Thailand and the Netherlands at a glance
- Stamp
- Legalisation; apostille from 28 February 2027
- First stop
- The Apostille Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027
- Language
- Thai, sworn translation
- Register
- Department of Business Development (DBD)
- Tax treaty
- Signed 1975, in force 1976; new treaty signed 2025 (Rijksoverheid, 1 October 2026)
- EU trade
- Free trade talks resumed in 2023
- In the Netherlands
- 25 companies controlled from Thailand in 2024, 20 in 2021 (+25%), €922 million turnover (CBS, 9 October 2026)
- Moving here
- Residence permit needed
Documents from Thailand
Passport copy, certified by a notary in Thailand.
Proof of address in Thailand, at most three months old.
Power of attorney. Sign the power of attorney before a Thai notarial services attorney, or have your signature certified by a Dutch consular officer at the embassy.
Ownership statement, one page from us.
Legalisation. The Apostille Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027. Until then, documents need legalisation: first the Department of Consular Affairs of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (appointment online), then the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangkok. From 28 February 2027, Thailand issues apostilles.
Good to know. You need two legalisation steps and a translation, so allow three to four weeks. A sworn translation made in the Netherlands from the legalised Thai original is accepted. Thai companies often have nominee shareholders. The Dutch notary will ask about the real owner.
If a company from Thailand becomes a shareholder
Register extract, at most three months old: Department of Business Development (DBD). Order a company affidavit (certificate of registration) showing directors, capital and objectives. Plus articles, signing authority and ownership chart.
Trade between Thailand and the EU
The European Union (EU) was Thailand's fourth-largest trading partner in 2025, with 7.2% of the country's trade in goods. Trade in goods reached €44.3 billion in 2025, of which EU imports from Thailand made up €29.9 billion.
EU imports from Thailand consist mainly of machinery and appliances. EU exports consist mainly of machinery and appliances, chemicals, base metals and transport equipment. In 2024, trade in services reached €13.9 billion, and EU foreign direct investment stocks in Thailand reached €24.1 billion.
Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement started in March 2013 and were put on hold in 2014. In March 2023, the EU and Thailand announced their relaunch. A Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed in December 2022.
Import duties: Access2Markets.
Sources: European Commission [1].
Your next step from Thailand
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