DBD
Thailand's Department of Business Development, the government company registry authority responsible for registering and recording Thai limited companies and partnerships.
The Department of Business Development (DBD), operating under the Ministry of Commerce, is Thailand's central business registry. All Thai limited companies (borisat chamgad), partnerships, and foreign business registrations must register with the DBD. The DBD maintains the official record of company incorporation, share structure, directors, and annual financial statements. Online DBD records are publicly searchable through the DBD's Biz Portal, allowing any member of the public to look up a company's registered shareholders, directors, registered capital, and annual filing status. This transparency is relevant for buyers purchasing from a developer or seller that is itself a Thai company, a DBD search is a quick first check on whether the selling entity is properly constituted and compliant.
What it means for buyersWhy this matters when you buy in Phuket.
Buyers purchasing from a Thai company (which covers most developer sales and many resale transactions) should run a DBD search on the selling entity as part of standard due diligence. This confirms the company exists, is in good standing, and has the same directors and shareholders as represented in the purchase documentation. Discrepancies between DBD records and the contract documents are a red flag requiring explanation.
Mario runs a DBD check on the corporate seller for every transaction involving a Thai company as the vendor. He includes the DBD search results in the project documentation pack and flags any gaps, expired filings, mismatched directors, or unexplained shareholding changes, before a buyer commits to a purchase.