📄 Documents and customs for shipping at Thailand
Thailand is outside the EU: every consignment passes through the Thai Customs Department. Required documents:
- commercial invoice or proforma in English
- detailed description of the goods (NO “gift”)
- free export declaration
- EORI for corporate shipments
- sender's identity document
Customs duties and Thai VAT
Thailand applies variable customs duties depending on the product category, plus VAT at 7% (a reduced rate compared to the standard rate of 10%, one of the lowest in Asia). The de minimis threshold is THB 1,500 (approximately €40) — below this threshold, personal consignments are generally exempt from duties. For commercial consignments, duties apply from the very first cent.
📋 What is the TARIC code and how to find it
💡 Shipping TipsComfortable: Thailand is a Buddhist country: items considered disrespectful to Buddhism or the monarchy may be confiscated. Avoid any items that depict the Buddha in a disrespectful manner (e.g. figurines with unusual designs). Respect for the Thai monarchy is the law.
🚫 Avoid general descriptions:
- “gift”
- “goods”
- “personal items”
✅ Use precise descriptions:
- “Men’s cotton T-shirts – 2 pieces – value €40 – made in Italy”
- “Leather shoes – 1 pair – value €100 – made in Italy”
- “Paper documents without commercial value”
🚫 Prohibited or restricted products:
- Narcotics and drugs (extremely severe penalties, including the death penalty)
- Weapons, ammunition and explosives
- Pornographic material
- Products that are offensive to Buddhism or the Thai monarchy
- E-cigarettes and e-liquids — banned in Thailand
- Plants and agricultural products without phytosanitary certification
🍷 Wine and spirits: permitted for personal use in limited quantities. Thailand does not have a prohibition policy, but it imposes high duties on alcoholic drinks.
🍝 Packaged foods: generally allowed for personal use with customs declaration.