Set Up a Representative Office in Thailand for a Presence Without Trading
A foreign company that wants a presence in Thailand to support its head office, without selling or earning income locally, can apply for a Representative Office license under the Foreign Business Act. It is a common first step for companies that want to explore the Thai market, manage suppliers or support regional customers before deciding whether to invest. The office is not a separate legal entity, so the head office remains responsible for everything it does.
- What it can do: source goods or services in Thailand for the head office, check the quality of goods the head office buys, share information about its products and services, and report on business developments in Thailand.
- What it cannot do: sell, quote, invoice or sign sales contracts. If you want to trade, a Company Limited or a branch is the right vehicle.
- Funding: the office earns no income in Thailand; its expenses are paid by money remitted from the head office.
- Staff: the office may hire Thai staff, and foreign staff need a work permit and visa, which we can arrange once the license is granted.
- Next step: if the head office later wants to trade in Thailand, the representative office can be closed and the business moved into a Thai company.