Thailand business FAQ

Settlr Global is a one stop provider for business operations in Thailand. One team handles company incorporation, visas and work permits, payroll, accounting and tax, fractional CFO and legal advisory, and you track everything on one platform. Settlr Global has incorporated 150+ companies and secured 300+ visas and work permits.

Settlr Global is the operational arm of WOWS Global, a Singapore incorporated corporate advisory and investment banking group operating across Southeast Asia. When a Settlr Global client is ready to raise capital or expand regionally, WOWS Global's advisory capability is already on their side; clients of the group have raised over USD 75 million.

No. Settlr Global is a Bangkok-based business-operations company and part of WOWS Global. We are not affiliated with other businesses that use the name Settlr.

No. The client platform, where you track filings, payroll, visas and deadlines in real time, is included with our services. There is no software fee and no subscription, ever.

Settlr Global operates from United Tower, 333/10 Thong Lo, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10100, with group offices in Singapore and Dubai through WOWS Global. We serve clients establishing and running businesses anywhere in Thailand.

Book a free consultation through our website. Before the call, you can use our free Payroll Tax Calculator to estimate employment costs and the Visa Matcher to identify your likely visa route, so the conversation starts from your real numbers.

Yes. Settlr Global serves Thai entrepreneurs registering their first company, Thai owned SMEs that want payroll, accounting, tax or legal support handled by one team, and foreign owned businesses alike. The process for Thai founders is simpler because foreign ownership rules do not apply, and our team handles the full DBD registration either way.

Yes. Most of our clients start from abroad. We regularly work with founders and companies from Singapore and the wider ASEAN region, Japan, Hong Kong, China, India, the United States, Europe, Australia and the Middle East, handling everything remotely until you or your team arrive in Thailand.

Yes, in specific cases. Full foreign ownership is possible through BOI promotion, a Foreign Business License, or the US Treaty of Amity for American citizens. Outside these routes, foreign shareholding in a standard Thai Limited Company is capped at 49 percent. Settlr Global assesses which route fits your activity before you commit to a structure.

DBD's published service time for registering a standard Thai Limited Company (Memorandum of Association and company together) is 1 hour 25 minutes once the registrar has confirmed the documents are complete, 2 working days if another agency must approve, or 37 working days if the registration is opposed. In our experience, Settlr typically completes the registration stage in 14–21 days, and the corporate bank account, VAT registration and Social Security registration follow after that; these are our estimates, not official figures. BOI-promoted companies also need BOI approval: the official review is 40, 60 or 90 working days depending on investment size, counted from complete documents, and the promotion certificate follows within 10 working days of complete certificate documents. Practical end-to-end timelines run longer once document preparation and company registration are included; this is not an official figure. Settlr Global prepares your Memorandum of Association, shareholder structure and all DBD filings so nothing stalls the timeline.

DBD government fees for registering a Thai Limited Company are flat: THB 500 for the Memorandum of Association and THB 5,000 for company registration, plus THB 200 stamp duty on the Memorandum (and THB 200 on articles of association, if used) and small per-document charges for certificates and certified copies. Professional incorporation packages in the market typically range from 30,000 to 80,000 THB depending on structure and licensing. Settlr Global publishes fixed starting prices on our pricing page, so there are no surprises.

You need passport copies of directors and shareholders, the company name reservation, registered office address in Thailand, the Memorandum of Association, share structure details, and director signatures on the DBD application forms. Settlr Global prepares every document and files with the Department of Business Development on your behalf.

For foreign work permits, the Ministry of Labour's guideline is THB 2 million of paid-up capital per permit for a Thai company, or THB 3 million brought in from abroad per permit for a foreign company, up to 10 permits. Separately, a foreign-owned company must meet the Foreign Business Act minimum capital: at least THB 2 million, or at least THB 3 million for each business that needs a Foreign Business Licence. BOI promoted companies follow the capital stated in their promotion. Capital does not need to sit untouched in a bank account, but it must be properly documented.

The Treaty of Amity allows American citizens and majority American owned companies to hold up to 100 percent of a Thai company in most business activities, with exceptions in areas such as land, transport and banking. Certification runs through the US Commercial Service and the Thai Ministry of Commerce, and Settlr Global manages the full process.

Most foreign employees need a Non Immigrant B visa plus a work permit. Founders and specialists may qualify for the LTR Visa or the Smart Visa instead, which bundle work authorization. Remote workers employed abroad can use the DTV, which does not permit local employment. Settlr Global's free Visa Matcher recommends the right route in 90 seconds.

The standard ratio is 4 permanent Thai employees for each foreign employee under Immigration's criteria for a business-based extension of stay, and the company needs paid-up capital: THB 2 million per work permit for a Thai company, or THB 3 million brought in from abroad per permit for a foreign company, under the Ministry of Labour's guideline. BOI promoted companies are exempt from the ratio, which is one of the biggest practical reasons to pursue BOI promotion.

Foreigners staying in Thailand more than 90 consecutive days must report their address to Immigration every 90 days. Reports can be filed online, by mail, or in person, and late filing carries a fine of up to 2,000 THB. Settlr Global tracks and files 90 day reports for every employee we manage.

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is a 5 year, multiple entry visa for remote workers, freelancers and digital nomads employed outside Thailand. Applicants must show at least 500,000 THB in funds. Each entry allows a stay of up to 180 days, extendable once. It does not authorize employment with a Thai company.

The Long Term Resident (LTR) visa is a 10 year visa for wealthy citizens, wealthy pensioners, work from Thailand professionals and highly skilled professionals. Benefits include a 17 percent flat personal income tax rate for highly skilled professionals, fast track immigration, and exemption from the 4 Thai employees per work permit ratio.

Employers must calculate salaries, withhold personal income tax under progressive brackets, deduct 5 percent employee social security (capped monthly), add the 5 percent employer contribution, file PND.1 by the 7th of the following month (15th if e filed), and remit social security by the 15th. Settlr Global runs this entire cycle and files every form.

Budget roughly 5 percent of salary for employer social security (capped at THB 875 per month at the 2026 wage ceiling of THB 17,500), plus provident fund contributions if offered, and severance obligations that accrue with tenure. On a 100,000 THB salary the statutory employer add on is modest, but compliance administration is where most companies stumble.

From 1 October 2026, employers with 10 or more employees also contribute to the Employee Welfare Fund under the Labour Protection Act: 0.25% of wages from the employer and 0.25% deducted from the employee, with no wage ceiling, remitted by the 15th of the following month (first payment due 15 November 2026). The rate rises to 0.5% each from 1 October 2031. Employers that run a qualifying provident fund may be exempt.

The standard corporate income tax rate is 20 percent of net profit. Qualifying SMEs pay 0 percent on the first 300,000 THB, 15 percent up to 3 million THB, and 20 percent above that. BOI promoted companies can receive corporate income tax holidays of up to 13 years depending on activity.

VAT registration is mandatory once annual revenue exceeds 1.8 million THB. The standard VAT rate is 7 percent, and registered companies file the PP.30 return monthly by the 15th of the following month (23rd if e filed). Settlr Global handles registration and every monthly filing.

Monthly: PND.1 withholding tax by the 7th and PP.30 VAT by the 15th (later if e filed). Annually: PND.51 half year corporate tax within 2 months of the half year end, and PND.50 annual corporate tax within 150 days of fiscal year end. Our Tax Calendar 2026 page lists every date.

A fractional CFO is a senior finance leader who works with your company part time, handling budgeting, cash flow forecasting, board reporting and fundraising support at a fraction of the cost of a full time hire. It suits companies that have outgrown bookkeeping but cannot yet justify a 3 to 5 million THB annual CFO salary.

Common signals: revenue is growing but cash still feels tight at month end, investors are asking for reports you cannot produce, you are preparing to raise capital, pricing and unit economics decisions are being made on instinct, or the founder is still acting as CFO after hours. If two of these apply, a fractional CFO usually pays for itself.

Not strictly, but it is strongly recommended. Contracts under Thai law are enforceable in either language, but the version designated as controlling determines outcomes in a dispute. Settlr Global drafts and reviews contracts bilingually so the Thai and English versions match clause for clause.

Corporate secretarial work covers statutory upkeep after incorporation: annual general meetings, share register maintenance, director and shareholder resolutions, filing changes with the DBD, and keeping the company's minute book current. Settlr Global manages this alongside legal advisory so nothing lapses between filings.

Straightforward shareholder agreements typically start from 10,000 THB for drafting or review, with complex multi-party or investor agreements priced separately based on scope. Settlr Global's legal advisory retainer covers ongoing contract work at a predictable monthly rate for growing companies.