What travelers should know about personal belongings when entering Thailand through an airport

     Both Thai and foreign passengers wishing to enter Thailand via an airport should know about bringing their belongings. Each time they enter, travelers must give a manifest of the items to the inspector. If there are no items subject to taxation, they will be able to pass baggage inspection in the green channel (Nothing to declare). But if there are items for which duty or tax must be paid, they will have to go through the baggage check in the red channel (Goods to declare). Here are some things you should know:

     Incoming passenger baggage inspection at the checkpoint with no items to declare, or “green channel” (Nothing to declare) A passenger who travels into the Kingdom without goods subject to duty, prohibited goods, or restricted goods, may pass through the green checkpoint. The following goods and amounts are exempt from duty:

1. Personal belongings with a reasonable amount for personal use and total value not exceeding 20,000 baht, which are not prohibited items, goods, or food;
2. No more than 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 250 grams of total weight of all types;
3. Alcoholic beverages under 1 liter in volume. (To avoid prosecution, travelers who bring cigarettes, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages in excess of the limit must drop them into a box provided by the Customs Department.)

     Incoming passenger baggage inspection at the “goods to declare” channel or the “red channel” (Goods to declare) Passengers who have items to declare must submit their passport along with the manifest or receipt (if any) to the customs officers in the red channel. The officers will inspect the passport and open the passenger's baggage to determine the items by categorizing the customs procedures as follows:

Case 1: Passenger’s personal belongings that are not commercial in nature and have a value not exceeding 200,000 baht. Customs officers at the red channel will calculate the duty and duty, which passengers can pay by cash or electronic card (debit card/credit card) in the event that Customs has a system for accepting electronic card payment. The fee will be set according to the rate specified by the bank. When the payment is completed, the traveler will receive a receipt and the items.

Case 2: A prohibited or restricted item that is not permitted to be imported. In such cases, passengers will be subject to legal action.

Case 3: An item that does not correspond to case 1 or 2. Passengers are required to produce an import declaration at the Central Clearance Division, Tax Service Division, and pay duty by cash or electronic card (debit card/credit card) in the event that Customs has a system for accepting electronic card payments. After paying the electronic card usage fee at the rate specified by the bank, the traveler will be given a receipt and the items.