I. |
Introduction |
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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. |
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All travelers should know these tips before making a
trip: |
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# 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.” |
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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.
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II |
Arriving Passenger |
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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. |
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Duty Payment |
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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.
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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. |
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Duty
Free Allowance |
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The duty free
allowance will be applied to accompanied personal effects up to Bath 10,000
worth if |
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i) |
the items are
intended for your own personal or professional uses; |
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ii) |
the quantity are
reasonable; and |
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iii) |
the items are not
subject to prohibition or restriction. |
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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.
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Accompanied Luggage
Depository |
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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.
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A daily fee at the
following rates is charged for goods deposited in the Customs Bond:
If the gross weight per package |
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(a) not exceeding 20
kgs. |
40 Baht/package/day |
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(b) exceeding 20 kgs.
but not exceeding 40 kgs. |
80 Baht/package/day |
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(c) exceeding 40 kgs. |
150 Baht/package/day |
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Fractions of one day
are rounded as one day. |
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A daily fee at the
following rates is charged for goods deposited in the Customs Bond:
If the gross weight per package |
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(a) not exceeding 20
kgs. |
40 Baht/package/day |
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(b) exceeding 20 kgs.
but not exceeding 40 kgs. |
80 Baht/package/day |
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(c) exceeding 40
kgs. |
150 Baht/package/day |
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Fractions of one day
are rounded as one day. |
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Temporary Vehicle
Import |
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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.
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Documentation and Clearance
Procedures |
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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) |
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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. |
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Motor
Vehicles Carrying Goods or Passenger |
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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. |
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Regular Visits with Motor Vehicle or Motorcycle |
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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 |
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Outbound Passenger with Expensive Items Intended for Re-Importation: |
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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. |
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Outbound Passengers with Jewelry: |
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An
outbound passenger carrying jewelry intended for export yourself is required
to complete Customs formalities before the departure at the Customs Airport
Office. |
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Outbound Passenger with Goods under Tax/Duty Drawback Scheme: |
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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
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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 |
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Inbound Passenger: |
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An
inbound passenger is allowed to bring in unlimited amount of foreign and
Thai currencies. |
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Outbound passenger: |
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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 |
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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 |
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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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