Thai Board of Investment: Land Rights Concessions?

Benjamin Hart, an American attorney and managing director of Integrity Legal in Bangkok, Thailand, discusses Thai Board of Investment (BOI) concessions related to real estate rights. He references an article from the Chiang Rai Times titled "Thailand targets nominee property deals, foreign buyers face rising legal risk in 2026." The article highlights that BOI-promoted companies may receive exemptions from some foreign ownership limits, including full foreign ownership in approved sectors. These benefits can extend to land ownership for approved projects, often in manufacturing, technology, or tourism. Hart emphasizes that the BOI can grant various business concessions in Thailand, such as issuing a foreign business certificate that allows 100% foreign ownership of a Thai company, similar to the US-Thai Treaty of Amity for Americans. Crucially, the BOI can also grant concessions for land ownership, but this is specifically for ongoing business concerns. Examples include owning land for a factory, a large spa, or a data center. Hart clarifies that these concessions are not for individuals to own land for residential purposes, but solely for legitimate business activities and operations within the Kingdom of Thailand.