Registering a company in Phuket: what tourism, accommodation and foreign investors need to know
Incorporating in Phuket: the filing point, accommodation and tour licences, foreign shareholding limits, VAT for hotel work, and the bookkeeping load of a seasonal business.
Zura Labs & Business Hub Co., Ltd.
A Phuket company files at the Phuket provincial DBD office or online through e-Registration. The local reality is that most businesses touch tourism and accommodation, which need premises-linked licences and face foreign shareholding limits in several activities. We hold no office in Phuket, so use your own local address, or our Bangkok or Khon Kaen address for businesses with no storefront.
Reviewed 2026-09-14 by the Zura Labs corporate services team.
- Provincial filing point
- Phuket Provincial Business Development Office, or e-Registration
- Licences commonly involved
- Hotel licence, tour operator licence, food and beverage premises permits
- Foreign shareholding
- Many service activities cap foreign holding at 49% unless a specific licence or promotion applies
- Registered address we can provide
- Bangkok or Khon Kaen only — we hold no office in Phuket
- Revenue pattern
- Strongly seasonal, so cash flow and tax filings must survive the low months
How this works in practice
- 01
Check how much foreign holding your activity allows
Before setting shareholding, check whether the activity sits in the lists under the Foreign Business Act, so shareholding and director authority are correct from day one.
- 02
Reserve the name and file
Prepare three name options, assemble the filing set, and file at the Phuket provincial office or online, including address documents and consent to use the premises.
- 03
Get the tax ID, register VAT and open the account
Work invoiced to hotels or overseas agencies usually needs VAT and complete documents to receive foreign-currency payments. Handle this before the season starts.
- 04
Apply for the operating licences and set seasonal books
Apply for accommodation or tour licences once the company exists, and set books that split revenue by channel with tax forecasting for the high-season months.
Reasons this gets delayed or rejected
Selling nightly stays where the project forbids it
Many villa and condo projects ban nightly rentals, and doing it without a hotel licence carries penalties. Check by-laws and the law before taking bookings.
Shareholding that cannot explain the money
Thai shareholders without a clear source of investment funds expose the company to nominee scrutiny. Keep share-payment evidence for every shareholder.
Skipping filings in the low season
Even zero-revenue months require filings on schedule. Missed filings create penalties that often exceed the tax itself.
Answers to the questions we hear most
Can a foreigner own a Phuket company outright?
It depends on the activity. Many service activities cap foreign holding at 49%; some require a foreign business licence or investment promotion. We check your actual activity before proposing a structure.
Do I need a real office in Phuket?
Yes if you need premises-linked licences or employ foreign staff whose workplace may be inspected. Consulting or online businesses can use our registered address.
What do overseas agency clients require?
Usually the company affidavit, VAT certificate and a bank account in the company name. We prepare that document set ready to send.
Can monthly accounting be done remotely?
Yes. Send documents as files; we close the books, file on schedule and report margin by channel each month.
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.