Myself, My Australian partner and my Thai GF are about to register a limited partnership in thailand.

My gf will be 70% partner (as Thai law dictates) So we don't have to show the investment, (it stays on paper).

Subsequently, me and my partner will hold 15% each as non-Thais.

Here is my question.... Do we need to apply for non immigrant 'B' visas BEFORE we go and register the business?

Or... Can we register our stake in the partnership, then that will qualify us for the non imm 'B' status?

Would appreciate the help.

About eight years ago I bought a share in an existing Thai Limited Partnership along with another foreigner whose Thai Girlfiend was already the Managing Partner.

In this instance I was on a Tourist Visa and subsequently applied in Malaysia for a non immigrant B visa once my name had been written into the company's papers.

You will require a Capitalisation of 4 million Baht to be able to apply for two Work Permits.

To the OP:

1. Investment in a Thai juristic person, ie buying shares of company, does not require a particular type of visa.
   
2. Owning shares of a Thai juristic person does not by itself qualify you for a non-immigrant visa category "B"
   

As per Maestro's post, the question if you need to have a non-immigrant visa depends on the question if you plan to work for the company. If you do, you will need a non-immigrant visa to be able to get a work permit.

Thanks guys, I will work for the business eventually. (officially) As at this moment we do not have the 4 million to show, so we are registering an investment of 1 million as shareholders at the start. We were told that as long as the Thai national holds 70% then we don't have to show the money, only on paper.

Obviously once the business is a bit more cash rich, we will show 4 million baht and change the stakes to 51% my gf, and 24.5% each for me and my partner, then we can apply for the work permits and be able to (officially) work in the partnership.

I was just wondering if we were ok as being named investors and co-owners of a Thai registered partnership while being here on tourist visas.

Thanks guys, I will work for the business eventually. (officially) As at this moment we do not have the 4 million to show, so we are registering an investment of 1 million as shareholders at the start. We were told that as long as the Thai national holds 70% then we don't have to show the money, only on paper.

Obviously once the business is a bit more cash rich, we will show 4 million baht and change the stakes to 51% my gf, and 24.5% each for me and my partner, then we can apply for the work permits and be able to (officially) work in the partnership.

I was just wondering if we were ok as being named investors and co-owners of a Thai registered partnership while being here on tourist visas.

Capitalisation on registration merely requires the payment of a set fee per Million Baht, but you will have to eventually show the registered capital investment over the first few years of the company's operation (note capital invested can be accounted for as intellectual property, trade marks, company equipment, etc).