In today’s dynamic business world, the success of corporate governance largely depends on fulfilling a multitude of secretarial works, legal necessities, and constitutional compliances. No matter it is a small business set up or a large business corporation, corporate secretarial services are essential for the success and existence of a business.

Corporate secretarial services are simply services undertaken in order to comply with the regulatory requirements put forward by a company’s registered jurisdictions. These services are usually carried out by reputable law firms.

In the Kingdom of Thailand, corporate secretarial services are primarily offered in connection with the formation and registration of new company, Thai limited partnership, and procedures for filing in order to qualify for protection under the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand.

However, in most cases, these services are categorized into: basic services, services in connection with attending of meetings on behalf of clients, and complex projects. Basic secretarial services consist of maintenance of statutory books, filing of returns, and provision of company secretary. Among the complex corporate secretarial projects are procedures in connections with the purchase of shares, restructuring of company, modeling of financial statements, implementation of management systems and control, and registering and reregistering of companies.

Depending upon the unique requirements of corporate clients, services offered in connection with corporate secretarial vary from firms to firms. As mentioned earlier, corporate services consists of establishment of business structure in Thailand, providing advice on foreign investment rules, providing advice on exchange control, maintenance of statutory records and company filings, processing and monitoring trade documentation, and providing advice on international trade as well as trade finance. In some instances, corporate secretarial services in the Kingdom of Thailand include:

- Providing facilities in order to keep and maintain company books and company seals

- Arrangement for the provision of nominee directors

- Proper maintenance and revision of company statutory registers and minute books

- Organizing as well as attending of meetings of directors

- Preparation of resolutions for the purpose of meetings of directors and shareholders

- Preparation of minutes for annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings

Some legal firms provide such services as:

- Local advertising

- Establishing as well as maintaining directors’, shareholders’, and officers’ registers

- Arrangement for banking relationships and maintenance of bank accounts

- Filing statutory records with the government authorities of the Kingdom of Thailand

- Liaising with auditors, brokers, legal advisors, accountants, custodians, and shareholders

- Filing of annual returns

- Ensuring efficiency of corporate firms through maintenance of separate fax, telephone, and other electronic services for the company

Different types of corporate secretarial services also cover providing guidance as well as practical support to directors, communicating with shareholders in order to ensure that due regard is paid to their interest, providing assistance and advice for establishing corporate actions such as bonus issues and script issues, and ensuring that all of the company’s activities including holding of shareholders’ meetings, issuance of notice, maintenance of statutory records, dividend payments and corporate governance, are carried out in accordance with the requirements of Companies Act and Regulatory authorities. Above all, corporate secretarial services also consist of preparation of share certificates and registers and company searches.

Corporate secretarial services rendered by reputable law firms provide a host of benefits to corporate clients. One of the key benefits is that it allows you to focus on your core business activities. Another advantage is that these services undertaken by good service providers ensure that all the activities with regard to company is carried out and maintained in good standing.

Thailand has a plethora of law firms to render the best in corporate secretarial services. But, it is important that you should make a thorough investigation with regard to the professionalism as well as the way they render the corporate secretarial services, prior to approaching a law firm in Thailand. It must also be checked whether the attorneys are licensed by the Law Society of Thailand.

Many of the reputable law firms assist and guide their clients through the business and legal environment. Some of them even address prospective issues that a new investor may encounter. There are also some reputable law firms in Thailand that render a range of management functions to its corporate clients, such as, accounting, banking, and invoicing services, apart from corporate secretarial services.

As per the Visa Exemption Rule, the Kingdom of Thailand allows foreigners from various nations to enter as well as stay here for a limited period of time. In other words, foreigners from countries that are covered in the exemption rule are allowed to stay in Thailand for a period of up to 30 days, for which there is no need for a visa application. Al though not a single visa can exceed a period of 30 days, the exemption rule permits foreign nationals to stay in the country for a period of maximum 90 days within a period of six months.

However, this rule is applicable only to foreigners coming here for tourism purposes. No matter you are a foreigner from a country not included in the exemption law or from one included in the exemption law, it is essential to apply for a visa if you want to stay in the country for a period exceeding 30 days.

Depending upon the changing requirements and purposes of people, there are different types of visas. A visa is simply a permit or consent issued by the Royal Thai Embassies or Royal Thai Consulate General to a foreigner who wishes to stay here for a particular period of time. The visa duration varies based on a number of factors, which may be up to three months, six months, or sometimes up to one year.

However, a visa is never issued for a period less than three months. Most popular among the visa issued by the Thai embassy is tourist visa, which is alternatively known as travel visa or visit visa. A tourist visa is usually granted for a period of up to 30 days or up to 60 days. Thailand issues a 60-day visa to nationals of almost 40 countries, and for nationals of about 19 countries, visa with a scheme, namely, visa on arrival, is issued. Even though the travel visa for Thailand is quite complex, its requirements are same for everyone. Among the requirements for applying for tourist visa is a valid passport from the home country, two passport size photos, and completed as well as signed application forms.

Business work visa is another popular type of visa issued in Thailand. It falls under the category of non immigrant visa group, and is also known as non-immigrant visa work or Business ‘B’ Visa. A business work visa is regarded as a first step to apply for a work permit in Thailand. When business work visa is issued for the first time, it is given for a period up to three months. But, you may get either double entry or sometimes even one year multiple entry visa when you apply it for second time.

However, you are required to leave the country every three months. But there is an exception and you may get a valid one year business visa, if you acquire work permit through an approved program of Board of Investment (BOI.) Likewise, in this case, you needn’t have to leave Thailand every three months. But, you have to comply with a lot of paper works provided you leave the country for holiday purposes. Nevertheless, this is not applicable for normal entry visa. Some of the requirements for obtaining a work visa are sponsorship of Thai company, VAT certificate, withholding tax, and letter of employment.

Different types of visas in Thailand also include Ed Visa (Education Visa), which is usually issued to students who are interested in studying in the country. An Ed Visa must be applied at least a month prior to the trip to Thailand. Of the requirements in order to get this visa are a valid passport and a letter from the admission department of college or university you are going to study. Transit visa, diplomatic visa, and courtesy visa are the other popular types of visas issued by the embassies.

Nowadays, a plethora of law firms, immigration agencies, and other service providers are in the scenario to render to a host of services in dealing with visa laws as well as requirements. With an expert team consisting of professional migration consultants, these service providers undertake a myriad of activities in connection with obtaining work permits as well as visas and visas for a number of destinations located worldwide.

Some of them even provide the services of expert immigration attorneys for scrutinizing the authenticity of documents. There are also certain service providers who assist you in securing an Australia visa, the US visa, and the UK visa, apart from visas for other countries such as New Zealand and South Africa.