Importing Personal Belongings And Household Goods

[CeeBee]

I am from Australia getting close to retirement age, and am condisering relocating to Thailand, most probably Pattaya.

Rather than leaving furniture, household goods and personal belongings in Australia I would like to have them shipped to Thailand.

I am looking for advice regarding the practicality and costs of doing so. Any advice is welcome.

[ripstanley]

I arrived in Thailand to live full time last September. I obtained a Non Immigrant O visa before I travelled. I sent 4 boxes of used personal effects. I sent them through DHL. They were in storage for one month before I arrived. They would not clear them through Customs until they had my actual passport. I was charged duty and storage to the tune of 5900 Baht.

I found out after that if I had arrived and gained an extension of stay based on retirement that I would have been exempt any Customs duties. You have 6 months after you gain your retiremnet extension to import your personal househo;d goods. I also sent goods through the post office and they arrived with no charges.

This is a link to the Thai Customs site http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/custen/individuals/importing+used+or+secondhand+household+effects/importingusedsecondhandhouseholdeffects

I personally will not use DHL again

Edited June 29, 2012 by ripstanley

[prk888]

Ripstanley is correct. Note well when he mentions the 6 months time frame allowed. After that period everything (albeit used, new, old, valueless etc) was negotiable in my experience. I used a container to bring everything, ie no small shipments or 'hand carry'

[WaywardWind]

I found out after that if I had arrived and gained an extension of stay based on retirement that I would have been exempt any Customs duties. You have 6 months after you gain your retiremnet extension to import your personal househo;d goods. I also sent goods through the post office and they arrived with no charges.

This is a link to the Thai Customs site http://www.customs.g...ouseholdeffects

I personally will not use DHL again

I am not at all certain that the statement is correct: I believe that the exemption applies only to returning Thai residents, (which is why folks with Thai spouses ship their goods in the spouse's name), those coming in with work permits, etc. I believe that the statute specifically eliminates those folks coming for retirement from eligibility for the exemption.

It may well have been allowed in the past, but not now.

I'll try to find an electronic version of the law to link.

[DD13]

I moved here in 2010 and shipped a pallet of personal belongings.....I was "ripped off" for 35,000 baht by the Bangkok port people.before they would release it

A pal moved here in 2009 and he was taken for 20,000

Be very careful, they are a law unto themselves at the docks

I would never send anything here again, it is cheaper to buy "new" household goods here

ps. Yes I know we were a couple of mugs getting "mugged"

Edited June 29, 2012 by DD13

[Darrel]

I would never send anything here again, it is cheaper to buy "new" household goods here

I found that there was something both heart-wrenching and liberating about dumping 30+ years' worth of possessions accumulated rubbish when leaving Europe. I suspect that I also saved quite a lot of money, as the bulk of it will never be replaced and probably would never have been used anyway.

[Sophon]

I found out after that if I had arrived and gained an extension of stay based on retirement that I would have been exempt any Customs duties. You have 6 months after you gain your retiremnet extension to import your personal househo;d goods. I also sent goods through the post office and they arrived with no charges.

This is a link to the Thai Customs site http://www.customs.g...ouseholdeffects

I personally will not use DHL again

I am not at all certain that the statement is correct: I believe that the exemption applies only to returning Thai residents, (which is why folks with Thai spouses ship their goods in the spouse's name), those coming in with work permits, etc. I believe that the statute specifically eliminates those folks coming for retirement from eligibility for the exemption.

It may well have been allowed in the past, but not now.

I'll try to find an electronic version of the law to link.

Maybe you are thinking of this link:

From www2.customs.go.th:

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 cannot brought in tax and duty free as the household effects

NOTE: Motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and tobacco are excluded from this rebate.

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 requirements listed below:

1. Nonresidents resuming residents in Thailand must be granted a non-immigrant quota as shown in a passport or a Nonresident Identification Card; or

2. Nonresidents granted to work in Thailand will be 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:

(2.1) The letter from the Immigration Department certifying that the nonresidents shall be granted an annual temporary stay in Thailand; or

(2.2) The work permit from the Department of Labor to work in Thailand for at least one year.

3. 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) will be 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.

Note : Nonresidents entering into the Kingdom with a non-immigrant visa "code O" who wish to retire in Thailand or accompany spouses of Thai residents are not qualified for (1)

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Thai students, government officials study abroad for at least one year.

Sophon

[simple1]

The financials really depend on if you are looking at importing high quality furniture into Thailand as they can be a lot more expensive in Thailand than Australia. I imported a 20 foot container shipped to Pattaya; cost door to door was A$6500. However i do have a Thai wife so did not pay any excise. PM me if you want more info

[CeeBee]

Many thanks to all who have responded so far.

There is quite a lot of useful information. I need to spend some time on reading the linked websites and on trying to absorb what the actual requirements are. I did have a retirement visa until a few years ago, but re-entered the workforce in Australia, and now have no Thai visa.

I have heard that customs can be difficult (unpredictable) to deal with and look forward to receiving more information on actual recent experiences.

[anto]

I shipped 17 ,2 foot cubed boxes to Thailand in the second year of a Retirement visa .They only charged me B3,500 import duty .The Company who handled everything at Bangkok dock side are called Agility .They kept my passport for about one week .

I think i got off very lightly .

[raro]

As to my knowledge you need a work permit not older than 6 months to import duty free, everybody else has to pay duties, retirement visa or not.

You may want to check with a freight forwarder to get correct and recent information. The customs' website is not always updated.