Living In Thailand

[Maurits48]

Dear All

Hope that someone can help me as am confused with all the info here available.

I am 55 year male and married with a Thai.

Want to go and live in Thailand

Am Dutch (Netherlands) citizen and my wife also has visa for there.

1) What are the restrictions/papers i need to ask for a 1 year visa and how do i renew that one every year????

2)Is it possible to ship all our belongings (Household like washingmachine/computer/decoration etc) to Thailand and are there importduties to pay????

3)Does anyone have info about costs for transport and/or could give me name/phonenr. of transportcompanies that are handling this???

4)Assume that everything has to be shipped in name of my wife with her address in Thailand

Would appreciate very much to get a reply to this.

Thanks in advance

Maurits

[Guest IT Manager]

You need to get a few things clear.

First, your wife is Thai, ergo, she doesn't need a visa for here, though she may need one for there.

Second, since I am unfamiliar with things Euro-lectric, check it's worthwhile bringing big items like washer etc in. It may be cheaper to buy here.

Third if they ship from and to, your wife, there shouldn't be any duty, as personal effects.

Bring the PC with you, and buy a monitor for 3500 baht. Get a Thai/glish keyboard here as well.

Where are you planning to live?

How much "personal belongings" are you planning to bring in. How big a container are you looking at?

With these I can probably suggest a shipping agent here. You will also need a customs expediter, to get through the hairy bits.

Good luck.

[Maurits48]

Thanks for reply IT

We are planning to live close to Khon Kaen, a place called Bhan Pai.For time being we have to rent a house there, but once we are settled and we both want to stay we want to build own small house. (we have already ground in her name)

Thinking about normal container, we take all the things we have now at home with us, sofa/diningtable/bed/tv/audio etc with us.

Forgot to ask another important question. I have quite a collection of wine and Port wine. Is that allowed to take as well???

Would appreciate to get reply, also about the other pending/uncertain questions

Thanks

Maurits

[Guest IT Manager]

Wine should be OK but will likely be taxed. Bring in as a "collection of wine bottles numbering 23,547".

That should be checked with Customs though as the wine tax is as big as the car tax, at over 200%.

You could, in my opinion, find it better to sell off and buy here. Bring Photos of what you have.

A forty foot container from US costs 38,000 baht. Customs, handling etc on top. Takes 4 weeks or there abouts.

You really need to consider the finance against the logistics.

It is all doable, and we can put someone on the job in KK with few problems, but again, I would advise a careful looking at your "things". For example an appropriate lounge suite in Holland, is likely as not, not a great idea in LoS. Heat etc. If it's leather, forget bringing it at once, it's too hot here.

Look at stuff available to purchase new here, or do what we do, and make it.

Have a look at retirement issues onhere

[Maurits48]

Thanks again for answer IT

will think good what to take with us.But will need a container at anyway.

Wine i prefer to take with me, since especially the Port wine is a very nice collection. Have some that are over 50 years vintage.

Hope to be able also to go to Thai embassy within 2 weeks to get the necessary papers. Unfortunately no time next week.

What i understood is that it is only possible to transfer money to Thailand once you are there (the 800.000bht) since i dont have a bankaccount there.

Is that a one time deposit or you need to have every year that amount on the account??? Assume that once that is deposited you dont need a monthly income, or am i wrong???

Regards

Maurits

[opalhort]

please forget about sending furniture, TV etc. to Thailand. the things you got in NL are not made to withstand the tropical climate!

furnitures sold in Europe will start rotting within a year or two in our humidity.

sell most of your stuff in NL and buy new in Thailand, much cheaper also!

only take your very personal, irreplaceable belongings along.

opalhort

[opalhort]

Wine i prefer to take with me, since especially the Port wine is a very nice collection. Have some that are over 50 years vintage.

have you considered the problem of storage? in Thailand you won't have cold cellars.

and import taxes are VERY high for wine, even if it is 'personal effects'.

opalhort

[dutch]

Maurits48,

I am a fellow countryman who moved 5 yrs ago to Indonesia and will (final) move this year to Thailand.

Although the huminity over here is much higher than in Thailand I don't have any trouble at all with my (leather)sofas-furniture-fridge-washmachine-dryer-computer and so on.You know that selling in Holland will not bring you anything.Most probably you will have to pay for removal.

As far as information concerned about international moving.

There are lot of companies who will come to your house to have a look.make you an offer and inform you about all the aspects of this very important happening in your life. Only European people (dutch people) will understand why and how much we collect and try to keep with us.My container was 40ft and loaded. This company will also inform you with the latest information about duties and prohibited items , as it is there resposibility during the packing and thansport and import. You need a company with connections in Thailand, not only a correspondent .Look in your Yellow Pages.

I paid 17.000,- dutch guilders door to door.inclusive packing (the action).No costs more what so ever!

The visa issue and the retirement or supporting spouse information is available on this website as mentioned before.Read it carefully and than raise your questions.There aregood advises that you will receive,as did I.

Why should your wife have a visa.? For bringing in household she only needs te be outside the country for minimum one year.(without too many ins and outs during that year.Custom clearance officer to decide!)All goods to be minimum 6 moths old.

[Maurits48]

Thanks for information received until now.

have to make up my mind whether to take all things with me or not. Will be a pity to leave things behind as quite a lot of them do not value a lot, but have for me a lot of emotional value

Maurits

[opalhort]

Don't you have a relative in NL with whom you could deposit some of your things?

you can then later decide if you want to have them sent to you in Thailand or not.

opalhort

[dr_Pat_Pong]

You only need 200,000 baht in a bank in Thailand as a married person. That amount increases to 400,000 in July. You personally have NO rights to bring goods to Thailand until you have a one year extension of your visa from Thai Immigration or an O/A visa issied in Holland from the Thai Embassy or Consulate.

[phennecke]

Maurits48,

Don't break all bridges to Holland. Try to leave a second foot there. You can never be shure, that you really want and can live the rest of your live in Thailand. Even, if you stay together with your wife, what will never be hundred % shure, you have not really a right to stay in Thailand. Much can happen between your 60. and 100. birthday.

Important question: Do you have a fixed income in Holland for the rest of your live, such as a pension?

Best wishes,

Peter

[Sunbelt Asia]

Hi

You have a period of six months to bring your personel items in with no duty which starts from the date that you initially entered Thailand on the O visa, regardless whether you leave and re-enter Thailand after that date.

However, the deadline is somewhat flexible. If your personal items are due to arrive in Thailand more than six months after the entry date, you should inform Customs about this at least two months before the six-month deadline.

If, after entering Thailand, you have been granted a permit to stay for a year or more, your belongings will not be taxed. However, if your permit to stay is for less than one year, these items will be taxed 20% import duty plus 7% value-added tax.

If your belongings arrive while you are away, you can have them stored at the deep sea port, where I presume they will arrive. If you leave your items at the port longer than two months, you should inform Customs so they know that you will collect them later.

Remember Televisions are a consideration. Thailand is on the PAL-2, system B/G. Many televisions on the modern market are able to switch between the different standard systems, but you should check your TV's documentation first

From Thai customs...

http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/House...old#requirement

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.

Documentation

An Import Declaration Form (Customs Form No99/1);

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;

A Foreign Transaction Form if the CIF value exceeding 500,000 Baht;

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 Form, and all supporting documents to the Customs office at the port of entry;

Customs verifies the documents and 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 Goods Clearance Division; 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.

Sunbelt Asia

02-642-0213

www.sunbeltasia.com

[dutch]

Great Information Sunbelt!

I printed already to keep with my documentation.

Although I will use qualified moving company, to know about all the rules, makes it easy when the time is there.

(I hope no copy rights?)

[Maurits48]

Thanks all for very detailed and good information.

Have decided to sell most of things and bring only essential with me.

Will not yet burn all my bridges, as will keep address in Holland so in case some problems arrive/happen it will always be possible to return to holland and find a house there.

Hope that i will get any kind of work there (maybe teacher english/german) in

Khon Kaen or in Bhan Pai, as do not yet feel doing nothing.

In case not a paid job, will talk with orphan or temple to offer my services to teach there some english.

With pain in my heart i will part from my Port wine collection.But if that is the only thing i dont mind.

In case someone has some info about evt other job in Bhan Pai/Khon Kaen would appreciate to hear it.

I speak french/german/english/dutch and portugese and have always worked as buyingagent in textiles.

You can also write to my hotmail as follows> [email protected]

[wowpow]

EASTERN SEABOARD

FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL

MOVING LTD.

397/109 La Terraza, Casa Espana,

Moo 12, Pratumnak Road, Pattaya,

Cholburi, Thailand

Phone : (6638) 306 330

Fax : (6638) 306 331

Email : [email protected]

Representatives from this company did a very good presentation to us at the Pattaya ex-pats club. They seem to have a good knowledge of Thai Customs and Exice and the Tea Money scenario. They are International and should be able to advise you well and quote. Two friends of mine used them when moving to Thailand for retirement/working and both were pleased with the service and price.

As I understand it once your Visa is granted for 1 year you have 6 months to bring in personal effects without paying any duty.

[astral]

Hi

Getting the visa should be easy. You want the Non-Immigrant 'O' visa.

You will have to show your marriage cert and your wife's passport and Id card.

The visa will admit you to Thailand for 3 months, then you apply to Immigration for

an extension. As you are married to a Thai you will need to show 200,000 baht in a Thai bank, ($5000). Then you can get the extension for 1 year and renew it again each year, on the same basis, ie money in the bank. An alternative to the lump sum, is to show a regular pension payment.

If you do not have the money, do not worry. Living here is very cheap.

When you apply for the visa, ask for the multi-entry version. Then every three months you will have to leave Thailand. There are several places where you can just go out and straight back in again. From Khon Kaen the closest is probably Nong Khai.

Once you have the one year visa you can import your personal item.

I suggest putting then in store in you home country, until you are ready.

If you do not get the one year visa a good shipping agent will still be able to import them for you. I paid around $1500.

Sorry, forget the wine and port, the customs will charge a fortune.

If you have a car, sell it, we drive in the left here!!

Keep your furniture, it will be fine here. Mine is OK and I have been here for 15 years. Local items are cheap, but you get what you pay for. The good stuff is expensive and probably not available where you plan to live.

Unless you have huge amount it will fit in a 20ft container.

Hope this helps.

If you need more info you can contact me at [email protected]

Alan

[phennecke]

200,000 baht in a Thai bank

Remember: It will be 400.000 in the future.

Peter