Foreign Business License

A Foreign Business License (FBL) or Foreign Business Certificate (FBC) is the legal authorization for a foreign-majority company to operate in activities reserved for Thai nationals under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999). Without it, operating a restricted activity with more than 49% foreign ownership is a criminal offence under FBA Section 33: fine up to THB 1 million, imprisonment up to 3 years, asset forfeiture. Most foreign service, trading, and professional activities require an FBC (List 3) unless the activity is BOI-promoted or the owner qualifies for Treaty of Amity (US nationals only).

FBC (List 3 — Director-General + Foreign Business Committee): 60–90 days once the application is complete; the Committee meets monthly. FBL (List 2 — Cabinet): 6–12 months because the Cabinet schedules quarterly and may request additional ministerial input. Plizz's preparation phase (4–6 weeks) is in addition to government review. End-to-end, plan 3–4 months for an FBC and up to 12 months for an FBL.

THB 3 million per licensed activity under Ministerial Regulation 2006 — fully paid-in, bank-certified, before license issuance. The general FBA minimum of THB 2 million does not apply once you enter List 2 or List 3 territory. If a company seeks two licensed activities, it needs THB 6M of capital. Plizz's Phase 1 catches undercapitalisation before application fees are spent.

When the activity is BOI-eligible, BOI is almost always better: faster (3–6 months vs. 6–12 for List 2), cheaper, and includes CIT exemption that FBL does not. Plizz's Phase 1 tests BOI eligibility first. FBL/FBC is the right tool when (a) the activity is not BOI-promoted, (b) BOI was tried and declined, or (c) the project economics don't justify BOI's compliance overhead.

No. FBA Section 36 paragraph 2 criminalises nominee arrangements: fine up to THB 1 million and imprisonment up to 3 years for both the foreign principal and the Thai nominee. In 2024, Thailand investigated over 26,000 businesses for nominee activity. Plizz declines all nominee structuring requests. The only legal pathways to foreign majority in a restricted activity are FBL/FBC, BOI, or Treaty of Amity.

Four factors carry weight in Committee review: (1) job creation — concrete Thai hiring numbers and roles, ideally skilled positions; (2) technology or know-how transfer — training programmes, R&D commitments, supplier development; (3) export potential or foreign-exchange earnings — share of revenue from non-Thai customers; (4) regional development — operations outside Bangkok or in EEC/SEZ. The Committee distinguishes quantified commitments from boilerplate. Plizz's application drafting focuses on verifiable, quantified economic benefits.

Generally no. FBLs and FBCs are issued to a specific company for specific activities. A change of ownership, corporate reorganization, or substantial change in licensed activity requires DBD notification within 30 days and may require a fresh application. M&A buyers who skip this step in due diligence have lost months post-close. Plizz manages FBL continuity through the Corporate Changes service.

DBD Biz Regist became mandatory from 1 July 2025; walk-in counters closed 31 December 2025. All FBL/FBC filings, electronic signatures, and certified document downloads now happen on the platform. Foreign applicants without a Thai national ID must register via the DBD e-Service application — the only identity-verification channel currently available to non-residents. Applications with incomplete digital signatures are returned and require full resubmission. Plizz handles platform onboarding as part of every engagement.

Three differences. Risk allocation — Narai Partners is a registered Thai law firm and IR Global member; advice is given under professional liability. Strategy — we test BOI and Treaty of Amity pathways first because they are usually faster and cheaper. Continuity — your file sits inside Plizz Group, so post-license compliance flows under one accountability chain.