Foreign Quota: the 49 percent rule
The honest answer with numbers, for international buyers
The Foreign Quota is the share of a condominium building that foreigners may own as full freehold: a maximum of 49 percent of the total residential floor area, anchored in the Condominium Act of 1979. The remaining 51 percent stays in Thai ownership or leasehold. The quota counts per building and per square metre, and in sought-after projects it can sell out.
How the quota works
Every building tracks how many of its residential square metres are foreign-owned. As long as the 49 percent ceiling is free, a foreigner registers full freehold on the title deed. When it is full, options are Thai-quota purchase via leasehold or waiting for quota to free up; our guide to sold-out quota options covers this.
Quota and price
In several projects Foreign-Quota units carry a premium over identical Thai-quota units, from 0 up to about 12 percent in our price-list comparisons. That premium buys the strongest ownership form Thailand offers foreigners.
Why this rule is good news
It gives foreigners something rare in Asia: true, inheritable freehold in your own name, registered at the Land Office, with a clear legal ceiling that protects the balance of the building.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Foreign Quota sell out?
Yes, in popular buildings it does. Then leasehold on Thai-quota units or another project are the routes; we check quota availability before every reservation.
Does Foreign Quota cost more?
Often slightly: our price-list pairs show premiums from 0 to about 12 percent depending on the project, for the benefit of full freehold registration.
Is leasehold bad?
It is a different product: a registered 30-year right of use, extendable by contract but not a freehold title. For some buyers and budgets it is a sensible fit.
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