Import Licence for RC transmitter

[Suikki]

Hello ThaiVisa members

I ordered Taranis 2.4Ghz Radio controller for my model airplane. Just now fedex has come to me saying that Thai customs demands an import licence for this item.

Does this universal free frequency really require import licence, and if not where could I find some documentation to sent for the clearance procedure?

I really don't want to lose my money for nothing!

Edited September 9, 2014 by Suikki

[Crossy]

Any radio transmitter requires an import licence, buy your kit here for a hassle free experience.

[thedemon]

Sorry this is probably too late to help you but don;t use the multi-national couriers. They make problems and then charge you to solve them. I know that sounds cynical but it comes from lots of bad experiences. I still use those big 4 for outbound shipments but inbound I try hard to avoid them.

If you're shipping from the US use USPS Express which is the equivalent of EMS here. Declare a reasonable value (not ridiculously low) and you will mostly just pay the VAT at your local post office. It costs about the same as a courier and transit time is also about the same.

I had a notebook shipped to me recently and had to use a courier. My shipment was halted and they demanded a MSDS document or threatened to have the shipment seized. I didn't even know what an MSDS was (though I do now) let alone how I would go about getting one. I just told them to send the shipment back with no refund on the shipping charge. Then sent it by post. Easy.

[RichCor]

Importing Rc Transmitter

Started by kawaiimomo, 2012-02-11 22:40 -- 19 replies to this topic

OP had no issue, but this seems to have been a luck of the draw to who randomly what assigned to clear his package.

Also...

Import of Telecommunications from Abroad

Thailand has no barriers regarding entry of foreign services and foreign equipment used in telecommunication projects.

There are no import restrictions or specific technical standard requirements which regulate the import of telecommunications from abroad, except for fibre-optic cables used in government projects (to protect local fibre-optic manufacturing).

Licensing and Approvals

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) requires that import licenses and type approvals are obtained prior to importing telecommunications equipment, including equipment for fixed-line operation, cellular phones, cordless phones, wireless LAN equipment, switching networks and base station equipment, which has not been granted a license for these purposes.

The NTC stipulates that only Thai citizens and companies registered in Thailand may submit requests for type approvals. Foreign suppliers must appoint a local agent or distributor to submit a type approval application to the Commercial Service Section of the Radio Communication Licensing Division of the National Telecommunications Commission.

And this from the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand may apply:

Prior to their being brought into the country, an import licence must be obtained from the NBTC and after Customs duty has been paid, the transceiver must be submitted to the NBTC for inspection within seven days.

To expedite this inspection and registration, RAST strongly advises that only type-approved transmitters be imported, since equipment that is capable of transmitting on unauthorised amateur radio bands will not be registered or allowed to be used.

This list is shown above and, as you can see, is limited in the makes and models that are allowed in, but please note that there is an involved procedure in getting any transceiver added to the approved list and there is a possible high "first listing" cost of 27,000 baht.

[Suikki]

So any radio transmitter, even with 2.4GHz needs an import licence? This would mean every wifi or bluetooth capable device is subject to import licence then?

Is there any way of obtaining the licence to get my hands on my order?

[noendtoit]

So any radio transmitter, even with 2.4GHz needs an import licence? This would mean every wifi or bluetooth capable device is subject to import licence then?

Is there any way of obtaining the licence to get my hands on my order?

This is why one should follow The Demon's advice. Just have it sent by post and cut all the red tape and billshit. Once you get into the debate with customs over whether the transmitter you wish to import is legit or not, you are already screwed. Why go there? Cut customs (and especially FedEx and UPS) out of the picture.

[Aachen]

You can use any transmitter in Thailand. It will work perfectly. But be prepared to go to jail for some time. Some "innocent" radio users came in from Malaysia and found themselves in this comfortable hotel. After some action at the court and paying some 10000 Bt they came free - without their mobiles. I think this story was somewhere here on TV...

By the way: There is nothing like "universal free frequency" anywhere in the world!

Edited September 10, 2014 by Aachen

[RichCor]

So any radio transmitter, even with 2.4GHz needs an import licence? This would mean every wifi or bluetooth capable device is subject to import licence then?

Is there any way of obtaining the licence to get my hands on my order?

As Crossy mentioned, Customs will require an Import License.

If the device has been Type Accepted (make/model placed on the pre-approved list) then a Import License holder can accept the shipment and distribute the device.

[Suikki]

Okay, if i would have known the hazzle, I would have not ordered this radio controller. Hobbyshops being full of Futaba, and street vendors selling all kinds of radio controlled toys I never thought it might need some special license.

But now when the shit has hit the fan already, I would appreciate some advices how to obtain this import licence?

[Richard-BKK]

To the OP, find a person who has a import permit for importing equipment in the frequency your device is transmitting, and sell it on paper to him.... He can get the device without any problem past customs... Of course this will probably cost you a few bucks but better than losing everything...

Getting the import license yourself as a private person is very costly and would never be worth the afford.

Edited September 10, 2014 by Richard-BKK

[thedemon]

Do you know anyone in Hong Kong? You could have it shipped there and then mailed back to you declared as a toy.

HK is a free port and I doubt they will have any restrictions on transmitters, But you should check first.

[Suikki]

Fight is not over yet. Manufacturer was fast with email and forwarded me all the product safety laboratory certificates (EMC, output power etc). Device operates with 2.4GHz and has output transmit power less than 100mW.

FedEx is dealing with customs with these updated documents. Hopefully this will solve the problem. If not, I will have to think of something else. Maybe girls from our company office will find a solution with customs.

[h90]

Sorry this is probably too late to help you but don;t use the multi-national couriers. They make problems and then charge you to solve them. I know that sounds cynical but it comes from lots of bad experiences. I still use those big 4 for outbound shipments but inbound I try hard to avoid them.

If you're shipping from the US use USPS Express which is the equivalent of EMS here. Declare a reasonable value (not ridiculously low) and you will mostly just pay the VAT at your local post office. It costs about the same as a courier and transit time is also about the same.

I had a notebook shipped to me recently and had to use a courier. My shipment was halted and they demanded a MSDS document or threatened to have the shipment seized. I didn't even know what an MSDS was (though I do now) let alone how I would go about getting one. I just told them to send the shipment back with no refund on the shipping charge. Then sent it by post. Easy.

No they make problems by incompetence and are unable to solve them.....unfortunately.....

Impossible difficult clearance.....but some outside clearing agent just clears it without problems and from what I heard the custom is usually friendly

[Suikki]

So it seems someone can buy my transmitter from customs organized auctions someday in the future where illegal stuff suddenly becomes legal. Even returning the radio to the origin is now impossible without licence.

Been going through customs website, it is difficult to find information what can be imported and what can not.

I am done with online shopping outside Thailand for now. I guess i should ubderstand thai to be able to get a hold of regulations regarding importing stuff...

[Richard-BKK]

The problem is that you try to import a product into the country, without having the right licenses to do so. You can also not import the same equipment into the USA or Europe if it doesn't have a FCC or EC certification...

First your stuff doesn't becomes legal, a lot of this radio transmitting equipment is destroyed. If your equipment is within a frequency that is free to the public it will be sold at an auction... But most of the time 1 units that are confiscated are destroyed as the research of the product will cost more than the possible auction value....

Edited September 17, 2014 by Richard-BKK

[Suikki]

Yeah. Was little bit upset when writing last post. Apparently 2.4GHz equipments have maximum transmit power limit at 20dBm or 100mW. I have full documentation with laboratory test result to prove that this controller is below these limits. This limit was told to my gf from NBTC officer. Anyone knows which telecommunications act regulation sets this limit and where to print it out? I tried to get this information by email, but no one wants to help me out with this.

[Suikki]

Too late to edit. And I also have FCC and CE laboratory test documentation for the product. Only problem is to make custom officer aware of the 2.4GHz frequency and 100mW (100mW = 20dBm) EIRP (output power). In customs they say that only 27MHz is allowed in Thailand.

[Suikki]

No import licence needed as Fedex today delivered my radio to me.

Thanks to you guys who tell things as a fact, without actually knowing, I almost left my radio into the hands of thai customs.

Thailand also follows ISM (industrial, scientific, medical) bands like almost every other country in the world. There might be differences between the countries.

But 2.4GHz is probably the most successful ISM band around the world and devices with max e.i.r.p of 20dBm or 100mW are allowed.

Anyone interested can take a look at these frequency allocation charts that shows many of these unlicensed bands.

http://www.nbtc.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/81b45f804129d2fa9be59f66315e436b/%5B2%5Dspec_util_300k-5G.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=81b45f804129d2fa9be59f66315e436b

[Crossy]

Glad it had a happy outcome, any indication why there was a change of heart? They obviously thought the gear needed an import licence.

BUT.

As a general rule, importing any type of radio equipment that's not a mobile phone or obviously WiFi is going to be fraught, buy in-country for a hassle free life.

[Suikki]

Directly from NBTC, they told us that 2.4GHz is ok, as long as its equivalent tropically radiated power is less than 20dBm. If i.e.r.p is higher import licence is needed, but would not be issued as it is nothing importan, only a toy. So I underlined required fields from FCC test certificates, above frequecy allocation chart and emailed them to the fedex officer.

Her team then talked to customs again and my radio was released.

Tax, Vat and customs clearance fees have stayed the same since day one, before there was any talk about import licence.

Edit. I agree with the general rule not to importing radio equipment into Thailand. It wasn't nice trying to find information to clear this. NBTC didn't reply any emails, and their website that actually has the information needed is only in Thai. I didn't even think of this being a problem with a radio controller that is available in Europe and USA and hobbyshops in Thailand being full equivalents but not the same.

Me just as a person just can't let it be if feeling mistreated.

Edited September 24, 2014 by Suikki