Tour Operator Licensing
Services in Thailand
Businesses organising or selling regulated tour programmes in Thailand may need a tour operator licence from the Department of Tourism before commencing operations. The licence category and eligibility requirements depend on the proposed activities. There are 4 types of licence, based on the scope of the tours, and the licence is valid for 2 years. Applicants must pay a licence fee of 2,000 baht and place a security deposit according to the type applied for. Anyone who operates a tour business without a licence faces imprisonment of up to 2 years, a fine of up to 500,000 baht, or both.
Content reviewed by Surapa Jamjang, Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Last reviewed November 2026
Over 30 Years of Experience
More Than 700 Clients Served
Service fees starting at 7,000 baht
(excluding fees and the security deposit)
Tour licence applications
handled for 30 clients to date
Before applying for a tour licence, business operators must have several items in place: the company’s shareholding proportions and objectives, an office with a name sign, an accident insurance policy and the security deposit. Greenpro KSP handles tour business licence applications of every type, in the name of either an individual or a juristic person. Our team assists in selecting the licence type that matches the tours you will sell, verifies qualifications and documents, files the application and places the security deposit until the licence is granted.
What Is a Tour Business Licence, and Who Needs One?
The Tourism Business and Guide Act B.E. 2551 (2008) defines a tour business as a business that takes tourists on journeys for sightseeing or other purposes and provides at least one service, such as accommodation, food or a tour guide. Anyone who runs this kind of business must obtain a licence from the tourism business and guide registrar before commencing the business.
Many people refer to it by short names such as a tour licence, a tourism licence or a TAT Licence. All of these refer to the same tour business licence, which is currently issued by the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, not by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Which Businesses Need a Licence?
- Tour companies that sell domestic or international travel packages
- Trip or private group tour organisers who arrange travel with accommodation, food or a guide for customers
- Companies that receive foreign tourists coming to visit Thailand
- Pages or websites that sell tours through Facebook, LINE or other online channels
If you are unsure whether your business model requires a licence, you may send us the details of your products and how you sell them for our team to review first.
The 4 Types of Tour Licences and the Security Deposit Required
The licence type determines the breadth of the area in which you may operate tours. A licence with a wider scope also covers the work of a licence with a narrower scope; for example, a General licence covers all 4 types. The security deposit is money placed with the registrar to protect tourists. The business operator may request its return, together with any proceeds accrued on it, when the business closes and all debts under this law have been settled.
| Licence type | Tours permitted | Security deposit (current rate) |
|---|---|---|
|
Specific Area |
Within the province applied for and the provinces bordering it |
3,000 baht |
|
Domestic |
Throughout Thailand |
15,000 baht |
|
Inbound |
Receiving tourists from abroad to visit Thailand, and running domestic tours |
30,000 baht |
|
General (Outbound) |
Domestic tours and tours abroad |
60,000 baht |
The security deposit rates above are the rates currently in use. Before filing, our team will confirm the latest rates for you once again.
The security deposit may be placed in 2 forms: cash or a bank guarantee. If the security deposit is deducted to compensate tourists for damage, the registrar will order the operator to place additional funds until the full amount is restored. See examples of businesses suited to each type at 4 Types of Tour Licences You Need to Open a Tour Company.
Applicant Qualifications for Individuals and Juristic Persons
| Condition | Individual | Company / Partnership |
|---|---|---|
|
Applicant |
Thai nationality, aged 20 full years or older, with a domicile or residence in Thailand |
A juristic person under Thai law with objectives related to tourism |
|
Proportion of Thai nationals |
– |
Company: at least 51% of the capital is held by individuals of Thai nationality, and more than half of the directors are Thai · Partnership: all unlimited liability partners are Thai |
|
Person authorised to manage |
– |
The person authorised to manage on behalf of the juristic person must be of Thai nationality, aged 20 full years or older, domiciled in Thailand, and have no prohibited characteristics |
|
Prohibited characteristics |
Not bankrupt, not incompetent or quasi-incompetent, not currently under licence suspension, and never having had a tour business licence or tour guide licence revoked in the 5 years before applying (in some cases, permanently barred from applying) |
The same criteria apply to both the juristic person and the person authorised to manage on its behalf |
Those who wish to operate a tour business as an individual, meaning that they operate the business in their own name without registering a company, may apply for a licence and pay the same fees and security deposit as a juristic person. Businesses with several co-investors should register a company or partnership first and then apply in the name of the juristic person. If you do not yet have a company, our team can first handle Company Registration with tourism-related objectives for you. If you already have a company but its objectives do not cover this, use our Adding Company Objectives service.
Tour Business Licence Application Steps, Documents and Timeline
1.
Choose the licence type that matches the tours you will sell, and verify the shareholding proportions, the persons authorised to manage and the company’s objectives
2.
Install the office name sign, take photographs of the interior and exterior, prepare a map, and obtain an accident insurance policy for tourists, tour guides and tour leaders
3.
File with the registrar together with the documents. If the documents are incomplete, the officer will notify you to correct them, and the corrections must be completed within 7 days
Timeline: Filing date
4.
The registrar reviews the documents and the premises, then notifies you of the result together with the amount of the fee and the security deposit to be placed
Timeline: Within 30 days from the filing date
5.
Pay the licence fee of 2,000 baht and place the security deposit according to the type
Timeline: Within 15 days from the date of notification
6.
The registrar issues the licence, which you then display at your office
Timeline: Within 7 days after paying and placing the security deposit
The timelines in the table are the maximum periods under the law. Tour licence applications handled by our team take no more than 7 days.
Applications are filed at the branch of the Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office responsible for the province where your office is located, or through the Department of Tourism’s e-Service system. Applicants with an office in Bangkok file at the Central Region branch, Building C, Chaeng Watthana Government Complex, which also covers nearby provinces such as Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan.
Documents for a Tour Business Licence Application
- Copy of national ID card
- Copy of house registration
- Copy of the company affidavit (certificate of registration), certified no more than 6 months ago, with objectives related to tourism
- Names, nationalities and domiciles of all shareholders for the current year, together with their numbers of shares (Form B.O.J.5, the list of shareholders)
- Copies of the Memorandum of Association, the incorporation registration particulars and the company's Articles of Association (if any)
- Copies of the ID cards and house registrations of the directors or the persons authorised to manage on the company's behalf
- 2 specimen seal impressions
- Copy of the certificate of registration, certified no more than 6 months ago
- Names, nationalities and domiciles of all partners
- Copies of the ID card and house registration of the person authorised to manage on the partnership's behalf
- 2 specimen seal impressions
- Licence application form as prescribed by the Department of Tourism (our team will complete it for you)
- 4×6-inch photographs of the business premises, taken no more than 1 month before the filing date, showing both the interior and the exterior, the name sign and the address number, together with a general sketch map
- Proof of ownership of, or the right to use, the premises, such as a lease agreement or a letter of consent to use the premises, together with copies of the premises owner's ID card and house registration
- Copy of the accident insurance policy with the required coverage
- Power of attorney, together with a copy of the attorney's ID card (if another person files on your behalf)
Accident Insurance Required Before Filing
Every applicant must have an accident insurance policy covering tourists, tour guides and tour leaders during travel. The sum insured for death, dismemberment or disability must be no less than 1,000,000 baht per person, and for injury no less than 500,000 baht per person. The policy must be valid for at least 6 months from the application date. Premiums are paid directly to the insurance company and vary by insurer.
After You Get the Licence: Renewal Every 2 Years and What You Must Do
- The licence is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. File for renewal within 30 days before it expires. The renewal fee is 2,000 baht, and you must attach an insurance policy with at least 6 months remaining from the date the current licence expires.
- Once you have filed for renewal, you may continue operating until the registrar notifies you that renewal is not permitted. If you do not renew, the licence terminates.
- Display the licence in a conspicuous place at the business premises stated in the licence. If you open a branch, you must apply for a separate branch licence.
- Changing the name, moving the office, changing the person authorised to manage, or adding or closing a branch requires filing a request to amend the particulars with the registrar.
- When closing the business, you must notify the registrar and return the licence within 15 days, and then request the return of the security deposit.
If you sell tours as an individual through a website or social media, you must also obtain electronic commercial registration. Our team can handle this for you through Commercial Registration. Companies and partnerships that are already registered do not need commercial registration.
Tour Business Licence Service Fees and Government Fees
Tour business licence application service fees start at 7,000 baht, excluding government fees, the security deposit and insurance premiums. Processing takes no more than 7 days. The service fee depends on the licence type and the readiness of your documents.
Excluding government fees and the security deposit
| Costs Paid Directly to the Government | Rate | When Paid |
|---|---|---|
|
Tour business licence fee |
2,000 baht |
When the registrar notifies you of approval |
|
Branch licence fee (if any) |
1,000 baht per branch |
When applying to open a branch |
|
Licence renewal fee |
2,000 baht (branch: 1,000 baht) |
Every 2 years |
|
Security deposit (refundable when the business closes) |
3,000–60,000 baht, depending on the licence type |
Together with the licence fee |
Example: for a Specific Area licence, the total paid to the government is 5,000 baht, made up of the licence fee of 2,000 baht and the security deposit of 3,000 baht at the current rate, not including the accident insurance premium.
Case Study: A Specific Area Tour Business Licence in Bangkok
The client operated a Specific Area tour business in Bangkok and wished to obtain a tour business licence.
We prepared the supporting documents for the application, coordinated with the officials, and placed the Specific Area security deposit of 3,000 baht on the client’s behalf.
The client received a Specific Area tour business licence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tour Business Licences
How many types of tour business licences are there, and which type should I apply for?
There are 4 types: Specific Area, Domestic, Inbound and General (Outbound). Choose according to the tours you will actually sell. If you operate tours in one province and its adjacent provinces, apply for the Specific Area type. If you operate tours nationwide, apply for the Domestic type. If you receive foreign tourists coming to visit Thailand, apply for the Inbound type. If you plan to take people on trips abroad, you should apply for the General type from the outset, because it covers every type.
Can I apply for a tour licence as an individual?
Yes. The applicant must be of Thai nationality, aged 20 full years or older, have a domicile or residence in Thailand, and have no prohibited characteristics. The main documents are a copy of the ID card, a copy of the house registration, photos of the business premises and proof of the right to use them, and an accident insurance policy. The fees and security deposit are the same as when applying in the name of a juristic person.
How much security deposit is required, and in what forms can it be placed?
The current rates are 3,000 baht for Specific Area, 15,000 baht for Domestic, 30,000 baht for Inbound and 60,000 baht for General. It may be placed in cash or as a bank guarantee. Our team will confirm the latest rates for you once again before filing.
How long is a tour licence valid, and how do I renew it?
The licence is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. You may file for renewal within 30 days before it expires, at a branch of the Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office or through the Department of Tourism’s e-Service. The renewal fee is 2,000 baht, and you must have an accident insurance policy with at least 6 months remaining from the date the current licence expires.
Do I need a licence to sell tours on Facebook or a website?
Yes. Selling through online channels does not exempt you if you organise or sell tours that include at least one service, such as accommodation, food or a tour guide, and you must operate tours within the scope of the licence type you hold. If you sell as an individual, you must also obtain electronic commercial registration.
Can foreigners open a tour company in Thailand?
They may co-invest, but the company applying for the licence must have at least 51% of its capital held by individuals of Thai nationality, more than half of its directors must be Thai, and the person authorised to manage on the company’s behalf must be Thai. Foreigners may therefore hold no more than 49% of the shares. Having Thais hold shares on behalf of others (nominees) in order to circumvent this condition is illegal.
Is the TAT Licence the same as the tour business licence?
Yes, they are the same licence. It is commonly referred to as the TAT Licence, but the licence is currently issued by the tourism business and guide registrar of the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Tourists may verify a tour company’s licence number on the Department of Tourism website.
Where do I apply for a tour licence, and how many days does it take?
File at the branch of the Tourism Business and Guide Registration Office responsible for the province where your office is located (in Bangkok, file at the Central Region branch, Chaeng Watthana Government Complex), or through the Department of Tourism’s e-Service. The law requires the registrar to notify the result within 30 days from the filing date and to issue the licence within 7 days after the fee is paid and the security deposit is placed. Applications handled by our team take no more than 7 days.
Is a guide required when running a tour?
You must arrange for a licensed tour guide to travel with the tourists, in accordance with the criteria announced by the Tourism Business and Guide Committee. For tours abroad, if a tour conductor travels with the group, the tour conductor must be a tour leader registered in accordance with the law.
How much coverage must insurance for a tour business provide?
You must have an accident insurance policy covering tourists, tour guides and tour leaders during travel, with coverage of no less than 1,000,000 baht per person for death, dismemberment or disability, and no less than 500,000 baht per person for injury. The policy used to apply for the licence must be valid for at least 6 months from the application date.
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Send Us Your Business Details for a Free Pre-Application Review
Please tell us whether you will apply as an individual or a company, the tours you will sell (within a province, nationwide, receiving foreign tourists, or trips abroad) and your office location. If you already have a company, please attach the company affidavit and the list of shareholders as well. Our registration team will reply with the type you should apply for, what you must prepare and the estimated total cost.
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E-mail: surapa@greenproksp.com