Legal procedures for foreigners to set up shops in Thailand

Procedures for opening a store in Thailand:

1. Determine the name of the registered company:

After the investor draws up the company name, he entrusts a lawyer to apply to the registration bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the government for approval of the company name. (It can be in Thai, Chinese and English * * *) If you have the same name, you must change it until the computer determines that it is not registered.

2. Select the registered address of the company.

If you use your own property, you need to have the property owner's household registration book and ID card; If you rent other people's property, you need to provide the original lease, the property owner's household registration book and ID card; A road map of the company's location.

3. Draw up the business scope

There are 22 types of business scope of a registered limited company, and the business content is very extensive (in fact, it is all-inclusive, and you can refer to the standard business scope). If it is necessary to increase, it can be proposed and generally approved.

4. Draft the registered capital

The Ministry of Commerce of Thailand stipulates that the registered capital of the limited company is at least 6,543,800 baht, with no upper limit at most. You must also indicate the number of baht per share and the paid-in capital. However, if you want to consider hiring foreigners or applying for a work permit yourself, you must have a registered capital of more than 2 million baht to qualify.

5. Provisions on Share Distribution

According to the current laws in Thailand, foreign shareholders of limited companies registered in Thailand account for at most 49% of the shares, and Thais account for at least 5 1% of the shares. The number of shares held by each shareholder shall be specified in detail. (Note: After the company is registered, under the guidance of lawyers, Thai shareholders will sign the equity transfer or waiver and give it to the real owner of the company's shares. )

6. Shareholder registration

A general limited company shall have four shareholders, including at least four Thai shareholders and at most 1 foreign shareholders, and the name and address of each shareholder (English address of foreign shareholders in their home country) shall be listed. In addition, each shareholder must sign the "Company Sponsor" application form.

7. Determine the legal representative (i.e. the representative with valid signature)?

According to the regulations of the members of the board of directors, investors should elect a director with valid signature (1-3) as the legal signature representative, and explain the authority and scope of signing documents.

8. Design company seal

After designing and producing the company seal, it shall be formally registered in the Commercial Registration Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, and the seal after filing cannot be changed and replaced at will. If you want to change it, you must re-apply to the Commercial Registration Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce for filing.

9. Lawyers can help.

Provide a temporary registration address for the smooth completion of the registration process. Provide the number of Thai shareholders required to register the company, first assist in completing the registration procedures, and then the Thai shareholders will sign the equity transfer or waiver and give it to the real owner of the company's shares.

10. Time required to register a company and apply for a work permit.

It takes about 15 working days from the date of application to the completion of all registration procedures. Only after the company registration documents are issued can you apply for a work residence permit and a long-term residence visa to the Ministry of Labor and Immigration of Thailand. It will take 15 working days from submitting the document application to approving the collection.

Here, foreigners refer to:

1, a natural person without Thai nationality;

2. A legal person established in a country other than Thailand;

3. More than half of the shares of legal persons registered in Thailand are held by foreigners or more than half of their fixed capital is contributed by foreigners;

4. Partnerships and sole proprietorships with foreigners as general partners or operators;

5. More than half of the above four natural persons and legal persons hold shares or invest more than half of their fixed capital.

Extended data:

Thailand has imposed some restrictions on foreigners engaged in business activities in Thailand. Higher access capital and limited business scope will help your business activities. According to the foreign business law, foreigners are prohibited from engaging in the following businesses:

1, newspapers, radio, television and other media services;

2. Rice cultivation, agriculture and horticulture;

3. Animal feeding;

4. Forestry and natural forest products manufacturing;

Fisheries and mariculture in Thailand's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone;

6. Herbal extraction industry in Thailand;

7. Trading and auction of antique cultural relics in Thailand;

8. Making bowls for Buddha statues and monks;

9. Land trade.

People's Republic of China (PRC) Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office in Thailand and China Embassy in Thailand-Law on Foreign-funded Enterprises in Thailand

People's Republic of China (PRC) Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office in Thailand and China Embassy in Thailand-Brief Introduction of Investment Environment and Policies in Thailand