Author: SILQ

Welcome to SILQ! We are a boutique firm that’s anything but ordinary. We’re a team of dedicated, practicing Thai and international lawyers, committed to empowering you as you grow in Thailand’s dynamic market. At SILQ, we’re your trusted resource for navigating the complexities of the business world with confidence. Our approach is simple yet powerful: we deliver tailored solutions that blend a global perspective with your unique needs. Whether you’re tackling today’s challenges or seizing tomorrow’s opportunities, we bring real advice that drives real results. From crafting precise commercial contracts to guiding you through mergers, acquisitions, or regulatory compliance, our knowledge and experience stand ready to support your business at every turn. Ready to unlock new horizons with SILQ? Ready for real advice from real lawyers that delivers real results? Let’s shape your success in Thailand, together.

Thailand’s New Accommodation Law: What It Means for Hotels, Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals

Thailand is preparing to replace the Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004). In July 2026, the House of Representatives accepted in principle proposed amendments to the Hotel Act and referred them to an extraordinary committee. On 29 September 2026, the Government set out its draft Accommodation Establishment Act. The draft moves away from a single hotel […]

Usufruct in Thailand: Foreigners’ Rights, Risks and Limitations

The appeal is obvious. A lifetime usufruct registered on a Chanote gives the holder rights of possession, use, enjoyment, and even rental income, all without transferring ownership. It survives the sale of the underlying land. It does not count against the foreign condominium quota. On paper, it looks like the perfect workaround. But the gap […]

Thailand Events and Short-Term Work: What Has Changed?

Thailand remains a top destination for conferences, trade shows, and corporate events in the region. However, new rules on visa-exempt entry have created a real problem for foreign professionals who come here to attend those events. The issue is not a new ban on short-term work. One practical route people have used for years is […]

The Hidden Risks of Acting as an Informal Agent in Thailand

I have seen this story play out many times. A smart, ambitious person in Thailand spots a great product from abroad. It might be Australian software or a professional service delivered remotely. The overseas principal is excited. There is no distributor here yet. A handshake is exchanged. Our person becomes the local face of the […]

Thailand Nominee Landholding: New Land Department Guidance Brings Local Investigations and Property Use Into Focus

Thailand’s enforcement of restrictions on foreign land ownership and nominee arrangements has become increasingly active during 2025 through 2026. The latest development, dated yesterday, is a new Ministry of Interior circular dated 25 August 2026 concerning cases where there are grounds for suspicion that land is being held on behalf of foreigners. The circular, issued […]

Invest to Stay: Long-term Visa Options for Property Investors

Thailand’s Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa programme has matured into one of Southeast Asia’s most comprehensive residency-by-investment pathways – and for foreign nationals considering real estate in the kingdom, the 2025 and 2026 rule changes have made property investment a more direct and attractive route to a 10-year renewable stay. What the LTR Visa Is and […]

The Structures That Worked, Until It Didn’t

Thailand’s nominee problem has long been discussed in hushed tones at expat dinners and property expos, with some less scrupulous agents offering various means of holding land, including nominee companies and the infamous, and illegal, 30+30+30 lease. In a recent YouTube interview with Jett Gunther, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rr_OIgims0, partner Dr. Paul Crosio brought that conversation […]

Practical Guidance for Persons Under Investigation for Nominee Shareholding in Thailand

This guidance is intended for foreign nationals and Thai nationals who are the subject of a formal investigation into alleged nominee shareholding arrangements. Such investigations are conducted under the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999) and, increasingly, in coordination with the Anti-Money Laundering Office. 1. Nature of the Allegations A nominee shareholder arrangement occurs when […]

Short Term Rentals in Thailand: Legal Prohibition, Penalties and the Landed Property Exception

The Hotel Act: Why Nightly Rentals Are Illegal Thailand’s legal framework imposes strict prohibitions on short term rental activity, particularly within condominium buildings. Under the Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004), any property rented on a nightly or weekly basis for compensation is classified as a hotel. Section 4 of the Act defines a hotel as […]

The BOI’s New Quarterly Reporting Rule: What Every Promoted Company Needs to Know Before 31 May

Thailand’s Board of Investment has revised its project monitoring schedule, replacing twice-yearly progress reports with quarterly submissions. The first deadline is 31 May 2026. This note sets out what has changed, what the legal instruments say, and what promoted companies should do now. On 30 March 2026, the Board of Investment published two instruments that […]