Sor Kor 1 (S.K.1): what this Thai land document is

Sor Kor 1 (ส.ค.1, also written S.K.1 or "Sor Kor 1" in English) is a notice that someone filed claiming possession of a plot of land. In Land Office practice it is treated as a notice of possession, not a title document, and it does not by itself prove ownership. Treat a seller's Sor Kor 1 as a starting point, not something you can register a sale against: confirm the plot's actual status at the Land Office before you pay anything. If a seller offers you Sor Kor 1 land in place of a chanote, especially at a price well below the market, check it even more carefully.

What this means if you are a foreign buyer

As a general rule, foreigners cannot acquire ownership of land in Thailand (Land Code, section 86); Sor Kor 1 does not itself create an exception. If a listing promises that land documents will follow later, confirm the plot's status and your lawful basis for acquiring rights before paying. If what you actually want is a home on Thai land, one option to assess is a registered land lease, for up to 30 years under Civil and Commercial Code section 540, together with registered superficies giving ownership of the house under sections 1410–1416; availability depends on the plot's legal status. See how a villa leasehold purchase works in Phuket.

Where Sor Kor 1 comes up

If a seller shows Sor Kor 1, check the document's history and the plot's current status at the Land Office. If an agent says the plot can be developed or promises that proper paperwork will follow, verify those claims before paying. If a seller tells you the price is low because of the document type, or that upgrading it is a formality, that is exactly when to slow down and check.

How it differs from a chanote and Nor Sor 3

A chanote (Nor Sor 4 Jor) is a full title deed with a precise land survey. Nor Sor 3 and Nor Sor 3 Gor show a weaker right of possession than a chanote; whether a given Nor Sor 3 Gor can be upgraded to a chanote should be confirmed at the Land Office for that plot. Sor Kor 1 is only a notice of possession and should not be treated as equivalent to either.

Document	What it shows	Can a sale be registered on it
Chanote (Nor Sor 4 Jor)	Full title with a precise survey	Yes
Nor Sor 3 / Nor Sor 3 Gor	Possessory right weaker than a chanote; upgrade potential to confirm at the Land Office	Confirm scope and conditions at the Land Office
Sor Kor 1	Notice of possession	Do not assume a sale can be registered on this alone; check at the Land Office

For the full picture of Thai land documents, see types of Thai land title.

What to check if a seller shows Sor Kor 1

A sale of land in Thailand is valid only in writing and once it is registered at the Land Office; until then the buyer is not the owner, and money paid is only a claim against the seller (Civil and Commercial Code, section 456). So look at the original document and the Land Office record, not a photo or a copy, and ask whether the plot sits inside a national reserved forest or park: such land cannot be privately owned, and a document issued over it, including a chanote, can be revoked (Land Code, section 61).

Our lawyers check the Land Office record and whether a plot falls inside a protected area as part of land and title due diligence in Phuket. Send us the sale or reservation agreement and we will review it free of charge within 48 hours.