Buying Land in a Thai Minor Child's Name
Rules for Foreign Parents

Foreigners are prohibited from owning land in Thailand except under narrow statutory exceptions. This often raises a different question for foreign parents of Thai children: can land be purchased or transferred into the name of their Thai minor child?

The answer is yes. A child who has Thai nationality may own land in Thailand even though one or both parents are foreigners and even though the child has not yet reached legal age.

Thailand 99-Year Leasehold Proposal: Sap Ing Sith

Thailand’s proposed 99-year leasehold has attracted considerable attention among foreign property buyers, developers and real estate agents. It is often presented as if foreigners may soon lease Thai land for 99 years. The actual proposal was more complex: it concerned an amendment to the Sap Ing Sith Act, not an extension of an ordinary property lease under the Civil and Commercial Code.

Thailand’s Proposed Hotel and Overnight Accommodation Act

Updated September 2026 — includes parliamentary developments through August 2026.

Thailand is considering a new legal framework for smaller and alternative accommodation businesses. The proposed Hotel and Overnight Accommodation Act could create a separate licensing route for guesthouses, homestays, hostels, villas, outdoor accommodation and certain other properties offering paid short-term stays. It may also affect some accommodation advertised through Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda and similar platforms, but the proposal is not yet law.

Usufruct Created by Will in Thailand

Creating a lifetime right of use by Last Will and Testament

A usufruct over land or other immovable property in Thailand is most commonly created during the lifetime of the owner and registered at the local Land Office. However, Thai law also allows a usufruct to arise under a Last Will and Testament.