Regional office setup in Thailand
A regional office coordinates and supports affiliated companies across Asia from a Bangkok base without being a standard trading company. At Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok, we align visa and work-permit applications with regional office job scopes registered at DBD.
Regional office status is distinct from a branch and representative office. Activities must match the registered regional coordination scope. Full comparison: company structures guide.
Supports affiliated companies across Asia without being a standard trading company.
Direct commercial trading with Thai clients is outside standard regional office scope.
Regional office certificate issued by Department of Business Development.
ROH is a tax incentive programme. Regional office is a DBD registration category.
What is a regional office?
A regional office is registered by a foreign parent to perform regional management and support services for its branches, subsidiaries, or associated companies in the region. It is not primarily for selling to Thai customers. Typical functions include coordinating regional operations, training affiliates, financial services for the group, R&D coordination, and marketing support for overseas group companies.
Regional office vs other structures
| Structure | Primary purpose | Revenue from Thai clients? |
|---|---|---|
| Regional office | Regional HQ coordination | Generally no direct Thai trading |
| ROH | ROH tax incentive programme | Service fees from affiliates abroad |
| Branch office | Parent commercial operations | Yes |
| Representative office | Market research only | No |
| Limited company | Local commercial business | Yes |
Registration requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Qualifying foreign parent | Established company with regional affiliates in Asia or beyond. |
| Board resolution | Authorising regional office establishment in Thailand. |
| DBD registration | Regional office certificate with declared coordination scope. |
| Activity scope | Coordination and support functions only, not domestic trading. |
| Capital remittance | Minimum funds per current DBD rules. |
| Registered office | Bangkok or approved Thai location for official correspondence. |
Permitted activities
Management supervision
Supervise regional affiliates and report to foreign headquarters.
Training and IT support
Internal group training and technical support for affiliates.
Regional treasury
Planning and treasury functions for the group, not public banking.
Marketing support
Support marketing for overseas group companies, not domestic Thai sales.
Tax considerations: Regional offices are taxed on Thailand-sourced income. ROH offers a separate incentive regime. Corporate tax overview: corporate tax guide.
Setup timeline
| Stage | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Document preparation | 2-4 weeks |
| DBD registration | 2-3 weeks |
| Capital remittance | 1-2 weeks |
| Visa and work permits | 3-6 weeks |
Immigration for regional managers: work permit guide. ROH details: ROH guide.
Common mistakes
- Registering regional office status while conducting domestic sales.
- Confusing regional office with ROH tax benefits without separate application.
- Work permits listing commercial sales duties inconsistent with registered scope.
- Insufficient evidence of regional affiliates for DBD review.
- Material scope changes without re-registration or conversion to branch or company.
Frequently asked questions
General answers on regional office setup in Thailand. Confirm specific requirements with DBD before investing.
Q:Can a regional office invoice Thai customers?
A:Direct commercial trading with Thai clients is outside standard regional office scope. Use a branch or Thai company for local sales.
Q:Is ROH the same as a regional office?
A:ROH is a specific tax-incentive programme with Revenue Department approval. A regional office is a DBD registration category. They can overlap but are not identical.
Q:How many foreign staff can a regional office employ?
A:More flexible than representative offices, but work permits must align with operational need and registered scope.
Q:Can we later convert to a limited company?
A:Yes. Common when Thailand becomes a revenue-generating market, not just a coordination hub.
Q:What is a regional office in Thailand?
A:A foreign parent registers a regional office to perform regional management and support services for branches, subsidiaries, or associated companies in the region.
Q:What activities are prohibited for a regional office?
A:Direct sales, manufacturing for Thai market revenue, competing with local businesses in trading, and activities outside declared regional scope.
Q:How is a regional office taxed?
A:Taxed on Thailand-sourced income. Service fees from foreign affiliates may have withholding tax implications. ROH offers a separate incentive regime.
Q:What immigration documents do regional office managers need?
A:Non-immigrant B visa and work permit with job descriptions matching registered regional functions.