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Announcement
1. GENERAL
PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
The Thai Government controls the import and export
of certain goods into/out of Thailand. The controls either
take the form of:
• an absolute prohibition, which means that you
are not allowed to import the goods in any circumstances;
or
• a restriction, where you need to have written
permission in order to import the goods.
Samples OF Prohibited and Restricted Goods
The following information broadly outlines what
goods are prohibited or restricted, where you can obtain
more information about the control and, in the case of
restricted goods, to apply for permission to import.
1. Prohibited Goods are goods for which either the import
into or export out of Thailand are prohibited. Any person
imports or exports prohibited goods is considered as
committing offences and subject to penalties indicated in
the relevant national legislation. In addition, such
activity is also considered as an offence under Articles 27
and 27 bis of the Customs Act B.E. 2469. It is prohibited by
law to bring the following items into Thailand.
• Obscene objects/literature/pictures
• Pornographic materials
• Goods with Thai national flag
• Narcotics e.g., marijuana, hemp, opium,
cocaine, morphine, heroin
• Fake currency, bonds, or coins
• Fake Royal Seals/official seals
• IPR infringing goods e.g. musical tape, CD,
VDO, computer software, etc.
• Counterfeit trademark goods
2. Restricted Goods are goods of which the imports and
exports are restricted by law and therefore require a permit
from the related government agencies. Any person imports or
exports restricted goods is considered as committing
offences and subject to penalties indicated in the relevant
national legislation. In addition, such activity is also
subjected to the offence under Articles 27 and 27 bis of the
Customs Act B.E. 2469.
The Ministry of Commerce designates classes of goods
that are subject to import controls, which usually take the
form of permission and licensing. Although these controls
are being liberalized, at present more than 50 classes of
goods require import licenses from the Ministry of Commerce.
These categories are frequently changed through
notifications of the Ministry of Commerce. A license to
import any of the restricted items must be obtained from the
Ministry of Commerce prior to importation. Application for
the license must be accompanied by a supplier’s order,
confirmation, invoice, and other pertinent documents.
In addition to the Act imposing the above controls,
a number of goods are also subject to import controls under
or other relevant agencies. These include:
• The import of drugs, foods, and supplementary
products requires prior licensing from the Food and Drug
Administration, the Ministry of Health.
• The import or export of antiques or objects
of art, whether registered or not, requires permission from
the Fine Arts Department.
• The imports of weapons and ammunition, explosives,
fireworks and real and replica firearms requires appropriate
license from the Ministry of Interior. Other weapons such as
electric shock devices must also be declared. Some of these
items may require a permit, before importation.
• The Cosmetic Act stipulates that for the purpose of
protection of public health, any importer of controlled
cosmetics must provide the name and location of the office
and the place of manufacture or storage of the cosmetics,
the category, or kind of cosmetics to be imported, and the
major components of the cosmetics.
• The import of wild fauna, flora, fish and
other aquatic fauna requires permission from the National
Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, the
Department of Agriculture, or the Department of Fishery as
the case may be.
Thai Customs is charged to stop the importation and
exportation of prohibited goods. In addition, it is also
designated to intercept the importation and exportation of
restricted goods, ensuring that all relevant laws and
regulations are followed properly. The comprehensive list of
prohibited and restricted goods as well as information about
the control and, in the case of restricted goods, to
permission to import, may be obtained from the Department of
Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce.
CONTACT
For further inquiry and information, you may contact the
Customs Call Center at Tel. 1164 or the Customs Clinic at
Tel. 02-667-7880-4, Fax. 02-667-7885, e-mail:
customs_clinic@customs.go.th. Additional information may
also be obtained from Customs ports of entry/exit. Please
consult our telephone directory for a Customs office near
you. The listing can be found under the “CONTACT US”
section.
2. IMPORTING USED / SECONDHAND HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS
Returning Thai residents who have been abroad for one year
or longer, for the purposes other than touring are eligible
to bring in household effects acquired abroad free of taxes
and duties. In addition, nonresidents changing their
residence to Thailand may import the household effects
subject to the conditions stated below without payment of
import taxes duties.
The term “household effects” includes all goods which are
normally necessary to equip a self-contained home e.g.
furniture, carpets, books, musical instruments, paintings,
tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household
furnishings, etc. To be eligible for tax and duty free
allowance, the importers are required to have owned,
possessed, and used the household effects before they return
to Thailand to resume residence. It is important that the
importers meet the three requirements of ownership,
possession, and use. For example, if they owned and
possessed the goods without using them, the goods would be
subject to regular taxes and duties. Personal effects
accompanied with the owner traveling into or out of
Thailand, including any goods used or will be used
commercially are not eligible as household effects and
cannot brought in tax and duty free as the household
effects. NOTE: Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and
tobacco are excluded from this relief.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DUTY FREE ALLOWANCE
Both Thai and non-Thai residents changing residence into
Thailand are eligible to bring used/secondhand household
effects into Thailand, in reasonable quantities, free of
taxes and duties. It is also required that the imported
used/ secondhand household effects have been owned,
possessed, and used in the country where the importers
resided before returning to Thailand to resume residence.
In case where the household effects are electrical
appliances e.g. radios, televisions, refrigerators,
microwaves, ovens, air conditioners, etc., only ONE unit
each of such items is eligible for tax and duty free
allowance. However, if it is the family change of residence,
TWO units each of the items will be allowed to bring in tax
and duty free. Any excess unit shall be subject to regular
taxes and duties, and Customs will place the items that have
the lowest rate of duty under tax and duty exemption.
It is important that the used/secondhand household effects
must be imported not earlier than one month before or not
later than six months after the arrival of the importers.
Under exceptional circumstances, Customs may extend the time
limits for the importers.
REQUIREMENTS FOR CHANGING OF RESIDENCE
• Nonresidents: Nonresidents may import the
used/secondhand household effects acquired abroad tax and
duty free if such household effects accompanied them in the
change of residence and they are qualified under the
criteria listed below:
• Nonresidents resuming residents in Thailand
must be granted a non-immigrant quota as shown in a passport
or a Nonresident Identification Card; or
• Nonresidents granted to work in Thailand are
regarded as resuming residents in Thailand provided they
have a one-year non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration
Department. In case where the non-immigrant visa has not yet
been granted, either of the following documents may be
accepted: ◦The letter from the Immigration Department
certifying that the nonresidents shall be granted an annual
temporary stay in Thailand; or
◦The work permit from the Department of Labor to work in
Thailand for at least one year.
• Nonresidents entering Thailand as an expert,
specialist, or under a contract of government agencies are
required to present the letter from relevant agencies
certifying that such nonresidents are granted a
non-immigrant visa issued by the Immigration Department and
shall work in Thailand not less than one year.
Accompanying spouses of the nonresidents in (2) and (3) are
regarded as resuming residence in Thailand provided the
spouses have non-immigrant visas issued by the Immigration
Department to stay in Thailand for the first 90 days.
• Thai Residents: Thai residents may import the
secondhand/used household effects acquired abroad duty-free
if such household effects are accompanied them in the change
of residence and they are qualified under the criteria
listed below:
• Thai residents or government officials work
or carry out a working visit abroad for at least one year.
In case where the Thai residents/government officials must
return to Thailand before one year, evidence showing that
the return is caused by the termination of contracts,
reshuffle of positions, or early termination of working
visits, is required.
• Thai residents working abroad under other
reasons than those indicated in (1) are required to
undertake a commitment that they shall return to Thailand to
resume residence.
• Thai students, government officials study
abroad for at least one year.
DocumentS
• An Import Declaration (Customs Form No.
99/1);
• A passport;
• Nonresidents are required to submit the
following documents:
• The letter issued by the Immigration
Department confirming that an annual temporary stay is
granted;
• A one-year (or more) work permit issued by
the Department of Labor;
• The letter from a relevant government agency
confirming that a non-immigrant visa from the Immigration
Department is granted and that working period in Thailand is
not less than 1 year, for those entering Thailand as an
expert, specialist, or under government contracts; ◦Thai
Residents are required to submit an evidence of changing
residence e.g. a transcript, reshuffle of positions,
termination of employment contract, etc.;
• A Bill of Lading or air waybill;
• An invoice (if any);
• A Delivery Order;
• A packing list or sale documents (if any);
• A permit in case of restricted goods;
• An application for taxes and duty free
allowance; and
• Other documents e.g. a letter of
authorization (if any).
Clearance Procedures
When the importers arrive in Thailand, they have to
contact the Customs office at the port of entry to clear the
household effects from the Customs custody. They will need
to prepare all documents as required by Customs to claim tax
and duty free importation of the household effects and
follow the processes listed below:
• The importer/agent submits an Application for
Tax and Duty Free Allowance, Import Declaration, and all
supporting documents to the Customs office at the port of
entry;
• Customs verifies the documents and the
Application for Tax and Duty Free Allowance and charges
taxes and duties on any household effects not eligible for
tax and duty free allowance;
• The importer/agent pays taxes and duties (if
any) at the Cashier Division, and then contact the Customs
to release goods; and
• Customs inspects the imported household
effects against the Declaration. If there is no discrepancy
between the Declaration made and the goods inspected, all
goods will be released.
CONTACT
For further inquiry and information, you may contact the
Customs Call Center at Tel. 1164 or the Customs Clinic at
Tel. 02-667-7880-4, Fax. 02-667-7885, e-mail:
customs_clinic@customs.go.th. Additional
information may also be obtained from Customs ports of
entry/exit. Please consult our telephone directory for a
Customs office near you. The listing can be found under the
“CONTACT US” section. |
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