daunting risky challenge ..but not impossible....nothing is. Chok Dee na kaap

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Don *********

@Alain *********

a lot of businesses fail because they didn't research prior to setting up their business, they failed to market their business, they recruited poorly, implemented a toxic company culture, and they hemorrhage money through bad business matching.

There are thousands of successful businesses, but they set up and ran their business properly and always continued to fix issues. Also.. Reinvested into their own business over and over rather than giving themselves a nice, big, juicy end of the year bonuses.

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Edward ******

@Alain *********

if you know what you are doing impossible to loose in Thailand.

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Stuart *********

@Alain *********

I know of many successful ones. Some mega successful. Many are not so. Especially in the entertainment/bar/restaurant arena but it’s like anywhere in the world if you sell a product or service that people are willing to part cash for you can be successful. Also someone somewhere said location, location, location. Probably very true for many set ups.

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Cameron ********

@Alain *********

How can I keep the investment tight?

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Michael ********

@Alain *********

seen loads of succesful ones, but they are usually the people that stay quiet

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Alain **********

@Michael *******

experiences and opinions differ....

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Alain **********

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Alexia *****

If you got the money everything is possible! Thailand is one of the easiest country to set up business

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Falcon *******

its Singapore..

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Michael ********

????

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Michael ********

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Falcon *******

not true

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Alexia *****

I'm from Singapore!

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Alexia *****

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Stan *******

And one of the easiest countries to lose it all.

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Stan *******

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Stuart *********

As Benjamin inferred the rules are different for different nationalities (especially American) but they are pretty much a minefield so you’d need to engage a knowledgeable lawyer or accountant to handle it for you. Sorry I don’t know any for the Bangkok region so I’ll let others advise.

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Benjamin ******

@Stuart ********

I know a couple, and some potential loopholes too, depending on nationality. Sadly, I'm stepping out of this discussion

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Benjamin ******

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Benjamin ******

A real business, or a fake visa agent?

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Edward ******

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David ********

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

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Jonathan ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

if you can share more info on both the more knowledgeable I become 😀

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Benjamin ******

I can only share information about the first option. Are you an American citizen?

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LA *********

@Benjamin *****

hey i would appreciate any info you can share. P.s. I'm american citezen.

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Jonathan ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

let’s say European

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Benjamin ******

I'm not going to play this "let's say" stuff. Especially since there's no such legal entity as "European". Bye

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James *******

@Benjamin *****

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Jonathan ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

i didn’t mean to upset you. We can discuss on a pm if that helps

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Jonathan ****

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