Thailand Business Licences: Tour, Hotel, Alcohol, FDA

What an unlicensed business risks

01
Tourism inspections.

From October 2024 to March 2025 the Department of Tourism inspected 940 tour companies. The most common findings: operating without a licence, not displaying the licence and no insurance for tourists. A joint centre of the Tourism Ministry, DBD, DSI, the Tourist Police and Immigration was set up to tackle tourism businesses run through Thai nominees.

Source: Dailynews, 6 May 2025
02
Tour operator deposits may go up.

In August 2026 the Department of Tourism proposed raising deposits that had been cut during the pandemic as a relief measure: from 3,000 to 10,000 THB for a specific-area licence and from 60,000 to 200,000 THB for a general licence. Under the draft, existing operators would get one year to top up.

Source: The Nation, 30 August 2026
03
Unlicensed short-term rentals.

Paid accommodation for stays shorter than a month counts as a hotel. Running one without a licence is a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment and a fine.

Source: Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA)
04
Foreign shareholding.

If foreigners hold half the capital or more, a hotel business (except hotel management services), food and beverage sales and guided tours need a Foreign Business Licence (FBL) or BOI promotion — they are on List 3 of the Foreign Business Act. A breach carries up to 3 years in prison, a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 THB, or both.

Source: Foreign Business Act 1999, List 3 (items 17–19), s. 37

What the law requires

Key conditions for each licence, based on the Department of Tourism, DOPA, the Excise Department and Thai FDA. Checked on 17 October 2026.

Requirements change. We check them against official sources before every application.

Tour operator — Department of Tourism licence

The licence is issued by the Department of Tourism registrar, not TAT. There are four types: specific-area (one province and its neighbours), domestic, inbound (tourists from abroad) and general, which also covers outbound tours. A general licence lets you operate the other types too. The decision comes within 30 days of filing a complete application.

Source: Department of Tourism: Ministerial Regulation 2013; Act 2008, s. 20
Thai control of a tour company

At least 51% of the capital must be held by Thai individuals, and more than half of the directors must be Thai. The authorised director must be a Thai national aged 20 or over, domiciled or resident in Thailand. Only Thai nationals can work as tour guides.

Source: Tourism Business and Guide Act 2008, s. 16, 17, 50
Deposit, insurance, licence term

When the licence is issued you place a deposit in cash or as a bank guarantee: currently 3,000–60,000 THB depending on the type, with a proposal from August 2026 to raise it to 10,000–200,000 THB. Accident insurance for tourists, guides and tour leaders is mandatory. The licence is valid for 2 years, and each branch needs its own.

Source: Tourism Business Act, as amended 2016; The Nation, 30 August 2026
Hotel — DOPA licence

In Bangkok the licence is issued by the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA); in the provinces, by the district office where the hotel is located. The government fee is 10,000 to 40,000 THB depending on the hotel type (there are four), plus 40 THB per room per year. The official service time is 66 days. The applicant must come in person, either to file or to give fingerprints for a criminal record check.

Source: Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA)
Short-term rental counts as a hotel

A hotel is paid accommodation for temporary stays shorter than a month. If renting out is a secondary income for the owner, under certain conditions you can file a notification of non-hotel accommodation instead of a licence. It is free, and the official service time is 40 days.

Source: Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA)
Alcohol — Excise Department licence

Type 1 covers sales of 10 litres or more at a time (wholesale), Type 2 less than 10 litres (retail). You apply online in the D-License system with the address and map coordinates of the premises. Retail licences are not issued for premises at schools, temples and other places of worship or petrol stations, or on land adjoining them. If your licence was revoked, you can reapply only after at least a year. The licence is renewed every year, and you can apply for the next year 90 days ahead.

Source: Excise Department of Thailand; D-License user guide, 17 September 2026
Food imports — Thai FDA licence

Food for sale can only be imported under an importer licence (Form Or. 7). You need a commercial registration, premises at the same address and storage that meets Thai FDA standards, kept apart from drugs and cosmetics. Many products also need registration and a Thai FDA number. The manufacturing standard must be equivalent to GMP 420 or higher.

Source: Thai FDA; Food Act 1979, s. 15
Cosmetics — Thai FDA notification

Cosmetics for sale may be manufactured or imported only after they are notified to Thai FDA. The notification is valid for 3 years and can be renewed 6 months before it expires. Labels must be in Thai.

Source: Thai FDA; Cosmetics Act 2015

Which licence you need

01
Tour operator, excursions, diving

Department of Tourism licence: specific-area, domestic, inbound or general.
Choose
02
Hotel, guesthouse, villas

A hotel licence or a notification of non-hotel accommodation.
Choose
03
Restaurant, bar, shop

Excise Department licence to sell alcohol.
Choose
04
Food and cosmetics import

Thai FDA and importer registration with Customs.
Choose

Documents for your licence

Tour operator licence (company)

Application on Form สธก.2, signed by a Thai authorised director and stamped with the company seal
Company registration certificate issued within the last 6 months, with tourism among the company's objectives
Current-year shareholder list: at least 51% of the capital held by Thai nationals
Memorandum and articles of association certified by DBD within the last 6 months
Copies of directors' ID cards; for foreign directors, copies of the passport and work permit
Office photos: front of the building, house number and a permanent sign in Thai, 2 interior photos
Office location map and proof of ownership, or the owner's consent to use the premises
Accident insurance policy for tourists, guides and tour leaders
Company seal specimen and the deposit form
Power of attorney with a 30 THB duty stamp, if a representative files
Dive tours also need: Thai boat registration, a radio licence and diving equipment certificates

Hotel licence

Application on Form Ror.Ror. 1
Building plans and layout with specifications
Proof of ownership of the building, or the owner's consent
Copy of the title deed or land rights document for the site
Permit to use the building as a hotel — or, where the Building Control Act does not apply, a safety certificate from a licensed engineer or architect
Map of the hotel location and surrounding area
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval, if required
Criminal record check by fingerprints
For a company: registration certificate issued within the last 3 months and the appointment of a representative who is an authorised director

Alcohol and Thai FDA

Alcohol: application on form ภส.08-05 in the D-License system, the address and GPS coordinates of the premises, the type of venue
Alcohol: VAT number, if the company is VAT-registered — it decides the retail licence sub-type
Food import: commercial registration certificate, an office at that address and storage that meets Thai FDA standards
Food import: product quality details and the manufacturer's GMP certificate (GMP 420 or equivalent)
Food import: an Open ID account for the e-Submission system
Cosmetics: company details, the manufacturing, import or storage address; product name, type, ingredients and directions for use
Cosmetics: a label in Thai

Based on the checklists of the Department of Tourism, DOPA, the Excise Department and Thai FDA. The agency may ask for more documents or inspect the premises. Tell us about your business and we will send you a checklist for your case.

Send documents for a check

Licence prices

Approximate exchange rate

Licence audit

Our fee

from 5,000 THB
- A list of licences for your business and city
- Check of the company structure and Thai shareholding
- Check of the premises and their documents
- Estimate of government fees, deposits and insurance
Timeline: 3–5 business days
Choose this package
Most popular
Full licence service

Our fee

from 30,000 THB

Government fee (paid separately)

Depends on the licence, shown separately. For example, a hotel licence is 10,000–40,000 THB
- Preparing the application and documents in Thai
- Filing and dealing with the agency
- Meeting the inspector on site
- Corrections the agency asks for
- Collecting the licence
Timeline: 1–4 months
Choose this package
Business package

Our fee

from 50,000 THB
- Several licences under one plan, for example hotel and alcohol
- One filing schedule
- Calendar of renewals and annual fees
- Deadline reminders on Telegram
Choose this package

Pay in stages

30% at the start, 70% after the result. Longer projects are paid by contract stages.

Guarantee

If an application is refused because of our mistake, we refund our fee in full. We guarantee the process, not the authority's decision.

20+ years in Thailand
51% of a tour company held by Thai nationals
66 days official DOPA time for a hotel licence

We work with

Immigration Bureau
Department of Business Development (DBD)
Revenue Department
Ministry of Labour
Banks

Step 1

Request

Take the quiz or message us. We reply within 15 minutes.
Step 2

Business review

We work out which licences you need and check your company and premises. You get our price and the government fees.
Step 3

Documents

We prepare the applications in Thai and collect photos, plans, contracts and insurance.
Step 4

Filing and inspection

We file with the agency, answer its questions and meet the inspector on site.
Step 5

Licence and renewals

We hand over the licence and set reminders for renewals and annual fees.

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How we differ from a typical agent

Criterion	Sabai Legal	Typical agent
Price	Fixed, published on the site	"Message us and we'll quote"
Government fees	Shown as a separate line	Hidden in the total
Payment	In stages	100% upfront
Company structure	Legal, no nominees	Nominee shareholders
Response	15 minutes, 7 days a week	"On business days"
Case status	In a Telegram bot	Only by phone
Language with authorities	Thai, in person	Through an interpreter

Frequently asked questions

Does TAT issue tour operator licences?

No. Tour operator licences are issued by the Department of Tourism registrar, not TAT. There are four types: specific-area, domestic, inbound and general. The decision comes within 30 days of filing a complete application. Once the fee is paid and the deposit placed, the licence is issued within 7 days.

Can a foreigner open a tour company?

The licence goes to a Thai national or a Thai company: at least 51% of the capital held by Thai nationals, more than half of the directors Thai, and a Thai authorised director. A Foreign Business Licence does not replace these rules. The Act allows an exception only where the Minister has waived them for nationals of a specific country under an intergovernmental agreement (s. 98). Only Thai nationals can work as tour guides. We do not offer nominee shareholders — we will go through the legal options for your business model.

How much is the tour operator deposit?

Currently 3,000 THB for a specific-area licence, 15,000 for domestic, 30,000 for inbound and 60,000 THB for general. In August 2026 the Department of Tourism proposed raising these to 10,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 200,000 THB. The deposit is placed in cash or as a bank guarantee. We confirm the amounts in force before you file.

How much does a hotel licence cost, and how long does it take?

The DOPA fee is 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 or 40,000 THB depending on the hotel type, plus 40 THB per room per year. The official service time is 66 days. You need a permit to use the building as a hotel (or an engineer's safety certificate where the Building Control Act does not apply), a criminal record check and, if required, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval.

Can I rent out a villa or condo by the night without a licence?

Paid accommodation for stays shorter than a month counts as a hotel, and operating without a licence is a criminal offence. If renting out is a secondary income for the owner, under certain conditions you can file a free notification of non-hotel accommodation instead of a licence. We check whether your property qualifies.

Which alcohol licence does a restaurant or bar need?

Usually Type 2 — sales of less than 10 litres at a time. Type 1 is for wholesale of 10 litres or more. You apply online with the Excise Department. Retail licences are not issued at schools, temples and other places of worship or petrol stations, or on land adjoining them, so we check the address before you sign a lease. The licence is renewed every year.

Do I need Thai FDA approval to sell imported food or cosmetics?

Yes. Food for sale is imported under an importer licence (Form Or. 7), which needs a commercial registration, premises and storage that meet Thai FDA standards. Many products also need registration. Cosmetics are notified before import; the notification is valid for 3 years and can be renewed 6 months before it expires. Labels must be in Thai.

Do I need to register with Customs?

Yes, if the company goes through customs formalities itself as an importer or exporter. Online registration through the Paotang app is only open to Thai individuals and companies whose directors are all Thai. A company with a foreign director registers at a customs registration point, where the authorised director shows the original passport, or online on the Customs website with a digital certificate. Importing alcohol also needs an import licence from the Excise Department (form ภส.08-01).

What happens if I operate without a licence?

A tour business without a licence faces up to 2 years in prison, a fine of up to 500,000 THB, or both. Running a hotel without a licence is a criminal offence. A foreign company operating in a restricted sector without an FBL faces up to 3 years in prison, a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 THB, or both.

Where can I see your registration details?

Our company registration details are given in the contract. Any Thai company can be checked by its registration number in the public DBD database.