Thai Charter License now available for boats over 24 metres

The Thai Yachting Business Association (TYBA) is pleased to share an important update to the Thai Charter License made by the Ministry of Transport.

The TYBA was instrumental in the inception of the Thai Charter License for yachts of a minimum length of 30 meters in 2015. Since then, TYBA has lobbied to reduces the minimum required length of yacht eligible to apply for the license, from 30 to 24 meters

The Ministry of Transport, with its recent announcement concerning Superyacht Commercial Operation in Thai Water.(B.E.2568/2025) finally granted permission for yachts of 24 meter and larger carrying no more than 12 passengers, to apply for the Thai Charter License to conduct commercial charter in Thailand.

The TYBA believes this reduction may easily double the number of foreign-flagged yachts coming to Thailand to engage in superyacht charter, attracting high-value tourists, benefitting local marinas, and yacht industry companies such as yacht provisioning, repair and maintenance, and yacht services, and supporting the Thai economy by paying Thai VAT and taxes.

Next on TYBA’s agenda to improve Thailand’s attraction to foreign-flagged yachts, is to aim to tie foreign-flagged yacht crew visas -now limited to 30 days- to the yacht’s permission to stay, currently up to 30 months (2.5 years) under a temporary import permit.

See also https://www.thaiyachtingbusinessassociation.com/thailand-superyacht-charter-license-english