Thai Supreme Court Shuts Door on Long-Term Lease Loopholes: Foreign Property Investors Face New Reality
Thailand’s attraction for foreign residents and investors often centres on lifestyle and opportunity. However, navigating property ownership remains a significant hurdle due to strict legal prohibitions on foreign land ownership, except for specific exceptions, such as BOI-promoted projects or designated industrial zones (IEAT). For decades, long-term leases structured with renewal options (often referred to as […]
Thai FDA Partners with E-commerce Platforms to Regulate Health Products Online
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a strategic collaboration with leading e-commerce platforms Lazada and Shopee to strengthen regulatory oversight of health-related products sold online. This partnership is part of a broader initiative to enhance consumer protection, enforce compliance with Thai health regulations, and foster a safer digital marketplace for health products. As […]
Thailand to Step Up Enforcement of Royal Decree on Digital Platform Services
Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has announced plans for increased enforcement of the Royal Decree on the Operation of Digital Platform Service Businesses That Are Subject to Prior Notification B.E. 2565 (2022). The ETDA outlined a comprehensive enforcement framework and review process during an online meeting with digital platform service operators on June 11, […]
Nominee Trap: Legal Risks and Licensing under Thailand’s Foreign Business Act
While Thailand’s Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) (FBA) has been in place for over two decades, the issue of nominee arrangements remains a hot topic—especially as authorities continue to crack down on businesses that use Thai nationals to hold shares in violation of foreign ownership restrictions under the FBA. The FBA was enacted to […]
Thailand Resumes Development of AI Regulatory Framework
Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) held an explanatory session on the draft principles and regulatory approaches of the country’s planned artificial intelligence (AI) law on May 2, 2025. This came after a lull of two years following the initial release of draft legislation on AI. In the session, the ETDA explained that the earlier drafts […]
Thailand Amends Emergency Decree on Technology Crime
On April 12, 2025, Thailand published an amendment to the Emergency Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crimes in the Government Gazette, with the regulation taking effect the following day. Drafts of the amendment had been shared in recent months, and the final amendment of the decree contains some additional key revisions, such […]
Thailand Eases Stock Buybacks with Proposed Amendment: Listed Companies Expected to Jump In
In response to the Thai stock index’s decline and market volatility, Thailand’s Department of Business Development is proposing an amendment to the country’s treasury stock rules to ease the requirements for both the implementation and the disposal of shares, as they see this as a timely opportunity to optimize the use of treasury stock as […]
Avoiding Illegal Nominee Structures: Comply with Thai Business Ownership Laws
By Dr. Paul Crosio The number of new business registrations in Thailand is projected to surpass 90,000 this year, fuelled by a rebound in exports and tourism, alongside government stimulus initiatives in the final quarter. There were 76,653 new business registrations in the first 10 months of 2024, a 2.18% increase compared to the same […]
Thailand Reaffirms Alcoholic Beverage Packaging and Labeling Requirements
A new notification on required labeling and packaging for alcoholic beverages was published in Thailand’s Government Gazette on November 8, 2024, taking full effect the following day. The notification (Notification of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee Re: Criteria, Methods, and Conditions for Packaging of Alcoholic Beverages and Warning Statements of Alcoholic Beverages Both Produced Domestically and Imported […]
Fintech Insights: Digital Asset Business Regulations in Thailand
In recent years, Thailand has taken significant steps to regulate and integrate digital assets into its financial ecosystem. This article explores the regulatory framework governing digital asset businesses in Thailand, focusing on the key legislation, regulated activities, and recent developments in this rapidly evolving sector. Regulatory Environment In 2018, Thailand enacted the Emergency Decree on […]
