Glossary
Legal Glossary
Common legal terms with plain-language explanations
Privacy
- Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
- Thailand's law governing collection, use, and disclosure of personal data. Fully effective from 2022.
Investment
- Board of Investment (BOI)
- Thai government agency that promotes investment, offering tax and non-tax incentives to qualified investors.
Business
- Foreign Business Act (FBA)
- Thai law regulating foreign nationals doing business in Thailand, listing reserved or licensed activities.
International Trade
- INCOTERMS
- ICC-standard delivery terms used in international trade to allocate responsibilities between buyer and seller.
IP
- Petty Patent
- A short-term form of patent protection in Thailand, applicable to less inventive innovations.
Family & Inheritance
- Ordinary Will (Sec. 1656 CCC)
- A will made in writing, dated, and signed before two witnesses — the most common form in Thailand.
Immigration
- Non-B Visa (Non-Immigrant B)
- A visa for foreigners entering Thailand to work or run a business — a prerequisite before applying for a Work Permit.
- Work Permit
- A document issued by the Ministry of Labour permitting a foreigner to work only in the stated position and for the stated employer — issued separately from the visa.
- 90-Day Report
- Foreigners staying in Thailand for 90 consecutive days or more must report their current address to the Immigration Bureau every 90 days.
- Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR)
- A visa of up to 10 years for high-net-worth individuals, retirees, remote workers, and highly skilled professionals — with tax benefits and annual (rather than 90-day) reporting.
- SMART Visa
- A visa for experts, executives, investors, and startups in BOI-targeted industries — holders are not required to hold a separate Work Permit.
- Overstay
- Remaining in Thailand beyond the permitted visa date — incurring daily fines and possible re-entry bans. Seek legal advice before departing.
- Re-Entry Permit
- A permit that keeps a valid visa from being cancelled when the holder leaves Thailand — available in single- and multiple-entry forms.