Company registration
Thailand Company Registration Checklist: What to Prepare Before Filing
Published 27 Oct 2026
1. Define the business
- Describe the goods or services the company will provide
- Identify any regulated or restricted activity
- Confirm whether the proposed foreign ownership fits those activities
- Flag any plan for the company to hold land in Thailand
Company registration does not replace a Foreign Business Licence, BOI application or sector-specific licence. Check the operating route before fixing the structure.
2. Confirm the company structure
- Preferred company name and one or two alternatives
- At least two genuine promoters and shareholders
- The number, value and allocation of shares
- Registered capital and the amount to be paid initially
- Directors and the signing authority
- Registered office address in Thailand
All registered shares must be subscribed before incorporation, and the initial payment must be at least 25% of each share's value. Capital should also be considered against the company's licensing, staffing and immigration plans.
3. Prepare the filing information
- Identity, nationality, address and contact details for the relevant people
- The proposed shareholding for each shareholder
- Director details and the agreed signing arrangement
- A clear description of the company's objectives
- Registered-office information
- The incorporation meeting records and articles of association, if used
4. Run a consistency check
Before filing, check that names and addresses are consistent, the shareholders are genuine, the objectives match the planned business, and the directors understand how they may sign for the company. Inconsistent information is easier to correct before submission than after registration.
Key rules at a glance
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| A private limited company needs at least two promoters (reduced from three on 6 February 2023). | Civil and Commercial Code s.1097 |
| Each share must have a value of at least THB 5. | Civil and Commercial Code s.1117 |
| Before registration, at least 25% of the value of each share payable in cash must be called and paid. | Civil and Commercial Code ss.1105, 1110, 1111 |
| The memorandum and the company can be registered together on the same day if every formation step is completed that day: all shares are subscribed, every promoter and subscriber attends the statutory meeting and approves it, the promoters hand over to the directors, and the called share payment is made. | Civil and Commercial Code s.1111/1 |
| The company must be registered within three months of the statutory meeting. Otherwise it is treated as never formed and subscription money must be returned in full. | Civil and Commercial Code s.1112 |
| The Civil and Commercial Code sets no nationality or residence requirement for directors. A company has one or more directors. | Civil and Commercial Code s.1144 |
| A business must apply for VAT registration within 30 days of its annual turnover exceeding THB 1.8 million. | Revenue Code s.85/1; Royal Decree No. 432 |
The practical conclusion
The best checklist is not a pile of documents. It is a set of settled decisions. Once the business scope, ownership, capital, directors and address are clear, the registration documents can be prepared around the structure the founders actually intend to use.
This article provides general information. The exact filing and approval requirements depend on the proposed activities and ownership structure.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Company registration
At least two promoters (Civil and Commercial Code s.1097). The minimum fell from three to two on 6 February 2023.
Prepare the structure before preparing the forms
Corporly collects the company name, activities, shareholder, director and office information through one structured process before preparing the incorporation documents and supporting the DBD filing.