International postal delivery in three categories

      Nowadays, transportation is playing a greater role in doing business than ever before, especially in the online trading business. There are countless foreign customers who contact sellers here to buy products from Thailand, causing immense demand for international shipping services.

      International postal delivery can be processed through Thailand Post Co., Ltd., with five types: air, ground, EMS, registered post, and normal post. Imports of goods into the Kingdom of Thailand are separated into three categories, as follows:

Category 1. Goods imported by post and that have custom value, including freight and insurance charges, of no more than 1,500 baht, or samples with no commercial value, which will be used for exhibition only and are not prohibited or restricted goods. Packages in this category of goods will be handed over to Thailand Post to be delivered to recipients.

Category 2. Goods sent from a sender/ consignor to a recipient/ consignee at the same time (in one shipment), with its FOB value not exceeding 40,000 baht, regardless of the number of packages. The goods under this category must not be prohibited or restricted goods, or goods requiring sample analysis before release. For this type of goods, customs officers calculate its customs value, as well as duty and taxes before handing it to Thailand Post, which is responsible for deliveringed the goods to the recipient and collecting duty and taxes at the post office near the recipient's address.

Category 3. Other goods not classified under Category 1 or Category 2. Goods in this category are handed over to be stored at Thailand Post or the Customs Bureau/ Customs House, as the case may be. The consignee will receive a notification instructing him/her to pick up the goods and make payment for duty and taxes at the Postal Customs Service Division or a designated Customs Bureau/ Customs House. Customs clearances for the goods under Category 3 can be classified into two types:

       1. Goods with FOB value of above 40,000 baht: The consignee must prepare and submit an import declaration electronically to the Thai Customs Electronic System. The Postal Customs Service Division also arranges for staff to advise on the preparation of import declarations with service counter service providers to provide electronic data transmission services; 

       2. Goods with FOB value less than 40,000 baht: The consignee is not required to prepare and submit import declaration. The customs official will assess customs value and collect the duty and tax at the same point. 

Information as of 18 February 2023

Source: Customs Department

Tel. 1164 or +66 2667 6107 ext. 8