How to register a private limited company in Thailand: documents, steps and timing
The full path to registering a Thai private limited company with the DBD, from name reservation to the company affidavit, with the documents founders prepare and how long each step takes.
Zura Labs & Business Hub Co., Ltd.
A Thai private limited company is registered with the Department of Business Development (DBD), either at a district office or through its e-Registration system. There are five stages: reserve the name, prepare the memorandum of association, hold the statutory meeting, file the registration, and obtain the tax ID. When documents are complete and every shareholder can sign, our side usually takes 3–7 working days; the official queue and review set the final date.
Reviewed 2026-09-12 by the Zura Labs corporate services team.
- Registering authority
- Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce (DBD)
- Filing channels
- District or provincial DBD offices, or the online e-Registration system
- Minimum shareholders
- Two, under the Civil and Commercial Code as amended in 2023
- Registered capital
- No general statutory minimum, but it must be realistic for the business; visa and work-permit routes add their own thresholds
- What you receive
- Company affidavit, shareholder list, memorandum of association, and the 13-digit tax ID
- Typical timeline
- 3–7 working days to prepare and file, excluding the authority's queue and review
How this works in practice
- 01
Check and reserve the company name
Prepare three name options in Thai and English, avoiding restricted words and names too close to existing ones. A reserved name is valid for a limited period, so reserve it when you are ready to file.
- 02
Fix the shareholder and director structure
Set shareholding proportions, share count and par value, authorised signatories and signing conditions. These can be amended later, but amendments cost time and fees, so settle them before filing.
- 03
Prepare and file the memorandum of association
State the company name, registered office, objectives, capital and promoters. Write objectives broad enough to cover what the business will actually do in the near future.
- 04
Hold the statutory meeting and file the registration
Adopt the articles, appoint directors and the auditor, then file the incorporation application with all supporting documents and ID copies.
- 05
Get the tax ID and register for VAT when required
The tax ID comes with incorporation. VAT registration is required once turnover reaches the threshold or when customers need tax invoices, and the application needs proof of the place of business.
- 06
Open the bank account and register for social security
Banks want a recent affidavit, the company seal and the directors in person. Social security registration is due within the statutory window after your first employee starts.
Reasons this gets delayed or rejected
A name too similar to an existing company
The most common rejection. Always keep backup names, and never order a seal or signage before the name is approved.
Objectives narrower than the real business
If objectives do not cover the work you take on, you can hit problems issuing tax invoices or bidding for contracts. Fixing it later means filing an amendment.
A registered office you cannot document
The address needs documented consent to use the premises. Using an address without paperwork typically blocks VAT registration later.
Shareholders not available to sign together
Most delays come from here rather than the authority. Agree the signing date before the filing starts.
Answers to the questions we hear most
Can one person register a company?
A private limited company needs at least two shareholders under the 2023 amendment. If you are genuinely alone today, the options are to bring in a trusted co-shareholder, or start as a registered sole trader and convert later. We compare the tax outcome of both routes before you decide.
Do I have to show the registered capital in a bank account?
Ordinary incorporation does not require you to show the cash at filing, but the registered capital is a real obligation of the shareholders. Visa and work-permit applications add their own capital and staffing conditions.
Can I register at my home or condo?
A house in your own name is often possible with the right paperwork, but many condominium regulations prohibit use as a company office, and operating there can raise signage-tax and building-use issues. Many founders therefore use our virtual office address to keep the company address separate from home.
Can the registered address be changed later?
Yes, by filing a change of registered office. It carries fees and you must notify the Revenue Department, your bank and others. Moving across provinces adds steps, so it pays to pick an address you can keep.
How much can foreigners hold?
Many activities fall under the Foreign Business Act lists, which cap foreign holdings below half unless a licence or a special regime such as BOI or a treaty applies. With foreign shareholders the structure must be planned before filing; we assess this case by case.
What must happen immediately after incorporation?
Three things: open the company bank account, start bookkeeping from your very first invoice, and put the filing calendar in place. A company files monthly returns and annual financial statements even with no revenue, and starting bookkeeping late is the most common source of first-year penalties.
This is general preparation information, not case-specific legal or accounting advice. Government fees, processing times and conditions change with official announcements. We review each guide on a schedule and show the review date on the page.