In 1966, Thailand and the United States of America signed the Amity Treaty. This Treaty would allow American citizens to incorporate companies in Thailand, with the majority shareholders being American nationals having the privileges and benefits to engage in business in Thailand as a Thai Limited Company.
Today, setting up an Amity Treaty Company is the preferred way for most American citizens, wishing to incorporate a company or a representative office in Thailand. Companies formed under the Thai-US Amity Treaty do not fall under the Foreign Business Act of Thailand; however, the following restrictions are still applicable for companies formed under the Treaty:
The Commercial Services Office (CSO) at the US Embassy in Bangkok begins the process of an application to incorporate an Amity Treaty Company. It is essential to comply with all the administrative procedures which may involve various steps depending upon the type of company you wish to incorporate.
Once all the relevant documents have been submitted to the CSO, the Thai Department of Business Development will then proceed to issue a certificate that confirms that the applying entity is an American owned and managed company and will then be entitled to receive national company privileges within Thailand under the Amity Treaty.
The application process for an Amity Treaty Company is complex and at times may vary with regards to documentation and circumstances. The process may take from 2-6 weeks up to complete, depending upon the certification and the actual verification process. For this reason, it is recommended that you contact us to discuss your options prior to engaging in the incorporation process.
