How to buy a house in Thailand for expats who plan to move here.

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How to buy a house in Thailand for expats who plan to move here.

By: Admin
July 25, 2025

Many foreigners plan to retire and live in Thailand. Some are deciding to marry Thais, and some are looking for opportunities to build the new business in Thailand. Therefore, they might prepare for buying a house in Thailand, buying real estate in Thailand, and also finding a home for rent and a home for sale. Follow us, Krabi Land and House. We invite you to get to know how to buy a house in Thailand for expats who plan to move here.

Can foreigners own a house in Thailand?

The short answer is “Yes.” But not every foreigner can buy a house in Thailand because Thai laws still do not allow them to own the land directly. So, buying a house in Thailand, buying real estate in Thailand, or owning the land requires signing a long-term contract (up to a maximum of 30 years), and they can renew the contract twice. However, there is another way for foreigners to buy a house in Thailand. It is building a company to buy the land in the company’s name, and a Thai partner holding at least 51% of the shares is required.

Condition for foreigners who want to buy a house in Thailand.

Due to the economic downturn, the Thai government has measures to stimulate the economy, including the real estate business, by allowing 4 groups of foreigners to buy a house in Thailand as follows:

High-wealth global population — A group of foreigners who have assets, high income, and the capability of investing in the business and buying real estate in Thailand.
Retirees from abroad — Thailand is one of the popular countries for foreigners to live in after retirement. The Thai government wants to focus on this group who have regular income and continuous spending.
Remote working & digital nomad — This is the golden era of remote working and working from anywhere. So, this group of foreigners is continuously growing.
Skilled professionals — A group of foreigners who are skilled and specialize in their careers, such as medical, science, technology, etc., which can help develop Thailand.

However, there are 4 conditions for foreigners who want to buy the land and a house in Thailand:

Need to invest in the legal business in Thailand at least 40 million baht for at least 5 years.
The land must be in the area settled by the government, such as the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) or an investment promotion zone.
The land must not exceed 1 rai (1,600 square meters) and must be used for residential purposes only.
The seller must have proof of ownership of the building in case of transferring a house with land.

Essential documents to prepare for foreigners who want to buy a house in Thailand.
When you have cleared all conditions, let’s prepare the essential documents for transfer of ownership at the Land Department as follows: passport, work permit, 2 copies of immigration stamp, certificate of foreign remittance, home purchase contract, contactable buyer information such as telephone number and address, 2 copies of the original spouse consent letter, a copy of marriage registration, a translated marriage certificate with the original institution stamp, and 2 copies of spouse's passport.

For those who did not marry a Thai but want to buy a house in Thailand, let’s prepare documents as follows: a passport with a copy certified by the embassy and translated and certified by the Thai Consulate, a work permit, Thai Tor Ror 14, a condominium ownership document and sales agreement, 2 of 1.5-inch photos, 2 witnesses with ID cards, a photo of the front of the house showing the house number, and other documents such as a driver's license, educational certificate, green card.

Can foreigners who want to buy a house in Thailand get a loan from a Thai bank?
Now, we come to the step of buying real estate in Thailand. Many people may not be sure that it is possible to get a loan from Thai banks to buy a house in Thailand. The answer is “you can.” Nowadays, most banks in Thailand have bank credit services for foreigners, and each bank has different conditions. Therefore, you should study information before deciding on the best conditions that meet your requirements by going to ask bank staff or real estate experts for advice.

Need advice from experts?
For those who are still confused, do not know how to start, and need some advice from experts on buying a house or buying real estate in Thailand, including looking for a home for rent and a home for sale. Come to us! We are Krabi Land and House, the leader of real estate and asset management with over 20 years of experience. We are happy to provide services and useful advice for all customers because "Krabi Land and House, we pay attention to every detail."