Background

The Treaty of Amity is a bilateral treaty between the United States and Thailand intended to promote trade, commerce, cultural understanding and reciprocal legal rights between the countries. The Treaty states that it provides Thai and American nationals the right to operate in the other party's country with equal rights as those of the nationals of the country; however, in reality the rights granted are somewhat limited.

Although there are a number of rights conveyed upon nationals of each party pursuant to the Treaty, the Treaty is mainly used to facilitate the formation of American companies, i.e. companies where the majority owners are Americans, pursuant to Thai law and operating within Thailand. This allows American citizens to register companies in many areas of business in Thailand without the need of Thai shareholders.

Amity Treaty companies require authorization from the foreign license division and approval issued by the Thailand Department of Commerce. The certificate of commerce requires documentation from the US Commercial Services verifying that a majority of shareholders or partners are US citizens. The application must also specify the intended business activities of the Amity Treaty Company.

Our Experience

Chaninat and Leeds has registered limited companies in Thailand for hundreds of clients. We have assisted Americans registering under the Amity Treaty in multiple types of business, including: resorts and hotels, gyms and spas, training and teaching facilities, restaurants, consulting services, real estate management, manufacture and export businesses, as well as many other business areas.

Our firm also assists clients who require advice on corporate and shareholder structuring, with applications for special licenses including BOI promotion trademarks, FDA registrations, BOI licenses, work permits and specialty professional licenses. Our firm also provides accounting services and other forms of regulatory compliance.