Thailand Guides - Customs and Duties

Unless you have drastic amounts of luggage, customs is painless. Appropriate quantities of clothing and personal effects for private use are admissible duty free, as are cameras with 5 rolls of film, camcorders with 3 tapes, 1 liter of wine/spirits and 200 cigarettes. Illicit drugs, pornography and firearms are forbidden, and penalties for lawbreakers are often severe.

Buddha images, antiques and objects of art cannot leave Thailand without a permit of the Fine Arts Department.

Export of Antiques and Art Objects from the Kingdom of Thailand

Buddha images, Bodhisattva images, or fragments there of are forbidden to be taken from Thailand (with the exception of items being used for worship by Buddhists, for cultural exchange or study purposes). A license must be obtained from The Fine Arts Department in order for such objects of antiquity or objects of art, irrespective of whether they are original or reproductions, may be taken out of the country.

Procedure for license application

Photograph the frontal view of all objects and make two postcard-size prints (not more than five pieces in one photograph).

1. Make a photocopy of the applicant’s passport.
2. The objects, together with the photographs and applicant’s passport and photocopy, must be taken to:
     a. The National Museum Division, Bangkok or
     b. The Chiangmai National Museum, Chiangmai or
     c. The Songkhla National Museum, Songkhla

This must be done at least four to seven days before the date of shipment or departure of the applicant in order to process the application and for inspection. For further information contact the Bangkok National Museum at Tel. 66-26285033

Money Control

Foreign visitors may freely bring in foreign banknotes or other types of foreign money. Upon leaving Thailand, a foreign tourist may freely take out foreign means of payment, which he brought in with him. However, there is a limit on foreign notes or coins to a maximum equivalent of 10,000 US Dollars unless the visitor has declared a higher amount upon arrival. Forms to declare the amount of foreign currency brought in are available at the immigration counters of border checkpoints.

Attempts to take out of the country amounts higher than 10,000 US Dollars without having them declared upon arrival can lead to arrest, confiscation of the excess amount involved and/or prosecution.