How long does registering a Thai company really take, start to finish?
The registration itself is fast: a name is usually approved the same day, and the DBD can register the memorandum and the company in one visit once the file is complete. What sets the real timetable for any company with a foreign shareholder or a foreign signing director is the evidence rule in force since 1 August 2026: each Thai shareholder needs a bank statement covering the three months before their share payment, so the money has to be in place months before anything is filed.
Last reviewed 28 September 2026
| Stage | Realistic time | What gates it |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | Usually same day, up to about three working days. | Rejections for lookalike names. An approved name lasts 30 days, so do not reserve before the rest is nearly ready. |
| Preparing the file | A few days to two weeks. | Signatures from every promoter and director, the address papers, and deciding capital and shareholding for real. |
| Capital evidence (foreign linked companies) | Three months, running in the background. | Each Thai shareholder’s statement must cover the three months before their payment, showing their own money moving. |
| DBD registration | Same day once the file is complete; the registrar’s published service standard for the appointment is about an hour and a half. | Memorandum and incorporation can be registered together. |
| Tax ID | Nothing to do: the DBD registration number is the tax ID. | The 60 day application rule on the RD’s English pages does not apply to a DBD registered company. |
| Corporate bank account | One to two weeks after registration. | Director in person; several banks want a work permit from a foreign signatory. The detail. |
| VAT, if registering | A straightforward filing, but the RD may inspect the premises. | When VAT is mandatory and when it is a choice. |
The step by step, with every form and fee, is in the registration manual. Firms quoting "company registered in 7 days" are quoting the DBD stage; ask them which of the stages above their timeline includes, or let three of them answer that in writing.
Related questions
- How much registered capital does a Thai company actually need?
- What do you need before a Thai bank will open your corporate account?
- Do I need a physical office, or will a registered address do?
Sources
- DBD, guide to establishing a company limited (Thai, PDF)
- Order of the Central Partnership and Company Registration Office 2/2569, Royal Gazette 27 July 2026 (Thai, PDF)
- Revenue Department Director-General Notification (No. 3) on taxpayer identification numbers, 11 January 2012 (Thai)
- Dej-Udom & Associates on the 2026 bank statement requirements
This is general information about how a filing works, not accounting or tax advice for your company. Confirm anything that matters against the official notice or with your accountant. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.