# Belaws

> Belaws is a one-stop legal, corporate, and accounting services platform in Thailand, helping foreign investors and businesses operate compliantly. They specialize in company formation, BOI licensing, visa solutions, and ongoing corporate management.

Website: https://belaws.com
Phone: +66 65 956 8176
Email: hello@belaws.com
Address: Ocean Tower 2, Sukhumvit 19, Bangkok, Thailand

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## Services

- **Consultation**: One-on-one expert guidance. → https://belaws.com/contact/

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## Information

### BOI Promotion — 100% Foreign Ownership & Tax

WHAT IT IS:
Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) promotion allows foreign investors to own 100% of a company in Thailand and receive significant tax incentives. It is the most popular route for foreign businesses entering Thailand.
KEY BENEFITS:

100% foreign ownership — no Thai partners or nominees required
Corporate income tax exemptions of up to 13 years (up to 15 years for EEC projects)
Import duty exemptions on machinery and raw materials
No 4:1 Thai-to-foreign staff ratio requirement
No minimum registered capital of THB 2 million per foreign employee
BOI companies can own land (up to 5 rai for offices, 20 rai for worker housing)
Fast-track visa and work permit processing through BOI One-Stop Service Centre (OSOS)
Permission to bring in foreign skilled workers and experts

WHO IS IT FOR:

Foreign entrepreneurs launching a business in eligible sectors
Tech companies (software development, digital platforms, SaaS, fintech)
Manufacturing businesses (automotive, electronics, machinery, food processing)
Agriculture, biotechnology, medical devices, healthcare services
Data centres and cloud services
E-commerce platforms with value-added technology
R&D centres and engineering design services
Logistics and distribution centres
Renewable energy and EV-related businesses
Any foreign business wanting full ownership without Thai partners

NOT ELIGIBLE:

Retail shops, restaurants/F&B outlets (general consumer)
Standard import/export trading without value-add
Residential real estate development
General consulting (may qualify under TISO instead)

RECENT UPDATES (2025-2026):

From September 2025, new restrictions on foreign land ownership for certain manufacturing sectors (metals, chemicals, plastics), though existing large BOI investors are grandfathered
New salary and staffing requirements for foreign employees effective October 2025
Since January 2026, all company registrations must use the digital DBD Biz Regist platform
Enhanced incentives for data centres, green manufacturing, and EEC-based projects
Five renewed investment measures for global relocation and manufacturing upgrades (2026-2027)

TYPICAL TIMELINE:

Application to certificate: 2-4 months (digital/software companies often faster at 2-3 months)
Company registration after BOI approval: 2-4 weeks

HOW BELAWS HELPS:

Free initial consultation to assess BOI eligibility
Full application preparation and submission
Company incorporation after BOI approval
Ongoing BOI compliance, reporting, and audits
Visa and work permit processing through OSOS

### Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa — 10-Year Visa for Retirees, Remote Workers & Professionals

WHAT IT IS:
The LTR Visa is a 10-year renewable visa issued by Thailand's BOI. It targets four categories of high-potential foreigners who want to live in Thailand long-term. It is NOT a work visa for people employed by Thai companies — it is for people with independent wealth, pensions, or foreign employment.
THE 4 CATEGORIES:

WEALTHY PENSIONERS (largest category — ~37% of approvals)

Aged 50 or older
Option A: Annual pension/passive income of at least USD 80,000 (employment income does NOT qualify — must be pension, dividends, rental income, etc.)
Option B: Annual passive income of at least USD 40,000 + investment of at least USD 250,000 in Thai assets (government bonds, Thai property, or direct investment in a Thai company)
Must have health insurance coverage for duration of stay
RECOMMEND THIS for retirees, people mentioning pension, passive income, retirement, "no longer working", "moved abroad on savings"


WEALTHY GLOBAL CITIZENS

No age requirement
Net assets of at least USD 1 million
Annual income of at least USD 80,000
Must invest at least USD 500,000 in Thai assets (government bonds, direct investment, or property)
RECOMMEND THIS for wealthy individuals, investors, HNWI, people mentioning large savings or investments


WORK-FROM-THAILAND PROFESSIONALS (Remote Workers / Digital Nomads)

No age requirement
Employed by or contracted with a foreign company (not a Thai company)
Employer must be a public company OR private company with revenue of at least USD 150 million/year (for at least 3 of the last 5 years)
Personal income of at least USD 80,000/year (or USD 40,000+ with a master's degree, IP ownership, or Series A funding)
RECOMMEND THIS for digital nomads, remote workers, people mentioning "work remotely from Thailand", "foreign employer", "freelancer with high income"


HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONALS

Employed by a Thai company or government agency in a targeted industry (EV, biotech, digital, aerospace, medical, etc.)
Annual income of at least USD 80,000 (or USD 40,000+ with master's/PhD in STEM fields)
Employer must be in a BOI-targeted industry
Gets a flat 17% personal income tax rate (vs. progressive up to 35%)
RECOMMEND THIS for high-earning professionals relocating TO Thailand for employment in targeted sectors



KEY BENEFITS (all categories):

10-year stay (5+5 year renewal)
Multiple entry — no visa runs
Annual reporting only (not 90-day)
Digital work permit included
Fast-track airport immigration
Spouse and up to 4 children under 20 can be added
Same-sex spouses recognised under Thailand's Marriage Equality Act
Wealthy Pensioners, Global Citizens, and Remote Workers: 0% personal income tax on foreign-sourced income
Highly Skilled Professionals: flat 17% personal income tax on Thai-sourced income
Exemption from 4:1 Thai-to-foreigner ratio

WHAT IT IS NOT:

It is NOT a cheap or easy visa — requires substantial income/assets
It does NOT allow someone employed by a Thai company (except Highly Skilled category)
Cryptocurrency holdings do NOT count as qualifying assets
Travel insurance or basic health cards do NOT meet the health insurance requirement

COMPARED TO OTHER OPTIONS:

vs. Retirement Visa (Non-O): LTR offers 10 years vs. 1 year, tax benefits, digital work permit, but has much higher income requirements
vs. Thailand Privilege (Elite) Visa: LTR has income/asset requirements but offers tax benefits; Privilege has no income requirements but no tax benefits
If someone doesn't meet LTR thresholds, suggest "retirement" (if 50+) or "elite" (any age) as alternatives

### Company Registration & Foreign Business Structures in Thailand

WHAT IT IS:
Setting up a company in Thailand as a foreigner involves choosing the right business structure based on your activity, nationality, and ownership needs. The most common structure is a Thai Private Limited Company.
BUSINESS STRUCTURES:

THAI PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY (most common)

At least 2 shareholders required (changed from previous 3-shareholder requirement)
Foreign ownership capped at 49% under the Foreign Business Act (FBA)
Thai shareholders must hold at least 51% of shares
Since January 2026, all registrations must use the online DBD Biz Regist platform (no physical submissions)
Minimum registered capital: THB 5,000 filing fee, but THB 2 million per foreign employee if applying for work permits
Directors can be 100% foreign even with Thai majority shareholders
Timeline: 2-4 weeks for incorporation
IMPORTANT: Nominee shareholders (Thai partners holding shares on behalf of foreigners) are ILLEGAL and increasingly prosecuted. Thai authorities are actively checking shareholder legitimacy since 2024-2025.


BOI-PROMOTED COMPANY

100% foreign ownership in eligible sectors
See BOI Promotion knowledge entry for full details



FOREIGN BUSINESS LICENSE (FBL) COMPANY

Allows foreign-majority ownership for activities restricted under the FBA
Application to Ministry of Commerce, takes 3-4 months
Required for service businesses, trading companies, or activities not covered by BOI
Not all activities will be granted an FBL



US TREATY OF AMITY / TISO

US citizens and companies can hold majority or 100% ownership under the US-Thailand Treaty of Amity
TISO (Treaty Investor Status Organization) allows certain service activities with 100% foreign ownership but no tax incentives
TISO activities: advisory/consulting, BPO, machinery import/wholesale, wholesale of Thai products, engineering services
TISO requirement: minimum turnover of THB 10 million/year



REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE

Extension of foreign head office
Cannot generate revenue in Thailand
Limited to market research, sourcing, quality control, advisory
Useful for companies testing the Thai market before full setup


BRANCH OFFICE

Foreign company's branch conducting revenue-generating activities
Full liability sits with parent company
Corporate tax on Thai-sourced profits only



KEY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL COMPANIES:

Registered address in Thailand
Annual accounting, tax filings, and statutory audit
VAT registration if annual revenue exceeds THB 1.8 million
Social Security registration for Thai and foreign employees
All foreign-language documents must be translated by Ministry of Justice-certified translators

HOW BELAWS HELPS:

Free initial consultation to determine the best structure
Full company registration service
Registered office address
Ongoing corporate secretary services
BOI application if eligible
FBL application if needed
Work permit and visa processing for staff

### Visas & Work Permits for Foreign Employees in Thailand

WHAT IT IS:
Any foreigner who wants to work in Thailand needs two things: a Non-Immigrant B Visa (the entry visa) AND a Work Permit (the authorization to work). These are separate documents from different government agencies. A visa alone does NOT allow you to work.
THE STANDARD PROCESS (Non-BOI route):
Step 1: EMPLOYER REQUIREMENTS

The Thai company must have at least THB 2 million in registered capital PER foreign worker
Must employ at least 4 Thai nationals for every 1 foreign hire (4:1 ratio)
Must submit a WP.3 form (employer pre-approval) to the Department of Employment

Step 2: NON-IMMIGRANT B VISA

Applied for at a Thai Embassy or Consulate outside Thailand
Requires: passport valid 6+ months, invitation letter from Thai employer, company registration documents, employment contract
Initial entry allows 90-day stay

Step 3: WORK PERMIT

Applied for AFTER arriving in Thailand with the Non-B visa
Tied to a specific employer, job title, duties, and location
Must be obtained within 15 days of arrival (if WP.3 was pre-approved)
Requires medical certificate covering 6 prohibited diseases
Annual renewal required

Step 4: VISA EXTENSION

After obtaining the work permit, extend the Non-B visa to 1 year at Immigration
Must renew annually alongside work permit

BOI ROUTE (faster and easier):

BOI-promoted companies process visas and work permits through the One-Stop Service Centre (OSOS)
No 4:1 Thai staff ratio requirement
No THB 2 million capital per foreign worker requirement
Digital work permit issued
Can be completed in a single day at OSOS
BOI invitation letter used for embassy visa application

OTHER VISA TYPES BELAWS HANDLES:

Business Visa (Non-B): For employment or business purposes
Marriage/Spouse Visa (Non-O): For foreigners married to Thai nationals
Retirement Visa (Non-O-A / Non-O-X): For retirees aged 50+ — requires 800,000 THB in Thai bank OR monthly income of 65,000 THB. Annual renewal (O-A) or 5-year (O-X). No work permitted.
Dependent Visa: For family members of work permit holders
Education Visa (Non-ED): For students enrolled in Thai institutions

THAILAND PRIVILEGE (ELITE) VISA:

Formerly called Thailand Elite Visa, now branded as Thailand Privilege Visa
Paid membership program: 5, 10, 15, or 20-year visa
Current packages (2026): Gold (5 years, THB 900,000), Platinum (10 years, THB 1,500,000), Diamond (15 years, THB 2,500,000)
No income, employment, or investment requirements — purely a paid membership
VIP airport fast-track, concierge, lounge access
Does NOT include a work permit — must be obtained separately if working
Best for: people wanting long-term residency without working, frequent travellers, those who don't qualify for LTR or retirement visa


COSTS (government fees, approximate):

Non-B Visa: THB 2,000 (single entry) or THB 5,000 (multiple entry)
Work Permit: THB 3,000/year (digital work permit)
Visa extension: THB 1,900
BOI route is generally cheaper and faster than standard route

HOW BELAWS HELPS:

Expert assessment of which visa route is best
Full document preparation and submission
Accompaniment to government offices
BOI OSOS processing for BOI companies
Annual renewal management
Work permit amendments for job changes


RECOMMEND "ltr" instead if: user has high income ($80k+) and wants 10-year option with tax benefits.
RECOMMEND "elite" if: user wants long-term stay, doesn't meet LTR or retirement requirements, or just wants simplicity without income proof.
RECOMMEND "retirement" if: user is 50+, modest income/savings, just wants to retire (not work).

Link for work permit is this one : https://belaws.com/live-in-thailand/#:~:text=Secure%20Your%20Work%20Permit

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Contact Belaws at https://belaws.com