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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.
 

CHIANGMAI MOVING AND SHIPPING

Head Office :236/2 Mu 5 T. Yang Noeng A.Sarapli ,Chiang Mai Thailand 50130

Tel: 66-093-3361995 whatsapp 66-0933361995 e-mail:phusawasdi@hotmail.com

MSN:phusawasdi@hotmail.com  time :08.00am -17.00pm daily

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