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Customs Clearance Procedure

   Information on Thai Customs Clearance for Passengers
   Customs Clearance Procedure on Importation of personal and used household effects
   Procedure for Postal Customs House

1. Customs clearance for passengers

Passengers arriving into the Kingdom of Thailand have to fill in the "passenger Declaration Form" (Form No.211) and submit it to the Customs officer while bringing their luggage or belongings through the red or green channel.  In case there are no dutiable, prohibited or restricted goods, please mark ([/] nothing to declare) on the Passenger Declaration Form and submit it to the Customs officer at the green channel.  In case there are dutiable, prohibited or restricted goods or the passenger is unsure whether or not goods are subject to any of the three aforesaid categories, the passenger should mark([/] goods to declare) on the Passenger Declaration Form and submit it to the Customs officer at the red channel.

1.1 Duties for goods brought into Thailand will be assessed according to Customs Acts, Customs Tariff Decree, and other associated laws.

The following are subject to duty charges:

	goods which are brought into the country in a limited quantity as personal effects and are not for a commercial purpose.
	goods not exceeding 80,000.00 baht in value.
	Duties shall be paid in cash on the date of arrival.

In case of goods of not comply with the above conditions, they will be sent to Goods Accompanying Passenger Section of the Import Formalities Sub-Division at Customs Warehouse 1, Import Customs Warehouse Building, Bangkok Airport Customs Bureau or any local respective Customs House to comply with normal Customs procedures.  The passenger will receive a delivery order form (Form No. 466) as evidence.

1.2 Personal effects for personal or professional use which accompany passengers in an amount not exceeding their needs with the total value not exceeding 10,000 baht, will be exempted from Customs duties.

Personal effects such as clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, shoes, glasses, perfume, etc., purchased abroad must have a receipt to show before the Customs; if no such receipt, the Customs officer will consider other available evidence.

The following accompanied goods can be brought into Thailand in amounts not exceeding as stated below;

	200 cigarettes, or 250 grams of cigars and tobacco.
	1 liter of alcoholic liquor.

Visitors enter Thailand through the "Nothing to Declare" customs channel despite carrying tobacco or alcohol far in excess of the amount allowed. As a result, they could afterwards be subjected to inspections and fines by the Thai Excise Department.
Visitors bringing into Thailand more than 1 carton of tobacco would be subjected to fines of approximately 3,550 Baht (US$100) per carton for the excess tobacco.

  1.3 A certain amount of used household effects accompanying a passenger due to change of domicile will be exempted from Customs duties.

Used household effects such as television, radio, video, etc., will be exempted from Customs duties; however, passengers are required to declare the mentioned items to the Customs officer at the red channel by submitting a passenger declaration form (Form No. 211).

2. Customs formality: outbound passengers.

2.1 Camera, video camera, and portable computer must be declared to the Customs officer in order to confirm outbound accompaniment upon re-entry to Thailand.

2.2 Jewelry or ornaments are required to lodge the Customs formalities at the Outbound Section, Passenger Control Division, Bangkok International Airport Customs Bureau (3^rd floor, International Terminal 1) or other place specified by Customs Regional Bureau.

2.3 Goods under the condition of 19 Bis Drawback, or re-entry schemes are required to lodge the Customs formalities at the Customs Formality Section Bangkok International Airport Customs Bureau or other place specified by Customs Regional Bureau.

3. Customs Formality: specific cases

3.1 Prohibited goods, restricted goods.

         Prohibited goods are goods for which either the import into or export out of the Kingdom is prohibited, e.g., drugs, pornographic materials, protected wild animals or related product, etc. Violators of laws related to illicit drugs, e.g., having and holding, holding for use, or being a producer, seller, or transporter are subject to the death sentence.

          Restricted goods are goods the import and export of which is restricted by law and therefore require a permit from the related government agencies.

The following Items require a permit from the government agency in order to lodge the Customs formalities:

• Firearms, ammunitions, explosive objects.  (Office of National Police)
• Buddha images, artifacts and antiques.  (Fine Arts Department)
• Radio Transceivers and telecommunications equipment.  (Post & telegraph Dept.)
• Plants and planting materials.  (Department of Agriculture)
• Live animals, and animal products.  (Department of Live Stock Development)
• Medicines and chemical products.  (Office of Food and Drugs Administration)

   3.2 Currency

      There is no limit on the amount of Thai currency which can be brought into Thailand, but only 50,000.00 baht may be taken out without obtaining a permit.  Thai currency can be taken out to neighboring countries, e.g., Myanmer, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, up to 500,000.00 baht, without obtaining a permit.

            Taking out an amount of Thai currency exceeding 500,000.00 baht the required a permit from an authorized bank.  The original permit (Thor-Tor.5) must be shown to the Customs officer while passing through the outbound passenger channel.

           As from February 24, 2008, any person who brings or takes an aggregate amount of foreign currency exceeding USD 20,000 or its equivalent out of or into the Kindgom of Thailand shall declare such amount of foreign currency to a Customs Officer. Failure to declare upon bringing foreign currency that exceeds the amount restricted by law or its equivalent out of or into the Kindgom of Thailand or making any false declaration to a Customs Officer is a criminal offence.

3.3. Goods deposited under Customs control (Customs custody)

                    Passenger with dutiable items and restricted articles which are not intended of use in Thailand must inform Customs and present the airplane ticket stating the destination to the third country.  Those items shall be placed in Customs custody not more than 2 months.  They can be reclaimed on the departure date while checking in by informing the airline staff and paying the storage fees.

3.4 A.T.A. Carnet

                  Passengers bringing in goods under the auspices of the A.T.A. Carnet agreement which are to be used for exhibition, scientific purpose or as sample and re-exported are required to inform the Customs officer at the red channel for Customs clearance at the Passenger Control Division, Bangkok International Airport Customs Bureau.  (Terminal 1, 1^st floor) or other place designated by Regional Customs Bureau for that area.

                  On the departure date passengers must present customs officer the A.T.A. Carnet document and goods for inspection; otherwise the goods will be considered as not having been re-exported and Customs duties and taxes will be levied

              3.5 VAT Refund

                Passengers who want to apply for VAT refund must submit the completed form for VAT refund application for tourist (P.P.10).  This form can be obtained by showing purchased goods to the customs officer at customs Inspection for VAT Refund point in the Departure hall.

Customs formalities can be performed at the passenger control Division, Bangkok International Airport Customs Bureau which in open 24 hours.
For further information on any customs matter please contact Customs officers at any post or call (2)535-1269, 535-1569 535-1153 and 535-5044.

THE CRITERIA OF GRANTING EXEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF CUSTOMS DUTY
The basic requirements for the importation of such effects to be granted exemption from the payment of Customs duties and taxes must be that such personal or professional effects are imported in reasonable quantities, except motor vehicles, firearms and ammunition and provicious, and that such used household effects are accompanying the importer changing domicile and must be in reasonable amounts.

The said items must be imported not earlier than one month before or not later than six months after the arrival of the importer.

EFFECTS TO BE GRANTED EXEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF CUSTOMS DUTY
Imported Personal Effect to be granted exemption from payment of Customs Duty such as clothes, shoes, cosmetic or ornament must be accompanied with the owner for his own use in reasonable quantity.

Secondhand household effects to be granted exemption from payment of Customs Duty must be in reasonable quantity and imported from the country in which the owner has domicile prior to change of domicile to Thailand.  The importation of only one item of such electric appliances as a refrigerator, and air-conditioner, a television, a radio etc. will be exempted from Customs Duty.  However, in case of changing of domicile of the whole family, two items will be exempted.  The imported electric appliances exceeding limited quantity shall not be granted duty exemption.  In this case, the amount of duty shall be calculated from the items which yield the highest amount of duties.

DOCUMENTATION
For the clearance of goods the importer is required to prepare the following documents:

• Identity card
• Passport (In case of personal effects and/or used household effects)
• Bill of lading
• Delivery order
• Invoice or proforma invoice (if any)
• In the case where the importer is unable to show up, a letter of authorization is required for the agent.
• In the case of foreigners changing domicile to Thailand. either of the following documents is required:



• Non-immigrant quota as shown on the passport or resident book, or;
• Proof of entrance into Thailand as an expert, specialist or consultant to any government agency in the form of a letter certifying that such a person has received a non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Bureau to work and reside in Thailand for at least 1 year, or
• A one - year work permit from the Employment Department.
• A one - year non-immigrant visa.


• If the importer is a Thai, he must be a person, Thai Government official who working abroad or a student studying abroad not less than 1 year. Provided that these people have to return to Thailand before a one year period.  They must have certain evidence to prove that such return is due to either the termination of contract, reshuffle of posts, or graduate in his relevant study.

INFORMATION SERVICE
The Thais and Foreigners who wish to claim their personal effects and/or used household effects are requested to contact the Privileged Goods And Investment Promotion Sub-Division Formalities and Assessment Division, Customs Department. Tel (2)249-2314

Locality
The Postal Customs House is located in the Bangkok Mail Center, Rong Muang Road, Pratumwan, Bangkok. Tel. (66-2) 251-0966-8

Criteria for postal package duty payment

• Imported postal packages with a value per package of not over 500 baht are exempt from duty payment.
• For imported postal packages that are gifts or for personal use and having a value of over 500 baht per package but not exceeding 20,000 baht, and duty are not controlled or restricted goods, the Customs officer will estimate the duty and VAT on the Notification of Dutiable Articles form and then forward it to the postal officer who will is responsible for duty and VAT collection.
• Importd postal packages with a value of over 20,000 baht per package will be stored in the Customs warehouse until the recipient receives clearance at the Postal Customs House.

Documents for the Customs Clearing Process

• The Notification of Dutiable Articles form (form 91a or 92a)
• Identification card or government-issued identification card of the receivers.
• In case the addressee is named as a business organization, the following are required:
  • Customs Department-issued Card with authentic signature of owner/manager or of the appointed personnel (no photocopy) is needed. In case there is no Customs Department-issued card, the ID card of the manager or any authorized person named in the company's documents can be substitute.
  • A certified paper of merchant registration and a registered merchant certificate.
  • The authorized person who signs the company's documents has to stamp the company's seal at the back of the Notification of Dutiable Articles form.
• Import permit (In case the postal package contains controlled or restricted goods).

Keeping fees.
Keeping fees for postal packages kept in the Customs warehouse and levied as follows:

• A Postal package kept in the warehouse for not more than 1 week is exempted from a keeping fee.
• For postal packages kept in the warehouse more than 1 week, a keeping fee of 25 baht per package per week is charged (where the total weight of on package does not exceed 25 kilograms)

Process for customs clearance by using import entry.
Imported postal packages, with a value over 20,000 baht as well as packages containing controlled, restricted or imitation guns, even with a value not exceeding 20,000 baht, must proceed with Customs clearance using an import entry. This includes gifts and goods and is effective regardless of whether the recipient is an individual or company.

Process for exporting goods via post office
The process for exporting goods via post office is as follows:

• Processes for exporting goods can be done at the post office the total value of the package is not more than 10,000 baht, or in the case of jewelry, is not more than 5,000 baht.
• Those packages which, according to point 1, cannot be exported from the post office.