Repost:

Is there someone that has some kind of information or help or experience??

A friend of mine wants to retire in Thailnd.

He applied for a retirement visa (Non immigrant OA) and the consulate told him that he will get this non immigrant OA visum!!!
He is not married.

He wants to bring a container with his personal stuff.

I read somewhere that people can bring their Household effects and personal belongings to Thailand without paying import duties.

Is there someone that did this before?

What kind of document will he need in order top avoid to pay the import duties for his personal belongings?

Hi Cookie. Sorry I didn't reply before but all my experiences were negative and I didn't think you would want to hear them, but here I go then.I frequently shipped containers of goods to UK , never once any trouble when documentation was clearly marked " USED domestic household items" sad to say the reverse wasn't the same. I shipped obviously used domestic items, mainly bedding and linen and my favourite armchair. Despite checking the regulations beforehand and confirming there eligibility for duty free importation, this was my experience. I had paid for door to door shipping, however my first advise that they had arrived was a postcard from the shipping agent telling me to go to Klongtoey dock customs office.I went and was greeted by a not very understanding customs officer who thought the whole scenario was funny. At the time I didn't understand Thai but the phrase Mai dai was often repeated.After 2 hours my wife said we must go find ????. We arrived at the shipping agents office where after another lot of mai daing we left to seek a person whose name we had been given. This person was extremely helpful and told us his clearence service would cost 20,000bht. Still worth it I thought.With his help we got to see the cargo and the customs man inspected it. He proceeded to write out a manifesto after which our helpful young man took us to an office where everyone was queing to pay their duty. My guy walked round the back then came out and asked for another 20,000bht, which was the assessed tax on my goods.At this stage I was saying forget it, its not worth it, but was then informed if I didn't clear and remove the items I would incur a daily storage charge till I did.So I'm between the devil and the deep blue sea.' My duty free importation had set me back an additional 40,000bht plus a frustrating day in Bangkok docks, and as my wife pointed out, I could have bought new here for less.
As an after thought items like TV's, video players etc are on a different standard to UK so wouldn't work here anyway.
This all occurred about 10 years ago so may be different now, but be prepared this IS Thailand.

Thanks Val,
I think you are right. The best I can do is trying to prepare everything,
as far as this is possible in Thailand (TIT).
I am contacting the custom department for my friend in order to get a written confirmation or statement from them.
I think this is about the max I can do in order to help him.
I told him the same that everything is much cheaper here,
but he doesn't want to leave a lot of sentimental and old family-stuff behind.
I can understand him and I will try to help hiom as much as I can.
in any case thanks for the information.

if it is only sentimental and family stuff why doesn't he post the lot. for sure it will be less cost than 40,000 baht. International couriers are reasonable.

you can even track everything on the internet and fully insure it.

It's worth pricing up.

Kev

He wants to send even things like dinner-set, old office from his father,.... He told me that he even thinks that a 20 feet container will not be big enough.

My shipment included a set of Royal Doulton Kings and Queens of England, they attracted the biggest duty.

Ah not quite sentimental trinkets then

By the way,
I am already happy that I convinced him to sell his car,
because he was even thinking of putting his cherokee jeep also in the container!!

kevh wrote:Ah not quite sentimental trinkets then

Still well within the description of Domestic possessions. I haven't got a clue how he valued them unless he to was an antique collector.

Just received this from a friend in Bangkok:

[quote]Importing Personal and Household Effects
Personal Effects refer to items clearly identifiable as personal use, such as clothes, shoes, books, etc. These items at the time of his/her entry into the Kingdom of Thailand are exempted from customs duties. However, such items do not include automobiles, weapons and ammunition, and food items.

Personal effects not granted exemption from payment of customs duty
Pets. Pets brought into the Kingdom of Thailand are not exempted from customs duties. A permit must be granted from the Livestock Department prior to the date of entry.
Food. Any person wishing to bring food items into the Kingdom of Thailand must obtain a permit from the Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health.
Weapons. A permit must be granted from the Department of Provincial Administration.
Automobiles. A permit must be granted from the Commerce Ministry and the Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry.

Household Effects refer to other properties not considered personal effects and which were in the owner

All interesting stuff but unfortunately meaningless as the crooks at customs do not abide by these rules but their own, so expect to pay.

The amount is of course is up to them, of course you or your friend might well be lucky but it is not really the norm.

My own experience of them is that although you are in the right, can sing chapter and verse the rules etc. etc. you will end up paying something as you won't want to pay their arbitory daily storage charges.

Put another way these crooks in uniform are just plain and simple extortionists, and therefore work like any other common criminal. So as said expect to pay.

It actually isn't a bad idea for your friend to put your vehicle into a container under a 'temporary import of a vehice for touristic purposes' registration (temporary import document, see below), particularly if you are coming from another Asian country (unfortunately it doesn't work to well if your coming by sea from another continent).

Every six months and sometimes once a year (depending on country of import) you have to drive back to that country to keep the importation status operational. You will need:

1 Valid International Driving License and passport or equivalent document are required.
2 Vehicle registration or, in the case of a borrowed vehicle, authorization documents from the owner are required.
3 Cash guarantee or bank guarantee or self-guarantee is required. If vehicle is brought in through Bangkok Airport of khlong Toei Port, cash guarantee or bank guarantee is essential. If entry is via land across the southern border then it is acceptable to guarantee oneself by completing the customs form, giving necessary details to the customs officer and signing the record.
Permission is granted for a 6 month period from the date of entry.
4 In the case of having requested to bring the vehicle in for a period just 5-10 days and then wishing to extend the length of stay, a renewal can be granted free of charge by the Customs Department.

Procedure :
1 Contact the customs office at the relevant border.
2 Customs officer will complete and additional incoming form and at the same time check documents as in No.2 above and also fix the self-guarantee.
3 In the case of cash or bank guarantee, the customs officer will evaluate the price of the vehicle Department, Tel:2490431-40.


I do wish your friend luck, please let us know how your experience went.

Hmmm,sounds like visa runs for cars.

Bought mine in Laos and had someone float it across the river at night.Been stopped a hundred times but no cop ever checks vehicle id plates.Nong Khai is full of cars from Laos at one third the price you pay here.My local garage sorts out the tax and 700 Baht insurance for a fee.

So, you admit to a criminal offence (evasion of import duty) on your car/truck stolen in Thailand, taken to Laos and recycled to Thailand again, you had better report to the farang tourist police for your spanking from 'Doc' and he might give you a big telling off too.

No theft is involved,you buy the car in Laos and ship it over.Why buy it,well,should you ever wish to sell it,you ship it back to Laos.

Isee... So, just leave the keys in the ignition and it'll find its own way home. Remarkable. :-}