no in most cases. Exceptions are it’s BoI ( Board of Investment ) or you have a foreign business license.
Certain categories any nationality can own as a 99.99% foreign owner as you are not competing against Thais. Such as exporting, manufacturing ( restricted to not with ice making or guns ) and if you then export 100% what you mfg.
You can own the business 100% in your name as a American under a sole proprietorship or own 99.999% of the shares in a limited company. It’s under the Amity treaty. Don’t make a mistake. Relationships change no matter how sure you are.
I know of a case two months ago. Friends invested 700,000 baht in a business for eyebrows. They put it in one of the guy’s Gf name. The guy and girl had been together 3 years. Always on Facebook how they adore each other. My wife and I went to the grand opening on a Saturday. By Tuesday morning, the locks had been changed and she had broke up and left the house. It was her business now. Everything before was paid in cash. The girl has 20 bookings plus a day now. How would you feel walking by it and seeing it be a success and you get nothing ?
It’s a little complicated on the business visa. As someone has to sponsor you to get the WP3. That’s the pre-clearance for the work permit as the embassy usually wants this to get the business visa and in most cases, need the work permit for the business category to be allowed into Thailand cause of covid. Put your Gf as a co- director with you. With her signing powers limited to immigration and the labor dept. After the company is set up, you then can get the Wp3, then the business visa and then come to Thailand.
I know a lawyer if you want more info that knows the process. PM for the details.
Sorry for your loss. I’m personally very thankful we live in one of safest places in the World right now. I own 23 restaurants and sure tourism would help but at what cost ? Time to make money and time to survive. We are surviving and helping others. 🙏🙏❤️❤️
the Wp3 application can take 5 to 10 days for approval. The Wp3 certification letter must be the original letter when given to the embassy . During this whole process, the applicant must remain outside Thailand.