Publishing License
Under the Publishing Act B.E. 2550, a magazine or any printed material issued for the purpose of sale in Thailand requires a publishing license. The first step in applying for the publishing license is to check if the name of the magazine/printed material is available. Once this is confirmed, an application can be made at the Ministry of Culture, whereby the following requirements will need to be fulfilled:
- The business must be registered in Thailand, with at least three-quarter (3/4) Thai directors on the board and no less than 70% Thai shareholding
- The Editor or Owner must be at least 20 years of age, residing in Thailand, not incapacitated, should never have been imprisoned unless for a negligence offence or a minor offence
- The printer, publisher, editor, and/or owner of the newspaper must provide a medical check-up certificate and be inspected for criminal record with the Royal Thai Police
- Information required to prepare the application include (but are not limited to) the name, objectives, language, period of issuance, type of printed material, and so forth. A sample of the magazine’s name and header should also be provided.
- Once a publishing license is issued, the publishing operator is required to apply for an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) for which a sample of the cover and inside cover of the published material will be required