Thailand, world-renowned for its unrelenting beauty and affectionately referred to as ‘the Land of Smiles’, is an amazing place to live and popular among expats from all over. However, as wonderful as the country is, settling down and starting a new life in Thailand is not without complication. The legal system in Thailand, particularly surrounding foreigners and land ownership, can get rather confusing. But, don’t let that put you off; if you do your due diligence and plenty of research, settling down and building your dream home in Thailand might just be a possibility. Here’s everything you should know…

Can a foreigner build a property in Thailand, even without owning any land?

The short answer is yes, but it’s a little more complicated than you’d expect. The fact is, no foreigner can directly own land in Thailand. Thai law prohibits foreigners from owning a piece of land in their own name.

Before we talk about the process of building property on land that you do not own, first let’s take at the ways in which a foreigner may be able to acquire land, legally in Thailand:

• Set up a Thai Limited Company and own the land through it.
• Marry a Thai National and have them put the land in their name.

If the above two options are not a route you wish to take, then you will have to find another means of building your dream home.

You can lease the land

It’s not quite the same as owning land in Thailand, but there is an option for foreigners to lease the land for up to 30-years. Provided the land owner is under agreement, you can then proceed to build your dream home – and own it outright. Following that, once the 30-years is up, you have the option to renew your leasehold for an additional 30-years, provided the land-owner is in agreement. In fact, you can even pre-register 3 consecutive 30-year terms, to the song of 90 years—which we can all agree is plenty of time to enjoy a long and colourful life.

For those who might find this route uncomfortable, you can rest assured that for as long as you are up to date with your term agreement and make your land lease payments, under no circumstance will anyone be able to kick you off or take the land away from you.

In other words, while you will not own the land outright, you can indeed live happily, comfortably, and with ample security, for 30-years or more in Thailand.

Conclusion

Most South-East Asian countries, including Vietnam and Thailand, are highly attractive to expats – but getting settled and living permanently is a difficult process.

While there is some red tape, and the Thai legal system is not without complication, rest assured that you can build your dream home in Thailand. With the proper legal representation, plenty of research, and a reputable real estate agency to assist you, your dream can very much become a reality!

Want to explore land for sale in Thailand and see what your options are? We’re certain you’ll find something that suits you!