Registered capital Thailand: what it impacts for visas, work permits, and business credibility

gentlelawlawfirm
Feb 4
8 min read

Introduction

For foreign SMEs, registered capital Thailand is not only an incorporation detail. It becomes evidence in corporate documents, and those documents are routinely used in visa and work permit workflows, banking, and commercial due diligence. The goal is not to inflate numbers. The goal is to set registered capital Thailand at a level that is defensible, consistent with your business plan, and compliant with any activity-based minimum capital rules.

This post explains what registered capital Thailand is, how it differs from paid-up capital, and where it tends to affect immigration documentation and business credibility in practice.

Legal disclaimer: This article is general information only and not legal advice for your specific case. Outcomes depend on your facts, business activities, ownership structure, and current authority practice. Always confirm requirements for your situation with qualified counsel.

Registered capital Thailand: definitions and the documents that show it

Registered capital Thailand generally means the capital amount stated in your formation documents and recorded with the Department of Business Development (DBD). In day-to-day operations, registered capital Thailand shows up in DBD-issued corporate documents such as company certificates and affidavits that counterparties and authorities frequently request.

Registered capital vs issued capital vs paid-up capital

Use these definitions when planning registered capital Thailand:

Registered capital: the maximum capital authorized in your registered corporate documents.
Issued capital: the portion of registered capital actually issued as shares to shareholders.
Paid-up capital: the portion of issued capital actually paid by shareholders.

For private limited companies, official guidance describing same-day registration conditions includes that at least 25 percent of the total shares has been paid by shareholders in that scenario. This is a practical reminder: registered capital Thailand can be high, but if paid-up is not aligned to your filings and timing, your operational claims may not match the evidence.

Registered capital Thailand: what Thai law and official guidance say about minimums

1) General company formation does not require a universal minimum registered capital

An OSOS business registration page sourced from DBD provincial offices states: share value must be at least 5 baht per share and also notes no minimum registered capital requirement in that general context. This means registered capital Thailand is usually a planning decision tied to your operations, not a one-size rule for all companies.

2) Foreign Business Act minimum capital can apply where the company is “foreign” under the FBA

If your company falls under the definition of “foreign” under the Foreign Business Act (FBA), capital planning can become a legal condition to commence operations. A government-hosted “Business Guide to Thailand 2014” states that if the company engages in activities specified in the FBA, minimum registered capital would be greater than 25 percent of estimated average annual operating expenses over 3 years but not less than 3 million baht, and if the company does not engage in FBA-specified activities, minimum registered capital would be 2 million baht. The same guide notes that if the company intends to employ foreigners, other minimum registered capital requirements may also be applied.

This aligns with FBA Section 14’s minimum-capital framework and a ministerial regulation that sets the 25 percent of estimated expenses concept with a not less than 3 million baht floor for each business. So registered capital Thailand is sometimes not optional. It can be an eligibility condition depending on foreign status and restricted activities.

Registered capital Thailand: how it can affect Non-B visa and work permit document packs

Registered capital Thailand matters in immigration workflows for one practical reason: authorities and consular officers commonly request corporate and financial documents where capital and financial capacity are visible.

Non-Immigrant Visa B: corporate and financial documents are commonly requested

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” is issued to applicants who wish to enter Thailand to work or to conduct business. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs Non-B document checklist includes “corporate documents of hiring company” such as business registration, list of shareholders, company profile, details of business operation, and financial and tax documents such as balance sheet and corporate income tax forms.

Practical implication: when you prepare a sponsor-company pack, registered capital Thailand must be consistent across your registration documents, shareholder list, and any company affidavit you provide, because these are presented together.

Work permit submission: employer documents include corporate status and shareholder list evidence

A WP.25 work permit application form version published on a Thai government portal lists employer-document categories, including a copy of business license or certificate showing the employer is legally registered, and for a company limited, a copy of the list of shareholders. This reinforces the operational point: registered capital Thailand is not evaluated alone. It is part of a broader consistency check across corporate documents used to support work authorization.

Important caution: specific capital thresholds for work permits are often discussed in practice, but thresholds and evidentiary expectations can vary by facts and by authority practice. Use official checklists and your case facts first, then structure registered capital Thailand in a way that is defensible and documented.

Registered capital Thailand and business credibility: what banks and counterparties will see

Company affidavit and certificates often show registered and paid-up capital

DBD-style affidavits commonly include capital fields. For example, an English affidavit translation for a Thai listed company includes a section showing Registered capital and Paid-up capital. Counterparties often use this as a credibility and authority check before signing contracts.

Digital issuance of corporate documents

DBD has published guidance on electronic issuance of juristic person certificates and certified document copies via e-certificate systems. This matters because registered capital Thailand will be visible in documents that can be requested and verified more easily.

Key takeaways

Registered capital Thailand is usually a business planning decision, and official guidance notes no universal minimum registered capital requirement for general formation contexts.
If your company is “foreign” under the FBA and engages in restricted activities, minimum capital rules can apply, including a 25 percent of estimated expenses concept with a 3 million baht floor per business in the ministerial regulation context.
Non-B visa and work authorization packs commonly require corporate documents and financial and tax evidence where registered capital Thailand and capacity will be visible and cross-checked.
Business credibility checks often rely on DBD affidavits and certificates that show registered and paid-up capital, so consistency matters.

Common misconceptions

Misconception 1: “Registered capital Thailand must be very high to be credible.” Not necessarily. Credibility depends on consistency and evidence across corporate documents and real operations. Overstating registered capital Thailand without a workable paid-up plan can create documentation inconsistencies.

Misconception 2: “There is one minimum registered capital rule for every business.” Incorrect. Official guidance notes no universal minimum for general formation contexts, while minimum capital can apply in specific frameworks such as FBA foreign status and restricted activities.

Misconception 3: “Visa and work permit decisions are based only on registered capital Thailand.” Not correct. Official visa document checklists emphasize a broader corporate and financial evidence set such as shareholder lists, balance sheets, and tax documents.

Worked scenarios (illustrative and conditional)

Scenario A: Foreign-owned service SME with Thai clients If your activity is potentially within FBA-restricted services, registered capital Thailand may need to be planned alongside the licensing pathway and minimum capital rules under Section 14 and related ministerial regulation.

Scenario B: Foreign SME sponsoring a Non-B visa for a key hire Registered capital Thailand should be consistent across your registration, shareholder list, and sponsor-company documents, because the MFA checklist lists corporate documents and financial evidence as part of the application pack.

Scenario C: Foreign SME opening a bank account and signing a distribution agreement Expect requests for a recent company affidavit showing registered and paid-up capital, and ensure your signing authority and corporate documents align.

SME roadmap: how to set registered capital Thailand in a defensible way

Step 1: Decide what the capital is for

Write a one-page use case for registered capital Thailand:

initial setup costs
hiring runway
lease and deposits
inventory or working capital
professional fees and compliance budget

Step 2: Separate registered capital and paid-up capital planning

If you need same-day registration timing, official guidance references a 25 percent paid-up condition in that scenario. Plan the paid-up schedule that matches your filings and bank evidence.

Step 3: Check whether FBA foreign status and restricted activities apply

If your company is “foreign” under the FBA and your activity is restricted, review Section 14 and the ministerial regulation minimum capital approach and design registered capital Thailand accordingly.

Step 4: Build an “immigration-ready” corporate document pack

Use the MFA Non-B checklist as your baseline: business registration documents, shareholder list, company profile, and financial and tax evidence. Registered capital Thailand must match across the pack.

Step 5: Maintain credibility documents and refresh when needed

Prepare for counterparties to request DBD affidavits and certificates, which commonly show registered and paid-up capital. Use DBD e-certificate channels where applicable.

FAQ

What is registered capital Thailand? Registered capital Thailand is the capital amount recorded in your company’s registered documents, and it appears in corporate documents used for compliance and due diligence.
Is there a minimum registered capital in Thailand for a private limited company? In general formation contexts, official guidance notes no minimum registered capital requirement, but share value must be at least 5 baht per share.
What is the difference between registered capital and paid-up capital? Registered capital is the authorized amount; paid-up capital is what shareholders have actually paid. Official guidance references paid-up requirements in specific formation timing scenarios.
How does registered capital Thailand relate to the Foreign Business Act? If your company is “foreign” under the FBA and engages in restricted activities, minimum capital rules under Section 14 and the ministerial regulation can apply.
Does registered capital Thailand affect Non-B visa applications? It can, because the MFA checklist requests corporate and financial documents where capital and capacity are visible and cross-checked.
Does registered capital Thailand affect work permits? Work permit submissions include employer corporate-status evidence and shareholder list documents. Capital is often visible in corporate documents provided in the overall pack.
Where can someone see my registered capital Thailand? It is commonly shown on DBD-affidavit style documents and certificates, and DBD provides electronic channels for certificates and certified copies.
Should foreign SMEs set registered capital Thailand higher “just in case”? Not automatically. Set registered capital Thailand to match real operational needs and any activity-based legal requirements, and ensure paid-up planning and documentation consistency.

Glossary

Registered capital Thailand: the authorized capital recorded in registered company documents.
Issued capital: the portion of registered capital issued as shares.
Paid-up capital: the portion of issued shares actually paid by shareholders.
DBD: Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce.
Company affidavit: a DBD-issued summary of registered particulars often showing capital fields.
Non-Immigrant Visa B: visa category for business or work per MFA guidance.
FBA: Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
Section 14 minimum capital: FBA framework for minimum capital for foreigners starting business.
Ministerial regulation on minimum capital: regulation implementing Section 14 concepts including 25 percent of estimated expenses and 3 million baht floor per business.

Decision checklist artifact: registered capital Thailand decision checklist for foreign SMEs

A) Purpose and realism

Written use case for registered capital Thailand (runway, deposits, hiring, inventory)
Paid-up schedule aligned to bank evidence and filings

B) Legal triggers

Confirm whether the company is “foreign” under the FBA and whether activities are restricted
If restricted: apply Section 14 and ministerial regulation logic in your capital plan

C) Immigration readiness

Prepare sponsor-company pack aligned to MFA Non-B checklist (registration, shareholder list, financial and tax documents)
Cross-check consistency of registered capital Thailand across all corporate documents

D) Credibility and contracting

Ensure you can produce current DBD certificates and affidavit style evidence showing capital fields
Confirm signatory rules and authorized directors match the documents provided

Call to action (GENTLE LAW IBL)

If you want a defensible registered capital Thailand plan that aligns your business model, any FBA minimum-capital triggers, and your Non-B visa and work permit document readiness, GENTLE LAW IBL can deliver a structured roadmap and document checklist tailored to your activities and growth plan.