Immigrating To Thailand

[outofafrica]

I need some information regarding what i can bring into Thailand if i enter with a retirement visa or if i marry a thai lady and after staying two years in Australia return to Thailand.

Thanks for your input

[elektrified]

LOL come on this has has to be a troll.

[NancyL]

Assuming it's not a troll thread, it should be pointed out that no one "immigrates" to Thailand on a retirement visa. It's a non-immigrant, granting a permission to stay that is extended from year-to-year.

If this is a serious question about what someone can bring into Thailand if holding a retirement visa, then it needs to be moved to the Visa section of the forum where much more knowledgeable people hang out. This questions isn't specific to Chiang Mai.

[outofafrica]

So if i posted it in a wrong section can somebody please move it as i'm new and don't spend my time on these forums as some clever dick's do.

[naboo]

2 posts and he's calling people "clever dick's" (sic). Impressive!

[Naam]

So if i posted it in a wrong section can somebody please move it as i'm new and don't spend my time on these forums as some clever dick's do.

you can import a lot of your personal possessions into Thailand when on a retirement "visa". but some custom duties have to be paid. try to avoid electric/electronic gear and items which are banned (google is your friend!).

if you want to bring a substantial quantity of belongings (e.g. a container) use a well known clearing agent and don't try to save by handling the clearing yourself. it's not worth the hassle.

if you marry a Thai lady and she stays abroad the situation changes completely should the import be done in her name. again... google please.

[eyecatcher]

So if i posted it in a wrong section can somebody please move it as i'm new and don't spend my time on these forums as some clever dick's do.

well then; spend more time here and you too can become a clever dick; but sadly at the moment you are only succeeding with the latter

[transam]

So if i posted it in a wrong section can somebody please move it as i'm new and don't spend my time on these forums as some clever dick's do.

If your better than us clever dicks then you would not be asking a question here.

BUT, your OP is not clear, please be more precise. Sounds like you want to leave your homeland by whatever means.

[jackr]

Please don't retire here, the immigration office is bursting as it is because of you lot.

Make sure you bring kit in old boxes.

[beano2274]

so you are emigrating to Thailand, not immigrating.

Read the rules about what you can bring in, as per google

[hellodolly]

2 posts and he's calling people "clever dick's" (sic). Impressive!

He catches on fast

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Welcome to the forum.

[Beetlejuice]

You can bring over anything you like, providing as follows:

Firstly most shipping companies will only take stuff as far as the port in Bangkok. If you are planning to continue on to any other destination within Thailand, you must arrange for the cases to be picked up by another carrier company in Thailand, preferable one based in the destination where you want the goods delivered.

Use a Thai name from the very beginning with the Australian company. If you declare the goods in a Farang name, you will be stung for a huge amount of Import tax, to be paid before you can retrieve your goods from the Bangkok port. They will be held for ransom until you pay.

If you bring new electrical items over, you will be charged import tax at a huge percent. Try and bring only your used electrical goods and one of each, you will again have to pay import tax on more than one item that the officials believe are not neccasary. If you do try and bring in new electrical items, take off any wrapping and put on old plugs so they appear used.

When you hire your carrier in Thailand to collect the goods from port, don't tell them you have a computer, otherwise they will try and con you for more money. The Thai carrier will not open the cases and have no right to because the cases would have already been cleared by customs in Bangkok.

Usually the Australian company charges by cubic space and not weight, but if the cases are considered too heavy, they will refuse to take them. The customs in Bangkok charge import tax by the value of the goods, but mostly waver this tax or charge a minimum for Thai people.

As for packing, wrap drinking glasses and crockery in newspaper. Put fragile items in with your good blankets or clothes so that they are buffered. This way you are not wasting any space on excess padding as your clothes are excellent buffers and will protect your fragile items when the cases are thrown about by the carriers, which they will be.

And finally as in my case, the carrier company in Chiang Mai later refused to bring up my cases from a depot in Bangkok until their truck was full, meaning I had to wait until other customers were also bringing their goods up here and the truck was full. A Thai friend went down to the depot, saw one of my carrier's trucks ready to depart Bangkok empty after a delivery from Chiang Mai, offered the driver 500 baht to take my gear and it worked.

Hope this helps and if you visit Chiang Mai, I`ll let you buy me a drink.

[outofafrica]

Beetlejuice,Thanks for the information

[elektrified]

Use a Thai name from the very beginning with the Australian company. If you declare the goods in a Farang name, you will be stung for a huge amount of Import tax, to be paid before you can retrieve your goods from the Bangkok port. They will be held for ransom until you pay.

Even Thais must pay import taxes. They do not discriminate based on names. I know the business very well and know Thais who import many containers. They all pay tax.

[Naam]

1. You can bring over anything you like, providing as follows:

2. Firstly most shipping companies will only take stuff as far as the port in Bangkok. If you are planning to continue on to any other destination within Thailand, you must arrange for the cases to be picked up by another carrier company in Thailand, preferable one based in the destination where you want the goods delivered.

1. that is definitely not the case! e.g. for antique furniture, works of art (paintings, sculptures), oriental rugs and a buch of other items one needs a permit which is quite difficult to obtain. in our case getting that permit took more than 2 months.

2. to avoid complications use a reputed company which handles packing, shipping and delivery "door to door". we shipped our most valuable items (from 2 homes) in a 40foot high cube container (60 cubic meters). the container arrived with the lock unopened which a friend of ours, who supervised the loading, attached.

there are several companies in BKK who specialise in personal moves and, as mentioned above, handle each and everything from origin to destination.

i can recommend the one we used but forum rules do not allow to post a link. if you are interested PM me.

[outofafrica]

"so you are emigrating to Thailand, not immigrating"

You must be English !!!

[Mario2008]

Yu cannot import duty free, your wife can after having been abroad more then 1 year.

For the rules: http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/custen/individuals/importing+used+or+secondhand+household+effects/importingusedsecondhandhouseholdeffects

As said, a good shipping company can negotiate a very favourable costums fee and save you a lot of money.

[outofafrica]

Thanks for the info