How Much Capital Do You Need to Start a Business in Thailand as a Foreigner?

gentlelawlawfirm
Jun 13
3 min read

Updated: Jun 30

If you're planning to start a business in Thailand as a foreigner, one of the first and most confusing questions is:“How much capital do I need to invest?”

The answer depends on several legal factors—including your ownership structure, visa/work permit plans, and business activity. This article breaks it down so you can plan your investment legally, efficiently, and strategically.

Minimum Capital Requirements: Key Scenarios

🇹🇭 For a Thai-majority Company (≤49% Foreign Ownership)

There is no legal minimum capital requirement to register the company—on paper, you could register with 1 THB.

✅ But in practice, if you're planning to:

Apply for a work permit
Open a corporate bank account
Establish business credibility

You’ll need a reasonable amount of paid-up capital, usually 1M THB or more.

🌐 For a Foreign-majority or 100% Foreign-owned Company

Thai law treats this differently.

Under the Foreign Business Act (FBA):

A company with 50% or more foreign ownership is a “foreign company”
Foreign companies need a Foreign Business License (FBL), BOI promotion, or treaty exemption to legally operate most business activities

💡 In this case, the minimum registered capital is 3 million THB per restricted business activity.

Capital Requirements for Visa & Work Permits

To legally hire foreign employees—including yourself as the business owner—your company must meet specific capital thresholds under immigration and labor law.

Number of Foreign Employees	Minimum Paid-Up Capital Required
1 foreigner	2 million THB
2 foreigners	4 million THB
3 foreigners	6 million THB
…and so on	+2M THB per foreigner

📌 Exception: If the foreigner is married to a Thai national, the capital requirement drops to 1 million THB for that individual.

Capital vs. Paid-Up Capital: What's the Difference?

Registered Capital: The total amount declared to the Thai government
Paid-Up Capital: The amount actually paid into the company’s account by shareholders

To hire foreigners or apply for BOI/FBL, you must prove the capital is fully paid up, not just registered.

How to “Pay Up” Capital Legally

Thailand requires documented proof of capital contributions, such as:

Bank transfer records from shareholders
Share subscription forms
Company account statements showing funds received

⚠️ The DBD or BOI may audit this—so avoid fake or circular capital injections.

BOI Companies: Capital Rules

If your company is BOI-promoted, your capital must:

Match the investment plan (excluding land & working capital)
Be consistent with your business scope
Usually be fully injected within 12 months

The BOI has no fixed minimum, but under 1 million THB is rarely accepted for most promoted categories.

US-Amity & Treaty-Based Companies

Under the U.S.-Thailand Treaty of Amity, Americans can own 100% of a Thai company operating in most sectors (except land, transport, and a few others).

Capital requirement:

Minimum 3 million THB paid-up capital is required in most cases
Must be proven by financial documentation

Practical Guidance: How Much Should You Actually Invest?

It depends on your business goals:

Business Goal	Recommended Paid-Up Capital
Thai-majority, no work permit	100,000–500,000 THB
Thai-majority, 1 work permit	2 million THB
Foreign-majority, 1 restricted business	3 million THB
BOI-promoted company	1–2 million THB+
U.S.-owned (Amity Treaty) company	3 million THB

✅ Pro Tip: A higher capital improves your company’s image with banks, landlords, and government offices—and reduces scrutiny.

Tax Implications of Higher Capital

Thailand does not impose a capital tax. But:

Annual government fee = 0.5% of registered capital (capped at 5,000 THB)
Higher capital doesn't increase your income tax base

So you can inject more capital without higher ongoing tax burdens, unlike in some countries.

Summary: Capital Requirements Cheat Sheet

Scenario	Capital Requirement
Thai Co., Ltd. with 0–49% foreign	No legal minimum
Hiring foreign employee(s)	2M THB per person
Foreign-majority with FBL	3M THB per business activity
BOI company	Based on project (1M+ typical)
Amity Treaty company	3M THB