Chapter 8: Limitation of Aliens Right in Land

An alien may acquire land only by virtue of the provisions of a

treaty that provides for ownership of immovable property and also subject to the provisions

of this Code.

Subject to Section 84, such alien may acquire land for residential,

commercial, industrial, agricultural, cemeterial, public charity or religious purposes only in

accordance with the conditions and procedure prescribed by the ministerial regulations and

permission therefor must be obtained from the Minister.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

The amount of land permitted under the preceding Section

shall be as follows:

(1) for residence, not more than 1 rai per family;

(2) for commercial purposes, not more than 1 rai;

(3) for industrial purposes, not more than 10 rai;

(4) for agricultural purposes, not more than 10 rai per family;

(5) for religious purposes, not more than 1 rai;

(6) for public charity purposes, not more than 5 rai;

(7) for cemeterial purposes, not more than 1/2 rai per family.

If any alien wishes to have right to land for industrial purposes in excess of

that provided in (3), and if deemed appropriate, the Council of Ministers may permit

acquisition of land in excess of the limit prescribed, by imposing conditions thereon, and the

provisions of Section 48 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

The provisions of Section 87 shall not affect the land already

owned by an alien in excess of the limit under Section 87 before the effective date of this

Code. As for an

alien who has had land less than the limit or who has disposed of his

original land, he may acquire additional land but the total amount shall not exceed the

limit under Section 87.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

After an alien is permitted to acquire land for any activity, he

shall use land for such activity and may not use it for other purposes unless permission is

obtained for use in a new activity in an amount not exceeding the limit under Section 87. If

the land is not to be used as permitted, notification shall be given pursuant to the form and

procedure provided in the ministerial regulations within 30 days from the date of

termination of use of the land.

Any alien wishing to use land for a new activity shall seek another

permission from the Minister pursuant to the form and procedure prescribed in the

ministerial regulations. If the Minister deems it appropriate, he shall have the power to grant

permission.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

An alien permitted to have and use land for any activity and

no longer using such land or using such land for other activity without being granted a new

permission shall dispose of such land within the period prescribed by the Director-General,

which must be at least 180 days but not more than one year. After such period, the

Director-General shall have the power to dispose of such land.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

If an alien permitted to use land for any activity is granted a

new permission to use such land for other activity whereby the amount of land so

permitted decreases, the excess land shall be disposed of within the period prescribed by

the Director-General, which must be at least 180 days but not more than one year. After

such period, the Director-General shall have the power to dispose of such land.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

If any alien permitted to acquire land under paragraph two of

Section 87 fails to comply with the conditions prescribed by the Council of Ministers, the

part of land permitted to be acquired in excess of the prescribed amount shall be disposed

of within the period prescribed by the Director-General, which must be at least 180 days but

not more than one year. After such period, the Director-General shall have the power to

dispose of such land.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

For an alien who acquires land by inheritance as a legal heir,

the Minister may permit acquisition of such land which, when combined with the land

already owned, does not exceed the limit under Section 87.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

For all lands acquired by aliens unlawfully or without

permission, those aliens shall arrange to dispose of them within the period prescribed by

the Director-General, which must be at least 180 days but not more than one year. If no

land is disposed of within the period prescribed, the Director-General shall have the power

to dispose of such land and the provisions regarding forced disposal of land under Chapter 3

shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

Any person who acquired land while he had Thai nationality

and thereafter has changed his nationality to be an alien shall still be entitled to hold land

to the extent to which such alien is entitled, and the excess land shall be disposed of and

the provisions of Section 94 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

When any person appears to have acquired any land as an

owner on behalf of an alien or juristic person under Section 97 or Section 98, the Director-

General shall have the power to dispose of such land and the provisions of Section 94 shall

apply mutatis mutandis.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

The provisions regarding acquisition by an alien of land

by virtue of a treaty under paragraph one of Section 86 shall not apply to an alien who has

brought funds to invest in the amount prescribed in the ministerial regulations, which must

be at least Baht forty million, whereby the land so acquired for use as residence shall not

be more than one rai, and permission therefor must be obtained from the Minister.

Acquisition of land by an alien under paragraph one shall be in accordance

with the rules, procedure, and conditions prescribed in the ministerial regulations, which

must contain at least the following material provisions:

(1) Types of businesses to be invested in by aliens, which must benefit

the nation economically and socially or be businesses announced by the Board of

Investment as those eligible for application for investment promotion under the law on

investment promotion;

(2) The period for maintenance of the investment must be at least three

years;

(3) The area of land permitted to be acquired by aliens must be located

within Bangkok Metropolis, Pattaya City, municipalities, or within an area designated as a

residential area under the law on town planning.

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).

If an alien permitted to acquire land under Section 96

bis commits a breach of the rules or conditions prescribed in the ministerial regulations

under paragraph two of Section 96 bis, the land entitled to him shall be disposed of within

the period prescribed by the Director-General, which must be at least 180 days but not

more than one year. After such period, the Director-General shall have the power to

dispose of such land.

If an alien permitted to acquire land under Section 96 bis does not use such

land as residence within the period of two years from the date of registration of the

acquisition, the Diector-General shall have the power to dispose of such land.

DETERMINATION OF RIGHT TO LAND OF CERTAIN TYPES OF JURISTIC PERSONS

Unofficial translation, Office of the Council of State, as amended to Act No.13, B.E. 2556 (2013).