Before a BOI project obtains an FBC: checking promotion, activities and company documents

When a BOI project is preparing to obtain a Foreign Business Certificate (FBC), first check whether section 12 of the Foreign Business Act applies. Then match the promotion certificate, project scope, company information and proposed attachments. The BOI promotion certificate, DBD application records and final FBC need separate checks; any one of them is insufficient to establish that the entire process is complete.

This article focuses on document coordination for BOI projects, using DBD’s public section 12 guide. For the basic distinction between FBL, FBC and BOI, see the existing business market-entry article. This checklist does not repeat the general market-entry assessment or cover every requirement under other FBC routes.

1. Match the section 12 route to the particular activity

DBD’s eligibility section links a BOI promotion certificate or other statutory approval to promoted or permitted activities falling within List Two or List Three of the Foreign Business Act, including activities specified in project-specific conditions. Section 12 provides for notification and certification following verification of the promotion certificate or permit.^{[DBD guide, page 1: eligibility][Foreign Business Act, section 12]}

Prepare the documents around the particular activity for which certification is being sought. A company name, objects clause or statement that the company “has BOI” is insufficient. Check whether the actual activity corresponds to the promoted scope and fits the route.

2. Map the business facts, promoted scope and unresolved questions

For each proposed activity, consider recording three groups of information:

• Business facts: who the customers are, what products or services are supplied, which work takes place in Thailand, and how contracts and charges are arranged;
• Promotion documents: the relevant certificate, activity and project conditions, including any approved amendments or additional documents;
• Unresolved questions: which descriptions match and which activities, revenue or locations remain unclear or require further analysis.

This is an internal cross-check suggestion, not a uniform table required by DBD. Its purpose is to give the business, finance and application teams a shared set of facts. Flag items that do not match; changing an activity’s name to create apparent consistency will not resolve the underlying issue.

If the company holds several BOI certificates, identify each certificate number and corresponding activity, then check which projects are relevant to this application. Avoid an index entry that merely says “BOI certificates” and mixes different projects together.

3. Separate company checks from the formal attachment list

For internal preparation, compare the company name, registration identifiers, shareholding information, signing authority and addresses in existing documents. Record each document’s date and source. The applicant, contact person and authorised representative are different roles; do not substitute another group company’s records or personal contact details for the applicant’s information.

These suggestions help establish the applicant and match the documents. They do not mean that every project must upload the same additional company records. Check the applicable guide, system requirements at the time and any case-specific notice for the formal fields and attachments.

The attachments listed in this DBD section 12 guide are:^{[DBD guide, page 1: attachments]}

• A BOI promotion certificate copy, or a copy of the IEAT permission to use land and operate a business in an industrial estate, where applicable;
• A sketch map of the business premises in Thailand;
• A power of attorney where another person acts on the applicant’s behalf;
• An ID card or passport copy of the person granting authority, limited in the guide to directors who sign the documents;
• An ID card or passport copy of the authorised representative.

These are the items listed in that guide, not a guarantee that submitting them will secure approval. Check the circumstances if the authorisation arrangements differ, documents need correction or the authority requests further material.

4. Cross-check the map, authority documents and certificate

When preparing attachments, check whether the mapped premises match the proposed application details, names match the identity documents, the power of attorney covers the intended work, and the certificate copy is clear, complete and consistent with the project conditions being referenced.

If company records, maps and promotion documents use different addresses or versions, preserve the differences and change history, then check how they should be handled. Altering the name or address on the face of a document may conceal an issue that needs explanation.

This is a document-quality check. It does not replace a legal assessment of whether registration changes, project amendments or other procedures are needed.

5. Keep separate evidence of submission, review, payment, approval and download

The DBD guide lists the following seven stages. Application and certificate fees are paid at different stages.^{[DBD guide, page 2: stages]}

1. Register and log in to e-Foreign Business;
2. Submit the application and attachments;
3. Registrar review;
4. Pay the application fee through e-Payment;
5. Director-General approval to issue the certificate;
6. Pay the certificate fee through e-Payment;
7. Download the e-FBC.

Use these stages for an internal record of the application number, submitted version, current stage, relevant notices and next task. This is a progress-tracking tool, not proof that the authority has confirmed every aspect of eligibility.

Submission, review, a particular payment and receipt of the e-FBC need distinct descriptions. If a correction or information request arrives, preserve the complete notice, response and later submitted versions. Do not assume a uniform deadline for supplementary documents or particular system status labels.

A screen message, payment receipt and approval notice establish different things. Before closing the application file, check whether the actual certificate has been obtained and whether its contents match the applicant and relevant activity.

6. Hand over a traceable document index

File the promotion certificate and related amendments, activity mapping, applicant checks, formal attachments, submission records, correction correspondence and final documents separately. Record dates and responsible people so that a later reader can identify which documents supported which declared activity and what was ultimately obtained.

A company already holding an FBC should not simply copy an earlier business description when adding activities. Check the new facts against the original project, FBC contents and relevant conditions.

For a document coordination discussion, explain which documents are available, the activity to be covered, whether an application has been submitted, and the particular document or procedural issue requiring attention. Refer to the existing scope on the BOI investment promotion service page and the FBL service page.

Frequently asked questions