On September 15, 2026, Thailand’s Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) issued two notifications—one for life insurance and one for non-life insurance—amending the 2020 regulatory framework governing policy issuance and offering, agent and broker conduct, premium collection, and advertising. The amendments take effect on January 1, 2027. Electronic Policy Delivery and OIC Reporting Insurers must now deliver policies electronically by default, with printed copies required only where the policyholder opts out of electronic delivery. For life insurance, this requirement extends to coverage summaries and exclusion documents. Insurers must also electronically submit issued policies to the OIC immediately upon issuance. This is a significant new data-reporting obligation that requires system integration with the OIC’s platform. Risk Management, Sales Conduct, and License Misuse The notifications introduce several amendments and additional requirements in the areas of risk management, sales conduct, and license misuse: Internal risk management must now expressly cover advertising, policy offering, and sales agent information, including market conduct risk and reputational risk. Sales conducted through employees, agents, or brokers are subject to enhanced requirements, including verification of the seller’s identity and authority, disclosure of the purpose of contacting the customer, provision of complete and accurate policy information, customer assistance with application forms, and notification of the expected timing for policy delivery or insurer follow-up. For life insurance, customers must also be informed of their right to cancel the policy. For life insurance specifically, employees, agents, and brokers must submit insurance applications to the insurer at the earliest opportunity, and no later than the next business day. Using another person’s name or license, or allowing another person to use one’s own name or license, for the purpose of offering insurance for sale, listing in sales-related documents, or recording in the insurance policy is now expressly prohibited for both life and non-life insurance.

Insurance specialists from Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok have contributed the updated Thailand chapter to the newly released 2026 edition of Thomson Reuters’ Practical Law guide to insurance and reinsurance. The Thailand chapter offers a comprehensive Q&A-style overview of the legal and regulatory framework governing insurance and reinsurance in the country. It provides key insights for businesses, insurers, reinsurers, and intermediaries operating in or entering the Thai market. Key topics covered include: Market structure and common types of insurance Regulatory framework and oversight by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) Authorisation requirements for insurers, reinsurers, and intermediaries Ownership restrictions and foreign investment rules Corporate governance, capital requirements, and solvency obligations Reinsurance arrangements, including fronting, risk transfer, and common contractual clauses Policy content requirements, standard clauses, and consumer protections Claims procedures, statutory time limits, and subrogation rights Dispute resolution mechanisms, including OIC arbitration and court proceedings Insolvency protections for policyholders Tax treatment of insurance and reinsurance businesses in Thailand Recent legal developments, including updated OIC regulations and insurance licensing guidelines The 2026 edition reflects Thailand’s evolving regulatory environment, including ongoing legislative reforms to strengthen corporate governance, risk-based capital requirements, and digital media compliance in the insurance sector. It also highlights practical considerations for foreign insurers, reinsurers, and intermediaries seeking to participate in Thailand’s insurance market. Tilleke & Gibbins contributes regularly to the Practical Law series of guides for various jurisdictions in Southeast Asia, providing trusted legal insight for multinational companies. Access the full Thailand chapter below. Reproduced from Practical Law with the permission of the publishers. For further information, visit practicallaw.com.

As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has released the latest edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand, providing an overview of the legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations for companies establishing or expanding operations in Thailand. The 2026 edition offers practical insight into the country’s business environment, investment framework, and operational requirements. The guide covers a wide range of topics relevant to foreign and domestic investors, including: Investment incentives and promotion schemes Financial facilities and banking regulations Exchange controls and money transfers Import and export regulations Business structures and incorporation options Requirements for establishing a business Operational and compliance considerations Business cessation and insolvency procedures Employment and labor laws Taxation Immigration and visa requirements Prepared by Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers across multiple practice areas, the publication outlines key aspects of doing business in Thailand, including foreign investment restrictions, regulatory compliance obligations, corporate structures, employment requirements, and recent legal and economic developments affecting investors. The publication forms part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series, a global collection of jurisdiction-specific reference materials prepared by member firms around the world. Together, these guides help companies evaluate opportunities, compare regulatory environments, and plan international business activities across multiple markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand 2026 is available through the button below.

Thailand’s Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) has issued guidelines clarifying the boundaries between permissible and prohibited activities for unlicensed individuals—including influencers, bloggers, and content creators—when communicating about insurance products on social media. The Good Practice Guidelines for Persons Not Licensed as Insurance Agents or Brokers Regarding the Dissemination of Insurance Content Through Digital Media B.E. 2569 (2026) took effect on July 24, 2026. Activities Requiring a License The guidelines reserve the following activities for licensed agents and brokers: Soliciting or facilitating insurance contracts. Providing personalized advice on product suitability. Recommending policy cancellation to purchase promoted products. Creating links that facilitate contract formation. Receiving performance-based compensation tied to policies or premiums generated. Importantly, boilerplate disclaimers such as “this is not a recommendation to buy insurance” will not shield individuals from liability if the OIC views the content as personalized advice or solicitation. Permitted Activities Unlicensed persons may present general educational content about insurance—such as explaining terminology, sharing industry statistics, reporting news, or sharing personal experiences—provided the content does not target specific individuals to purchase from specific companies. The guidelines also set out best practices for communication, including presenting information in a fair and balanced manner that covers both benefits and limitations, encouraging consumers to read policy terms and consult licensed professionals, verifying information from credible sources before dissemination, and exercising special care when the audience may include vulnerable groups such as persons aged 60 and older. Prohibited Practices Prohibited practices include fear-based marketing, creating artificial urgency, omitting material limitations, making exaggerated claims, falsely claiming professional credentials, using fake engagement mechanisms, and sharing false or misleading content. The guidelines also reinforce the prohibitions under section 83 of the Life Insurance Act B.E. 2535 and section 78 of the Non-Life Insurance Act B.E. 2535 against soliciting insurance contracts with foreign operators