My sister in the UK has sent me a children's card game (worth £12) as a gift for my son. She decided to send it via DHL as she wanted it to arrive quickly for his birthday.

Today (3 days after it was sent) I received the following email:

Bearing in mind that I don't live in Bangkok so cannot easily travel to Bangkok, do I really have to give my passport to a DHL messenger (#2) and let them keep it for 5-7 days?

Dear Value Customer,
Tel. 08**********

DHL would like to inform you that your shipment has arrived in Thailand. However, the shipment is subject to import controlled Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI).

Therefore, the importer is required to register as an importer with Thai Customs and appoint DHL as the customs broker in order to complete customs clearance. Only after this process is completed can the shipment be released and delivered.

---

Step 1: Importer Registration

Due to the Thai Customs officer require the original passport to identify personal data and register with Thai Customs. We have options for you as below :

 

1. You can contact directly to customs office : 120 Years Building, Customs Department (อาคาร 120 ปีกรมศุลกากร)
   Please bring your original passport and authorize DHL TAX ID : 0105533022910 to be your brokers by yourself

** after you complete registration and authorize DHL. Please confirm us back for proof of registration page (please request from customs officer)  by reply to this mail.

Address: 10 Sunthonkosa Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Open 9.00 ⋅ Closes 4:30PM

Phone: +66 2 667 7000

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4fmondnsAG29xBiCA

 

2. If you would like DHL to register on your behalf, we will book the messenger to pick up the original passport. It will be take time 5-7 working days. Please provide document below ;

• Phone number

• Address to receive the original passport.

Our team register will arrange messenger to pick up the original passport and Our team will contact you back again for explaining how to prepare document for registration.

 

Please inform back again which option you would like to proceed.

 

---

Step 2: Required Documents

Please kindly provide the following documents:

1. A copy or photo of your passport (please send to us within 24 hours to correct receiver name)

2. Order confirmation page from the website.

3. Proof of payment for Customs verification.

4. Product information for customs declaration, including:

   • Product name (Thai language)

   • Material

   • Brand

   • Photos and any other relevant details of each item
     (Required to determine the correct customs tariff classification)



No.	Product Name (Thai)	Usage	Material	Brand
1.
2.

 

 

Expense



Import Duty	Duties are levied at a specific rate. The classification of goods for duty purposes is based upon the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (commonly referred to as the “Harmonized System” or “HS Code”)
Tax	Standard rate of 7% (on top of shipment value, freight Charge and duty amount)
Duty Tax Importer (Disbursement)	2% of import duty with a minimum of THB 210/Shipment and a maximum of THB 2000 per shipment + VAT7%
Formal Clearance charge	THB 365 + VAT7%
Bond Storage Charge	1. First 3 calendar days: Free of Charge 2. From 4th calendar day onward, charge THB 240 per shipment per day AND THB 3.5 per kg (by actual billed weight) per day of keeping in Free zone area + VAT 7%
Customs Fees	THB 200 / shipment

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________

Please be updated 2026 customs charge rate effective date 1st January 2026. (All charges not include vat7%)

 

Rate ค่าเช่าคลัง DHL ปี 2026 คือ 240 บาทต่อชิพเม้นนี้ต่อวัน + 3.50 บาทต่อกิโลต่อวัน ฟรี 3 วันแรกนับตั้งแต่วันที่ส่งข้อมูลสินค้าเข้าระบบกรมศุลกากรจนถึงวันที่ตรวจปล่อย ***รวมวันหยุดและนักขัตฤกษ์*** ไม่รวม vat

 

*** PLEASE PRESS REPLY TO ALL

 

Kind regards,

Refuse ... Return to Sender ...

No I don't think so you may I believe appoint, say, Ionic Logistics as your import agent if you wish. Even if DHL complete the process I do not believe the original fee will include delivery to you as the process has been interrupted by customs clearance.

Playing cards used to be illegal in Thailand and maybe still are. Children's playing cards maybe considered toys hence the TISI involvement. Bogus or otherwise.

DHL are the worst for added fees. Along with UPs being a close second or equal.

Oh and the clock is ticking on their storage charges. 💩

I have had stuff sent over by DHL, normal, not a problem, except once, for a set of wood chisels, with UK ash handles that had to be cleared by the Department of Agriculture, which DHL did themselves, then they sent it on to me. I live away from Bangkok.

The only thing I can think of (daft), it is a card game, playing cards being illegal here in Thailand.

3 minutes ago, kickstart said:

The only thing I can think of (daft), it is a card game, playing cards being illegal here in Thailand.

Playing cards are on sale on Lazada so that's not the issue. Seems the item's been misclassified by Customs. Call the DHL helpline. The couple of times I have, they've been pretty helpful.

Personally, I'd either "return to sender" or abandon it - the hoops you have to jump through here and the potential extra costs for the value of the item its just not worth the hassle.

11 hours ago, Autocan said:

Playing cards are on sale on Lazada so that's not the issue. Seems the item's been misclassified by Customs. Call the DHL helpline. The couple of times I have, they've been pretty helpful.

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

Personally, I'd either "return to sender" or abandon it - the hoops you have to jump through here and the potential extra costs for the value of the item its just not worth the hassle.

Thanks. I've emailed DHL and will try phoning. But yes, I'm not going to be travelling to Bangkok or paying excessive charges for a 500 baht kids' game.

I’ve successfully had DHL pick up and send my passport to customs, and it was promptly returned. For me, DHL is my favorite delivery service, much better than UPS. In fact, once you’ve done the passport thing, DHL will successfully import your stuff without further verification once they become your authorized agent. I use them all of the time for Amazon, B&H Photo, etc., and they (the stores) will estimate the duties and customs prior to shipping and allow you to pay ahead of time.

On 5/13/2026 at 8:15 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

My sister in the UK has sent me a children's card game (worth £12) as a gift for my son. She decided to send it via DHL as she wanted it to arrive quickly for his birthday.

Today (3 days after it was sent) I received the following email:

Bearing in mind that I don't live in Bangkok so cannot easily travel to Bangkok, do I really have to give my passport to a DHL messenger (#2) and let them keep it for 5-7 days?

Dear Value Customer,
Tel. 08**********

DHL would like to inform you that your shipment has arrived in Thailand. However, the shipment is subject to import controlled Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI).

Therefore, the importer is required to register as an importer with Thai Customs and appoint DHL as the customs broker in order to complete customs clearance. Only after this process is completed can the shipment be released and delivered.

---

Step 1: Importer Registration

Due to the Thai Customs officer require the original passport to identify personal data and register with Thai Customs. We have options for you as below :

 

1. You can contact directly to customs office : 120 Years Building, Customs Department (อาคาร 120 ปีกรมศุลกากร)
   Please bring your original passport and authorize DHL TAX ID : 0105533022910 to be your brokers by yourself

** after you complete registration and authorize DHL. Please confirm us back for proof of registration page (please request from customs officer)  by reply to this mail.

Address: 10 Sunthonkosa Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Open 9.00 ⋅ Closes 4:30PM

Phone: +66 2 667 7000

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4fmondnsAG29xBiCA

 

2. If you would like DHL to register on your behalf, we will book the messenger to pick up the original passport. It will be take time 5-7 working days. Please provide document below ;

• Phone number

• Address to receive the original passport.

Our team register will arrange messenger to pick up the original passport and Our team will contact you back again for explaining how to prepare document for registration.

 

Please inform back again which option you would like to proceed.

 

---

Step 2: Required Documents

Please kindly provide the following documents:

1. A copy or photo of your passport (please send to us within 24 hours to correct receiver name)

2. Order confirmation page from the website.

3. Proof of payment for Customs verification.

4. Product information for customs declaration, including:

   • Product name (Thai language)

   • Material

   • Brand

   • Photos and any other relevant details of each item
     (Required to determine the correct customs tariff classification)



No.	Product Name (Thai)	Usage	Material	Brand
1.
2.

 

 

Expense



Import Duty	Duties are levied at a specific rate. The classification of goods for duty purposes is based upon the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (commonly referred to as the “Harmonized System” or “HS Code”)
Tax	Standard rate of 7% (on top of shipment value, freight Charge and duty amount)
Duty Tax Importer (Disbursement)	2% of import duty with a minimum of THB 210/Shipment and a maximum of THB 2000 per shipment + VAT7%
Formal Clearance charge	THB 365 + VAT7%
Bond Storage Charge	1. First 3 calendar days: Free of Charge 2. From 4th calendar day onward, charge THB 240 per shipment per day AND THB 3.5 per kg (by actual billed weight) per day of keeping in Free zone area + VAT 7%
Customs Fees	THB 200 / shipment

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________

Please be updated 2026 customs charge rate effective date 1st January 2026. (All charges not include vat7%)

 

Rate ค่าเช่าคลัง DHL ปี 2026 คือ 240 บาทต่อชิพเม้นนี้ต่อวัน + 3.50 บาทต่อกิโลต่อวัน ฟรี 3 วันแรกนับตั้งแต่วันที่ส่งข้อมูลสินค้าเข้าระบบกรมศุลกากรจนถึงวันที่ตรวจปล่อย ***รวมวันหยุดและนักขัตฤกษ์*** ไม่รวม vat

 

*** PLEASE PRESS REPLY TO ALL

 

Kind regards,

I had a delivery recently from India via thai post. I didn't get the package, just a customs collection note to collect from the customs office at Laem Chabang.

Fairly straightforward, other than the fact I had to get an FDA stamp, but wouldn't apply to you. There was no registration involved and just used pink card. Lots of people collecting parcels.

If Laem Chabang not too far, may be worth asking DHL if at LC and if so to do it yourself.

If you have a tracking number that may tell you where it is. I have a tracking utility that I have found useful. Google " Universal Package Tracking", author is "tisunov".

DHL are total rip offs, they charge fees for everything then hit you with storage fees as well as fees for handling the item. I refuse to use them, better to return to semder so they cant just keep it themselves.

Had to 2 DHL deliveries this year:

1) Apple computer from China. No import duty, tax or tariff.

2) A small box containing supplements from a company in New York State. The total cost of the package was 500 Baht. Before it was released I had to pay 75 Baht(this come to 15%).. I was never told if this was a duty, tax or tariff.

Anyway if one wants a package then this appears the way things are.

On 5/13/2026 at 8:34 PM, VocalNeal said:

Oh and the clock is ticking on their storage charges.

Quite, it is 7 days after arrival in Thailand.

I got the notice on a Friday afternoon 4 days after it had arrived. Closed at weekends and the Monday was a holiday.

6 minutes ago, seajae said:

DHL are total rip offs, they charge fees for everything then hit you with storage fees as well as fees for handling the item. I refuse to use them, better to return to semder so they cant just keep it themselves.

Storage fees originate at customs, DHL may well add something on.

When receiving hearing aids that had been sent to the US for repair, I was required to obtain a 'Medical Device Import License,' with all the same sort of bureaucracy that was involved.
These were mine. I owned them for three years before sending them for repair. There was no ambiguity that these were not new; it was only a repair. But Thailand and DHL decided otherwise, so it took an extra three to four weeks with my hearing aids sitting on a shelf in Bangkok, to get them back!

Avoid DHL like the plague.

Anything from UK to here just use the post office , sometimes it's insanely quick and it's not crazy expensive.

ALL the couriers are total rip-offs. The only reason to use them at all is for liquids and batteries which post offices won't accept.

Postal rates have gone way up but PO is still the best solution. If your parcel gets 'stuck' in the system, you can explain with reason to a postmaster or your local Customs postal branch.

I learned this the hard way. Bought a $350 computer which cost me $1,000.

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Avoid DHL like the plague.

Anything from UK to here just use the post office , sometimes it's insanely quick and it's not crazy expensive.

The reason DHL was used by the shipper was that the FIRST pair they tried to send me was lost through the post office. We could track them as far as 'leaving Tokyo airport for next destination.' That was the last we ever heard from that pair!
Tracking works very well to see IF a mailed item reaches its destination. But seems to be worthless for FINDING lost mail.
I don't like DHL, FedEx, or UPS, but at least the packages reach their final destination.

I had the same problem with Fed ex, I refused to give my passeport and went myself to the agricultural ministry in Bangkok ( Because the item was made of wood ) and I had to pay customs and Fedex fee , 9000 bahts !

now I buy with Amazon because taxes are paid when I pay Amazon or by post, taxes are small ( same item 1400 bahts )

I did it one time with Fedex , but it's last time , I look now always other solutions ( Amazon is a good one because taxes are paid already , in this case, Fedex and others deliver free directly to your house )