Regional Office
A non-trading coordination office for a foreign group's affiliates across the region. Like a representative office, it needs only a Ministry of Commerce notification — not a Foreign Business License.
Coordinate the region from a Thai base.
A regional office lets a foreign company support and coordinate its affiliated companies elsewhere in the region from Thailand. It is not a separate legal entity and earns no income — its costs are met by the head office.
It's the structure for management, advisory, and support functions rather than trading. Like a representative office, since the 2017 reform it only needs to notify the Ministry of Commerce, not obtain a Foreign Business License. If your goal is a tax-advantaged regional hub rather than a pure support office, the International Business Center (IBC) regime is the route that carries reduced corporate-tax and personal-tax incentives.
What it can do
A regional office may provide these services to the group's affiliates:
- Advisory and management services
- Financial management
- Training and personnel development
- Marketing control and sales-promotion planning
- Product development
- Research and development
What it cannot do
- Earn any income from its activities
- Accept purchase orders or make offers to sell
- Negotiate or enter into business arrangements with Thai parties
Capital
The head office must remit at least THB 5 million over five years — with THB 2 million in the first year (THB 1 million within the first six months) and at least THB 1 million each year after that.
How we set it up
Scope
We confirm the support functions fit the permitted list and identify the affiliates served.
Notification filing
The application is prepared in Thai and filed with the Ministry of Commerce.
Registration & remittance
Registration and tax ID, then the staged capital-remittance plan.
Work permits
Work permits and visas for foreign managers handled in parallel.
Frequently asked
How is a regional office different from a representative office?
Both are non-trading. A representative office supports a single foreign head office (sourcing, quality control, reporting); a regional office coordinates and services a group's affiliated companies across the region.
Does it need a Foreign Business License?
No — since the 2017 reform a regional office only notifies the Ministry of Commerce, the same as a representative office.
How much capital must be brought in?
At least THB 5 million over five years: THB 2 million in year one (THB 1 million within the first six months), then at least THB 1 million per year.
What if I want tax incentives?
A plain regional office has no special tax regime. For reduced corporate-tax and expatriate personal-tax rates, the International Business Center (IBC) is the structure — see our Regional HQ (IBC) service.
Reviewed by the Khonsu Legal team · 1 July 2026
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