The Cabinet has approved amendments to the Foreign Business Act, opening the way for foreign investors to operate in eight business sectors without needing a business operation permit, such as telecommunications services and fund management businesses.
On 12 May 2026, Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Phatdarasmi Thongsaluyakorn, Deputy Government Spokesperson, revealed that the Cabinet resolved to approve the principle of a draft royal decree amending the categories of businesses listed under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) (amendment no. ...) B.E. ...., along with the principle of a draft ministerial regulation specifying businesses that foreign nationals may operate without requiring a permit under the Foreign Business Act B.E. ....
The Deputy Government Spokesperson stated that the draft royal decree amending the business categories in the annex of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) (amendment no. ...) B.E. .... primarily revises domestic trade businesses related to native agricultural products that are not prohibited by law. It exempts forward trading of agricultural products on the Thailand Futures Exchange where there is no physical delivery or receipt of agricultural products within Thailand. This business is listed as item (13) in List Three of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999), amended by the 2013 royal decree. The amendment exempts forward trading of agricultural products conducted in futures contract exchanges where delivery or receipt occurs in warehouse facilities, classifying it as an exempted business not subject to item (13) of List Three, allowing foreign nationals to operate without a permit under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999).
Meanwhile, the draft ministerial regulation specifying businesses that foreign nationals may operate without permits under the Foreign Business Act B.E. .... primarily sets eight business types under categories (11)(ง) and (21) in the annex of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) as exempted. These are: 1) telecommunications services; 2) fund management centers; 3) administrative, human resources, and information technology management services; 4) domestic debt guarantee services; 5) leasing parts of premises for electronic equipment used in financial services and vending machines to serve and facilitate company employees; 6) petroleum drilling services; 7) other businesses under securities and exchange law; and 8) services acting as agents, traders, consultants, or managers of futures contracts where the goods or reference variables are not covered by the Futures Trading Act B.E. 2546 (2003). These businesses can be operated by foreign nationals without requiring a permit.