Bringing In Personal Possesions

[seajae]

Hi, I have 6 boxes of my personal possesions coming over from Australia to my new address with seven seas, I read their list of what is considered ok to bring here but after being hit pretty bad with customs and tax on a few bought items lately I am getting worried. The boxes contain my work gear and tools, towels, cooking gear, books, wine, clothing, computer tower etc but no electrical items and the boxes weigh around 30 kg a piece. I have owned everything in them for at least a couple of years(wine was fine if I had owned for 6months plus according to seven seas) and some of my work gear is still new in its packaging(spares). It is due to arrive in the next few weeks, do I have anything to worry about.

Dennis

[Soutpeel]

As I understand it, you need to be coming here to work to bring you stuff in tax free, and it needs to be within 6 months of arriving

[giddyup]

As I understand it, you need to be coming here to work to bring you stuff in tax free, and it needs to be within 6 months of arriving

I'm not sure if that's true. A friend sent a large crate of personal posessions (computer, electical goods etc) from Australia, including several bottles of spirits and wines. He hadn't declared the wines and spirits so before they arrived he phoned the shipping company and explained the situation. They told him if he paid 4000 baht all would be OK. When the crate was delivered to him it hadn't even been opened. He is here on a retirement visa BTW. So it appears it may be luck of the draw.

[seajae]

I am living here with my wife, came over on a 3 month business visa but will be upgrading it to a 12 month visa in a few weeks just before it expires. The wine was listed on the packaging paperwork, I think there are around 8 or so bottles but they are bloody good ones worth a few dollars.

Dennis

[arthurwait]

Isn't it after 6 months of arriving and on a years visa ?

[seajae]

Well, my personal stuff finally arrived, was quoted 60 days and it took 100. Seems customs liked some of my gear as it was not in the boxes when they were delivered to me but I suppose that is to be expected here. My computer tower was also buggered, sides were pushed in and the face was ripped off, definitely not happy with the way customs deal with your property or should I say "their" property.

Dennis

[Lukjaa]

Anyone try shipping personal belongings from North America? Who did you use and what were the shipping costs?

[seajae]

I brought mine over from Australia with seven seas(world wide), 6 boxes cost me $700 all up for pick up then delivery to my Thai door. It is by ship so it is slow but by air was $2,000 and I wasnt in a rush.

[mogandave]

If it is already on it's way, you might as well not worry until you get the bill, it will be what is, and there's not much you can do about it.

[kurnell]

It all depends on the broker you use. I have a great one.

[kevvy]

i brought a large shipping container over , it held all my household furniture it was alot of stuff and i had wine in ther about 6 dozen bottles and food (jar and tin) tools everything you would find in a 3 bedroom house . it cost me 7000 aus dollars and that was door to door ...had no trouble at all .. really was easy

[chris1dna]

i brought a large shipping container over , it held all my household furniture it was alot of stuff and i had wine in ther about 6 dozen bottles and food (jar and tin) tools everything you would find in a 3 bedroom house . it cost me 7000 aus dollars and that was door to door ...had no trouble at all .. really was easy

I would be very interested in more details if you can share with us how you did this. I've been thinking of doing the same thing when I move to Chiang mai in a few years. What shipper. What restrictions if any. How large was the container? Etc...

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[tombkk]

If anybody is interested in the law, here it is:

You can bring in one shipment of personal effects on a new work permit. This can be split into one airfreight and one seafreight part.

That‘s right, work permit is required, no provision for household removal goods for retirement visa holders.

Some goods cannot be included. This includes wine, for which an import licence is required which will not be issued to individuals.

Just saying. If you are willing to pay seven grand I don‘t want to know where that money goes...

Sent from my LG-P698f using Thaivisa Connect App

[chris1dna]

Can the Thai wife do the container thing then? Like a returning national or something like that?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Can the Thai wife do the container thing then? Like a returning national or something like that?

Yes, but they're supposedly "cracking down" on all those using the loophole to avoid import duties on high-end cars for resale. Amazing how many Thai overseas students can afford Ferraris 8-)

[seajae]

If anybody is interested in the law, here it is:

You can bring in one shipment of personal effects on a new work permit. This can be split into one airfreight and one seafreight part.

Thats right, work permit is required, no provision for household removal goods for retirement visa holders.

Some goods cannot be included. This includes wine, for which an import licence is required which will not be issued to individuals.

Just saying. If you are willing to pay seven grand I dont want to know where that money goes...

Sent from my LG-P698f using Thaivisa Connect App

I actually brought mine in and all I had was a 3 month visa at the time of shipping but have a 12 month one now. I do not have a work permit at all, wine was also included in mine, it is allowed if you have had it for more than 6 months which was my case. I did lose several items though while it was going through customs, certain tools and other goods that the customs guys obviously liked as they are not available here.

Dennis

[tombkk]

Can the Thai wife do the container thing then? Like a returning national or something like that?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Yes, if she is a returning citizen. She must have lived in the origin country of the households for a minimum time, I think it‘s 18 months.

Sent from my LG-P698f using Thaivisa Connect App

[tombkk]

If anybody is interested in the law, here it is:

You can bring in one shipment of personal effects on a new work permit. This can be split into one airfreight and one seafreight part.

Thats right, work permit is required, no provision for household removal goods for retirement visa holders.

Some goods cannot be included. This includes wine, for which an import licence is required which will not be issued to individuals.

Just saying. If you are willing to pay seven grand I dont want to know where that money goes...

Sent from my LG-P698f using Thaivisa Connect App

I actually brought mine in and all I had was a 3 month visa at the time of shipping but have a 12 month one now. I do not have a work permit at all, wine was also included in mine, it is allowed if you have had it for more than 6 months which was my case. I did lose several items though while it was going through customs, certain tools and other goods that the customs guys obviously liked as they are not available here.

Dennis

I don‘t doubt that this happened.

Sent from my LG-P698f using Thaivisa Connect App