Key takeaways
- Name reservation, the Memorandum of Association and incorporation documents are generally filed online through the DBD Biz Regist platform using digital signatures and e-KYC.
- e-Work Permit documents can be submitted online, but the employee must still attend a biometric verification at a Ministry of Labour office. The Non-Immigrant B visa is handled separately and generally requires attendance at a Thai embassy or consulate abroad, or at an Immigration office if extending in Thailand.
- An employer of record lets an overseas company hire employees in Thailand without a local entity while registration is underway.
- Founders often group the in-person steps into one planned trip.
About the Author
This guide was prepared by the Settlr Global team behind its Business Operations and People & HR services in Bangkok. The team is led by Managing Director Gagan Ajmani, who has 15+ years of regional experience across Southeast Asia, and handles company registration, visas and work permits and employer of record hiring for clients from 15+ countries.
What can a foreign founder handle remotely, and what still needs a trip?
The split between remote and in-person work in a Thailand setup generally follows one rule. Steps that move through a government online portal can be done from abroad. Steps where an official or a bank needs to see the person generally cannot.
| Setup task | Remote? | What generally needs physical presence |
|---|---|---|
| Company name reservation | Generally yes, via DBD Biz Regist | None in standard cases |
| Memorandum of Association and incorporation filing | Generally yes, with digital signatures and e-KYC | Wet-ink signatures on self-certified ID copies before upload |
| Ownership structure and licence planning | Yes | None |
| Non-B visa and e-Work Permit documents | Partly; e-Work Permit documents can be submitted online | Non-B visa: attendance at a Thai embassy or consulate (if applying abroad) or an Immigration office (if extending in Thailand). e-Work Permit: biometric verification at a Ministry of Labour office |
| Corporate bank account | Partly | Banks often ask directors to attend; requirements differ by bank |
| Bookkeeping, VAT, corporate income tax and withholding tax | Yes, through Revenue Department e-Filing | None in standard cases |
| First employee | Yes, through an EOR | None for the employer |
A founder should sort every setup task into these columns before booking flights, so the trip is built around the few steps that need it. The Thailand Business Setup Guide covers the full sequence.
How does remote company registration in Thailand work?
Incorporation sits on the remote side of that split. New company registrations and incorporation documents are generally submitted electronically, with digital signatures, through DBD Biz Regist, the online registration system of the Department of Business Development (DBD).11Department of Business Development, DBD Biz Regist Platformdbd.go.th
1Department of Business Development, DBD Biz Regist Platformdbd.go.th
- Step 1: Choose the ownership route. The options include a Thai limited company, BOI promotion, a Foreign Business License or, for American founders, the US Treaty of Amity.
- Step 2: Reserve the company name on DBD Biz Regist.
- Step 3: Complete e-KYC verification and set up digital signatures for the directors.22Department of Business Development, Start a Business: DBD Biz Regist e-KYC and electronic signature (in Thai)dbd.go.th2Department of Business Development, Start a Business: DBD Biz Regist e-KYC and electronic signature (in Thai)dbd.go.th
- Step 4: Prepare the Memorandum of Association and supporting documents, including self-certified passport copies signed in wet ink and then uploaded.1
- Step 5: File the registration and register for VAT where the business requires it.
"We can fix the shareholding later" is a common founder thought. The ownership route decides foreign ownership limits, BOI eligibility and licence needs, so the structure should be settled before Step 2. Settlr Global's company incorporation service covers MoA preparation, DBD registration and shareholder structure setup, with progress tracked on its client platform.
Can an overseas company hire in Thailand before its own entity exists?
Hiring does not have to wait for registration to finish. An employer of record (EOR) in Thailand is a Thai company that becomes the legal employer of a worker on another company's behalf. It handles payroll, withholding tax and social security while the client directs the work.
Under this model the client generally keeps control of:
- Choosing the hire, salary and start date
- Directing day-to-day work and performance
- Pay rises, role changes and ending employment
- Funding salary, statutory costs and the monthly fee
The cost follows a simple formula: monthly EOR cost = number of employees x fee per employee, plus salary and statutory costs. Settlr Global reports a first hire in about 2 days, from THB 8,999 per employee per month for a local hire and THB 10,999 for an expat hire. Employees can later move to the client's own entity.
A company expecting its entity to take time should start the first hire through an employer of record in Thailand and plan the transfer once registration completes.
How do visas and work permits fit into a remote setup?
Immigration is where the remote model reaches its limit, because the final work permit step needs the employee in person.
- e-Work Permit document submissions can be handled through online portals.
- Processing times vary, and approval rests with the Thai authorities.
- Long-stay visa holders generally have ongoing 90-day reporting obligations once in Thailand.33Immigration Bureau, 90-Day Reporting Requirement for Long-Stay Visa Holders (in Thai)immigration.go.th3Immigration Bureau, 90-Day Reporting Requirement for Long-Stay Visa Holders (in Thai)immigration.go.th
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a separate route for remote workers and digital nomads. It does not permit employment with a Thai employer. A founder who will work in their own Thai company should plan for a Non-B visa and work permit instead.
A founder still working for an overseas business while scouting the market can read the DTV guide. The Thailand Visa Matcher gives an indicative comparison of routes, with final eligibility decided by Thai authorities. Founders should book the biometric appointment and the bank visit for the same trip.
Can accounting and tax be run from abroad once the company exists?
After the company and team are in place, recurring compliance generally runs online, since returns are submitted through the Revenue Department's e-Filing system.44Revenue Department, e-Filing System for Tax Returnsrd.go.th The recurring work typically covers:
4Revenue Department, e-Filing System for Tax Returnsrd.go.th
Filing deadlines are mapped in the Thailand Tax Calendar 2026. With Settlr Global's accounting and tax services, for example, the ledger can stay in Xero, Zoho Books or QuickBooks. Before the setup stage ends, a founder should confirm who holds the company's e-Filing credentials and who reviews each return.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a Thai company without travelling to Thailand?
Generally yes. Name reservation, the Memorandum of Association and incorporation filings go through DBD Biz Regist with digital signatures and e-KYC. You still sign self-certified passport copies in wet ink before they are uploaded.
Do I need to be in Thailand to open a corporate bank account?
Often. Thai banks commonly ask authorised directors to attend in person. Requirements differ by bank, so you should confirm with your chosen bank before travelling.
Can a work permit be finalised remotely?
Documents can be submitted online. The employee must still attend an in-person biometric verification at a Ministry of Labour office to finalise the permit.
Can I hire employees in Thailand without a local entity?
Yes, through an employer of record, which becomes the legal employer while you direct the work. You can also run EOR while your own company is being registered.
Can I run my Thai company on a DTV?
The DTV is for remote workers and digital nomads and does not permit employment with a Thai employer. Working in your own Thai company generally calls for a Non-B visa and work permit.
What does the US Treaty of Amity require?
Founders submit notarised passports or corporate ownership documents to the US Commercial Service in Bangkok for a certification letter. That letter is filed with the Thai Ministry of Commerce to secure a Foreign Business Certificate.
About Settlr Global
Settlr Global is the operating arm of WOWS Global, a Singapore-incorporated corporate advisory and investment banking group, and provides a one-platform ecosystem for business operations in Thailand. It combines payroll, HR, legal, tax and incorporation support under a single team, so founders do not have to coordinate separate local agencies. The platform has processed payroll and compliance work for 200+ clients across 15+ countries, from early-stage startups to established multinational enterprises. Its Employer of Record service lets companies hire in Thailand in about two days, with or without a local entity.
To work out which parts of your Thailand setup can run before you arrive, get in touch with the Settlr Global team.
References
- Department of Business Development, DBD Biz Regist Platformdbd.go.th
- Department of Business Development, Start a Business: DBD Biz Regist e-KYC and electronic signature (in Thai)dbd.go.th
- Immigration Bureau, 90-Day Reporting Requirement for Long-Stay Visa Holders (in Thai)immigration.go.th
- Revenue Department, e-Filing System for Tax Returnsrd.go.th
