Americans Looking to Live in Thailand Should Look at Amity Companies?

Benjamin Hart, an American attorney in Bangkok, Thailand, discusses options for Americans looking to live and work in Thailand. He strongly advises considering the US-Thai Treaty of Amity, especially for those intending to work. This treaty allows Americans to establish businesses in Thailand and own them outright, bypassing restrictions of the Foreign Business Act. Hart emphasizes that this is a straightforward and cost-effective method for Americans seeking to work and reside in the country. Beyond ownership, the Amity Treaty offers significant tax benefits, acting as a loophole regarding double taxation agreements and treaty ratification. It grants Americans national treatment for their businesses, meaning a company can be 100% American-owned, just like a Thai company can be 100% Thai-owned. This treats the American-owned entity as a Thai national company. The treaty relationship itself has a long history, spanning over 200 years of diplomatic communication. Utilizing the Amity Treaty, Americans can establish a company to serve as a hub in Southeast Asia, obtain work permits, and potentially pursue permanent residency or even citizenship. For those with families, this structure can also facilitate derivative spousal visa benefits and benefits for children. While new formalities for business incorporations in Thailand have introduced more compliance requirements, making the process slightly more cumbersome than before, it remains very feasible for Americans to establish and wholly own a company in Thailand.