Quick Facts
BOI promotion at a glance
Section 1
Promotion Categories — A1 to B2
Every promoted activity is assigned to one of six groups. All groups receive the non-tax benefits — 100% foreign ownership, land rights, fast-track work permits. The group determines the tax incentive package.
CIT
8-year CIT exemption
Enhancement
Merit-based additional 5-year 50% CIT reduction available
Examples
Advanced technology R&D, bio-economy, electronic design, digital platforms with significant tech transfer
CIT
8-year CIT exemption
Enhancement
Merit-based incentives available
Examples
High-value manufacturing, medical devices, advanced materials, digital services with substantial investment
CIT
5-year CIT exemption
Enhancement
Location-based enhancements available for SEZ and target provinces
Examples
Manufacturing with added value processes, regional logistics hubs, certain services
CIT
3-year CIT exemption
Enhancement
Standard non-tax incentives
Examples
Light manufacturing and general services meeting investment thresholds
CIT
50% CIT reduction for 5 years
Enhancement
Non-tax incentives — import duty exemptions on machinery
Examples
Infrastructure support activities, supporting industries for promoted sectors
CIT
No CIT exemption
Enhancement
Import duty exemptions and other non-tax incentives only
Examples
Activities where employment or economic benefit warrants support without tax relief
Section 2
Priority Sectors in 2026
BOI updates its promoted activity list periodically. These sectors are current priorities and receive strong incentive packages.
Technology & Digital Services
Software development, SaaS, fintech, data centres, cloud infrastructure and digital platforms. Full foreign ownership available. Strong CIT exemption for activities with genuine tech transfer.
Advanced Manufacturing
High-value production including EV components, aerospace, smart electronics, robotics and precision engineering. Thailand's EV ecosystem is a priority sector with enhanced incentives.
Medical Devices & Healthcare
Medical device manufacturing, hospitals serving international patients, health clinics and pharmaceutical production. Medical hub promotion is active BOI policy.
Research & Development
R&D centres, innovation hubs and companies investing in technology development for Thai or export markets. Typically A1 or A2 category with the strongest incentive packages.
BCG Economy
Bio-economy, circular economy and green economy activities — agri-biotech, sustainable packaging, bio-based materials. A priority category under current BOI policy.
Creative Industries
Film production, animation, game development and design services targeting export markets. Investment thresholds are lower than manufacturing sectors.
Logistics & Distribution
Regional distribution hubs, cold-chain facilities, freight forwarding and international logistics operations meeting BOI investment thresholds.
Financial Technology
Payment platforms, digital banking infrastructure, insurtech and blockchain-based financial services. Regulatory approvals from Bank of Thailand or SEC are typically required alongside BOI.
Section 3
The Application Process
Confirm the promoted activity and category
Check your specific business activity against BOI's current promoted activity list. The activity — not the industry — determines eligibility. Many businesses assume they qualify by industry label when the specific activity does not appear on the list.
Prepare the business plan
BOI requires a detailed business plan covering investment amount, revenue projections, employment creation, technology transfer and how the activity benefits Thailand. This is the most important document in the application — it must be internally consistent and commercially credible.
Submit through BOI Single Window
Applications are submitted online through BOI's e-application system. Supporting documents include the business plan, company registration documents, financial projections and the applicant's background and financial capacity evidence.
BOI review and committee decision
BOI reviews within 40 working days. Complex applications or those in strategic sectors may be referred to the full investment committee, which meets monthly. BOI may request supplementary information during the review period.
Register with BOI within 6 months
After approval, the company registers formally with BOI and receives its promotion certificate. The 6-month registration deadline runs from the date of the approval letter — not the certificate date.
Meet conditions and file annual reports
The promotion certificate specifies conditions: machinery import deadlines, investment completion dates, employment numbers and operation commencement. Annual compliance reports must be filed. Missing a condition risks revocation of incentives.
Section 4
Merit-Based & Location Enhancements
On top of the base category incentives, companies can earn additional CIT exemption through qualifying investments in R&D, supplier development and workforce upskilling.
R&D Investment Enhancement
Companies that invest at least 1% of annual revenue (minimum ฿200,000) in R&D activities in Thailand can receive an additional 1-year CIT exemption per qualifying year, up to 5 additional years.
Thai Supplier Development
Companies that develop at least 2 Thai suppliers to meet international standards receive an additional 1-year CIT exemption, once per company.
Workforce Upskilling
Training spending on advanced skills (coding bootcamps, engineering programmes, vocational training) at qualifying Thai institutions earns additional CIT reduction.
Special Economic Zones
Activities established in Thailand's 10 designated Special Economic Zones along border areas receive enhanced incentives — typically an additional 3 years of CIT exemption and import duty exemptions on raw materials for export.
Common Mistakes
Five errors that create problems
Assuming the industry qualifies rather than checking the specific activity
BOI promotes specific activities, not entire industries. A software company may qualify under one activity description and not under another. The promoted activity list must be checked precisely — broad industry labels are not a guide to eligibility.
Submitting a business plan written for investors rather than BOI
A BOI business plan must address specific criteria: technology transfer to Thailand, employment creation, investment-to-revenue ratios and economic benefit. A deck written to attract investor interest does not address these criteria and typically generates supplementary information requests.
Missing the 6-month registration deadline after approval
The approval letter sets a 6-month window to register the company with BOI. Missing this deadline voids the promotion entirely — there is no extension process. The deadline runs from the letter date, not from when the company was incorporated.
Changing the business activity after promotion without notifying BOI
BOI promotion is tied to the specific promoted activity. Changing the nature of the business — even within the same sector — without BOI approval is grounds for review and potential revocation. Activity changes require a formal amendment application before they begin.
Failing to file annual compliance reports
Annual reports confirming investment levels, employment numbers and continued compliance with the promoted activity are mandatory throughout the promotion period. Late or missing reports trigger BOI audit and can result in partial withdrawal of CIT exemption for the unreported years.
Questions & Answers
Common questions about BOI promotion
Does a BOI-promoted company need to operate only in the promoted activity?
No. A BOI-promoted company can conduct non-promoted activities alongside the promoted one. However, only income from the promoted activity receives the CIT exemption. Income from non-promoted activities is taxed at the standard corporate rate of 20%. Accounting must clearly separate the two revenue streams — this is one of the key points BOI audits during annual review.
Can a company that is already registered in Thailand apply for BOI promotion?
Yes. Existing companies can apply for BOI promotion for new investment in qualifying activities. The promotion covers the new promoted activity and investment — not the company's historical operations. Existing companies should note that the business plan must reflect the new investment, not the company's existing business.
What is the minimum investment required for BOI promotion?
Minimum investment varies by category and activity type. Manufacturing activities typically require a minimum of ฿1,000,000 in fixed assets excluding land and working capital. Service activities have lower or no fixed-asset minimums in some categories. R&D and technology activities are assessed on the quality and nature of the investment rather than a fixed minimum threshold.
How does the Smart Visa differ from a work permit for a BOI-promoted company?
A work permit from the BOI One Stop Service Centre covers an employed executive or specialist at a BOI-promoted company. The Smart Visa is a separate visa category for highly-skilled professionals, investors, executives and startup founders in targeted sectors — it eliminates the work permit requirement entirely for up to 4 years and is renewable. Not everyone at a BOI company qualifies for Smart Visa — eligibility depends on salary, qualifications and role.
Can a BOI-promoted company own land in Thailand?
Yes. Under the Investment Promotion Act, BOI-promoted companies may apply to the BOI for permission to own land for business operations. This is a significant benefit not available to standard foreign-owned companies, which cannot own freehold land in Thailand. The land must be used for the promoted activity.
Lawyers for Expats Thailand
We handle BOI applications from eligibility assessment and business plan through to submission, post-approval registration and the annual compliance calendar.
See how we help — BOI service page →Related Guides
Company Formation Guide
→Thai company structures, foreign ownership limits and DBD registration — the step before or alongside BOI.
Work Permit Guide
→BOI companies skip the 4:1 ratio — how fast-track work permits work for promoted companies.
Business Visa Guide
→Non-Immigrant B visa requirements and the visa-work permit pair.
Business in Thailand
→All business services — company formation, banking, work permits and BOI.
