Foreign Land Ownership Through a Business: Legal Options

Many foreigners discovered too late that buying land through a nominee-controlled Thai company or shell corporation created legal exposure, not protection. Section 86 of the Land Code Act prohibits foreign land ownership except in extraordinary cases. If you hold land through a Thai company, authorities now scrutinize whether that company is genuinely Thai or merely a vehicle for foreign control. The Department of Business Development and Department of Special Investigation investigate these structures actively. Simply being a shareholder doesn't protect you.

The situation grows worse when investigations find your company holds land as its sole asset without conducting any legitimate business. That signals a shell structure designed to circumvent land laws. Depending on when you purchased and what paperwork exists, you face voluntary remedy options or enforcement action. Acting proactively now is infinitely better than getting caught later.

How Pim Helps

Pim evaluates your specific transaction and company structure to identify the actual risk level. We work with property and corporate lawyers to explore legitimate remedy pathways. Depending on circumstances, options include converting the company into a genuine operating business, establishing long-term lease structures that replace illegal ownership, consulting on inheritance or spousal transfer possibilities, or in some cases voluntarily restructuring before authorities intervene. We document the process correctly so remedies stick. This requires legal counsel, not just advice, but starting now prevents catastrophic loss.