Legal Section - Doing Business
You will find here a series of summaries providing an overview of useful legal regulations, processes and legal issues for Doing Business in Thailand.
New BOI measures to strengthen Thai foreign joint ventures in the automotive parts manufacturing industry
17 March 2026
The Board of Investment (BOI) has issued Announcement No. 5/2569, dated 15 January 2026, introducing new measures to promote joint ventures between Thai and foreign companies in the automotive parts manufacturing industry.
Thailand’s DBD cracks down on nominees and “mule” accounts with strict new registration rules
11 February 2026
The Department of Business Development (DBD) has strengthened its corporate registration measures by imposing stricter scrutiny on shareholder information and the use of business premises as registered offices. These measures aim to enhance transparency, reduce risks associated with the use of “nominee” shareholders, and promote the use of appropriate business premises for company registration
The LPA amendments: New maternity, paternity, and childcare leave obligations
17 December 2025
Key amendments to the Thai Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998) (the “LPA”): Maternity-related leave, post-partum childcare leave, spousal support leave, and submission of the employment and working conditions report form
Thailand visa exemption crackdown
17 December 2025
Effective from 14 November 2025, the Thai government is implementing significant and enduring changes to its visa exemption policies. This shift is intended to attract “quality visitors,” such as highly skilled professionals, genuine retirees, and high-spending tourists, while also strengthening measures against crime and the misuse of tourist visas by individuals residing in Thailand illegally
Electronic work permit (e-WP) system
2 December 2025
The Thai government, through Ministry of Labour and the Department of Employment (DOE), has initiated a comprehensive digital transformation of foreign labour management. They formally implemented as the electronic Work Permit (e-WP) system, falls under the scope of an Outsourcing Service Project