Reference
Thai agencies, licences and key terms for market entry
A short reference for Chinese and other foreign companies entering Thailand: which government bodies you will deal with, what each one handles, and the terms that come up in every plan.
Which Thai agencies does a foreign company deal with?
Most Chinese companies entering Thailand deal with five to nine agencies. The Department of Business Development registers the company and licenses restricted activities, the Board of Investment grants incentives, the Revenue Department and Customs handle tax and imports, and product regulators such as the Thai FDA and TISI approve what you sell. The PDPC governs the customer data you collect.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency or a licensed adviser before acting.
Agencies
Listed in the order most companies meet them. Each links to the agency's official site.
Department of Business Development, Ministry of CommerceDBD
Official siteWhat it handlesRegisters Thai companies and issues Foreign Business Licences and Foreign Business Certificates under the Foreign Business Act.
You need it whenYou set up a Thai company, change shareholders, or need permission for a restricted activity as a majority foreign-owned company.
Thailand Board of InvestmentBOI
Official siteWhat it handlesGrants investment promotion: corporate income tax holidays, permission to own land and faster visas and work permits for foreign staff in promoted activities.
You need it whenYou manufacture in Thailand, invest in a targeted sector such as EV parts, electronics or data centres, or need majority foreign ownership in a promoted activity.
One Start One Stop Investment CenterOSOS
Official siteWhat it handlesA BOI-run centre where several agencies handle company, visa, work-permit and licensing services in one place.
You need it whenYou want to complete registrations with several agencies in one visit or online session.
The Revenue DepartmentRD
Official siteWhat it handlesCollects corporate income tax, VAT and withholding tax, and runs VAT registration, including for foreign e-service providers.
You need it whenYour Thai taxable turnover passes THB 1.8 million a year, or you sell digital services to Thai consumers from abroad.
Customs DepartmentThai Customs
Official siteWhat it handlesAssesses import duty and import VAT, rules on HS classification, and grants preferential tariffs such as ASEAN–China FTA rates claimed with Form E.
You need it whenYou ship goods into Thailand, whether in containers to a Thai importer or as parcels to consumers.
Thai Food and Drug AdministrationThai FDA
Official siteWhat it handlesLicenses importers and approves or receives notification for food, cosmetics, drugs and medical devices before sale, and regulates health-related advertising claims.
You need it whenYou sell food, beverages, supplements, cosmetics, medicines or medical devices in Thailand.
Thai Industrial Standards InstituteTISI
Official siteWhat it handlesPublishes Thai Industrial Standards (TIS). Products under a mandatory standard need a TISI licence before they are made, imported or sold.
You need it whenYou sell electrical appliances, auto parts, building materials, toys or other products covered by a mandatory standard.
Personal Data Protection CommitteePDPC
Official siteWhat it handlesEnforces the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), in full force since 1 June 2022: consent, privacy notices, cross-border transfers and data-subject rights.
You need it whenYou collect Thai customer data through a website, LINE account, marketplace store, CRM or creator campaign.
Eastern Economic Corridor OfficeEEC
Official siteWhat it handlesRuns the special economic zone across Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong, with extra incentives for targeted industries and access to Laem Chabang port and U-Tapao airport.
You need it whenYou are choosing a factory or warehouse location east of Bangkok, or comparing EEC incentives with standard BOI terms.
Approvals by product type
The main approval to plan for, and the other agencies usually involved.
| Product type | Main approval | Also involved |
|---|---|---|
| Food & beverages | Thai FDA product registration and importer licence; Thai-language label | Customs, Revenue Department |
| Cosmetics & personal care | Thai FDA cosmetic notification before sale | Customs, PDPC for customer data |
| Electrical appliances & electronics | TISI licence where a mandatory standard applies | Customs; NBTC for radio and telecom equipment |
| Medical devices & supplements | Thai FDA licensing by risk class; advertising approval | Customs, Revenue Department |
| Auto parts & EV components | TISI for covered parts; BOI promotion for local manufacturing | DBD, EEC Office, Customs |
| Digital services & apps | VAT registration for foreign e-service providers | PDPC, DBD if you set up locally |
Key terms
- Foreign Business Act (FBA)
- The 1999 law that limits what a company with 50% or more foreign shareholding may do in Thailand. Its three lists cover activities closed to foreigners, activities needing cabinet approval, and activities (including many services) that need a licence.
- Foreign Business Licence (FBL)
- Permission from the DBD for a majority foreign-owned company to run an activity on the FBA's restricted lists. Approval is discretionary and usually requires showing benefit to Thailand.
- Foreign Business Certificate (FBC)
- The route for BOI-promoted companies: once the BOI promotes the activity, the DBD issues a certificate instead of a licence.
- BOI promotion
- Incentives granted by the Board of Investment for targeted activities, typically corporate income tax exemptions, import-duty relief on machinery and help with foreign staff permits.
- Value-added tax (VAT)
- Charged at 7% on most goods and services. Registration is required once taxable turnover passes THB 1.8 million a year; import VAT is charged on the CIF value plus duty.
- Form E
- The certificate of origin used to claim ASEAN–China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) preferential duty on goods made in China.
- Thai Industrial Standard (TIS) mark
- The mark showing a product meets a Thai Industrial Standard. For products under a mandatory standard, selling without a TISI licence is an offence.
- Thai FDA number
- The registration or notification number that food, cosmetics and other health products must carry on their Thai label before sale.
- PDPA
- Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act, in force since 1 June 2022. It requires a lawful basis (often consent) for using personal data and controls transfers abroad, including to servers in China.
- Landed cost
- The full cost of a product delivered in Thailand: ex-works price, freight, insurance, duty, import VAT, clearance and last-mile delivery. Calculate it with our free tool.
Questions companies ask first
Can a Chinese company own 100% of a Thai company?
Often yes, but not automatically. Under the Foreign Business Act, a company that is 50% or more foreign-owned needs a Foreign Business Licence from the DBD, or BOI promotion with a Foreign Business Certificate, to run activities on the restricted lists, which include many services. Manufacturing and BOI-promoted activities are the most common routes to full foreign ownership.
Do I need a Thai company to sell on Shopee, Lazada or TikTok Shop?
Not always. The marketplaces run cross-border seller programmes that let Chinese sellers list from China. Holding local stock, invoicing Thai business buyers or running a local shop usually requires a Thai company or a Thai partner. Low-value parcels from abroad no longer enter duty-free, which changes the cross-border cost comparison.
What is the VAT rate in Thailand?
The standard rate is 7%. Businesses must register once taxable turnover passes THB 1.8 million a year, and import VAT is charged on the CIF value plus duty. Foreign providers of digital services to Thai consumers also register above the same threshold.
Which approvals does my product need before it can be sold?
It depends on the category. Food, cosmetics, drugs and medical devices go through the Thai FDA; products under a mandatory Thai Industrial Standard need a TISI licence before import; radio and telecom equipment may also need NBTC approval. The table above maps the common cases.
Turn this into a plan
A feasibility study confirms which approvals, costs and timelines apply to your product.