Foreign quota (49%) — what it means
The foreign quota is the Condominium Act limit: foreigners may own at most 49% of a condominium’s total unit area freehold. Once the quota is full, foreigners can buy leasehold — or choose another building or project.
Where the 49% figure comes from
The Condominium Act caps the combined foreign freehold share at 49% of the total area of all units in the building. The quota is counted separately for each registered condominium: it can be exhausted in one building and open in the one next door. The juristic person keeps the count, and compliance is checked at the registration of every transfer.
What to do if the quota is full
The options: take the unit leasehold with a right to convert to freehold if quota frees up; choose a unit in another building or project where quota is available; or watch for quota to open — it changes when a foreign owner sells a unit to a Thai buyer. The remaining quota is a fact verified in writing, not taken from a sales manager’s word.
How this works with us
Before any deposit we request written confirmation of the remaining foreign quota for the specific building from the developer or the juristic person. If the client is considering leasehold with conversion, we check that the conversion right is fixed in the contract rather than left as a verbal promise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the foreign quota?
The Condominium Act limit: foreigners may hold freehold title to at most 49% of a condominium’s total unit area. The rest is Thai quota or leasehold.
How do I find the remaining quota in a specific building?
The official count sits with the condominium’s juristic person; for a new build, request the figures from the developer in writing. Check before the deposit — the quota shifts as sales progress.
Can a unit be converted from leasehold to freehold?
Yes, if foreign quota has freed up and the contract provides a conversion right. The re-registration takes place at the Land Department, with the applicable fees.
How foreigners buy property in Phuket →
Freehold condos for foreigners: 115 projects →
Primary source: Krisdika — Thai law compendium
See it on a real property
Terms matter when there is an actual deal behind them. We will show how this one works on a project from the catalogue — documents and numbers included.
Freehold condos for foreigners: 115 projects