How Foreign Investors Can Own Land In Thailand

[webfact]

How Foreign Investors Can Own Land In Thailand

By Wirot Poonsuwan, Attorney-at-Law

 

 

Designed to protect Thai businesses from foreign competition, the infamous Foreign Business Act of 1999 can be a stumbling block for offshore investors doing business in Thailand.

 

Expats hoping to buy land for their businesses – and residences – are doubly disappointed that the Land Code of 1954 stops them from doing so, this time in the name of national security.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2018/09/19/how-foreign-investors-can-own-land-in-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-09-19

[NCC1701A]

"land ownership – with permission of the Interior Ministry –  to 1 rai (1,600sqm) of land for a residential purpose to foreigners who invest at least 40 million baht (USD$1.2 million) in a business that “benefits the economy and society.”

 

I'll get right on that after my helicopter lands in Monaco.

[wolf81]

7 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

"land ownership – with permission of the Interior Ministry –  to 1 rai (1,600sqm) of land for a residential purpose to foreigners who invest at least 40 million baht (USD$1.2 million) in a business that “benefits the economy and society.”

 

I'll get right on that after my helicopter lands in Monaco.

I think the "easiest" way to legit landownership is becoming a Thai citizen (please note: this is not the same as adopting Thai nationality - to adopt the Thai nationality is a much longer process).

 

In theory it should be possible to apply for a Thai citizenship after working 3 years continously (for the same company?) in Thailand and paying income tax in Thailand during this period. Ideally one should pay quite a bit of tax, to proof the value of the applicant to Thailand (i.e.: a teacher earning 30k a month will hardly pay taxes and as such will not get much points in this regard, but an IT professional earning 100.000 Baht a month might be deemed more valuable for the Thai economy). There are other criteria that grant points for the applicant, but income is important IIRC.

 

As a Thai citizen it should be possible to own up to 1 rai of land, if I am not mistaken.

 

It's something I might consider doing myself in a few years, though currently I earn a lot more than what I would earn working for a Thai company. And working for 3 years for such a company is a long time. But there might be some creative ways to deal with this.

[khunPer]

22 minutes ago, wolf81 said:

I think the "easiest" way to legit landownership is becoming a Thai citizen (please note: this is not the same as adopting Thai nationality - to adopt the Thai nationality is a much longer process).

 

In theory it should be possible to apply for a Thai citizenship after working 3 years continously (for the same company?) in Thailand and paying income tax in Thailand during this period. Ideally one should pay quite a bit of tax, to proof the value of the applicant to Thailand (i.e.: a teacher earning 30k a month will hardly pay taxes and as such will not get much points in this regard, but an IT professional earning 100.000 Baht a month might be deemed more valuable for the Thai economy). There are other criteria that grant points for the applicant, but income is important IIRC.

 

As a Thai citizen it should be possible to own up to 1 rai of land, if I am not mistaken.

 

It's something I might consider doing myself in a few years, though currently I earn a lot more than what I would earn working for a Thai company. And working for 3 years for such a company is a long time. But there might be some creative ways to deal with this.

To my knowledge citizenship and nationality is the same, but perhaps I'm wrong. It however sounds like you are talking about permanent residency – there's a guide about applying for that in ThaiVisa Forum here – but as permanent resident I don't belie you can own land, but you can own a condo paid with money origination from inside Thailand; some more facts from a legal service here.

?

[Peterw42]

17 minutes ago, wolf81 said:

I think the "easiest" way to legit landownership is becoming a Thai citizen (please note: this is not the same as adopting Thai nationality - to adopt the Thai nationality is a much longer process).

 

In theory it should be possible to apply for a Thai citizenship after working 3 years continously (for the same company?) in Thailand and paying income tax in Thailand during this period. Ideally one should pay quite a bit of tax, to proof the value of the applicant to Thailand (i.e.: a teacher earning 30k a month will hardly pay taxes and as such will not get much points in this regard, but an IT professional earning 100.000 Baht a month might be deemed more valuable for the Thai economy). There are other criteria that grant points for the applicant, but income is important IIRC.

 

As a Thai citizen it should be possible to own up to 1 rai of land, if I am not mistaken.

 

It's something I might consider doing myself in a few years, though currently I earn a lot more than what I would earn working for a Thai company. And working for 3 years for such a company is a long time. But there might be some creative ways to deal with this.

A Thai citizen is a Thai citizen no different to nationality, they can own any amount of land, get a passport etc, they are Thai. A lot more to the citizen process than just paying tax for a few years, it can take up to 10 years, Interviews done in Thai language, and most will say you need permanent resident status first,  lots of threads about it. 

[arithai12]

 

4 hours ago, wolf81 said:

I think the "easiest" way to legit landownership is becoming a Thai citizen (please note: this is not the same as adopting Thai nationality - to adopt the Thai nationality is a much longer process). 

 

In theory it should be possible to apply for a Thai citizenship after working 3 years continously (for the same company?) in Thailand and paying income tax in Thailand during this period. Ideally one should pay quite a bit of tax, to proof the value of the applicant to Thailand (i.e.: a teacher earning 30k a month will hardly pay taxes and as such will not get much points in this regard, but an IT professional earning 100.000 Baht a month might be deemed more valuable for the Thai economy). There are other criteria that grant points for the applicant, but income is important IIRC.

 

As a Thai citizen it should be possible to own up to 1 rai of land, if I am not mistaken.

 

It's something I might consider doing myself in a few years, though currently I earn a lot more than what I would earn working for a Thai company. And working for 3 years for such a company is a long time. But there might be some creative ways to deal with this.

Many of your statements are simply incorrect.

[Mickmouse1]

Why bother?

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

I think the "easiest" way to legit landownership is becoming a Thai citizen (please note: this is not the same as adopting Thai nationality - to adopt the Thai nationality is a much longer process).
 
In theory it should be possible to apply for a Thai citizenship after working 3 years continously (for the same company?) in Thailand and paying income tax in Thailand during this period. Ideally one should pay quite a bit of tax, to proof the value of the applicant to Thailand (i.e.: a teacher earning 30k a month will hardly pay taxes and as such will not get much points in this regard, but an IT professional earning 100.000 Baht a month might be deemed more valuable for the Thai economy). There are other criteria that grant points for the applicant, but income is important IIRC.
 
As a Thai citizen it should be possible to own up to 1 rai of land, if I am not mistaken.
 
It's something I might consider doing myself in a few years, though currently I earn a lot more than what I would earn working for a Thai company. And working for 3 years for such a company is a long time. But there might be some creative ways to deal with this.

The terms citizenship and nationality are used incorrectly sometimes. It is possible for a foreigner to gain Thai citizenship. So technically to the UN, another countries immigration agents, etc. you would then be a Thai National.

You will never be a Thai National to a Thai unless you grew up here born to Thai parent speaking Thai and there is no “long process” to do that.