How soon must I file an administrative appeal in Thailand?

The standard deadline is 90 days from the date you receive notification of the administrative decision or become aware of the administrative act. Some agency‑specific statutes prescribe shorter periods of 15 to 30 days. Always check the enabling legislation of the specific government body involved and seek legal advice promptly to confirm your exact deadline.

Which court handles administrative decisions made by government agencies?

The Administrative Court of Thailand has exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising from administrative acts, omissions, and government‑contract matters. It is separate from the Courts of Justice (civil and criminal) and the Constitutional Court. The Central Administrative Court in Bangkok and regional Administrative Courts across the country handle first‑instance cases.

What documents do I need to file an administrative case in Thailand?

At a minimum, you need: the plaint (in Thai), a copy of the administrative order being challenged, evidence of exhaustion of administrative remedies, an indexed evidence bundle, a Power of Attorney (if represented by counsel), identification documents, and proof of filing‑fee payment. Foreign claimants must additionally have their POA notarised and legalised by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in their home jurisdiction.

Can foreigners file an administrative case in Thailand?

Yes. Foreign individuals and companies have standing to file in the Administrative Court provided they can demonstrate that their rights or legitimate interests are directly affected by the administrative act. The key additional requirement is that the Power of Attorney authorising Thai legal counsel must be notarised and authenticated by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the foreign claimant’s home country.

How much does it cost to sue someone in Thailand?

For cases involving monetary claims, the court fee is generally 2% of the total claimed amount, capped at THB 200,000 for claims up to THB 50 million, with an additional 0.1% on amounts exceeding THB 50 million. Non‑monetary claims attract a lower fixed fee. Additional costs include lawyer fees, translation, notarisation and evidence‑preparation expenses.

Can I e‑file an administrative case in Thailand?

Yes. The Administrative Court operates an e‑Litigation portal that allows registered users to file plaints, upload evidence, and pay fees electronically. The portal is accessible through the Administrative Court’s official website. An electronic filing receipt serves as proof of the filing date for deadline‑compliance purposes.

What happens if I miss the 90‑day deadline?

In most cases, the Administrative Court will refuse to accept the plaint, and the right to challenge the administrative act is permanently lost. Very limited exceptions exist, such as fraud by the respondent agency in concealing the decision or force majeure, but these are rarely granted. The best course of action is to contact a qualified Thailand legal expert immediately to assess whether any exception may apply.

How To File A Case In Thailand | Global Law Experts

Understanding how to file a case in Thailand’s Administrative Court is essential for anyone, whether a Thai national, a resident expatriate or a foreign investor, who needs to challenge a government decision, a licensing refusal or a disputed tax assessment. Thailand’s Act on Establishment of Administrative Courts and Administrative Court Procedure B. E. 2542 (1999) imposes strict time limits, including a 90‑day appeal window that begins running the moment you receive or are notified of the administrative order in question. Missing that deadline, or a shorter 15‑day window that applies to certain interim measures, can permanently extinguish the right to judicial review.

This guide walks through jurisdiction, required documents, the e‑Litigation portal, court fees and post‑filing procedures so that you can act before the clock runs out.

Which Court Hears Administrative Challenges in Thailand?

The court that handles disputes related to administrative decisions made by government agencies in Thailand is the Administrative Court (ศาลปกครอง). It operates as a completely separate judicial branch from the Courts of Justice, which hear civil and criminal matters, and from the Constitutional Court. The Administrative Court system is structured into two tiers: the Administrative Court of First Instance (including the Central Administrative Court in Bangkok and regional Administrative Courts across the country) and the Supreme Administrative Court, which hears appeals on points of law and certain categories of first‑instance cases defined by statute.

What Is the Administrative Court of Thailand?

Established under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand and governed by the Act on Establishment of Administrative Courts and Administrative Court Procedure B.E. 2542, the Administrative Court exercises jurisdiction over disputes arising from the exercise of governmental power. Its mandate covers challenges to administrative orders and administrative acts, disputes concerning the negligence of official duties, wrongful acts or omissions by government agencies, and certain public‑contract disputes. It is an inquisitorial system, meaning the judge plays an active role in investigating the facts, rather than the adversarial model used in the Courts of Justice. The court may annul an unlawful administrative act, order compensation, or compel a government agency to perform a statutory duty.

When NOT to File in the Administrative Court

Not every grievance against a government official belongs in the Administrative practice area courts. Purely private contractual disputes, criminal prosecutions and matters falling under the jurisdiction of specialised courts, such as the Labour Court, the Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, or the Tax Court (for certain revenue disputes heard outside administrative jurisdiction), must be filed elsewhere. It is also important to note that administrative proceedings are civil in nature; the criminal‑law presumption of innocence does not directly apply, though respondents retain full procedural rights under the Administrative Court rules.

How to File a Case in Thailand: The Primary Compliance Decision

Before committing resources to an administrative court filing in Thailand, every potential claimant should work through a four‑step compliance decision tree. Answering “no” at any stage typically means the Administrative Court either lacks jurisdiction or the claim is premature.

Step 1, Is there an administrative act? Confirm that the decision, order or omission you wish to challenge qualifies as an administrative act or an exercise of governmental authority under the Act on Establishment of Administrative Courts. Internal policy discussions or legislative acts generally fall outside scope.
Step 2, Have you exhausted administrative remedies? Most statutes require the aggrieved party to first file an objection or appeal with the issuing agency or a supervisory body before approaching the court. Failure to exhaust these remedies can result in the court declining jurisdiction.
Step 3, Do you have standing? The claimant must be a person whose rights or legitimate interests are directly affected by the administrative act in Thailand. General public‑interest standing is limited.
Step 4, Is the deadline still running? Check whether the applicable time limit, commonly 90 days from notification, but sometimes shorter, has not already expired.

Only when all four conditions are satisfied should the claimant proceed to prepare the plaint and supporting documentation outlined in the sections below.

Administrative Appeal Thailand Time Limits: 15 Days, 30 Days and 90 Days Explained

Deadlines are the single most critical compliance factor when learning how to file a case in Thailand’s Administrative Court. The general rule, drawn from the Act on Establishment of Administrative Courts and confirmed by practitioner guides published by leading Thai law firms, is that a case must be filed within 90 days from the date the claimant knew or should have known of the cause of action. In practice, this usually means 90 days from receipt of the written notification of the agency’s final decision. Where the agency fails to act within the statutory period required for a response, the 90‑day clock typically begins on the day after that statutory response period expires.

However, the 90‑day appeal window in Thailand is not the only deadline to watch. Certain interim or provisional measures, such as applications for temporary injunctive relief to halt an administrative act that is about to cause irreparable harm, may need to be filed on much shorter notice, sometimes within 15 days of the act or its imminent implementation. Additionally, where a specific statute governing the relevant administrative body prescribes a different appeal period (for example, 30 days for certain licensing decisions), that special statute prevails over the general 90‑day rule.

The Supreme Administrative Court has also recognised limited exceptions. Where the claimant can demonstrate that the delay was caused by circumstances genuinely beyond their control, such as fraud by the agency in concealing the decision, the court may, in exceptional cases, accept a late filing. Industry observers note, however, that such relief is granted sparingly and should never be relied upon as a strategy.

Case Type	Deadline (When the Clock Starts)	Notes
Challenge to a final administrative order or decision	90 days from receipt of notification or knowledge of the act	Most common deadline; applies unless a specific statute prescribes otherwise
Application for interim injunctive relief	As soon as possible; often within 15 days of the act or its imminent effect	Filed concurrently with, or shortly after, the main plaint; court may act urgently
Agency‑specific statutory appeals (e.g., certain licensing bodies)	Varies, typically 15 to 30 days from the agency’s decision	Check the enabling statute of the specific agency; shorter deadlines override the general rule
Omission or failure to act (agency inaction)	90 days from the date the statutory response period expires	The claimant must first formally request action and wait for the prescribed period to lapse

Because the consequences of a missed deadline are almost always fatal to the claim, obtaining qualified legal advice at the earliest possible stage, ideally within the first few days after receiving an adverse administrative decision, is strongly recommended. Find an administrative lawyer in Thailand through our directory to discuss your specific timeline.

Step‑by‑Step Filing Process: How to File a Case in Thailand’s Administrative Court

Once the compliance decision tree is satisfied and you are confident the deadline has not expired, the administrative court Thailand filing process follows a structured sequence. Below is the practical step‑by‑step procedure.

Prepare the plaint (คำฟ้อง). The plaint is the formal written statement of claim. It must identify the claimant, the respondent government agency or official, the administrative act being challenged, the legal grounds for the challenge and the relief sought (annulment, compensation, order to perform a duty, or a combination). The plaint must be in Thai; foreign‑language documents require certified translations.
Compile the evidence index. Attach an indexed bundle of all documentary evidence supporting the claim, the administrative order itself, correspondence with the agency, any objection letters filed during the administrative‑remedy stage, expert reports and witness statements. Number each exhibit consecutively.
Execute a Power of Attorney (POA) if represented by counsel. Where the claimant is represented by a lawyer, a signed POA is required. Foreign plaintiffs must have the POA notarised and authenticated (legalised) by the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the claimant’s home jurisdiction. An apostille may be accepted if Thailand has ratified the relevant convention with the issuing country.
Prepare sufficient copies. The court typically requires the original plaint plus copies for each respondent and one file copy for the court’s records. Confirm the exact number with the relevant Administrative Court registry.
Calculate and pay the filing fee. Court fees for cases involving monetary claims are generally calculated as a percentage of the amount claimed, subject to statutory caps. Non‑monetary claims (such as annulment of an administrative act) may carry a fixed filing fee. See the fee table in the section below.
File the plaint. Submit the plaint and attachments to the Administrative Court of First Instance that has territorial jurisdiction, typically the court in the region where the administrative act was issued or where the claimant is domiciled. Filing may be done in person at the court registry, by post (registered mail with acknowledgement), or electronically through the e‑Litigation portal.
Obtain filing confirmation. The court registry will issue a receipt confirming the date of filing, the case number and the assigned judge‑rapporteur. Keep this receipt, it is your proof that you filed within the deadline.

Document Checklist for Administrative Court Thailand Filing

Document	Why Required	Key Notes
Plaint (คำฟ้อง)	Formal statement of claim required by the court	Must be in Thai; include all statutory particulars
Copy of the administrative order being challenged	Establishes the subject matter of the dispute	Attach certified Thai translation if the order is in another language
Evidence of exhaustion of administrative remedies	Proves you attempted resolution through the agency first	Include objection letters, agency responses and proof of delivery dates
Indexed evidence bundle	Supports factual and legal arguments in the plaint	Number each exhibit; include a table of contents
Power of Attorney (POA)	Authorises legal counsel to act on your behalf	Foreign claimants: notarise and legalise via Thai Embassy/Consulate
Identification documents	Verifies claimant identity and standing	Thai ID card or passport; company registration for juristic persons
Filing fee payment receipt	Court will not accept the plaint without payment	Fee varies by claim type, see the fee table below

Drafting the Plaint: Common Errors to Avoid

The plaint is the foundation of the entire case. Common drafting errors that lead to rejection or delay include failure to specify the exact administrative act being challenged (a vague reference to “the agency’s decision” is insufficient), omission of the date on which the claimant received notification (critical for proving compliance with the 90‑day appeal limit in Thailand), and failure to state the relief sought with sufficient precision. Where the claim seeks both annulment and damages, each head of relief should be itemised separately. Claimants should also avoid attaching irrelevant exhibits that obscure the core legal arguments, the Administrative Court’s inquisitorial judges value clarity and conciseness.

E‑Filing Through the E‑Litigation Portal in Thailand

Thailand’s Administrative Court has introduced an electronic filing system, the e‑Litigation portal, to modernise the administrative court Thailand filing process. The portal allows registered users to submit plaints, supporting documents and fee payments electronically, eliminating the need for a physical visit to the court registry in most standard cases. The system is accessible via the Administrative Court’s official website.

To use the e‑Litigation portal in Thailand, follow these steps:

Register an account. First‑time users must create an account on the portal, providing identification details (Thai ID number or passport number for foreign nationals), contact information and, where applicable, Thai lawyer registration credentials.
Prepare documents in the required format. The portal typically accepts PDF files. Ensure all documents are legible, correctly oriented and within the maximum file‑size limit specified by the system. Scanned originals should be at a minimum resolution that preserves readability.
Upload the plaint and evidence bundle. Follow the on‑screen prompts to upload the plaint, indexed evidence and POA. The system will generate a submission summary for your review before final confirmation.
Pay the filing fee online. The portal supports electronic payment methods, including bank transfer and, in some cases, credit or debit card payment. Retain the digital receipt generated by the system.
Receive electronic confirmation. Upon successful submission, the portal issues an electronic filing receipt with a timestamp, case reference number and confirmation of fee payment. This timestamp serves as the official filing date for deadline‑compliance purposes.

Troubleshooting tips: if you encounter errors during upload, check that your PDF files are not password‑protected or encrypted, that individual file sizes do not exceed the portal’s stated maximum, and that your browser is compatible with the system’s requirements. If the portal is temporarily unavailable close to a deadline, consider filing in person or by registered mail as a precaution and then notifying the court registry of the circumstances.

When You Must File in Person

Certain categories of filings, including applications for urgent interim relief that require an immediate hearing, or submissions involving original physical evidence that cannot be adequately reproduced digitally, may still need to be filed in person at the court registry. Claimants should also be prepared to file physically if the e‑Litigation portal experiences technical disruptions near a filing deadline. In such circumstances, the Thailand lawyer directory can help you locate counsel who can attend the court registry on your behalf at short notice.

Court Fees and Estimated Costs for How to File a Case in Thailand

Court fees in Thailand vary depending on whether the administrative case involves a monetary claim or seeks non‑monetary relief such as annulment. For cases concerning property or money, the filing party is generally required to pay court fees equivalent to 2% of the total amount claimed, subject to a maximum cap of THB 200,000 for claims under THB 50 million, with an additional 0.1% applying to amounts exceeding THB 50 million. Non‑monetary administrative claims, such as applications to annul an unlawful order, typically attract a lower fixed fee.

Fee Type	How Calculated	Typical Amount or Example
Monetary claim (damages / compensation)	2% of the claimed amount (capped)	THB 10 million claim → fee of THB 200,000 (at cap)
Non‑monetary claim (annulment, order to act)	Fixed fee set by court rules	Varies; generally significantly lower than monetary claims
Application for interim relief	Separate application fee	Modest fixed fee; confirm with the court registry
Appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court	Percentage‑based or fixed, depending on appeal type	Confirm with the Supreme Administrative Court registry

In addition to court fees, claimants should budget for legal counsel fees, certified translation costs, notarisation and consular legalisation of POAs (for foreign claimants), and the cost of preparing and copying evidence bundles.

After Filing: What to Expect in Thailand’s Administrative Court

Once the plaint is accepted and the case number assigned, the court will serve notice on the respondent government agency. The respondent is granted a period, typically 30 days, extendable by the court, to file a written statement of defence. The assigned judge‑rapporteur then examines the pleadings and evidence, may request additional information from either party, and sets the case for hearing. The typical duration from filing to the first substantive hearing can range from several months to over a year, depending on the complexity of the case and the court’s caseload.

Available remedies through judicial review in Thailand’s Administrative Court include annulment of the unlawful administrative act, an order compelling the agency to perform a statutory duty it has neglected, compensation for damages caused by the agency’s wrongful act, and declaratory relief. Where the claimant faces imminent irreparable harm, an application for interim relief (similar to a preliminary injunction) may be filed alongside or after the main plaint. The court can issue interim measures on an expedited basis, sometimes within days of the application. Early indications suggest that courts are increasingly receptive to well‑evidenced interim relief applications, particularly where the administrative act threatens to cause financial or operational harm that cannot be reversed.

What to Do If You Miss a Deadline

Missing the 90‑day appeal deadline in Thailand is, in most cases, fatal to an administrative claim. The Administrative Court will decline to accept the plaint, and the claimant loses the right to challenge the administrative act through judicial review. There are, however, extremely narrow circumstances in which relief may be available.

If the delay resulted from fraud or concealment by the respondent agency, for example, deliberate failure to notify the claimant of the decision, the court may consider the filing date in light of when the claimant actually discovered the act. Similarly, force majeure events (natural disasters, serious illness rendering the claimant incapable of action) have been recognised as potential grounds for tolling, though successful applications on this basis remain rare. The likely practical effect of a missed deadline is that any subsequent filing will be summarily dismissed on procedural grounds.

The single most important step if you believe you have missed or are about to miss a deadline is to contact an experienced administrative lawyer immediately. Even hours can matter. A qualified practitioner can assess whether any exception applies and, if so, prepare an urgent application explaining the delay to the court.

Practical Examples and Sample Timelines

Example 1, Thai business owner challenging a licence revocation: A restaurant operator in Bangkok receives formal notification on 1 March 2026 that the local authority has revoked the establishment’s food‑service licence. The operator files an administrative objection with the authority on 10 March 2026. The authority rejects the objection on 25 March 2026. The 90‑day clock to file a plaint in the Administrative Court starts on 25 March 2026 (date of knowledge of the final decision), making the filing deadline 23 June 2026. The operator’s lawyer files the plaint via the e‑Litigation portal on 15 June 2026, comfortably within the deadline.

Example 2, Foreign investor challenging an investment‑permit denial: A Singapore‑based company receives notice on 15 January 2026 that its application for a Board of Investment promotion certificate has been denied. The company must exhaust any available administrative appeal mechanism with the BOI before filing in court. Assuming the BOI appeal is denied on 1 March 2026, the 90‑day filing window runs until 30 May 2026. Because the company’s directors are overseas, they must arrange notarisation and legalisation of a POA at the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore, a process that can take two to three weeks. Starting POA legalisation promptly after the BOI denial is critical to avoid missing the court filing deadline.

Conclusion

Knowing how to file a case in Thailand’s Administrative Court, and acting within the strict time limits, is the difference between preserving your rights and permanently losing them. The 90‑day appeal window, the requirement to exhaust administrative remedies, the POA authentication process for foreign claimants, and the availability of e‑filing through the e‑Litigation portal are the pillars of a successful filing strategy. Every day of delay increases risk. If you are facing an adverse administrative decision, consult an administrative law specialist as early as possible to protect your position and ensure every procedural requirement is met.

Last reviewed: 23 May 2026

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This article was produced by Global Law Experts. For specialist advice on this topic, contact Jirawat Leelawanich at JIRAWAT & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICE, a member of the Global Law Experts network.