Thailand Company Registration: DBD Biz Regist Guide
Thailand's current online channel for registering a limited company is DBD Biz Regist. The Department of Business Development (DBD) retired the former DBD e-Registration system on 1 July 2025, so older instructions using that name or portal should not be followed. A successful filing requires the ownership and business activities to be lawful, the company information and supporting documents to be complete, the relevant people to authenticate and sign, and the statutory fee to be paid.
Decide what must be checked first
| Question | Why it matters | Who should confirm it |
|---|---|---|
| What will the company actually do? | Some activities require a sector licence or are restricted under the Foreign Business Act | DBD/sector authority and qualified Thai legal counsel |
| Who will own and control it? | Foreign status is not determined by a simple universal “49% rule”; ownership, control and activity must be assessed together | Qualified Thai legal counsel |
| Where is the registered office? | DBD requires address and supporting information; landlord and building permissions may also matter | Applicant, property owner and adviser |
| What capital is appropriate? | Capital can affect licensing, foreign-business and immigration planning; it should not be selected from a generic web formula | Accountant and qualified legal/immigration professionals |
| Who will sign electronically? | DBD Biz Regist uses identity verification and electronic signatures in its digital workflow | DBD Biz Regist manual and each signatory |
Never use nominee shareholders. Obtain advice on the proposed ownership and activities before reserving a name or signing documents.
Registration process
1. Define the company and check restrictions
Document the proposed activities, shareholders, directors, registered office, capital and signing authority. If foreign individuals or entities will invest, review the Foreign Business Act and alternatives and any BOI or sector-specific route before filing.
2. Prepare the filing information
The exact evidence shown by DBD Biz Regist depends on the participants and filing. Common preparation items include:
- proposed Thai and English names;
- business objectives and registered-office details;
- identity and contact details for promoters, shareholders and directors;
- share numbers, classes and allocation, and capital information;
- director powers and authorized signatories;
- company meeting or formation information required by the workflow; and
- powers of attorney, translations, certifications or corporate-shareholder records where applicable.
This is a preparation checklist, not a substitute for the live DBD document list. Use the DBD Biz Regist manual for the current screens and requirements.
3. Use DBD Biz Regist
Create or use the appropriate account, complete identity verification, enter the application, upload requested evidence and invite the relevant participants to sign electronically. Submit the completed filing through DBD Biz Regist, respond to registrar corrections if requested, and pay the amount generated by the system.
4. Registrar review and timing
DBD describes a one-working-day registration objective for a properly completed digital submission. Treat this as an official processing objective, not a guaranteed total setup time. Ownership analysis, name or document preparation, identity verification, missing signatures, registrar corrections, translations and activity licences can make the end-to-end process materially longer.
Do not schedule a lease, hiring start, bank appointment or commercial launch on the assumption that approval is guaranteed on a particular day.
5. Download and verify the records
After approval, DBD Biz Regist provides the registration result and electronic documents available for that filing, including the receipt and registration/certified records described in the portal. Verify the registered name, number, address, directors, signing powers, objectives, capital and shareholder information immediately.
DBD also operates separate services for electronic certified business documents and English registration certificates. An English certificate is a separate document service; it does not replace the Thai registration record.
Costs to budget
| Cost category | How to establish the amount |
|---|---|
| Statutory registration fee | Use the amount generated by DBD Biz Regist and verify it against the current DBD fee regulation |
| Certified documents or certificates | Select the required document and quantity in the relevant DBD document service; fees depend on the request |
| Translation, certification or legalization | Obtain a written quote based on the participants and document origin |
| Legal and accounting support | Agree scope and fee in writing; professional charges are separate from DBD fees |
| Licences, tax and employment setup | Budget only after confirming which registrations apply to the activity and workforce |
The DBD maintains the current fee-law and ministerial-regulation page. This guide does not quote a generic incorporation total because the live statutory amount and external-service cost must be confirmed for the actual filing.
Foreign ownership and capital
A Thai-incorporated company may still be treated as foreign under the Foreign Business Act depending on its ownership. Whether it may perform a particular activity, needs a Foreign Business Licence or Certificate, or qualifies for BOI or treaty treatment requires a case-specific review. A percentage quoted online is not sufficient approval for a structure.
Capital requirements also depend on the legal route, activity, licences and any later immigration or employment plans. Do not rely on the former page's unsupported universal capital and work-permit formulas. See BOI promotion and OSOS and employment and work permits, then have a qualified professional confirm the current rules.
After registration
Company registration is not the end of setup. Depending on the facts, the next actions may include:
- opening a company bank account and documenting source of funds;
- Revenue Department tax registrations, including VAT when applicable;
- Social Security registration before or when employing staff;
- accounting books, withholding and periodic filings;
- activity, premises or professional licences; and
- immigration and work authorization before a foreign national works.
Use the business tax and VAT guide, social security guide and business compliance guide to plan these workstreams.
Frequently asked questions
Is DBD e-Registration still the correct portal?
No. DBD announced that the former e-Registration service ended on 1 July 2025. Use DBD Biz Regist and its current manual.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Thai company?
In some structures and activities, but not as a general rule. The Foreign Business Act, sector laws, BOI promotion and treaty eligibility may change the answer. Obtain a documented review before choosing shareholders or activities.
Does registration take one working day?
DBD states a one-working-day objective for a properly completed digital registration. Preparation, identity checks, corrections and licences are outside that narrow processing statement, so total setup time may be longer.
What documents will I receive?
The approved filing provides the registration result and the electronic records available through DBD. Certified copies and an English certificate can be ordered through separate DBD services when needed.
Assistance and referral
Ask Thailand Expat Services about company-registration coordination. We can help organize information, documents and appointments. Legal advice, ownership opinions, accounting, tax filings and licensed submissions are provided by appropriately qualified independent professionals; we will identify the provider and scope before any referral.
Official sources
- DBD Biz Regist and user manual
- DBD announcement: transition from e-Registration to DBD Biz Regist
- DBD fee regulations
- DBD electronic document service
- DBD English certificate service
- BOI OSOS foreign-company overview
Last reviewed: 6 August 2026. General information only. Official DBD instructions and qualified Thai professional advice prevail for a specific filing.