rikiderorck

Thank you so much for sharing such detailed and complete advice with me. It’s exactly the kind of insight I was hoping to find. when i initally posted in here This kind of guidance is worth its weight in gold in my opinion SO yes, I will take everything you said into account as I move forward, and I’m going to approach this with the patience and care it deserves. THANK YOU ❤️

@scubascuba3, I guess for land, the info should be in the Land Code Act. I’ll think i need to start documenting that as well. Btw, Sorry for the off topic.

@scubascuba3, Thanks for this advice, it is indeed very helpful. I went through the Condominium Act you pointed me to, and it actually answered my main question. So basically from what I saw, especially in Section 13, Section 14, and Section 19, once a foreigner owns a condo within the 49% quota, that ownership is secure ie including the personal unit and a share in the common property. So in there, there is nothing in there that suggests the Thai majority can just vote to take that away or remove access. So yeah i think this answers pretty much my main question. still gonna take my time to go through that document again . I believe this is the document you were referring to: https://www.thailandlawonline.com/translations/condominium-law-thai-condo-act

Just the numbers of threads started in 10 hours, only, and btw, I didn’t say do not come here! I gave you an explanation why some succeed and maybe not, so not at all judgmental. Those who succeed are those who continue against all odds, and educates themselves and learn why others failed, and also why some few succeed. I had 1001 plans my self, and Im quite happy to say after all these years I haven’t started one business yet, only a small farm for living more sustainable for our family, but we have invested land, and if we come back one day, I do have some plans. But not to make myself rich, because I make my money abroad, not in Thailand. However my investment in my wife, might pay off one day if Im a good boy, and she still wants me. That’s my lottery ticket. Thanks for the clarification. I agree , I been posting since yesterday and I hope it’s clear that I’m not trying to spam or waste anyone’s time. If you look through my threads, you’ll see everything I posted comes from a place of curiosity and wanting to understand things better. I understand that some things in life must be experienced first-hand, and I agree with you , people who succeed here often build strong connections and stay committed. But I also believe that gathering information and asking questions is part of the process. What’s the better approach , jumping in blind, or taking the time to ask, research, and slowly learn how things work? Everything I’m learning here, I’m also discussing with family and people around me. I’m not planning anything reckless. The only thing I didn’t like was the feeling of being judged just for asking questions. I’m not trolling , I’m genuinely trying to understand. This could be a long journey for me, or maybe not, depending on how things develop. But either way, asking questions should be seen as part of learning, not something suspicious. Anyway, I don’t want this to turn into an off topic debate. The whole point of this thread was to understand how the condo situation is truly different from land lease, especially in terms of long-term security. For example, if Thai ownership still controls the land under the building, is there still a risk of foreigners losing access over time? That is basically what I hoped to focus on here. Anyways, still thank you again for taking the time to answer and share your thoughts. That already means something, and I respect your feedback.

Thanks @scubascuba3 for the advice, good point. I’m not coming for a Thai partner , I’m coming with family. But my main question or the main reason is posted this read is the following: even if I buy a condo legally in the foreign quota, can Thai majority owners still vote or decide things that push foreigners out or limit access later? so basically, I’m trying to understand how this is really different from a villa on leased land. In both cases, the land is owned by Thais. So in the end, can similar problems happen right Would wished a clear on answer on that point if some experts here had to go through that question. So in the end, can similar problems still happen? I’d really appreciate a clear answer on that point, especially if anyone here has dealt with this question before.

Hey @Hummin, thanks for the answer. I don’t really understand why you think this is trolling. I’m just asking the questions that come to my mind while trying to understand the topic better. Is that considered trolling to you? I’m here to gather information, I hope that’s clear. If you don’t feel like the conversation is useful or valuable, then I kindly ask you to just skip replying. I’m looking for honest, constructive answers from people who are willing to share insight, not judgment. You mentioned that if I have no experience, I shouldn’t come here. But did I ever say I’m jumping into an investment right away? No, I didn’t. I’m asking questions as part of the learning process. That’s how people get experience , by researching, asking, discussing, and slowly putting the pieces together. I’m still learning, and I’m not pretending to be an expert or rushing into anything. Everyone has to start somewhere. I thought these forums were places where people could help each other, especially those who are new to all this. That’s the spirit I’m coming in with. Still, thank you for the information you did share. I do appreciate every part that’s based on experience and insight.

Hello people , Ok so as a foreigner I believe I cannot own land in Thailand. The only thing I can do is lease the land for 30 years . I can own the house that sits on it. But after 30 years the problem starts because there is no guarantee I can stay. The landowner can refuse to renew and I lose access to the land. So the best I can do is maybe destroy or remove the house, if the contract allows it. I think I understand that, but correct me if I’m wrong please. Now moving to the main question I have. I heard condos are a different story. I heard that foreigners can own a condo. But isn’t the land under the condo still an issue. I heard something like the land must be majority owned by Thais. So what happens if the Thai majority one day wants to remove the foreign owners. Is that possible. Could they vote to change something that forces foreigners out later? In the end I just want to understand how condos are really different from leasehold villas. Because it still feels like in both cases the land is controlled by Thai law and Thai people, and foreigners can always be limited or blocked. So can someone explain how secure a condo really is long term.

Hi folks, A foreigner can buy a house in Thailand but not the land, I believe. Many villas are sold to foreigners with a 30-year land lease.so basically guys I am trying to understand what the problem is with this kind of deal and why some say it is not a good investment. If the lease ends after 30 years and the landowner does not agree to renew it, I think the foreigner might lose the right to use the land. But I am not sure. Can the landowner ask the foreigner to leave. Can the house still belong to the foreigner if it stays on the land. Can the foreigner remove or destroy the house. Can the landowner use the land while the house is still there. Is it possible to include something in the contract that protects the foreigner after the 30 years. Would a clause asking for automatic renewal mean anything legally. Or is it always up to the landowner? I read that this is considered risky or not a good investment, but I want to understand why in legal terms. Please correct me if I am wrong about anything.

Hi all, I saw some Facebook pages from my country promoting tropical villas in Koh Phangan, aimed at foreigners.. here is a video demo: https://imgur.com/a/opV4MQ0 They show fully furnished villas with private pools and promise up to 20% annual returns. In the comments, the admin said each villa is selling for about €150,000. This made me wonder, how are they selling villas to foreigners if foreigners can't legally own land in Thailand? These aren't condos. So is it a 30-year lease, or is there some company structure involved? I found the listing here: https://lazudi.com/th-en/surat-thani/project/greeny-moon-villas-14851 But there's no info about leasehold, company setup, or legal ownership, just lifestyle and investment talk. Is this common? Are they just selling lease contracts without saying it? Thanks in advance for any info or experience.

Hey everyone, I’m currently researching how realistic it is to get a Non-B visa if you're moving to Thailand. I know it’s mainly for work or business, but I wanna know about what it actually looks like in real life. From your own experiences guys, If you’re in Thailand on a Non-B visa, what kind of job did you apply for, or what were the circumstances that allowed you to get it? Was it through a company, your own business, teaching, something else? Like I said just trying to understand the real paths people take to get this visa, beyond just the theory or legal definitions.

Thanks.

Hey guys, After giving it a lot of thought and going over some early ideas I have for business in Thailand, I started to feel that the most practical path forward would be to rent a place rather than buy. What I’m looking to do is set up a small tourism-related operation where I will be working with foreigners from my home country. The idea is that I’ll have an office (rented, not owned) in Thailand which will serve as a base for the business. The clients would pay for the service packages abroad, and once they arrive in Thailand, I would provide everything included, airport pickup, hotel coordination, tours, maybe some small events depending on what’s arranged. It’s a very lean model, no land ownership, no major real estate commitments, just running things locally for people who already paid for the experience before arriving. So here’s where I wanna know. Has anyone here done something like this before guys? If that's the case could you provide me some insights on this matter? I imagine my two main options are either operating through a foreign company or registering a Thai company locally. Since the money would be collected abroad, I feel like having the company registered outside Thailand will make more sense, doesn’t it? But in that case, can I legally run such a business on Thai land while renting an office and organizing activities? What would be the requirements, permits, or limitations I need to be aware of? Of course, I can search and read legal guides, but I wanted to post here to see if anyone with firsthand experience could share real-world info , which is often way more helpful than just relying on Google. Then there’s the second route, opening a Thai company. From what I understand, I will be limited to 49% ownership as a foreigner. Is that still the case today? And are there people here who went that route and could speak to how it worked out, especially for a small tourism operation? This project is still in the early idea phase, and I’m not rushing into anything. Just trying to gather information and learn from people who have done it before or know the process well. I really want to make the right moves from the beginning and avoid problems down the line, even though Im pretty sure I cant know everything in advance no matter how much I prepare. Btw, initially what I had in mind was to invest my savings directly into something bigger, like land or a more developed setup. But after talking with a few people and thinking through the risks, I realized I might not have enough capital to do that securely. There’s also the real possibility of losing everything if things don’t go as planned. That’s why I started leaning toward this leaner rental-based model, at least for the first couple of years. If things go well and the setup proves sustainable, I can always scale later. So if any of you think I’m being unrealistic or see any major issues with this approach, please let me know. That kind of feedback will really help me make better decisions.

Thank you sir, really genuine and honest opinion . I’ll keep your points in mind. Unfortunately, I’m not into the whole Thai wife thing or really interested in Asians in general , just not my style, to be honest. I’m heading there for business, not for personal relationships.

Thanks for the reply. I'm in my thirties and plan to come with a family member in his fifties. I was thinking about Phuket but right now I'm just trying to collect as much clear info as possible. I stayed in Phuket town for six months about a year ago. Didn't go near Patong for long-term living. After that I went back home and started talking to my family to see who might want to join. Of course we're still cautious. That’s part of the process. If it was simple and risk-free everyone would be doing it. I posted here because I believe even in forums like this I can get useful information. Maybe not always perfect, but enough to help shape the next steps. I'm in the preparation stage and never claimed to be fully ready. I’m here to gather knowledge, there will be good and bad input, I get that, but I’m hoping some of it will be genuinely helpful.

@Celsius Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer me, genuinely grateful for that I appreciate it. That said, if you don’t mind, Im curious to hear your thoughts on the actual questions I asked in the post. That way I can get more insights.

Hi everyone I’m a European with a solid six-figure amount saved and I’m planning to move to Phuket to start a small tourism business. The goal is to get my money out of Europe and invest it into something stable and long term in Thailand. What I have in mind is buying land, building some small accommodation units, and using that property as a base to offer guided tours and experience packages. The business would start small but focused. Guests would stay on site and also take part in activities I organise directly. These could include renting out gear I own, as well as offering guided trips to nearby islands. I’m also open to eventually hosting small music events, things like DJ nights or social gatherings. It’s not the core idea but something that could develop later if it makes sense. If anyone thinks that’s a bad move or has advice on that side of things, I’m open to hearing it. At first I assumed I could simply buy land and go from there, but after digging into it more, it figured out that foreigners cannot legally own land in Thailand outright. What I understand so far is that a foreigner can own up to 49 percent of a Thai company, and that company can own land, while the remaining 51 percent must be Thai-owned. If anyone here knows the facts for sure or has gone through this process, please confirm or correct that for me. I don’t want to rely on half-truths or secondhand assumptions. I also started looking into different options like: Investment routes such as the Board of Investment (BOI), Setting up a Thai company under the 49/51 ownership rule, Leasing land long term (30 years, possibly renewable), Other legal structures I may not be aware of yet At the same time I see plenty of foreigners, especially Russians, running similar businesses in Phuket. So my honest question is : how are they doing it ? Are they managing through Thai companies where they hold 49 percent? Are they leasing land and building on it? Are they using nominee setups that are technically illegal but common? Or is it that some are doing this legally through boi or another setup Im not aware of ? Just to be clear, I’m not looking for shortcuts. I spent about a year in Thailand over the past seven years across multiple trips, so I’m not someone who just visited once and got carried away. This idea has been in the back of my mind for a long time, and now I’m doing proper research before making any commitments. Getting my money out of Europe and investing in Thailand is the goal, but only if it’s legally and structurally done. I’m not going all in if there are still major gray areas. So what advice would you give me based on your own experiences and knowledge in the matter ?