Non-tax incentives
| Incentive | Section |
|---|---|
| Permit for foreign nationals to enter the Kingdom to study investment opportunities | 24 |
| Permit to bring in skilled workers and experts to work in promoted activities | 25 and 26 |
| Permit to own land | 27 |
| Permit to take out or remit money abroad in foreign currency | 37 |
These are basic incentives for promoted projects. Their scope and conditions are set in the promotion certificate.
Foreign experts and skilled workers
Promoted companies can apply for permission to bring foreign experts and skilled workers to work in the promoted activity. The numbers and positions depend on the project's conditions. This connects directly to the work permit and visa services we handle.
Land ownership
Promoted companies owned by foreign nationals or foreign juristic persons can apply for permission to own land for carrying on the promoted activity, subject to the BOI's conditions and scope. This is not permission to hold land for other purposes.
Foreign shareholding rules
- Activities under List One of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542: Thai nationals must hold at least 51% of registered capital
- Activities under Lists Two and Three: no equity restrictions on foreign investors, except as other laws specify
- The BOI may set foreign shareholding limits for certain activities as it sees fit
Area-based and policy-based incentives
- BOI-promoted industrial estates or zones
- The 20 provinces with the lowest per-capita income
- Science and technology parks
- Special Border Economic Zones (SEZ) and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)
- Special economic zones in four regions and the Southern Border area
There are also competitiveness-enhancing incentives, such as R&D, human resource development and local supplier development.
Things to know
- Actual benefits depend on the activity, location and the conditions in each promotion certificate
- Foreign shareholding depends on the business activity and BOI conditions, so check before structuring the company
- This is an overview. Check the latest BOI announcements before you invest
Continue with tax incentives, import duty privileges and the BOI application process.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners own land with BOI promotion?
Promoted companies can apply for permission to own land for the promoted activity (Section 27), subject to the BOI's conditions.
Can foreign experts be brought in to work?
Yes. Promoted companies can apply for permission to bring in skilled workers and experts to work in the promoted activity (Sections 25 and 26), subject to project conditions.
What percentage can foreigners own?
It depends on the activity. For List One activities under the Foreign Business Act, Thai nationals must hold at least 51%. For Lists Two and Three there are no equity restrictions except as other laws specify, and the BOI may set limits for certain activities.
Source: Investment Promotion Guide 2025, Thailand Board of Investment. This is an overview for general information, not legal or tax advice. Actual rights depend on the activity type, conditions and the latest BOI announcements.