What Foreigners Can Own Instead of Land. Lease, Superficies, Usufruct

Foreigners do not buy a landed house in Thailand in the normal freehold way because Thai law restricts land ownership by non-Thai nationals. A landed house sits on land. Land ownership is the main legal right. Thai policy keeps land ownership mainly in Thai hands, linked to sovereignty, long-term control of territory, and protection against speculative land holding by outsiders.

A condo works differently. Condominium law allows foreign freehold ownership of a condo unit, within the foreign ownership quota of a project. Land under the condo building stays under the condominium juristic structure, not owned by each unit owner as separate land plots.

Common legal paths people use instead of foreign land freehold

Long-term lease

A registered lease gives possession rights for up to 30 years per registration. Lease terms, renewal promises, and exit rights need careful drafting.

Superficies

A registered superficies gives a right to own a building on land owned by another person. Useful when you want building ownership separate from land.

Usufruct

A registered usufruct gives a right to use and benefit from land and a house during the agreed period, often linked to the lifetime of the usufructuary.

Thai spouse route

Land purchase under a Thai spouse name requires strict proof of Thai funds and formal declarations at the Land Office. Foreign funding creates serious risk.

Thai company route

A Thai company buying land needs genuine Thai majority ownership and real Thai control. Nominee structures create criminal and civil risk.

Special permission routesSome cases involve BOI promotion or industrial estate rules, with strict conditions.

If you tell me your situation, location, budget range, marital status, and whether the goal is living or investment, I will map the lowest-risk structure and the documents needed.