Leaving Thailand with a Buddha statue - export License

[daejung]

My experience might be useful to others.

 

I bought a 32 cms high and 20 cms wide Buddha statue at Tha Phra Chan Amulet market. The statue was new and made with resin.

 

I didn't want to have any problem when leaving Thailand with it since an export license is mandatory for any Buddha image larger than 12 cms and export is forbidden for those older than 5 years.

 

It was very easy to find the Fine Arts Department and to go there to get that license.

      กรมศิลปากร กระทรวงวัฒนธรรม
     81/1 ถนนศรีอยุธยา
     แขวงวชิรพยาบาล
     เขตดุสิต
     กรุงเทพมหานคร 10300

 

     FINEART DEPARTMENT
     81/1  Sriayutthaya Road
     Dusit Distrit
     Bangkok

 

I only needed to  bring the Buddha statue and my passport. I also brought an invoice which I asked the shop.

I got all information by mail ([email protected])

 

The inspection lasted then than 30 minutes. They took pictures. No queue, no one was waiting.

 

I filled in 2 forms and wrote that I bought it for respect and would place it at a dedicated place in my home.

 

They sealed a tag on my Buddha where I will have to mention the export permit once I have it.

 

I did it on Thursday and they said I would receive an email on Friday at 1 pm with the bill

I got the mail Friday at 2:30 pm. I scanned the barcode with my thai bank application in order to pay 100 bahts. I could have paid at any ATM too.

As they said, I got the export permit the following working day, this Monday at 14:53

 

 

[daejung]

I intend to put it in my checked luggage.

 

I wonder if they might open it when scanning my luggage. I will leave a copy of the license inside, just in case !

[chalawaan]

27 minutes ago, daejung said:

I intend to put it in my checked luggage.

 

I wonder if they might open it when scanning my luggage. I will leave a copy of the license inside, just in case !

Just in case... I see what you did there. 

[chalawaan]

Write a follow up if you do get pulled aside, even after all that. I'm betting if they do x-ray it, they'll still muck you about, and want to see ALL the paperwork.

Rather than find your thoughtful luggage note, glance at it, and just put it back and let it efficiently go into the aircraft hold. Nothing personal, it's just how they roll with everything here.

[AndyAndyAndy]

What even made you wake up one morning and be like "I didn't have enough third world bureaucracy, I know what, I'm gonna export 300 Bath Buddha statue" ???? Anyway if you're looking for an inspiration on your arrival back, you could try to import your 15 years old Ford Escort from your home country, it also seems to be a very popular endeavor around here. ????

[daejung]

19 hours ago, chalawaan said:

Rather than find your thoughtful luggage note, glance at it, and just put it back and let it efficiently go into the aircraft hold. Nothing personal, it's just how they roll with everything here.

What do you mean ?

[daejung]

When checking-in this morning, I told KLM staff that I had a Buddha in one of my suitcases with a license from Fine Arts Department.

 

They registered my baggage and I then brought them myself to the Oversize Baggage Check-in where they were scanned in front of me.

 

Had they ask me something, I would then have shown them the license.

 

They asked nothing.

 

Better to follow the rules, as I did.

[fusion58]

On 4/24/2023 at 6:34 PM, daejung said:

I didn't want to have any problem when leaving Thailand with it since an export license is mandatory for any Buddha image larger than 12 cms and export is forbidden for those older than 5 years.

 

I'm more than a little concerned right now as I'm in the process of moving back to the U.S. and the contact person at my shipping company is telling me I need to obtain an export license for an apsara (not a Buddha) statue my sister purchased for me as a gift ten years ago on a trip to Burma. The statue is definitely older than five years. My father in-law is convinced that the statue is, in fact, hundreds of years old. I just hope these clowns don't tell me I can't export the statue as it's one of my most precious possessions. 

 

The fact that (a) the statue came from Myanmar and (b) is an apsara (or "nat") image - not a Buddha image -  doesn't seem to make a difference to these geniuses.

[fusion58]

On 4/27/2023 at 9:46 PM, chalawaan said:

Write a follow up if you do get pulled aside, even after all that. I'm betting if they do x-ray it, they'll still muck you about, and want to see ALL the paperwork.

Rather than find your thoughtful luggage note, glance at it, and just put it back and let it efficiently go into the aircraft hold. Nothing personal, it's just how they roll with everything here.

 

Just another shakedown.

 

I can't believe these schmucks are demanding I pay a fee to export a statue I've owned for 10 years and which originated in and was purchased in another country.

[daejung]

1 hour ago, fusion58 said:

 

Just another shakedown.

 

I can't believe these schmucks are demanding I pay a fee to export a statue I've owned for 10 years and which originated in and was purchased in another country.

 

A fee to get the license but very cheap (100 bahts). Without license you will not be allowed to export it, in case they find it in your baggage.

 

Better to do as I did, maybe they'll give you the license,  and if they don't give you the license you'll do your own way then !

 

Probably many people export without license, but if you're caught you'll have to leave it in Bangkok, which doesn't really matter if the statue has no value.

 

I may not insert the link from the Bangkok Post.   Google for it with "Exporting Buddha"

 

 

Quote

The last thing you want is to have your prized souvenir or gift confiscated on its way out of the country because you failed to adhere to the proper procedures.

 

 

https://www.dfdl.com/insights/news/what-are-the-rules-regarding-exporting-buddha-images-from-thailand-dfdl-article-in-the-bangkok-post/

 

[fusion58]

8 minutes ago, daejung said:

 

A fee to get the license but very cheap (100 bahts). Without license you will not be allowed to export it, in case they find it in your baggage.

 

Better to do as I did, maybe they'll give you the license,  and if they don't give you the license you'll do your own way then !

 

Probably many people export without license, but if you're caught you'll have to leave it in Bangkok, which doesn't really matter if the statue has no value.

 

I may not insert the link from the Bangkok Post.   Google for it with "Exporting Buddha"

 

 

 

https://www.dfdl.com/insights/news/what-are-the-rules-regarding-exporting-buddha-images-from-thailand-dfdl-article-in-the-bangkok-post/

 

 

I'm planning to apply for the export license. The statue is too large to fit in a checked bag, so that wouldn't be an option anyway. The article in the Post references Buddha images; my statue isn't a Buddha image - it's a Burmese apsara or "nat." I'm not sure if that will make a difference where the age restriction is concerned. At any rate, if I'm denied a license, then I'll just have to find another way, I guess. I'm not going to let these jackals rob me of my personal possessions.

 

 

[daejung]

Buddha image is the litteral translation of พุทธรูป.

 

รูป is an image or any representation of Buddha. It applies to statues

 

See http://thai-language.com/id/197246

 

And

 

http://thai-language.com/id/131658

picture; image; a likeness; painting