If you are operating a restaurant or bar with the area larger than 200 square meters, you will need to apply for the food and/or alcohol (retail) license for your company whereby the license certificates should be placed in a visibly located area of the restaurant or bar.
While restaurants having an area exceeding 200 square meters have to apply for a restaurant license from the local government, smaller establishments are only required to notify their presence to the local authority (which will issue a certificate of notification).
The application for the license to sell food in a restaurant is to be submitted at the district office responsible for the area in which the restaurant is located, and the process consists of the following steps:
Once issued, the food license must be renewed annually as from the date of issuance. In addition to the government forms, company registration documents, documents from the legal owner of the property and the authorised director’s passport or Thai ID copy, the following information and documents will be required to support the application:
The government fee is calculated based on the square meters of the restaurant.
If you will be selling alcohol in your restaurant or bar, we can also assist you in applying for the retail license to sell alcoholic beverages. This license application requires some government forms, company registration documents, documents from the legal owner of the property and the authorised director’s passport or Thai ID copy. It can be obtained from the Excise office located in the district where you are located within a couple of business days if all documents are in order.
However, it should be noted that the location of the restaurant/bar (selling alcohol) should not be in close proximity to a school, temple, hospital, etc., and the officials may request to drop by the premises for an inspection before issuing the alcohol license.
It is important to note that the construction permit for the building in which the restaurant is located is mandatory for application to operate a restaurant.
As mentioned in the first step of the application process above, the premises of the restaurant must comply with the building regulations. Simply put, this permit makes sure the restaurant is safe to operate in the selected building and, conversely, that the building allows for such business operation.
Needless to say, operating a restaurant serving food and/or alcohol without the relevant license violates Thai law and such operator will be punished by fine or even imprisonment under the Public Health Act, Liquor Act and Building Control Act.
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Umpire Legal Co., Ltd.
246 Times Square Building, Unit 11-01
11th Floor, Sukhumvit Road (12-14)
Khlongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand
We are open Monday – Friday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
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Umpire Legal Co., Ltd.
246 Times Square Building, Unit 11-01
11th Floor, Sukhumvit Road (12-14)
Khlongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand
We are open Monday – Friday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm