Foreign Representative Office Registration

No. Under the Foreign Business Act rules, a representative office may only carry out five non-revenue activities for its head office: sourcing goods or services in Thailand, checking the quality and quantity of goods bought, advising on the head office's products, sharing information about new products and services, and reporting on business developments in Thailand. Any local invoice, commission, or service fee from a Thai party turns the office into an unlicensed foreign business, with fines of up to THB 1 million, up to 3 years in prison, and loss of the license.

THB 3 million minimum (or 25% of the estimated average annual expenses for the first 3 years, if higher), sent from the head office on a fixed schedule: 25% within 3 months of registration, another 25% by the end of year 1, another 25% by the end of year 2, and the balance by the end of year 3. Each transfer must be backed by a bank certificate. Missing the schedule is grounds for the DBD to revoke the license.

Generally no, because it earns no income in Thailand. It must still keep proper books under the Accounting Act B.E. 2543 (2000), have its annual financial statements audited, and file them with the DBD within 5 months of the year end.

Yes. The office can sponsor Non-B visas and work permits, with 1 Thai employee for each foreign employee (a Thai limited company needs 4). Capital and staffing rules still apply to each foreign hire, so we confirm them with you before you add staff.

Choose a representative office if you need a presence without revenue and can fund at least THB 3 million over 3 years. Choose a branch office if you want to earn revenue in Thailand directly as part of the head office. Choose a Thai limited company if you want a separate Thai company that can grow, with its own tax position and the option to apply for Board of Investment (BOI) promotion or a Foreign Business License (FBL).

The DBD is moving its filings to the DBD Biz Regist online platform, and since 1 July 2026 new partnerships and limited companies can only be registered online, so we prepare every file for online submission. Foreign applicants without a Thai ID card must register through the DBD e-Service app. Processing time depends on the authority and on your documents. Plizz handles your account setup and identity checks as part of every engagement.

Check the conditions on your license: where a registration is granted for a fixed period, you must renew it before it expires, and operating after expiry breaks the Foreign Business Act. Plizz tracks any expiry date and prepares the renewal file 90 days ahead, as part of our Corporate Changes service.

Three differences. Activity control: our annual compliance review compares what each office actually does with its permitted activities, so any drift into revenue is caught early, not at a DBD inspection. Continuity: bookkeeping, payroll, audit, and a later conversion to a Thai limited company are handled by one team. Network: Narai Partners is a member of IR Global, so working with your head office abroad is routine.