An unexpected development in Thai land law

Foreigners are generally prohibited from owning land in Thailand, although a practice has developed by which foreigners use Thai-owned but foreign controlled companies to hold land in Thailand. Now the Ministry of the Interior has implemented a crackdown on the use of Thai-owned companies to hold land for foreigners. Consultant Jeremy Chase reports.

Jeremy Chase, Siam Premier

Thai land law – restrictions on foreign ownership

The general position in Thailand is that foreign entities (including foreign companies and foreign individuals) cannot own land in Thailand. Section 86 of the Land Code limits the ability of foreign individuals and foreign companies (defined as Thai registered companies with more than 49% of shares owned by foreigners) to own land in Thailand. There are, however, some exemptions.