BOI promoted activities in Thailand
The Thailand Board of Investment only grants incentives to projects that match an approved promoted activity list. At Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok, we help founders understand how BOI activity codes connect to visas and work permits before capital is committed.
Your business activity must appear on the current promoted list before tax holidays, import-duty relief, or BOI-linked work-permit benefits apply. Start with our Board of Investment guide for the broader BOI framework.
Your business must fit an approved BOI promoted activity code.
Confirm your exact activity on the current BOI list before registering.
Projects outside Bangkok often receive more generous packages.
Typical working days for projects under 2 billion THB.
What are BOI promoted activities?
BOI promoted activities are specific industries and business types Thailand wants to attract: manufacturing, technology, R&D, logistics, and targeted services. Each activity has a code used in your BOI application. Operating outside that scope can forfeit benefits.
The list is updated periodically. Always confirm your exact activity on the current BOI promoted activities list before you register a company or wire investment funds.
Main activity categories
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Agriculture and products | Plant breeding, cold storage, natural extracts, rubber products |
| Mining, ceramics and metals | Mineral prospecting, advanced materials, steel, construction materials |
| Light industry | Textiles, furniture, gems, medical devices, creative design centres |
| Machinery and transport | Engines, auto parts, shipbuilding, aerospace, defence equipment |
| Electronics and digital | Electrical goods, semiconductors, software, e-commerce, digital services |
| Chemicals and plastics | Petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, eco-friendly polymers, cosmetics |
| Services and utilities | Logistics centres, R&D, cloud services, medical services, smart city development |
| Technology and innovation | Biotechnology, nanotechnology, advanced materials R&D |
Not every business in these sectors qualifies. The BOI list is granular. A trading company without promoted manufacturing or service activity, for example, usually falls outside standard promotion.
Who qualifies?
Manufacturing or processing
Export or domestic supply-chain value with promoted activity alignment.
Technology and R&D
Engineering design aligned with Thailand targeted industries.
Logistics and digital
Cloud or digital services meeting minimum capital and staffing thresholds.
Special categories
International Business Center or Trade and Investment Support Office options.
Projects that are purely retail, passive property letting, or simple import-export without promoted activity rarely qualify, though exceptions exist under specific codes.
How activity choice affects benefits
| Driver | Effect |
|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | Exemption or reduction period tied to activity code |
| Import duty | Relief on machinery and raw materials for promoted operations |
| Foreign ownership | 100% foreign shareholding may be permitted for promoted activities |
| Work permits | Relaxed Thai-to-foreign staff ratios in some promoted projects |
| Land ownership | Right to own land for promoted operations subject to BOI conditions |
Application steps
Company registration detail: Thai limited company guide. Full BOI process: BOI procedure flow chart.
Match activity
Confirm your operations fit a promoted code on the current BOI list.
Register or prepare company
Establish or prepare a Thai limited company for the application.
Submit BOI application
Business plan, capital evidence, and manpower plan via BOI e-investment portal.
BOI review
Typically 60 working days for projects under 2 billion THB.
Accept promotion and start operations
Obtain operation start-up certificate before full benefits apply.
Coordinate visa and work permit
BOI support letters help; immigration remains a separate process.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a company name and registering before confirming the activity is promoted
- Describing a generic consulting business when the real activity is manufacturing
- Assuming all tech startups qualify without checking minimum investment and staffing rules
- Operating revenue-generating activities outside the approved BOI scope
- Ignoring the immigration timeline for non-immigrant B visa and work permit
Immigration note: You still need a non-immigrant B visa and work permit. BOI support letters help but do not replace immigration compliance. See our work permit guide.
Frequently asked questions
General answers for foreign investors matching BOI activity codes. Confirm your exact code with BOI before you invest.
Q:Can I change my promoted activity after approval?
A:Material changes require BOI notification or a new application. Operating outside approved scope risks losing incentives.
Q:Does every factory in Thailand need BOI promotion?
A:No. BOI is optional. Many Thai limited companies operate without BOI, subject to Foreign Business Act rules and standard tax rates.
Q:Do promoted activities include pure trading?
A:Standard import-export trading is often restricted under the Foreign Business Act and may not appear as a standalone promoted activity. Check the current list for TISO or IBC options.
Q:How does BOI promotion affect my visa?
A:BOI does not issue visas. You still apply for a non-immigrant B visa at a Thai embassy and a work permit in Thailand. BOI approval can simplify parts of the work-permit process.
Q:What are BOI promoted activities?
A:Specific industries and business types Thailand wants to attract. Each activity has a code used in your BOI application. Operating outside that scope can forfeit benefits.
Q:How does activity choice affect benefits?
A:Your activity code drives CIT exemption, import duty relief, foreign ownership limits, work-permit ratios, and land ownership rights.
Q:Do investment zones matter?
A:Higher-value investments in promotion zones outside Bangkok often receive more generous packages than projects in Zone 1 (Bangkok and five surrounding provinces).
Q:When should I confirm my activity code?
A:Before you register a company or wire investment funds. The promoted list is updated periodically.