A foreigner who wishes to open a publishing company in Thailand must comply with specific conditions imposed under the Publishing Act B.E. 2550.
In order to sell a magazine or any printed material in Thailand, one must obtain a Publishing License.
First, one must check if the name of the magazine/printed material is available and reserve it. One cannot register under a name that is already used by someone else.
The business must be registered in Thailand, with at least ¾ Thai directors on the board and no less than 70% Thai shareholding.
The Chief Editor or owner must be not less than 20 years of age, residing in Thailand, not be an incompetent or quasi-incompetent person, and should never have been imprisoned, unless the impunity is lapsed not less than three years or the offence is related to an act of negligence or a petty offence.
The printer, publisher, chief editor, and/or owner of the newspaper must provide a medical check-up certificate and be inspected for a criminal record with the Royal Thai Police.
Once the name is confirmed, an application can be made at the Ministry of Culture. A set of documents, such as the period of issuance, language, sample, and company documents will need to be provided. In principle, this step is approved within 4-6 weeks.
After the operator obtains the Publishing License, they must apply for an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN). There is no government fee and the number is in principle obtained within one working day.