Tourism Business in Thailand: License, Requirements, and Setup

A tourism business in Thailand must hold a license before it can operate. Any business that organises, sells or arranges tours or tourist guide services needs one, issued under the Tourism Business and Guide Act B.E. 2551 (2008), as amended in 2016, and administered by the Department of Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. It is widely called a TAT license, after the Tourism Authority of Thailand, although the Tourism Authority does not issue it.

Operating a tourism business without a license is a criminal offence that can result in fines and imprisonment. This guide covers what the license is, who needs one, the requirements, and how to apply.

The Act defines a tourism business as one that takes tourists travelling, whether for leisure or any other purpose, and arranges at least one service for them along the way, such as accommodation, food or a tour guide. A tourist, for this purpose, is anyone travelling from one place to another for recreation, study, entertainment or any other reason, so the definition is not limited to holidaymakers.

In practice, a license is needed by:

• Tour operators organising day trips, excursions or longer tours, within Thailand or abroad.
• Travel agencies selling packages that combine travel with accommodation, meals or a guide.
• Excursion businesses that take customers to sites and look after them there, such as island tours and trekking.
• Online operators selling any of the above, with or without a physical shop.

A business that only books a room or a ticket, without taking the tourists anywhere or arranging anything further, falls outside the definition. The Act also does not apply to the Tourism Authority of Thailand itself, or to Hajj pilgrimage operators, which are licensed under their own law. A business offering accommodation needs a separate license for that side; see how to open a hotel in Thailand.

Four License Types, Each With a Security Deposit

The type of license depends on the scope of the business.

N.B. A Ministerial Regulation issued in 2020 as COVID-19 relief cut these deposits by 70%, to 3,000, 15,000, 30,000 and 60,000 baht respectively, and those reduced amounts still apply. In August 2026 the Department of Tourism put a draft regulation to public consultation to restore the amounts in the table, with a year for existing operators to top up their deposits.

The security deposit is lodged either as a bank guarantee or as cash or a cashier's cheque payable to the Department of Tourism, and is held by the Department for as long as the license is in force.

The general license, often called the outbound license, covers tours both within Thailand and abroad, so its holder can also run domestic and inbound tours. The other license types are limited to their own scope.

Operating a tourism business without a license, or while a license is suspended, carries imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to 500,000 baht, or both, under Section 80 of the Act. Where the operator is a company, the directors or managers responsible for the offence face the same penalty personally.

The registrar can also suspend a license for up to six months at a time and revoke it for repeated or serious breaches, after which the operator cannot apply again for five years.

Tourism is a restricted business under the Foreign Business Act, and the Tourism Business and Guide Act adds ownership rules of its own. A foreign national cannot hold the license as an individual, so the business must be a Thai company that meets these requirements:

• Registered under Thai law, with objectives specifically covering tourism.
• At least 51% of the capital owned by Thai nationals, who must be individuals rather than companies.
• More than half of the directors Thai nationals, so a company with one foreign director needs at least two Thai directors.
• A Thai authorised managing director.
• A physical office in Thailand with visible signage. Virtual and serviced offices are not accepted.

The managing director must be at least 20 years old, have a domicile or residence in Thailand, and must not be bankrupt or legally incapacitated. The director also must not be under suspension of a tourism business or tour guide license, or have had one revoked within the previous five years.

Only a Thai director can sign for or bind the company on tourism matters. That signing authority can, however, be limited to tourism matters, leaving foreign directors in control of the company's other affairs.

Since 1 August 2026, Thai shareholders in a company with foreign participation must evidence the money they pay for their shares with bank statements; see registered capital.

Documents Required for the Application

• The application form (Sor.Tor.Kor. 2), signed by a Thai director and stamped with the company seal
• The company certificate, the list of shareholders and the memorandum of association
• The company's regulations and a specimen of its seal
• Copies of the ID cards and house registration books of the Thai directors
• A map showing the office location
• Photographs of the office exterior, with the company signage visible, and of the interior
• Proof of ownership of the office land and building, or a valid lease
• A tourist accident insurance policy: a minimum of 1,000,000 baht per person for death or disability and 500,000 baht per person for medical expenses, with at least one year remaining
• The security deposit submission form
• A power of attorney, if a representative is handling the application

All copies must be certified true copies, and foreign-language documents must be translated into Thai.

1. Register your Thai company with a tourism objective and the correct ownership structure: 51% Thai shareholders and a majority of Thai directors.
2. Set up the office with visible company signage. The Department of Tourism inspects the premises.
3. Obtain tourist accident insurance with the minimum cover set out above.
4. Submit the application to the Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office covering the company's location: Bangkok, or the regional offices in Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani and Phuket.
5. The Department of Tourism reviews the application and inspects the office. Its own processing time is six days once the file is complete. Completing the whole application usually takes 7 to 30 days.
6. Pay the security deposit and the license fee of 2,000 baht when the license is approved.
7. Collect the license and display it at the registered office, as the Act requires.

The full process, from company registration to the license being issued, typically takes one to two months.

How Attori Law Can Help

Attori Law handles business license applications, including the tourism license, from company setup through to the license being issued. For a tour or travel business in Thailand, get in touch for a free consultation.

Reviewed September 2026