Board of Investment Promotion

BOI Company Registration ThailandTax Holidays & Full Ownership

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) grants qualifying companies up to 13 years of corporate income tax exemption, 100% foreign ownership regardless of nationality, and import duty relief. Here is what qualifies and how the process works.

  • 13 yrsMaximum corporate tax exemption
  • 100%Foreign ownership, any nationality
  • 3–6 moTypical approval + registration time
  • 100+Promoted activity categories

Promotion ladder

Eligible BOI-promoted activities

BOI groups promoted activities into tiers (A1–A4, B) based on strategic value. Higher tiers unlock longer tax exemptions.

Up to 13 years

Tier A1+ / A1

The top of the ladder for activities BOI treats as strategic to Thailand’s long-term competitiveness. Expect deeper scrutiny of technology transfer, R&D intensity, and investment scale — and the longest possible CIT holiday if you qualify.

Example activities

  • Advanced technology & deep tech
  • Biotechnology & life sciences
  • Aerospace
  • EV and next-gen mobility manufacturing

What this rung unlocks

  • Longest CIT exemption window (up to 13 years)
  • Strong fit for capital- and IP-heavy manufacturing
  • Import duty relief on qualifying machinery still available
  • Full non-tax privileges (ownership, land, WP quota) apply

Up to 13 years CIT exemption

Best forFounders building or relocating high-tech production, biotech, aerospace, or EV supply-chain operations into Thailand.

Check this tierSee all grants

Incentive grants

Tax and import incentives

Beyond corporate income tax exemption, BOI promotion unlocks import duty relief that materially changes the economics of manufacturing and R&D-heavy businesses.

  • Corporate income tax exemption

    3–13 years depending on activity tier, with an 8-year cap on losses carried forward after the exemption period

  • Import duty exemption on machinery

    Exemption or reduction on import duties for machinery used in the promoted activity

  • Import duty exemption on raw materials

    For materials used in production of exported goods, for up to 5 years

  • Dividend tax exemption

    Dividends paid from BOI-exempted profits are exempt from tax during the CIT exemption period

Privilege seals

Ownership, land, and work permit benefits

Non-tax privileges apply regardless of activity tier and are often as valuable as the tax holiday itself.

  • 100% ownershipAny nationality, no Thai partner required
  • Land ownershipFor promoted business operations
  • WP quota reliefNot bound by the 4:1 Thai ratio
  • OSOS processingOne-Start One-Stop visas & permits
  • FX & expertsRemit abroad; bring technical talent

Certificate stages

Application process

From eligibility check to privilege activation — typically 3–6 months end to end.

  1. Confirm eligibility

    Match your activity to a promoted BOI category and tier.

  2. Prepare application

    Gather the plan, investment, headcount, and tech-transfer details.

  3. Submit to BOI

    BOI review typically takes 40–60 working days to complete.

  4. Get the certificate

    Approval locks in your tax and non-tax promotion privileges.

  5. Register & activate

    Incorporate or amend, then activate privileges through OSOS.

Questions

Before you apply

What business activities qualify for BOI promotion in Thailand?

BOI promotion covers over 100 activity categories across technology, manufacturing, digital services, BCG (bio-circular-green) economy, agriculture, and infrastructure. Activities are grouped into tiers A1+ through B, with higher tiers receiving longer tax exemptions.

How long is the corporate tax exemption for a BOI company?

Depending on the activity tier, BOI-promoted companies receive between 3 and 13 years of corporate income tax exemption, with the highest tiers reserved for advanced technology, biotech, and other strategic industries.

Can a BOI company be 100% foreign owned?

Yes. Unlike a standard Thai Limited Company, which caps foreign ownership at 49% without special status, BOI-promoted companies can be 100% foreign owned regardless of the founders' nationality, as long as the activity qualifies.

How long does BOI approval take?

BOI application review typically takes 40–60 working days, and the full process including company registration and activation of privileges usually takes 3–6 months from application to operational status.

Is BOI promotion better than the US Treaty of Amity?

It depends on your nationality and goals. BOI is open to any nationality and includes tax holidays, but requires activity approval and a longer setup. Amity is faster and simpler but limited to US nationals and offers no tax incentives. Many US-founded companies use Amity first and add BOI promotion later as they scale.

Find out if your business qualifies forBOI promotion

Settlr prepares your BOI application, manages activity classification, and handles registration and privilege activation from start to finish.

Check EligibilitySee Pricing

Also seeCompany IncorporationUS Treaty of AmityDTV Visa GuideLTR Visa Guide