The Cabinet approved amendments to foreign business laws, allowing foreigners to invest in eight types of businesses without needing operating licenses, such as telecommunications services and fund management centers.
On 12 May 2026, Lt. Col. Dr. Patdarasmi Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the Cabinet resolved to approve the principles of a draft royal decree amending the business categories listed in the annex of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) (no. ...), as well as the principles of a draft ministerial regulation specifying businesses that foreigners may operate without requiring licenses under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542.
The Deputy Spokesperson explained that the draft royal decree amending the business categories in the annex of the Foreign Business Act primarily revises domestic trade businesses related to indigenous agricultural products that are not yet prohibited by law. It excludes forward trading of agricultural products on the Thailand Futures Exchange without physical delivery or receipt of agricultural products within Thailand. This forward trading business is listed as category three (13) in the annex of the Foreign Business Act, which was amended by a 2013 royal decree. The amendment exempts forward trading businesses involving delivery or receipt of agricultural products in warehouse facilities at the futures exchange, classifying them as exempt from category three (13). Thus, foreigners can operate these businesses without needing licenses under the Foreign Business Act.
Meanwhile, the draft ministerial regulation specifying businesses foreigners can operate without licenses defines eight businesses under categories (11)(d) and (21) in the annex of the Foreign Business Act. These are: 1) telecommunications services; 2) fund management centers; 3) administrative, human resource, and information technology management services; 4) domestic debt guarantee services; 5) leasing space for electronic devices used in financial services and vending machines to serve and facilitate company employees; 6) petroleum drilling services; 7) other businesses under securities and stock exchange laws; and 8) services as agents, traders, consultants, or managers of futures contracts whose goods or reference variables are not governed by the Futures Trading Act B.E. 2546 (2003). Foreigners may operate these businesses without needing licenses.