How to buy a condo in Thailand remotely: step by step

Steps

1. Shortlist

   We discuss your goal, budget and area and send a shortlist with prices, layouts and payment plans.

2. Video viewing

   A manager shows the unit or show room on a video call. You decide where the camera goes: the view, the pool, the entrance, the street.

3. Reservation

   The unit is held with a reservation to the developer. It locks the price and the unit while the contract is prepared.

4. Contract

   The sale and purchase agreement arrives by email. Before signing we go through the payment schedule, completion dates and penalties together. An independent lawyer can review it on request.

5. Payment

   Payments go by bank transfer from abroad to the developer's or seller's account named in the contract.

6. Handover

   When the building is completed we accept the unit against a handover report, check the finish and appliances and send you photos and video.

7. Registration

   Ownership is registered at the Land Office. You can come in person or sign a power of attorney.

Payment

Send the money from your own account abroad to the developer's or seller's account in Thailand. The transfer documents are needed at ownership registration: for a new build after completion, for a resale unit on the day of transfer. All the details are in How to transfer money to buy a condo.

Power of attorney for the Land Office

If you do not attend the registration, an authorised person goes to the Land Office for you. The Land Department has its own power of attorney form for a condominium unit, อ.ช.21. It is filled in and signed in advance.

A power of attorney signed abroad has to be certified and legalised to be accepted in Thailand. The procedure depends on the country. Example from the Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow:

1. Translation

   The document is translated into English.

2. Notary

   A Russian notary certifies the signature.

3. Ministries

   The document is certified by the Ministry of Justice, then by the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

4. Thai embassy

   The embassy legalises the document: according to the embassy this takes 3 working days, the fee is $15 in cash, and documents are accepted Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:00.

Handover without a trip

When the building is completed we attend the handover for you, check the unit against a list and record any defects in the report. The developer fixes them, we check again and send you a video.

How we help

We run the whole purchase remotely: shortlist, video viewings, contract review, handover and registration. We help you transfer money from any country: we suggest a convenient route for your bank and situation and follow every payment through to registration.

The whole process in brief is on the Buying remotely page.

FAQ

Can I buy a condo in Thailand without visiting?

Yes. The shortlist, video viewing, reservation, contract and payments are done remotely. For Land Office registration you can come once or sign a power of attorney.

How do I make a power of attorney for Thailand abroad?

The Land Department condominium form (อ.ช.21) is signed before a notary in your country and then legalised. In Russia that means the Ministry of Justice, the Consular Department of the Foreign Ministry and the Thai embassy.

Is an apostille accepted?

Not yet. The Hague Convention enters into force for Thailand on 28 February 2027; until then consular legalisation is required.

When are the money transfer documents needed?

At ownership registration at the Land Office: for a new build after completion, for a resale unit on the day of transfer.

Sources

1. Royal Thai Embassy Moscow: legalisation of documents
2. Royal Thai Embassy Washington: Land Office power of attorney forms
3. Royal Thai Embassy London: legalisation of documents
4. MFA Thailand: accession to the Apostille Convention

This article is for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Laws, fees and project terms change: before a deal we check the current conditions for the specific property.