The Importance of Legal Services for Foreigners in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers plenty of benefits to expatriates and other foreign nationals who wish to take advantage of what this beautiful country has to offer.
However, it can be quite daunting for foreigners, international companies, and expatriates in Thailand to navigate the complexities of work permits, labor laws, real estate purchases, zoning laws, and so on. They already deal with enough legalities in their countries of origin.
Regardless, because Thailand is a popular business destination for foreign workers and employers, it’s important for them to understand the country’s specific legal requirements. This is where legal services come in. Top-quality legal services make dealing with Thailand law as a foreigner much easier and safer.
What Legal Services for Foreigners in Thailand Do You Need?
The most popular services for foreigners in Thailand include establishing a Thai Limited Company, setting up a company promoted by the Thai Board of Investment, getting a Thai business license for business validation, and handling real estate sales in Thailand.
You want to get more than just what’s offered in a typical law firm. It’s better to find an agency or legal representation that goes the extra mile for you.
Whenever you’re in need of legal assistance in getting the most suitable options for your foreign company when breaking into the Thailand corporate structure, it pays to have a Thai law firm guiding you through every step of the way.
Commercial and Corporate Services
A dependable law firm with veteran agents will give you fast and efficient services in setting up things like a Thailand Limited Company or a Representative Company for the sake of your Thailand business dealings.
You can also count on them to deal with Thailand Company Registration, Thai work permit, BOI-promoted companies, the Foreign Business Act (FBA), mergers and acquisition, and so forth.
The Board of Investment (BOI) can incentivize foreigners to invest in Thailand through BOI-approved companies, so legal help in that front is much appreciated.
Thai Limited Company Setup: A Thai legal agency can help set up a Thai Limited Company for foreigners, which is the preferred step for setting up a new Thailand business because it has limited liability taken by its shareholders.
We’ll help you or your company streamline the process of setting up your Thai Limited Company so that you can enjoy benefits like 100 percent foreign ownership and control of the business, unless you wish to make a company to purchase land (in which case 51 percent of ownership should belong to Thai locals).
Getting BOI Approval for Your Company: By having a BOI-approved company set up by a local law firm, you can take advantage of multiple incentives and benefits available for this business type, like being able to operate even with 100 percent foreign ownership or getting simplified procedures for obtaining work permits and visas.
By going to the Board of Investment option when setting up a business in Thailand, you’ll receive incentives such as permission to own land as a foreign investor, bring foreign technicians and specialists as workers in your company, and facilitate visas and work permits.
Acquiring Your Foreign Business License: The Thai Foreign Business Act governs business activities and operations involving foreign entities and nationals. It specifically requires foreigners to avail of a foreign business license in order to legally operate their business in Thailand.
A Thai law firm can help secure this business license to conduct foreign business in Thailand on your behalf. This permit is a necessity for any foreign company with a minimum capital of 100 million baht for each of its businesses.
The law firm can also take care of miscellaneous license requirements such as submitting a principal approval letter to the Committee of Foreign Business.
Foreign Business Permit Validation: Foreign companies that wish to run a business in Thailand should apply for Foreign Business Validation from relevant authorities before commencing operation in the country.
For example, when applying for the validation of a business operation permit, you should file an application to the Minister or Director-General in accordance with the rules of the Ministerial Regulation. A law firm can take care of such requirements for you.
Thailand Property Services
Get legal representation care of Thailand lawyers who are knowledgeable when it comes to Thailand property laws. It’s because there are certain restrictions for foreigners or non-locals when it comes to the sale of Thailand properties and land.
You want reliable advice and guidance when making a Thailand property acquisition, whether it’s a villa, condominium, or even land. In particular, foreigners cannot buy land in their name according to Thai law.
They can only get land by having it on a 30-year leasehold (which can be renewed twice over for a maximum of a 90-year leasehold) or having a Thailand Limited Company in your ownership purchase the land on your behalf.
Some law firms even provide a legal package covering services such as Land Registration, Contract Review, Title Search, and Due Diligence.
Thailand Work Permit Services
Foreigners or non-Thai citizens can work in local companies and operate a business in Thailand as either an employee or an employer. All foreigners wishing to legally work in Thailand require a work permit.
Avail yourself of legal services to get that work permit and even a visa cleared without you having to deal with the paperwork and requirement submissions personally.
Severe punishments can be levied to anyone working in Thailand without a work permit. Without this permit, you can get arrested and fined for illegally conducting business or offering labor services in the country. You can even get jailed altogether.
Accounting and Tax Services
Foreigners can also avail of legal advice and consultation for Thailand taxation of foreign businesses as well as any personal or corporate income tax issues in the country.
Search for law firms that offer the best and most economical solutions for your taxation needs, particularly ones with large legal networks and tax specialists for foreign business taxation.
They should also guide you when it comes to tax exemptions or instances when your company isn’t tax liable.
Family Law Services
Expatriates and permanent foreign residents of Thailand will want legal representation for family law in Thailand. You should find law firms that offer the utmost confidentiality and urgency when it comes to legal family matters.
There are firms full of Thai lawyers who are well-versed in Thailand family law that should guarantee you reliable aid in wide range of topics, which includes the following:
Thai Marriage Registration: There are actually requirements for foreigners when being wed to a Thailand local, such as a copy of their passport and arrival card and affidavit regarding the marriage status of the person from their respective embassy. A Thai law firm can help fetch all these documents on your behalf.
Thai Prenuptial Agreement: Your legal representation will guide you in writing up this contract between you and your spouse before your marriage. The contract should list all the properties each individual owns (along with debts) and specify each one’s property rights after marriage.
Thai Child Support and Custody: Your lawyer will inform you things like how under Thai family law, both parents are bound to financially support their children until they reach the legal age (20 years old) or how both lawful parents get joint custodial rights over their child/children in the event of a divorce.
Thai Adoption: You need legal representation on this front because even though Thai law doesn’t stipulate a long list of family requirements, adoptive families must still pass legal qualifications to adopt children in their respective home states/countries or within Thailand territories.
Thai Divorce: After marriage, assets and income acquired during it become jointly owned. The division of property should also be researched by a lawyer in the event of a divorce.
Thai Marital Property: After marriage, assets and income acquired during it become jointly owned. The division of property should also be researched by a lawyer in the event of a divorce.
Understand Your Legal Rights and Obligations in Thailand as a Foreigner
You should consult a lawyer or avail of a law firm’s services to understand your legal rights and obligations in Thailand. Such companies can tell you what’s legal and illegal in the country.
When conducting business in Thailand, regulations tend to reserve certain rights to Thai citizens. To protect and manage their interests, the Thailand government issued the Thai Foreign Business Act of 1999 to restrict and manage foreign company activities in favor of local businesses.
Ignorance of the law excuses no one, especially foreigners working under the rules of another country.
Hire a Thai lawyer or law firm today to keep yourself informed about your workers’ rights or employers’ rights. It also pays to know the incentives offered by the Thai government for foreign companies wishing to become investors for Thailand.
Long story short, you need a Thai legal firm to assist you in knowing your rights and obligations in Thailand as a foreign business, businessman, worker, or even resident.
In the context of Thailand labor law, you need to comply with legal obligations in order to avoid significant legal and financial repercussions.
Noncompliance can also result in worker abuse, like employers failing to pay over millions of baht or dollars in back wages and the workers having no recourse for their illegal labor.
The Importance of Thailand Legal Services for Foreigners
When searching for Thailand legal representation as a foreigner, go for a Thailand law firm that offers comprehensive legal services to local and foreign clients or even to foreign clients exclusively.
The areas of specialization of your Thai law firm of choice should typically include the following:
- Litigation
- Family Law
- Notary Public
- Real Estate Law
- Thailand Labor Law
- Personal Injury Law
- Debt Collection Law
- Criminal Defense Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Thailand Private Investigations
- Thai Will, Estate Planning, and Inheritance
Our law firm in particular has a proven track record when offering high-quality legal solutions to international clients using our high level of expertise at the most reasonable of costs.
As our client at Umpire Legal, you can expect the following benefits:
Prompt and Reliable Service: Because it’s time-consuming and demanding to start a business, it’s critical to find a legal team that prioritizes the delivery of reliable, professional, and prompt services while ensuring uncompromised quality all the while, from writing contracts to delivering requirements.
This attitude can be seen through the team’s daily tasks and updates. You will be updated with the state of your case, BOI approval, business validation, and so forth with regular correspondence.
English-Speaking Lawyers: Many of the foreigners who wish to conduct their business in Thailand are from the English-speaking world. Thus, in turn, many foreigner-assisting law firms in Thailand have licensed English-speaking Thai lawyers at the ready along with qualified foreign attorneys and solicitors.
They all work as a unit to offer sound legal assistance and guidance regarding a variety of subjects, most popularly corporate and investment laws (such as BOI approval, Treaty of Amity, and Foreign Business Licenses).
Clear Communication and Translation: Our lawyers are both fluent in Thai and English languages so as to clearly and transparently inform you of your legal obligations as a foreigner conducting business here in Thailand.
We will have your every legal concern and issue dealt with to ensure that you won’t be faced with any unexpected trouble or surprises as you get your respective Thai business permits or approvals.
The core of our legal services includes transparency and clarity. We will do everything in our power to ensure you’re well-informed about Thai law and that every legal requirement is met. We’ll also answer any questions you might have about the legal processes.
The Bottom Line of Thailand Legal Counsel
As a foreigner or foreign business, you need services such as company registration assistance, dispute resolution, the essential aspects of work permits, and being a reliable resource when it comes to HR departments, international companies, and expatriates.
Our legal services should provide you with sound advice that covers legislative concerns, paperwork, approvals, permits, and submissions for things like starting a limited business in Thailand, forming a representative company, and the like.
If you’re a foreigner or foreign company in need of the services of a Thai lawyer, feel free to visit the Umpire Legal offices in Thailand for consultation. You can depend on our highly competent legal team to provide you with a wide range of legal services for your Thai business and employment needs.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your legal needs and what kind of guidance you need.