T3 AI Concierge — Answered
BOI vs Non-BOI Company in Thailand: Which Route
BOI-promoted investment and non-BOI (standard) company formation are the two routes T3 documents for setting up a business in Thailand. Both still register the same underlying company; BOI adds a project-specific promotion on top with its own eligibility, incentives and reporting obligations.
Your options
1. Investing through a BOI-promoted company
BOI does not promote every business. Eligibility depends on the exact promoted activity; conditions may include technology, value addition, process, investment amount, location, environmental requirements or other criteria. Approval is project-specific, incentive treatment is not automatic, and BOI promotion does not eliminate all licensing, tax, labour or regulatory obligations. Ends with: Promoted companies must meet ongoing reporting, investment, and compliance conditions — promotion is not a one-time approval with no further obligations. BOI promotes specific, listed activities across targeted industries (e.g. digital, EV, advanced manufacturing, BCG) — not every business qualifies, and eligibility is defined activity by activity.
/invest#boi-orientation2. Non-BOI (standard) company formation
Available to any business activity that is not restricted under the Foreign Business Act, or that has secured the applicable licence, certificate or exemption where it is. Registering a Thai company Standard corporate tax, VAT, withholding tax and annual filing obligations apply in full (no BOI tax holiday). Foreign Business Act restrictions still apply — a restricted activity still needs a Foreign Business Licence or Certificate regardless of BOI status.
/invest#how-to-establish-a-business
Departments
- Thailand Board of Investment — Investment promotion, eligible activities, incentives, investor facilitation, promoted-project support. https://www.boi.go.th/en/index/
- Department of Business Development — Juristic-person registration, business information, foreign-business licensing and certificates, DBD Biz Regist, e-Foreign Business. https://www.dbd.go.th/en
Read on T3
Summary
Choose BOI promotion when the activity is BOI-eligible and the incentives (tax holiday, machinery duty treatment, easier foreign ownership/land rights) are worth the project-specific application and ongoing compliance. Choose the standard non-BOI route when the activity isn't BOI-eligible, or when a simpler structure without promotion conditions is preferred. Not legal or investment advice — confirm the current position with BOI and DBD directly.
Compiled from 2 T3 page sections. T3 AI Concierge summarizes information published on this platform. It is not a government authority, legal adviser, travel agent, medical provider, investment adviser or booking service.
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