• When arriving to Thailand: the customs official inspects the traveler strictly. This does not necessarily mean that this traveler is suspected in any wrongdoings. However, this thorough inspection aims at applying the related laws and regulations.
• If the traveler brings some items which are subjected to customs fees and their value exceeds THB 10000, these items shall be subjected to import duties and customs provided that these items are for personal (not commercial) use and to be with a reasonable quantity with total value of THB 80,000 at most.
• Items that exceed the amount permitted for the personal use, or their total value exceed THB 10,000 (or for the commercial use) are subjected to fees and taxes (including items of value less than THB 80,00).
• If the value of the items subjected to the customs fees exceeds an amount of THB 80,000, these items shall be sent to Customs warehouse to be subjected to the formalities applied on the imports. These items shall also be seized until completing the formalities.

Carnets A.T.A. Book

This Book is used to demand a temporary import permit to enter items to be shown in the exhibitions or import advertising materials, commercial samples, or scientific equipment, according to the Convention on the temporary importation (The Convention Governing A.T.A Carnets).

When arriving to Thailand, you have to check with the customs official in the red line (and show him the Book) to complete the customs clearance with it (this process is completed at the airport).

The Book holder shall fill the re-export forms when departing Thailand. These include: Re-Exportation Counterfoil, Good re- export certificate (to introduce the goods to be exported to the customs official for verification). This certificate shall be kept with the Book holder.

For more details, please contact the International Chamber of Commerce in the Kingdom of Thailand:

• Tel.: + 6626222183 / + 6626221111 ext.: 421
• Fax: +6622255475

Foreign Currencies

• Travelers from and to Thailand who have foreign currencies with an amount exceeds USD 20,000 (or equivalent) must inform the Customs Department according to the Ministerial Regulation No. (25) of 1987 issued under Exchange Control Act.
• Any one holds foreign currencies, either banknote or coins, exceed an amount of USD 20,000 (or equivalent) must inform the Customs official upon arrival/ departure through filling the Declaration Form.

Customs Clearance Procedures

• Customs Clearance procedures are done in all ports for those who have luggage or vehicles through inspecting people and vehicles (their luggage and belongings) and receiving the duties and taxes (if any).
• The Custom Department applies the Red and Green Lines in the main airports to accelerate the Customs Clearance procedures for travelers who can notice the related notice boards.
• Those who want to receive customs services or pay duties or taxes imposed on the goods and commodities shall go directly to customs points at the airport.

Red Line

• Upon Arrival: anyone has goods and commodities required to be declared, shall go to the Red Line at the access point. These goods include: hazardous materials, restricted or controlled goods, substances that exceed the permitted limit and that should be subject to customs duties and taxes, and any other material which is not exempted from the customs duties.

The traveler at the Red Line is subjected to:

• Prosecution and confiscation of the prohibited or controlled substances in case of not declaring or submitting a valid entry permit for them.
• Payment of the fees/ confiscation of the goods exceed the permitted limit or the non- exempted goods from customs duties.

Green Line

• Upon arrival: those who do not carry anything required to be declared shall go to the Green Line at the Access Point, if: they have goods subjects to the privileges of customs duties exemption, do no have goods subjected to customs duties, restricted goods or subjected to supervision.
• Transit travelers who pass the Green Line are not exempted from the customs examination. The customs official is authorized to select some travelers and examine their luggage. If it is approved that the traveler have goods must be declared, he shall then get the required permission from the Red Line.

In the Green Line, the traveler is subjected to:

• Prosecution/ punishment if it is discovered that he did not declare about the goods subjected to the customs duties or not fully declared them. The prohibited goods or controlled goods will be also confiscated if it is found that they do not have a valid permit for these goods.

Complains

• If the traveler believes that the inspection is done in an inappropriate manner, he has the right to speak directly with the supervisor (who is always available) and is responsible for ensuring that the customs officers deal with the travelers in honorable and professional manner.

Custom Offences

• Customs Department has assigned the imposition of customs duties (and relevant laws) to a number of other governmental entities (including the Food and Drug Administration, Livestock Department, Fisheries Department, Ministry of Commerce, etc.) which require to know the quality of the things brought / departed Thailand.
• The Main task of the Customs Department is to: provide facilities, and permanently control the goods movement across the borders in entry / exit ports.
• Goods that are harmful to the safety of the community, public health, local plants or wildlife are prevented from entering Thailand.
• Before Departure: the traveler has to contact with the Customs Department or other relevant governmental entities in respect of goods to be taken with the traveler when come back to Thailand, to make sure that these goods are not prohibited or restricted.

Prohibited or restricted goods

• The data mentioned below is about the prohibited (restricted) goods required to get an importation or exportation permit
• The prohibited goods are: goods prevented to be imported or exported abro. Importing or exporting these goods are considered a crime and the one who commits it will be subjected to sanctions provided in the relevant national legislations. In addition, doing this act is deemed to be a crime pursuant to Articles No. 27 and 27 (bis) of Customs Act of 2469 BE (1926) which prohibits the following items to be exported from or imported to Thailand:

• Pornography and immoral material
• Goods bearing the national flag of the Kingdom of Thailand.
• Narcotic substances such as marijuana, hashish, cocaine, morphine, heroin, and opium, as well as bad monies, false bonds, counterfeit official and royal seals.
• Copyright pirated goods including; musical tapes, CDs, and video and computer programs.

Goods with fabricated trademarks

• Restricted Goods: the goods subjected to import/ export restriction pursuant to Law, and thus, they are required a permit to be issued by the relevant entities. Anyone imports or export these goods is deemed to be committed a Law punishable crime in accordance with national legislation. In addition, these acts are considered a crime under Articles No. 27 and 27 (bis) of Customs Act of 1926.
• The Ministry of Commerce has identified the categories of goods that are subjected to import controls, which required a permission or license. Under these controls, there are currently more than (50) categories of goods required import permits issued by the Ministry of Commerce. These categories are subjected to modification by Circulars issued by the Ministry of Commerce.
• Moreover, there are a number of goods subject to import controls from other relevant authorities, namely:
• Medicines, food and Supplementary products that require a prior license from of Medicine and Food Administration at the Ministry of Health.
• Registered or unregistered antiques or art materials require a license from the Department of Fine Arts.
• Weapons, ammunition, explosives, fireworks and counterfeit firearms require the necessary license from the Ministry of Interior.
• Other systems such as electric shock devices, which must be declared, as some of these items require a license before being imported.
• Cosmetic Act provides that in order to protect the public health, the import of cosmetics must be controlled and data of the importer, location of the manufacturing plant, warehouse must be provided, in addition to the main components of these products.
• Wildlife, plant life, fish and other marine animals require to be imported a license from the Plant Conservation and Wildlife Department, Agriculture Department and Fisheries Department.

• For the comprehensive list of prohibited and restricted goods, more information on them, and details on the restricted goods required an import and export permit to be issued by the International Trade Department in the Thai Ministry of Commerce, please contact:
• Tel.: + 66 2 507 7000 Fax: +66 2 507 6305
• Hotline (inside Thailand): 1385
• E-mail: webmaster@moc.go.th

Expensive goods to be re-imported

• When Departing Thailand: if the traveler has expensive goods/ items (such as, cameras, video cameras, laptop, and recording devices) and intended to return back to Thailand with them he can inform the Customs Department at the airport after receiving the boarding card as long as those goods / materials have serial numbers (unique, or brands items).
• Customs official takes the necessary action to record the export of those personal belongings to be re-imported, as he permits all the recorded items to be entered and exempted from customs duties after their owner returns back to Thailand.

Jewelry

• Anyone has jewelry and wants to export them must complete the customs procedures before departing the customs office at the airport.

Goods subjected to customs duties/ taxes replacement plan

• Anyone has goods exported under customs duties/ taxes replacement plan or has "re- import certificates" must complete the customs procedures before departing the customs office at the airport.
• Bringing/ sending the restricted or prohibited items to Thailand, including drugs, counterfeit bonds, bad coins or pornography is deemed to be illegal act. The customs confiscate any restricted or prohibited items and their holder may incur a fine or lie in prison.

Foreign Currencies

• There is no specific limit for foreign currencies entry / exit, but they must be declared if the amount of which exceeds USD 20,000 (or equivalent), according to the Ministerial Regulation No. 25 of 1987.
• The foreign currencies are declared to the customs officials at the airport / port, through filling their specified form. This form shall be signed and handed over to the competent employee.

Thai currency

• Whoever has more than THB 50,000 must declare them when departure except those who want to travel to Republic of Laos, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Kingdom of Cambodia, Malaysia, the Republic of Vietnam.

Tax Exemption

• Tax exemption is applied to on the goods of an amount less than THB 10,000, provided that:
• To be for personal use and with reasonable quantity.
• To be excluded from the restricted or prohibited goods.

Cigarettes and tobacco

• Cigarettes and tobacco (and spirits) are entered with specific quantity for the personal use. These items are listed in the customs exemption list provided that they do not exceed 200 cigarettes / or (250) grams of tobacco (and in the case of exceeding this amount, the traveler must go to the Red Line at the access point to declare them).
• Personal luggage (excluding car's engine or spare parts) regardless of their ages or ownership.
• For more information, please contact Thai Customs Department at the following numbers:
• Tel: +6626677880/1-2-3-4
• Fax: + 6626677885
• Hotline: (inside Thailand): 1164
• E-mail: customs_clinic@customs.go.th