GEN 1.3  ENTRY, TRANSIT AND DEPARTURE OF PASSENGER AND CREW

1.  Customs Requirements

1.1 All inbound passengers are required to proceed to customs green or red channels for customs inspection. A Passenger who has nothing to declare, will be immediately released through the green channel, while passengers who has goods to declare, must proceed through the red channel for customs inspection.
1.1.1 For International Airport in Thailand, the dual-channel system for the clearance of inbound passengers and their baggage is introduced.
  1. Green channel with the words “NOTHING TO DECLARE” for passengers having with them no goods or only goods which can be admitted free of import duties and taxes and are not subject to import prohibitions or restrictions.

  2. Red channel with the words “GOODS TO DECLARE” for any passengers who is unsure whether or not goods are subject to a).

1.1.2 Passenger proceeding through the green channel may be subject to random search if the customs officer has reasonable suspicion.
1.1.3 The following goods accompanying passengers are duty free allowance:
  1. 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars and tobacco or altogether weighting not more than 250 grams at the maximum

  2. 1 liter of alcoholic liquor

  3. Personal effects in reasonable quantity and of which value not exceeding 20,000 THB

  4. Used household effects on permanent change of domicile in reasonable amounts, application for duty exemption should be submitted to customs offices at the arrival port.

1.1.4 The following articles are restricted and prohibited to bring into Thailand:
  1. Narcotics and stimulated drugs;

  2. Armaments and dangerous objects;

  3. Obscene articles;

  4. Telecommunication equipments;

  5. Wild animals and plants;

  6. Any articles concerning Intellectual Property Right (IPR) violation

  7. Other prohibited and restricted goods according to laws and regulations of concerned government agencies.

1.1.5 Passenger with the dutiable item and restricted articles which are not intended for use in Thailand must inform customs and present the airplane ticket stating the destination to the third country. Those items shall be placed in customs custody not more than 30 days. They can be reclaimed on the departure date while checking in by informing the airline staff and paying the storage fees at the customs office.
1.1.6 Any dutiable, prohibited and/or restricted articles found being brought through the Green Channel will be confiscated and the bearer may be subject to a fine of four times of price of the goods including duty or to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding ten years, or to both.
1.2 Baggage belonging to outbound passenger will normally be released without interference of the Customs due to most of export items are exempted from Customs duty.
1.2.1 The following articles are restricted and prohibited to take out of Thailand:
  1. Narcotics and stimulated drugs;

  2. Armaments and dangerous objects;

  3. Obscene articles

  4. Wild animals and plants;

  5. Antique and artistic objects;

  6. Buddha images, idols and parts;

  7. Other restricted and prohibited goods according to laws and regulation of concerned government agencies.

1.2.2 Outbound passengers who want to apply for VAT. Refund must submit the completed form for VAT. Refund application for tourist (pp.10). This form should be presented together with the purchased goods and the receipts to the customs officer at the customs inspection office at the departure hall before checking in the ticket. After proceeding at the immigration counter, passenger is able to claim the VAT. Refund at the revenue department’s office.
1.3 Currency
1.3.1 Any person leaving or entering the Kingdom of Thailand is requires to declare Thai currency or negotiable monetary instruments on which the name of the payee has been omitted and are endorsed without restriction when carrying over 450,000 THB.
1.3.2 Any person leaving or entering the Kingdom of Thailand is requires to declare foreign currency or negotiable monetary instruments on which the name of the payee has been omitted and are endorsed without restriction when carrying over USD 15,000 or its equivalent in another currency.
1.3.3 Any person leaving or entering the Kingdom of Thailand is requires to declare Thai or foreign currency or negotiable monetary instruments listed in Article 1 and 2, if the combined value is over 450,000 THB or its equivalent in another currency.
1.3.4 Any person taking out Thai currency (banknotes and coins) from the Kingdom of Thailand is required to request permission from in the following instances:
  1. When travelling to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Yunnan Province, China and carrying over 2,000,000 THB; and

  2. When traveling to other countries not listed in a) and carrying over 50,000 THB.

2.  Immigrant Requirements

2.1 First Port of Arrival and First Port of Departure
2.1.1 First Port of Arrival
  1. All passengers arriving into Thailand must clear immigration formalities at their first port of arrival.

  2. Passengers transferring to C.I.Q. (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine) destinations, which currently are Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai, Krabi, Phuket, Samui, Trat and Udon Thani, can have their luggage through-checked to the final destinations, and subsequently clear customs formalities for their checked-luggage at the respective destination airports.

  3. However, customs inspection of carry-on luggage may take place at the first port of arrival.

  4. In addition, health, animal and plant quarantine may also take place at the first port of arrival.

  5. The aforementioned first port of arrival procedures are effective from the following dates:

    1. For passenger, whose first port of arrival is Suvarnabhumi Int’l airport, from 1 April 2007 onwards,

    2. For passengers, whose first port of arrival is any other C.I.Q. airport, from 28 October 2007 onwards.

2.1.2 First Port of Departure
  1. Passengers who originate their flights at any of C.I.Q. (Customs, Immigration Quarantine) airports, which currently are Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai, Krabi, Phuket, Samui, Trat and Udon- Thani, and will connect to international flights leaving Thailand may have their luggage through-checked, then clear immigration, customs as well as health, animal and plant quarantine at the airport of origin, i.e. the first port of departure.

  2. The aforementioned first port of departure procedures is currently in effect; they are included here only for the sake of completeness.

2.2 No documents or visas are required of passengers arriving and departing on the same through flight or transferring to another flight at the same airport and staying within transit lounge not exceeding 12 hours.
2.3 An alien who wishes to enter into Thailand must hold a valid passport and a visa, the latter being issued at Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate abroad, with the exception of certain types of aliens stated in items 2.3, 2.5and 2.6.
2.4 Holder of a passport of Cambodia and Myanmar may enter into Thailand for a period of up to 14 days without visa.
2.5 An alien may enter into Thailand for a period of up to 30 days without visa under following conditions:
2.5.1 Holding the nationality and passport or a travel document of the following countries:

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hellenic, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Principality of Liechtenstein, Qatar, Republic of Hungary, Republic of Poland, Republic of Slovenia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United State of America, Vietnam.

2.5.2 Holding the nationality and passport of the following countries: Hong Kong, Laos (with a passport with at least six-month validity), Macao, Mongolia, Russia, Vietnam
2.5.3 Holder of diplomatic or an official passport who enters and stays temporarily in the Kingdom of tourism purposes: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Oman, Macao, Mongolia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, Ecuador, Pakistan(only diplomatic passport) and Indonesia(only diplomatic passport, an official passport with at least six-month validity)
2.5.4 Holding a diplomatic, an official or a service passport of Cambodia and Brunei.
2.5.5 Holding a diplomatic, special and service passports of Oman.
2.5.6 Holder of a passport of its equivalent document who enters and stays temporarily in the Kingdom for any international meetings or sports competition which are hosted by the Thai Government or approved by the Ministries, Department concerned.
2.5.7 Holder of valid diplomatic passport of Islamic Republic of Pakistan may enter, exit, or transit without a visa for staying in the Kingdom of Thailand for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days, provided that they do not take up any employment, be itself-employment, or any other private activity in the Kingdom of Thailand. Nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, holding a valid diplomatic passport, who are assigned as members of the diplomatic mission or consular, or who are representatives of an international organization in the Kingdom of Thailand, as well as their family members holding valid diplomatic passports may enter, stay, and leave the Kingdom of Thailand without visa for a period up to thirty (30) days. Such period will depend on request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Embassy concerned, be extended until the end of their assignment,
2.5.8 The ambassador, the ambassador’s spouse and their children who holding diplomatic passports from any country (in addition to who have been previously identified)
2.6 An alien may enter into Thailand for a period of up to 90 days without visa under following conditions.
2.6.1 Holding a diplomatic or an official passport of the following countries:

Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bhutan, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Colombia, Estonia (only diplomatic passport), France (only diplomatic passport), Germany, Hungary, India Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Slowak Republic, South Africa, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay.

2.6.2 Holding a passport of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Korea (South) and Peru.
2.6.3 Holding a diplomatic or service passports of the Republic of Tajikistan and Ukraine.
2.6.4 Holder of a passport or its equivalent document of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economies holding APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) who enters and stays temporarily in the Kingdom for any business not exceeding 90 days. The card must be valid and marked “THA” in the back of the card.
2.6.5 Nationals of the Kingdom of Spain, holding a valid, current Spanish diplomatic passport, may enter the territory of the Kingdom of Thailand without a visa for stays of up to ninety (90) days during a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days, provided that they do not engage in gainful activity during their stay and provided that the entry is not carried out for accreditation purposes.
2.6.6 Holder of a valid diplomatic or an official passport of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka may enter, exit, or transit without a visa for staying in the Kingdom of Thailand for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days since the first day of arrival, provided that they do not take up any employment, be it self-employment, or any other private activity in the Kingdom of Thailand. Nationals of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, holding a valid diplomatic passport, who are assigned as members of the diplomatic mission or consular in the Kingdom of Thailand, as well as their family members holding valid diplomatic passports requires obtaining a visa to enter, stay, and leave the Kingdom of Thailand.
2.6.7 Holder of valid diplomatic or service passports of Montenegro may entry, exit, transit and stay in the Kingdom of Thailand for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days, within a six-month period, counting from the day of the first entry, provided that they do not apply for temporary residence and do not take up any employment, be itself-employment, or any other private activity in the Kingdom of Thailand. Nationals of Montenegro, holding valid diplomatic and service passports, who are assigned as members of the diplomatic mission or consular post of Montenegro or who are representatives of Montenegro to an international organization in the Kingdom of Thailand, as well as their family members holding valid diplomatic or service passports of Montenegro, may enter, stay, and exit the Kingdom of Thailand without obtaining a visa for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days within a six-month period, counting from the day of first entry. Such period will, upon request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro or the Embassy of Montenegro accredited to the Kingdom of Thailand, be extended until the end of their assignment.
2.7 An alien holding the nationality of following countries that issue passports or its equivalent document may enter into Thailand for a period of up to 30 days by asking a visa on arrival at Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai, U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya, Krabi, Samui, Sukhothai and Surat Thani airports: Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Principality of Andorra, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Malta, Republic of San Marino, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slowak Republic, Slovenia, Taiwan, The Republic of Fiji Island, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
2.8 For embarking passengers, only passports or documents used in Lieu of passports and Embarkation Card are required to be submitted.
2.9 A flight crew member and a crew member who are on duty and retain their valid licenses or their certificates in their possession may enter into Thailand for a period of up to 30 days with a passport presented to the officer.

3.  Public Health Requirements

3.1 The requirement of possession the valid international certificates of vaccination or revaccination against yellow fever is necessary if the individual comes from affected area, except the direct transit passenger who remains in direct transit area of the airport.
3.2 In accordance with the immigration Act, Thailand B.E.2522, aliens which fall into any of the following categories are excluded from entering into the kingdom:
3.2.1 Mental or physical defects, having any of the diseases prescribed in the ministerial regulation of the following diseases: leprosy tuberculosis, filariasis in the stage of repulsive in appearance, tertiary stage of syphilis, drug addicts.
3.2.2 Having not yet been vaccinated or inoculated or undergone any other medical treatment for protection against quarantinable diseases during the declaration of the above mentioned diseases and having refused to have such vaccinations administered by the immigration Doctor.
3.3 On departure, health formalities are required in accordance with International Health Regulations (WHO) .

4.  Animal Quarantine Requirements

4.1 Exportation
4.1.1 Animals or animal carcasses specified in Animal Epidemics Act B.E.2558(2015) and Ministerial Regulations is prohibited unless accompanied by Export License and Veterinary Health Certificate granted by Authorized Veterinary Officer of Department of Livestock Development.
4.1.2 Application for Export License and Veterinary Health Certificate must be done at least 15 days prior to date of departure.
4.2 Importation, Transshipment
4.2.1 Animals or animal carcasses specified in Animal Epidemics Act B.E.2558(2015) and Ministerial Regulations is prohibited unless there are Import Permit granted by Authorized Veterinary Officer of Department of Livestock Development and Veterinary Health Certificate of the country of origin.
4.2.2 Veterinary Health Certificate of the country of origin must be in English and issued by an Authorized Veterinary Officer and accompanied with every shipment of animals and/or animal carcasses. The aforementioned Certificate should meet the importation requirement of Department of Livestock Development.
4.2.3 Import Permit granted by Authorized Veterinary Officer of Department of Livestock Development must be done at least 15 days prior to date of entry.
4.2.4 Veterinary Health Certificate and Permit must declare to the Authorized Veterinary Officer at port of entry.
4.2.5 The carrier administrator shall provide details of imported animals and/or animal carcasses into Kingdom of Thailand to Animal Quarantine Station of port of entry before the arrival date of such carrier.

5.  Other

5.1 Instruction on the export of antiquities or Buddha Images from The Kingdom of Thailand
5.1.1 Buddha images, Bodhisattva images or related fragments a part of ancient Monuments and prehistoric objects, are forbidden to be taken out of the Kingdom, newly cast complete Buddha Images can be exported for worship, cultural exchange or educational purposes with licenses issued by the Fine Arts Department. Not more than 5 pieces per person shall be allowed. (more information contact to 0 2628 5032)
5.1.2 Reproductions of antiquities can also be exported with licenses.
5.1.3 Procedures to obtain a license for export of antiquities or Buddha images:
5.1.3.1 The following documents should be produced together with the application form:
  1. Two copies (3x5 inches) of front view photograph of the object(s)

  2. A photocopy of the applicant’s passport (in case of export of Buddha images the photocopy of passport must be certified as true copy by the respective Embassy or Consulate in Thailand.)

5.1.3.2 Bring the object(s) and the documents to apply for a license at any of the following places:
  1. Office of Archaeology and National Museums, 81/1 Si Ayutthaya Road, Theves, Dusit, Bangkok, Tel: 0 2628 5032

  2. Chiang Mai National Museum, Superhighway Rod, Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai, Tel: (053) 221-308

  3. Songkhla National Museum, 12/1 Jana Road, Tambon Bohyang, Amphoe Muang, Songkhla, Tel: (074) 331-728, 311-881

  4. Thalang National Museum, Tambon Si Sunthorn, Amphoe Thalang, Phuket. Tel: (076) 311-426

5.1.3.3 Please allow 4 working days for license issuing process.
5.2 Limitation of gel, aerosol and liquid

Thailand will implement the new security measures on the carriage of liquids, gels, aerosols and the like in hand baggage on board scheduled, non-scheduled and private flights both domestic and international from Thailand as of 1 June 2007, as follows:

5.2.1 All liquids, gels, aerosols and the like must be carried in containers with a capacity not greater than 100 milliliters each (or equivalent in other volumetric measurements). Liquids etc. carried in containers with a capacity of more than 100 milliliters will not be accepted, even if the container is only partially filled;
5.2.2 Containers must be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity not exceeding 1 liter. The containers must fit comfortably within the transparent plastic bag, which must be completely closed;
5.2.3 The transparent plastic bag is to be presented for screening at the security screening point by separating it from other hand baggage such as coats and laptop computers.
5.2.4 Each passenger is permitted to carry only one such bag.
5.2.5 Reasonable amount of medicines and baby milk/foods are exempted from the requirements stated in items 1, 2 and 3 but they are to be presented for screening at the security screening point.
5.2.6 All liquids, gels, aerosols and the like bought from the duty-free shops at the airport or on board aircraft are exempted from the requirements stated in items 1, 2 and 3 but they must be packed in a transparent sealed plastic bag without reopening sign after buying. Also, the receipt shall be clearly displayed and the date of purchase shall coincide with the day of travel of normal, transit or transfer passengers.

For the passengers benefit before shopping in duty-free shops at the airports, please check the information with the shops or the airlines for the regulations on the carriage of liquids, gels, aerosols and the like which are practised at the airport of your destination, transit and transfer.