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Thai Customs
Thai Customs Bangkok

Customs-Related Information for Traveler

I.

  Introduction  
  Welcome to the Thai Customs Web site. The Thai Customs Department is the national frontline against the smuggling of illegal drugs and other prohibited and restricted goods. Customs has discovered large amount of illegal drugs in accompanied baggage and on passengers themselves. However, we realize that very few travelers actually violate the law, but we still need to examine the baggage and/or carry out personal search.
  All travelers should know these tips before making a trip:
  #   Beware of Customs, quarantine, currency and duty/tax free regulations listed on this Web site;
#   Penalties for possession of illegal drugs can result in heavy fines, imprisonment or even death penalties;
#   Carrying goods for other people, you will held responsible if the goods are prohibited or restricted; and
#  Asking a Customs officer if you are in doubt about any articles over your tax/duty free allowance on the “Passenger Declaration Form.”

 
  To facilitate and expedite the clearance of passengers, the International Airport Customs Offices all over the country provide Customs inspectors to assist passengers at both the “Red and Green Channels”. 
Green Channel: Inbound passengers with nothing to declare walk through the “Nothing to Declare” exit (Green Channel); or
Red Channel: Inbound passengers with something to declare e.g. dutiable items, prohibited/restricted goods, etc. or you are unsure which exit to use go to the "Goods to Declare" exit (Red Channel).
If you need help clearing Customs, please do not hesitate to ask the Customs inspectors for assistance.
 

II 

 Arriving Passenger  
  Before a passenger arrives in Thailand, you will receive a “Passenger Declaration Form (Form No. 211).  You must complete the Form and submit it to Customs officials while walking through the Red/Green Channels.  A passenger with nothing to declare (no dutiable items, no prohibited/restricted goods) ticks ž in the section “Nothing to Declare” of the Form No.211 while that bringing in dutiable items, prohibited/restricted goods or unsure which section to declare ticks ž in the section “Goods to Declare” of the Form No. 211.
  Duty Payment  
 

If you are bringing back with you an item you did not have it when you left Thailand and/or items with total combined value more than Baht 10,000, these items are subject to import taxes and duties. A flat rate of duty will be applied on the dutiable items provided that:  

#   The dutiable items are intended for personal use;

#   They are at a reasonable quantity and not intended for commercial use, business, or trade  purposes;

#    The total value is not exceeding 80,000 Baht;  and

#   Passengers are able to pay taxes and duties in cash on the date of arrival.

 
  If a passenger fails to comply any of the above-mentioned criteria and conditions, the dutiable items will be sent to a warehouse for a formal entry process. The goods are held under Customs control until a formal entry process has been completed. You will not be able to take the goods with you from the airport.
  Duty Free Allowance
  The duty free allowance will be applied to accompanied personal effects up to Bath 10,000 worth if
  i) the items are intended for your own personal or professional uses;
  ii) the quantity are reasonable; and
  iii) the items are not subject to prohibition or restriction.
        
However, there are limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars and smoking tobacco to which you may include in your duty free personal exemption as follows:
#   200 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars or smoking tobacco
#   1 litre of spirituous liquor.
Personal effects do not include motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts regardless of the length of time used and owned.
 
  Accompanied Luggage Depository
  If you are a transit passenger with accompanied luggage and you do not want to clear Customs, you are allowed to deposit your accompanied items at a Customs Bond under the following criteria:
#   A passenger has an air ticket to the third country available;
#   The deposit duration is not more than 2 months;
#   The deposited items are not prohibited/restricted goods; and
#   There is no suspect of Customs offences, smuggling, or prohibition/restriction violation.
When the luggage is deposited at the Customs Bond at the Airport, Customs officials will issue a Deposit Form (Form 466) with two duplicates. The original copy is given to a passenger. The first duplicate is affixed to the deposited luggage while the second one is affixed to the Deposit Form Counterfoil.
 
  A daily fee at the following rates is charged for goods deposited in the Customs Bond:
If the gross weight per package
  (a) not exceeding 20 kgs. 40 Baht/package/day
  (b) exceeding 20 kgs. but not exceeding 40 kgs. 80 Baht/package/day
  (c) exceeding 40 kgs. 150 Baht/package/day
  Fractions of one day are rounded as one day.  
  A daily fee at the following rates is charged for goods deposited in the Customs Bond:
If the gross weight per package
  (a) not exceeding 20 kgs.  40 Baht/package/day
  (b) exceeding 20 kgs. but not exceeding 40 kgs. 80 Baht/package/day
  (c) exceeding 40 kgs.  150 Baht/package/day
  Fractions of one day are rounded as one day.  
  Temporary Vehicle Import  
  A temporary vehicle import is a vehicle (including motorcycles) brought into Thailand by a resident of another country, usually for a maximum of six months, while remaining registered in its country of origin. A tourist or traveler may import a motor vehicle into Thailand without payment of Customs taxes and duties provided they intend to take the vehicle from Thailand at the conclusion of the visit.
 
  Documentation and Clearance Procedures  
  To facilitate tax and duty free entry, a tourist/traveler will be required to put up a cash deposit or a bank guarantee to cover the full Customs taxes and duties. The deposit will be refunded providing the vehicle and attachments are exported within the stipulated period of temporary entry. The minimum documentation required for temporary vehicles imports consists of:
#   Temporary Import Declaration Form with a duplicate;
#   Vehicle Registration Certificate;
#   Identification Card and/or Passport (in case the Logbook of the car imported is in the traveler's name);
#   Letter of Attorney (in case the Logbook is not in the name of the traveler);
#   Re-Export Deposit; and
#   Other relevant documents (if any)
  It is also required that complete contents of vehicle be declared at the time of entry into Thailand. If this is not done, you may be subject to a fine and the vehicle and its contents may be seized.           
 
Before a vehicle is released from Customs’ control, a tourist/traveler or authorized person submits a Temporary Vehicle Import Declaration Form and all supporting documents, including a cash deposit or a bank guarantee to cover the full Customs taxes and duties to Customs at the port of entry.
 
For importation of a motorcycle, a traveler is allowed to offer himself as a guarantee if such motorcycle is imported via 3 ports: the Bangkok International Airport Customs Bureau, Bangkok Port Customs Bureau, and Bangkok Customs Bureau. In case a traveler enters Thailand via regional Customs offices, Customs may allow person other than a traveler to act as a guarantee for temporary vehicle imports.  In an exceptional circumstance, provided the traveler is unable to place a deposit in cash or bank guarantee, Customs may also allow such traveler to offer himself as a guarantee.
 
If an importer meets the necessary requirements mentioned above, the temporary vehicle import will be granted for two months from the date of entry into the country.  In an exceptional circumstance, and provided a written request is made in advance, the Thai Customs Department may grant an extension to allow the vehicle to remain in Thailand for up to six months of its arrival in Thailand. The vehicle should be exported out of Thailand within the allowed temporary entry period, and must not be imported with the intention of selling it.
  Motor Vehicles Carrying Goods or Passenger
  A registered motor vehicle carrying goods or passenger is normally allowed to temporarily enter or leave Thailand without lodging a Temporary Import Declaration Form and a cash deposit or a bank guarantee. However, if taxes and duties applicable on such vehicle have not yet been paid, an importer is required to submit a Temporary Import Declaration Form together with a cash deposit or a bank guarantee to cover the full Customs taxes and duties to Customs at the first time of entry. Then, such motor vehicle is allowed to enter Thailand as far as the temporary admission document is valid.
  Regular Visits with Motor Vehicle or Motorcycle
  A traveler entering or leaving Thailand on a regular basis with a motor vehicle or motorcycle is not required to follow clearance procedures mentioned above.  Under this particular circumstance, Customs will issue a regular traveler a “Customs Pass,” a permit for temporary imports/exports of motor vehicles or motorcycle on a regular basis into Thailand.  The Customs Pass is valid for one year and issued in triplicate: one is kept at the Regional Customs Office, one at the Customs point of entry, and one return to a traveler. 
 
When entering or leaving Thailand, a traveler is required to present a Customs Pass, together with a Temporary Import Declaration Form, at the point of entry /exit for Customs inspection purpose.

III 

 Departing Passenger  
  Outbound Passenger with Expensive Items Intended for Re-Importation:
   If you are departing Thailand with certain items e.g. cameras, video cameras, laptop computers, tape recorders, etc. and you are intended to bring them back in Thailand, register these items- as long as they have serial numbers or other unique, permanent, marking items- to Customs at the departure airport after checking in and receiving a boarding pass. The Customs officials will record the exportation of such personal items intending for re-importation. All items registered will be allowed duty free entry when you return to Thailand. 
  Outbound Passengers with Jewelry:  
  An outbound passenger carrying jewelry intended for export yourself is required to complete Customs formalities before the departure at the Customs Airport Office.
  Outbound Passenger with Goods under Tax/Duty Drawback Scheme:
  Outbound passengers carrying export goods under tax and duty compensation/drawback scheme or with “Re-Importation Certificates” are required to complete formal Customs formalities before the departure at the Customs Airport Office. 

It is illegal to take or send out of Thailand restricted and/or prohibited items e.g. illegal drugs, faked notes and coins, obscene items, pornography etc.  Customs will seize any of restricted/prohibited items.  If an outbound passenger convicts any of these offences, you will be subject to fine and imprisonment.

IV

 Visitor’s VAT Refund  
  A tourist will be qualified for a VAT Refund if you meet the following conditions:
#  You are a non-Thai resident and not staying in Thailand up to 180 days in a current tax year;
#  You are not a pilot or a cabin crews of any airline departing Thailand; and
#  You leave Thailand via an international airport.
 
Proof of export is required if you wish to claim a refund of the tax paid on eligible goods. To claim for a VAT refund, you should, first of all, contact Customs officials at the airport before checking in. The following documents must be available for inspection by Customs officials:
#  A passport;
#  VAT Refund Application Form (VAT Form 10);
#  An original receipt; and
#  Goods that go with the original receipts.
 
If the declarations for VAT refund are correct, Customs officials will sign and stamp the VAT Refund Application Form, affix a sticker to the luggage containing the eligible goods, and return every thing to you.  You need to present the VAT Application Form approved by Customs to the Revenue officials after clearing immigration for a VAT refund.  If you claim VAT refunds for small and expensive items e.g. jewelry, gold, watches, glasses, pens, etc., please have these items available for inspection at the VAT Refund Office again.

Also please allow extra time at the airport to have your application stamped and eligible goods verified, keeping in mind that other passengers will also requesting these services. You should arrive at the airport even earlier than the time recommended by your airline to be at your boarding gate on time.

V 

 Currencies   
  Inbound Passenger:  
  An inbound passenger is allowed to bring in unlimited amount of foreign and Thai currencies.
  Outbound passenger:  
  Unlimited amount of foreign currencies are permitted to carry out of Thailand. However, the amount of Baht 50,000 or more in Thai currency must be reported on departure, except those traveling to Lao PDR., Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam are allowed to take out Thai currency not exceeding 500,000 Baht

VI

 ATA Carnets  
  The ATA Carnet allows the temporary import of exhibition and advertising materials, commercial samples, and scientific equipment from a signatory to the Conventions governing ATA Carnets into Thailand. As long as the conditions for the use of a Carnet are observed, its use permits temporary importation without payment of duty and with the minimum of restrictions. 
 
The ATA Carnet holders arriving in Thailand should contact Customs officers at the Red Channel upon the arrival. Customs formalities and clearance of goods under ATA Carnets are to be processed and completed at the airport.
 
At the point of departure, the ATA Carnet holders are required to complete a re-exportation form, consisting of Re-Exportation Counterfoil and Re-Exportation Voucher, and submit them together with the re-exported goods to the Customs officials for verification.  The Re-Exportation Counterfoil will have to be retained by the ATA Carnet holder while the Re-Exportation Voucher will be retained by Customs at the point of departure.
 
Carnets may also be obtained for temporary duty/tax free export of goods from Thailand to a foreign country. Please contact the International Chamber of Commerce for application details.

VII

 Other Travel-Related Information  
  If you have any questions about Customs procedures, requirements, or policies regarding travelers, or you have a complaint about treatment you have received from Customs inspectors or about your Customs processing, please contact the nearest Customs Offices at the departure/arrival airport.

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