There are two issues in this query: can a tourist buy a car and can a tourist buy real estate.

A tourist, having only a tourist visa, cannot buy a car. To buy a car, a non-Thai must hold a non-immigrant visa, which must be presented to the car registration office together with either a letter issued by the relevant embassy confirming their address in Thailand or an employment confirmation letter issued by their employer in Thailand.

A non-Thai holding a residence permit must present a house registration certificate.

If the purchase of the vehicle is to be financed, for example under a hire purchase contract, the financial institution will usually require a guarantor who may be a Thai citizen, a Thai company or a non-Thai holding a residence permit. Some financial institutions do not require a guarantor if the down-payment is higher than 30 per cent of the purchase price and the purchaser has a good financial status.

Non-Thai citizens are not permitted to own land except in limited circumstances when permission has been granted by the Interior Ministry. To be eligible for such special permission, the non-Thai must bring no less than Bt40 million into Thailand and invest this amount in qualifying investments (government bonds, property mutual funds, etc) for at least five years.

However, a non-Thai may purchase a condominium unit provided that overall non-Thai ownership of the particular building remains less than 50 per cent and that the funds used to buy the unit are brought into Thailand in foreign currency.

Obtaining a mortgage for a condo is usually only possible for holders of residence permits or persons allowed to enter the Kingdom under the laws of investment promotion.

Siripong Supakijjanusorn is a partner and Kamol Watcharamanee a senior manager of legal services at PricewaterhouseCoopers Thailand. They can be contacted by email at siripong.supakijjanusorn@th.pwc.com and kamol.watcharamanee@th.pwc.com.