Foreigners can use freehold condominium ownership (within the 49% quota), a long registered leasehold, a usufruct or superficies right, or — with legal advice — a genuine Thai company; freehold condominium is the cleanest and most common.
Because foreigners can't own land outright in Thailand, the real question isn't whether you can buy — it's which lawful structure fits your goals. There are four main routes, and they suit different situations.
Freehold condominium is the cleanest and by far the most common for investors. You own the unit outright in your own name, indefinitely, provided it sits within the building's 49% foreign-ownership quota and the money comes from abroad with the paperwork to prove it. No land is involved, so none of the land-ownership complications apply — which is why it's the route most overseas buyers take.
For a house or villa, the usual routes are a long registered leasehold (commonly 30 years, registered at the Land Office), or a usufruct or superficies right that gives you the legal right to use or build on the land while a Thai party holds the title. A Thai company can own land, but using one purely as a nominee for a foreigner is illegal — genuine company ownership needs real substance and proper legal advice.
For most overseas buyers, freehold condominium ownership is the safest and simplest: your name is on the title, there's no land question, and resale is straightforward within the quota. Leaseholds and usufructs are legitimate for houses but need careful drafting — and after the 2025 Supreme Court ruling on unenforceable renewal promises, the lease term matters more than ever. Nominee-company structures are the route to avoid. We only introduce lawfully-structured developments, and we always recommend an independent Thai lawyer reviews your contract.
Yes — this is common for villas. A foreigner may hold a registered lease or usufruct over the land while separately owning the building itself, which is a recognised split under Thai law. It's more involved than a condominium and the drafting is everything, so independent legal advice is essential. On a call we explain which structure a specific property uses before you commit anything.
Thinking about buying in Phuket?
See if you qualify →By a wide margin it's freehold condominium ownership — the buyer owns the unit outright in their own name within the building's 49% foreign quota, with no land involved. It's clean, well-established and straightforward to resell within the quota.
Yes. Ownership structures — leasehold, usufruct, superficies, company — carry real legal and tax consequences, and the drafting matters enormously. We act as an introducer, not a legal adviser, so we always recommend an independent Thai lawyer reviews the structure and contract before you commit.