BOI Thailand: Board of Investment guide
The Thailand Board of Investment offers tax breaks, work-permit flexibility, and land-ownership rights to qualifying foreign investors. At Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok, we help founders understand how BOI promotion connects to visas and work permits before you commit capital.
BOI promotion does not replace company registration, visa compliance, or work permits. See our promoted activities guide for activity codes and our BOI procedure flow chart for the full application sequence.
Working days for BOI review depending on project size.
Permitted for promoted activities where FBA restrictions would otherwise apply.
Common exemption period; exact terms depend on activity and zone.
Thailand primary investment promotion authority.
What is the BOI?
The Board of Investment is Thailand primary investment-promotion agency. Companies that carry out BOI-promoted activities may receive corporate income tax holidays, import-duty relief, permission to hire foreign specialists, and in some cases the right to own land for promoted operations.
BOI promotion does not replace company registration, visa compliance, or work permits. It sits alongside them, and getting the sequence wrong is one of the most common mistakes we see.
Who should consider BOI promotion?
Manufacturing and tech
Export-oriented production, R&D, and targeted industries aligned with BOI activity codes.
Significant capital
Projects with meaningful capital expenditure and local hiring plans.
Promoted activity match
Operations that fit the current BOI promoted activities list before registration.
Tourism-only ventures, pure trading without promoted activity, and small service businesses often do not qualify, though exceptions exist under specific activity codes. Confirm your code on the BOI promoted activities page before wiring funds.
Key BOI benefits
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Tax | CIT exemption or reduction; import-duty relief on machinery and raw materials |
| Immigration | Work permits for promoted projects with relaxed Thai-to-foreign staff ratios in some cases |
| Land | Right to own land for promoted activities subject to BOI conditions |
| Foreign ownership | 100% foreign ownership permitted for promoted activities where FBA restrictions would otherwise apply |
Exact benefits depend on your activity code, investment zone, and application tier. The BOI evaluates each project individually.
BOI application process
Follow this overview unless your corporate advisor confirms safe parallel steps. Full detail: BOI procedure in flow chart.
Pre-application
Confirm your activity is promoted; prepare business plan and capital evidence.
Submit application
Via BOI e-investment portal with company documents and project details.
BOI review
Typically 60 working days for projects under 2 billion THB; 90 working days for larger investments.
Accept promotion
Respond within one month of approval notification.
Operation start-up certificate
Issued within 10 working days once post-approval documents are complete.
Visa and work permit
Coordinate non-immigrant B visa and work permit with BOI support letter.
Documents commonly required
- BOI application form and project plan
- Company registration certificate and memorandum of association
- Shareholder list and director details
- Evidence of foreign remittance (Bank of Thailand or transfer receipts)
- Manpower plan (Thai vs foreign hires, salaries, training)
- Technology transfer or franchise agreements (if applicable)
BOI and immigration: BOI approval simplifies parts of the work-permit process, but you still need a valid non-immigrant visa and a work permit from the Department of Employment. See our work permit guide.
We do not file BOI applications ourselves, but we coordinate the visa and immigration side so your team can enter Thailand legally while corporate advisors handle BOI and company setup.
Ongoing BOI compliance
After promotion is accepted, BOI projects must stay within approved activity scope and meet reporting obligations. Non-compliance can suspend tax holidays or work-permit benefits.
- File progress reports and capital utilisation evidence as required
- Maintain manpower plans aligned with BOI approval
- Notify BOI before material changes to activity, location, or shareholding
Frequently asked questions
General answers for foreign investors considering BOI promotion. Confirm specific requirements with BOI before you invest.
Q:Does BOI promotion give me a visa automatically?
A:No. You still apply for the appropriate non-immigrant visa and work permit separately.
Q:Can I own 100% of the company with BOI?
A:For promoted activities, BOI may permit full foreign ownership where the Foreign Business Act would otherwise require a Thai majority.
Q:How long do BOI tax holidays last?
A:Depends on activity, zone, and project size. Often 3-8 years of CIT exemption, sometimes with additional reduction periods.
Q:Can I change business activity after BOI approval?
A:Material changes require BOI notification or a new application. Operating outside promoted scope can forfeit benefits.
Q:Does BOI replace company registration?
A:No. BOI promotion sits alongside DBD company registration, tax compliance, and immigration. Getting the sequence wrong is a common mistake.
Q:Who should consider BOI promotion?
A:Manufacturing, technology, R&D, and export-oriented businesses with significant investment. Tourism-only ventures and simple trading often do not qualify.
Q:What documents does BOI typically require?
A:Application form, project plan, company registration documents, shareholder details, remittance evidence, and manpower plan.
Q:Does TVC file BOI applications?
A:We coordinate visa and immigration while corporate partners handle BOI and company setup. BOI approval can simplify parts of the work-permit process.