BOI Thailand: Board of Investment
The Board of Investment promotes qualifying businesses with tax holidays, import duty exemptions, and; critically for foreigners; work permit facilitation and up to 100% foreign ownership in promoted activities.
TVC coordinates visa and work permit steps once BOI approval exists. For structure comparison, see our BOI overview and business in Thailand guide.
Activity-dependent corporate income tax exemption for promoted projects.
In promoted categories without standard 51% Thai shareholding.
Reduced Thai-to-foreign employee requirements versus standard companies.
Board of Investment publishes promoted activity lists and application forms.
What BOI promotion offers
Benefits vary by activity and investment size. Confirm current categories on the official BOI website portal before budgeting a project.
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Corporate tax holidays | Often three to eight years depending on activity, location, and capital investment. |
| Import duty exemption | Machinery and raw materials imported for promoted manufacturing or export activities. |
| Foreign ownership | 100% foreign shareholding permitted in promoted categories. |
| Work permits | Relaxed Thai-to-foreign ratio compared with standard limited companies. |
| Land ownership | Limited exceptions for certain promoted projects meeting BOI criteria. |
Who applies for BOI promotion
- Manufacturing and export-oriented companies meeting promoted activity lists.
- Technology, R&D, and digital businesses in BOI-targeted sectors.
- Regional operating headquarters and international procurement offices.
- Tourism and medical hub projects that satisfy BOI investment thresholds.
Application path
Corporate counsel leads BOI and DBD steps. TVC runs the immigration track in parallel once the approval letter is issued.
Feasibility
Confirm your activity appears on the current BOI promoted list and capital requirements.
Application
Submit project details, capital plan, and employment projections to BOI.
Approval letter
BOI issues promotion letter if criteria are met. Keep every condition for DBD filing.
Company registration
Register at DBD with BOI endorsement attached to the memorandum and articles.
Visas and work permits
Apply for non-immigrant B visas and work permits under the BOI channel for foreign staff.
BOI vs standard Thai limited company
| Aspect | Standard Thai Ltd | BOI-promoted |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign shareholding | Often capped at 49% without FBA licence | Up to 100% in promoted activities |
| Work permit ratio | Roughly four Thai employees per foreign work permit | Relaxed ratio for promoted projects |
| Corporate tax | Standard 20% rate from first profitable year | Tax holidays possible for promoted activities |
Detailed guidance
The sections below expand on official requirements and common client questions we see at our Bangkok office.
What BOI promotion offers
Official portal: boi.go.th
Who applies
Manufacturing and export-oriented companies. Technology, R&D, and digital businesses in promoted lists
Application path (simplified)
1. Feasibility - confirm activity appears on promoted list 2. Application - submit project details, capital, employment plan to BOI 3. Approval letter - issued if criteria met 4. Company registration - DBD with BOI endorsement 5. Visas and work permits - non-immigrant B + work permit under BOI channel
What BOI promotion offers
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Create an account at thaievisa.go.th |
| 2 | Select your assigned Royal Thai post in the portal |
| 3 | Pick visa type matching your purpose exactly |
| 4 | Upload scans per the live checklist; passport, photos, financials, sponsor docs |
| 5 | Pay the fee online unless the portal directs otherwise |
| 6 | Monitor email and dashboard; submit passport in person only if instructed |
After approval: Thailand compliance essentials
Visa approval is only the first step. Long-stay holders must maintain address registration, arrival card filing, and reporting obligations while in Thailand.
Complete TDAC before every arrival
File Thailand Digital Arrival Card at tdac.immigration.go.th within 72 hours of landing.
Register your address (TM30)
Landlords and hotels must notify immigration of your address within 24 hours.
Track 90-day reporting
Many visa categories require Form TM47 every 90 days while physically in Thailand.
Match activity to visa stamp
Tourism stamps do not authorise employment in Thailand. Each purpose has distinct visa routes.
Practical notes before you submit or travel
These checkpoints come from cases our Bangkok team sees weekly. Use them as a final review before payment, departure, or an extension appointment.
- Verify current requirements on thaievisa.go.th and tdac.immigration.go.th within two weeks of travel
- Passport scans need full margins, no glare, and at least six months validity remaining
- Financial proof must match the live checklist amounts and duration for your category
- Embassy affidavits and translations must be completed in the order the checklist requires
- Book non-refundable travel only after visa approval when your category requires it
Deep dive: what officers review
Consular and immigration officers focus on consistency across your passport, forms, financial proof, and stated purpose. The blocks below highlight details applicants often overlook.
Purpose and visa category
Officers compare your stated travel purpose with your documents, prior entry history, and financial proof.
Select the exact visa type in the portal; tourist, marriage, business, and DTV routes have different checklists.
Document consistency
Names, dates, and addresses must match across passport, forms, bank statements, and civil documents.
Even minor spelling differences can trigger requests for additional evidence or refusal.
Financial evidence
Balance history, income sources, and sponsor letters are reviewed against category thresholds.
Cropped PDFs, recent large unexplained deposits, and mismatched account holders are common rejection triggers.
After approval
Visa approval is not the end of compliance: TDAC, TM30, and 90-day reporting apply to most long-stay categories.
Keep copies of every submission receipt and immigration stamp for your next extension cycle.
Suggested preparation timeline
Timelines vary by nationality and visa type. Use this sequence as a planning scaffold, then confirm processing times with your assigned Royal Thai post.
| Phase | Action |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Confirm eligibility, assigned post, and document checklist on official portals. |
| Week 2 | Complete affidavits, translations, and legalisation in the order the checklist requires. |
| Week 3 | Submit application with cross-checked names, dates, and financial proof. |
| After approval | File TDAC, register address, and set 90-day reporting reminders before long-stay life begins. |
When to contact Thai Visa Centre
Our Bangkok office handles immigration daily. The topics below are common reasons clients book a case review before submitting or extending.
Document review before submission
We compare your pack against live embassy and immigration checklists so name mismatches and missing legalisation are caught early.
Marriage and family visa coordination
Couples often need sequenced embassy affidavits before Amphur registration and long-stay visa filing.
Long-stay compliance after entry
TM30, TDAC, 90-day reporting, and re-entry permits interact. We map obligations to your specific visa category.
Foreign visa routes from Thailand
Schengen, US, Canadian, and other outbound applications from Bangkok require separate planning from your Thai immigration status.
Pre-submission verification table
Officers reject files for inconsistencies that applicants consider minor. Cross-check each row against your passport and live checklist before you pay.
| Document | What officers check |
|---|---|
| Passport biodata page | Must match every form field including middle names and spacing. |
| Financial proof | Balance history must meet category thresholds for the required duration. |
| Address registration | TM30 within 24 hours of check-in for extensions and many conversions. |
| TDAC filing | Mandatory before every arrival since May 2025, no category exemption on re-entry. |
Final review before you travel or extend
Immigration officers compare your story, documents, and entry history as one file. A last-minute checklist reduces avoidable refusals and extension delays.
Confirm TDAC, TM30, financial proof, and visa category alignment within two weeks of departure or your immigration appointment. Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok reviews document packs daily. Book a case check if any item is uncertain.
Rules verified June 2026. Embassy processing times, financial thresholds, and reporting obligations change independently. Always cross-check thaievisa.go.th, tdac.immigration.go.th, and your assigned Royal Thai post before payment.
Frequently asked questions
Q:How long does BOI approval take?
A:Weeks to months depending on project size, activity category, and document completeness. Incomplete feasibility studies are the most common delay.
Q:Does BOI approval guarantee a visa?
A:No. Each employee still needs qualifying credentials, a clean immigration record, and a complete work permit file. BOI promotion helps with ratio and channel. It does not waive individual eligibility.
Q:How does BOI relate to the LTR visa?
A:Separate programmes. LTR is individual long-term residency for qualifying professionals and investors. BOI is company-level investment promotion with tax and ownership incentives.
Q:Can TVC handle BOI application filing?
A:Corporate attorneys lead BOI and DBD filing. TVC coordinates non-immigrant B visas and work permits once BOI approval and company registration are in place.
Q:Is BOI the only way to own 100% of a Thai company?
A:No. US nationals may use the Treaty of Amity for qualifying activities. Some structures use FBA licences. BOI is the main route for manufacturing, tech, and targeted industries.
Q:What happens if we change business activity after approval?
A:Material changes can void promotion benefits. Notify BOI and your corporate counsel before pivoting products, location, or capital structure.
Q:Does BOI approval guarantee visa?
A:No - each employee still needs qualifying credentials and clean record.
Q:LTR overlap?
A:Separate programmes - LTR is individual residency; BOI is company investment promotion.
Official references
Questions officers ask at the counter
Whether you apply at an embassy or extend inside Thailand, officers often ask the same follow-up questions. Prepare concise answers backed by documents.
- What is your exact purpose of stay and how does it match your visa category?
- Where will you live in Thailand and who will file TM30 for your address?
- How do you support yourself financially. And can you show the original documents, not only copies?
- When did you last enter Thailand and have you filed TDAC for every arrival?
- If married or retired, can you produce the full certificate chain and bank history the checklist names?