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Customs Restrictions

Drugs: Thailand bans importing any of the following narcotics: hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin, designer drugs, sleeping pills (you will need a doctor's prescription to bring in some legal drugs). Beware! You can be executed or sent to prison for life for drug smuggling!

Pornography: Thailand bans importing any and all obscene literature, pictures, films, videos, or articles. Banned magazines include Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler, and so on.

Cameras: One still camera or one movie camera can be brought in without duty. Five rolls of still camera film or three rolls of 8 or 16 mm movie camera film may be brought in duty free

Household effects: As a householder, you can bring in a reasonable amount of personal and household effects duty free

Firearms: You must apply for a permit to import firearms and ammunition. Once you have a permit you can bring them in duty free

Tobacco, alcoholic beverages: Not more than 200, or not exceeding 250 gms, of cigarettes, cigars, or tobacco. One liter each of wine or spirits may be brought in duty free

Plants and animals: Certain species of fruits, vegetables and plants are prohibited from import into Thailand. The Agricultural Regulatory Division at Bangkhen, Bangkok can tell you exactly what is prohibited. Phone them on +66 2579-1581 or +66 2579-3576. You can get permission to bring in animals arriving by air at the airport. If they arrive by sea, you must apply to the Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok, phone +66 2251-5136, +66 2252-6944. Vaccination certificates are required.

In addition, you need a license to export various wild animals or products made from the skins of reptiles like crocodiles, snakes, monitor lizards, and long tail monitors. You can apply for an export license certified by the Forestry Department, Wildlife Conservation Division, Phone: +66 2561-4838.

Electronics: For large electronic items, such as personal computers, a deposit may be required which will be refunded when leaving the country with the item.

Antiques & Art Objects: It is forbidden to take images or fragments of the Buddha or Bodhisattva out of Thailand, unless you are a Buddhist and wish to use them for worship, in which case a license must be obtained from the Department of Fine Arts. Small Buddhist amulets may be exported without a license provided the item will be used for religious purposes.

A license is required to export antiques and art objects, irrespective of whether they are originals or reproductions. A license application may be made by submitting two postcard-size prints of the object, a photocopy of your passport and the objects to be exported, to the National Museums Division in Bangkok, Tel. +66 2226-1661, or National Museums in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Songkhla, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani (Ban Chiang). Applications must be made at least 7 to 10 days before the date of shipment or departure.

Temporary Import of Vehicles: Passenger vehicles may be brought into Thailand by tourists for up to six months. Necessary documents for the application include a valid international driving license and passport, vehicle registration (or authorization documents from the owner for borrowed vehicles), and a cash guarantee, bank guarantee or cash self-guarantee equivalent to the value of the vehicle plus 20%. If the vehicle is imported through Bangkok Airport or Klong Toey Port a cash guarantee or bank guarantee is essential. For overland crossings from Malaysia a simple self-guarantee filled in at the Customs control point is sufficient.

For further information, contact the Customs Department, At-Narong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok, 10110. Phone: +66 2249-0431 to 40, Fax +66 2249-2874

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