Relocating employers and executives in Chonburi's Eastern Economic Corridor need a lawyer for reasons a beach-town rental market never sees — BOI and EEC investment promotion, factory and logistics company setup, and work permits tied to a specific manufacturing role. This guide covers what lawyers help with around Sriracha, Laem Chabang and Amata Nakorn, typical fees in Thai baht, how to tell a lawyer from a visa agent, and how to vet a firm before you commit.
Thai law is conducted in Thai, follows its own procedures, and treats foreign investment, employment and land ownership very differently from most Western systems — which matters in Chonburi more than almost anywhere else in Thailand, since the province is the anchor of the Eastern Economic Corridor and most legal work here traces back to a factory, port operation or industrial-estate lease rather than a beach-town property deal. A smaller number of firms sit permanently in Sriracha and Chonburi City; many residents and employers instead use a Bangkok firm with genuine BOI/EEC and employment-law experience, often working by phone, email and scheduled meetings. Below is what to hire a lawyer for, roughly what it costs in baht, and how to choose a firm you can trust. Fees are typical ranges only; always confirm a written quote and scope with the specific firm.
Chonburi is the anchor province of the Eastern Economic Corridor, and most of the legal work here traces back to a factory or logistics operation in Amata Nakorn, Laem Chabang or one of the smaller estates. A lawyer prepares and files the Board of Investment promotion application (tax holidays, import-duty relief, and — for BOI-promoted companies — the right to own land for the operation itself), incorporates the Thai entity, secures the Foreign Business Act licence where needed, and structures joint ventures with local partners so the paperwork matches how the business actually operates.
Every foreign engineer, manager or technical specialist posted to Sriracha, Laem Chabang or Amata Nakorn needs a Non-Immigrant B visa and a work permit tied to that specific role, filed through the Department of Employment's WP3 online system and subject to the standard four-Thai-staff-per-foreign-permit ratio (BOI-promoted companies get relief from this ratio). A lawyer handles the harder cases HR can't push through alone — quota shortfalls, a role that doesn't map cleanly onto the permit categories, LTR visa applications for qualifying executives and specialists, or an extension after a lapse.
Foreigners cannot own Thai land outright, so relocating staff in Sriracha and Bang Saen rent condos and serviced apartments on standard leases, while any larger corporate land holding near the industrial estates needs its own structure — usually a BOI-promoted company (which can hold land for its promoted activity) or a registered lease. A lawyer reviews corporate housing leases before a company signs on behalf of dozens of relocating employees, and runs title and zoning due diligence on any land deal tied to a factory or warehouse expansion.
Chonburi's own immigration office serves Sriracha and the wider industrial belt, handling 90-day reporting and extensions locally rather than requiring a trip to Bangkok — a genuine convenience for a corporate population that includes LTR, Non-B, DTV, retirement and marriage visa holders. Lawyers step in for the cases a visa agent won't touch: work-permit-linked extensions that stall, overstay or blacklist issues, or an LTR or Non-B application that's already been refused.
Marrying a Thai partner starts with an affirmation of freedom to marry from your embassy in Bangkok, then certified translation and legalisation before registration at the district (amphur) office covering your part of Chonburi. A lawyer can also draft an enforceable prenuptial agreement, which must be registered together with the marriage. Anyone holding a condo lease, company shares, a car or a Thai bank account should have a bilingual Thai will too — without one, an estate is settled under Thai intestacy law, which can leave a foreign spouse or partner without clear rights to shared assets.
Indicative ranges gathered from common corporate, employment and personal matters in and around the EEC. Government charges, certified translation and legalisation are usually extra unless a firm quotes an all-in fixed fee in writing.
| Service | Typical fee (THB) | Notes |
| Initial consultation | Free - 3,000 | Many firms serving Chonburi's corporate clients offer a free intro call or meeting |
| Senior lawyer hourly rate | 3,500 - 10,000 / hr | Bangkok and Sriracha-based firms handling BOI/EEC and manufacturing work sit mid-to-upper range |
| BOI/EEC investment promotion application | 60,000 - 150,000 | Scales with the size and complexity of the factory or logistics investment |
| Thai company setup (manufacturing/logistics) | 35,000 - 70,000 | Plus government fees and registered capital |
| Foreign Business Act licence | 25,000 - 50,000 | Where the activity isn't already covered by BOI promotion |
| Work permit application | 15,000 - 30,000 | Often bundled with company or BOI setup for a first hire |
| Non-B, LTR, retirement, marriage or DTV visa assistance | 12,000 - 30,000 | Excludes government fees and certified translation |
| Corporate condo or apartment lease review | 6,000 - 18,000 | Per lease, or discounted for a multi-unit corporate housing block |
| Land-lease or title due diligence (industrial sites) | 30,000 - 70,000 | For land tied to a factory, warehouse or logistics expansion |
| Marriage registration support | 10,000 - 25,000 | Affirmation, translation, legalisation, amphur filing |
| Prenuptial agreement | 15,000 - 38,000 | Must be registered with the marriage to be valid |
| Thai will drafting | 10,000 - 28,000 | Bilingual will covering Thai-situated assets |
| Litigation / court representation | 60,000+ | Highly dependent on the case; commercial and employment disputes run higher |
A practising lawyer in Thailand is licensed by the Lawyers Council of Thailand. For Chonburi's corporate and manufacturing work, favour a firm with genuine BOI/EEC and employment-law experience over a general practice — Bangkok firms that regularly serve Amata Nakorn, Laem Chabang and Sriracha clients are common, alongside a smaller number based in Chonburi itself. Confirm bar registration and ask for recent examples of similar factory or logistics engagements.
If you're relocating for a job, your employer's in-house or retained counsel represents the company, not you personally — for a work permit that's usually fine, but for anything involving a personal lease, property purchase, marriage contract or will, engage your own lawyer. The same applies if you're buying into or partnering on a Thailand-based business: don't rely solely on a lawyer recommended by the other side of the deal.
For a routine work-permit renewal or 90-day report filed at the Chonburi immigration office, a visa agent or your employer's HR team usually handles it fine and more cheaply. Reach for a lawyer when BOI/EEC promotion, a refused application, an employment dispute, overstay, blacklist issue, or any real legal exposure is involved.
BOI/EEC applications and company setups can run over several weeks with government-fee and translation costs on top of the legal fee — get a written quote covering the full scope before you commit, and ask specifically whether the fee is fixed or hourly. Staged payments tied to milestones (application filed, promotion certificate issued, company registered) protect you far better than a single up-front sum.
Read independent reviews, confirm the firm is Thai-registered, and be wary of anyone promising a guaranteed BOI approval timeline or pressuring a fast wire transfer. Thailand has no Western-style notary public — ask specifically for a Notarial Services Attorney if you need documents certified for use abroad. Keep every instruction and quote in writing and hold onto official receipts.
Not always — a routine work permit tied to an established company and a straightforward role is often handled by your employer's HR team or a visa agent. Bring in a lawyer when the company is newly BOI-promoted, the four-Thai-staff quota is a problem, the role doesn't fit the standard categories, or you're applying for the LTR visa as a qualifying executive or specialist.
Generally no — foreigners and most foreign-majority companies cannot own Thai land outright. The main exception is a company holding Board of Investment promotion, which can be granted the right to own land for its promoted activity. Everyone else operates on registered leases. A lawyer confirms which route applies to your specific investment before you commit capital.
A smaller number operate permanently in Sriracha and Chonburi City serving the local corporate and industrial-estate community, alongside Bangkok firms — about 60-90 minutes away — that regularly handle BOI/EEC, manufacturing and employment work for clients across the province. Many matters, especially BOI applications, run by phone, email and scheduled meetings rather than requiring an office visit for every step.
It depends heavily on the work. Initial consultations are often free or up to about 3,000 THB, senior lawyers charge roughly 3,500-10,000 THB per hour, and fixed-fee jobs range from about 6,000-18,000 THB for a corporate lease review to 60,000-150,000 THB for a full BOI/EEC investment promotion application. Always get a written quote covering government fees and translation.
A visa agent files routine paperwork — 90-day reports, standard extensions, straightforward work permits — at the Chonburi immigration office, usually more cheaply than a lawyer. A lawyer is licensed to give legal advice and represent you in disputes, and is the right call for BOI/EEC applications, employment contracts, refused applications, overstay or blacklist issues, and anything carrying real legal risk.
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
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Hero photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels. General information only, not legal advice; fees, procedures and visa/BOI rules change — confirm current details with a licensed Thai lawyer and official sources.