A Juristic Person established under foreign laws that wants to operate in Thailand as a representative office will have to notify the Department of Business Development of their intention. Once approved, the DBD will issue a document for it, called “Certificate of the Identification Number of the Juristic Person established under foreign laws which operates in Thailand”.
This document lists the business objectives in Thailand of the representative office, something like “to engage in the business of services as a representative office of a foreign juristic person in international trading business according to the regulations of the Prime Minister’s Office on the Establishment of Visa and Work Permit Service Center, B.E. 2540 and its amendments.” It also shows the date of issuance and the information of the Juristic Person as follows:
- Juristic Person name and Juristic Person’s 13-digit identification number;
- Country and date of registration;
- Registered address in Thailand;
- The person(s) responsible for the Juristic Person’ s operation in Thailand; and
- The person(s) responsible for the Juristic Person’ s operation in Thailand, who can sign to bind the Juristic Person
Explanation of the Certificate of the Identification Number of the Juristic Person:
- The document can be used as a document showing the current status of the Juristic Person until the Juristic Person notifies the Department of Business Development of the changes on the information.
- The Issuance of the Certificate of the Identification Number of the Juristic Person through the electronic channel started on 1st July 2021 to replace the service of notifying the location of accounts retention and issuing a certificate of the identification number of the juristic person according to the announcement of the Department of Business Development on guidelines to comply with accounting laws for those responsible for preparing accounts who are juristic persons established under foreign laws operating in Thailand B.E. 2559, which ended on 30st June 2021.
- The certificate of the identification number of the juristic person is an electronic document which is issued to replace the original certificate of the identification number of the juristic person in the case the juristic person submitted a notification of a change in the information of the juristic person.
- The original of the certificate of the identification number of the juristic person is an electronic document. A print-out is considered a copy.
- The certificate of the identification number of the juristic person consists of 3 parts: (1) the Certificate of the Identification Number of the Juristic Person, (2) the Information of the Juristic Person, and (3) the Explanation of the Certificate of the Identification Number of the Juristic Person. All three parts must have the same reference number.
- Checking the updated version of the information contained in the certificate can be done by scanning the QR Code. The watermark “Information is out of date” indicates that the entity has changed some information or the status of its operations. The users of this document must be cautious when referring to or confirming the current status of the juristic person. However, the juristic person should always have or show the current document/copy of the document.
- Certifying a copy of the Certificate of the Identification Number of the Juristic Person is the duty of the person(s) responsible for the Juristic Person’ s operation in Thailand.
- The business objectives in Thailand are the ones specified by the juristic person on the date it requested to have an identification number, which showed it has qualifications to operate a business which is not on the lists annexed to the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542. If later, the juristic person changes to or adds businesses which are not on the lists annexed to the Foreign Business Law B.E. 2542 as well, there is no need to request for a Juristic Person Identification Number again.
- If the foreign Juristic Person operates a business that is not allowed to foreigners or operates a business without permission, it violates Section 37 of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542.
- Regarding compliance, seeking approval and seeking permission under other laws, it is the duty of the Juristic Person to strictly comply with the rules and procedures of the other laws.
- If in doubt, contact us at Registration and Advisory services, Foreign Business Administration Division, Department of Business Development Telephone 025474425-6, e-mail: foreign@dbd.go.th
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