Moving personel belongings to Hua Hin

[Gunnar]

Hi

At the moment I am working in China.
Soon my job here will be completed.

I do have some personel belongings that I want to move from China to my house in Hua Hin.
Nothing expensive, but normal belongings like:
Pilllows, bedsheets, kitchen equipment (non electrical), ornaments etc.
Everything packed in cartons (small).
Any problem with import to Thailand (tax, VAT etc)?

Thanks for you imformation

[stgrhe]

If you sent the goods as freight I believe you need to have a one year visa to bring in the goods without paying duty. The parcels should be clearly marked and all items listed according to the Thai Customs.

http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/indexEng.jsp

I was in a similar position as you are now about a year and a half ago but since I travelled frequently I just packed the stuff in suitcases and brought them along. I took four each trip.

[malcolminthemiddle]

I've been in the same situation a few times. My recommendation is to minimise what you really want to keep, repack into a couple of big boxes, pay any excess baggage and bring your stuff with you.

If customs want to know what is in those two big brown boxes show them and tell them you are passing through Thailand on the way to a new job leaving overland, that's why you can't leave your stuff at the airport.

Shipping in second hand personal effects that are readily available in the local market is really not cost effective and worth the hassle unless you have a substantial amount or there is a sentimental value and even then only if you can meet the duty free requirements.

[PET]

You are permitted to bring in your personal effects within 6 months of arriving on your first one year visa ( business or retirement etc)

However whilst there is no customs duty, there is what my international clearing agents in Bangkok described as an ' Administration ' charge and this is around Bht 20,000 ( mine was Bht 25,000 and a friend last week Bht17,000) - we both sent in containers.

[Gunnar]

You are permitted to bring in your personal effects within 6 months of arriving on your first one year visa ( business or retirement etc)

However whilst there is no customs duty, there is what my international clearing agents in Bangkok described as an ' Administration ' charge and this is around Bht 20,000 ( mine was Bht 25,000 and a friend last week Bht17,000) - we both sent in containers.

Thank you for the information.

[malcolminthemiddle]

You are permitted to bring in your personal effects within 6 months of arriving on your first one year visa ( business or retirement etc)

However whilst there is no customs duty, there is what my international clearing agents in Bangkok described as an ' Administration ' charge and this is around Bht 20,000 ( mine was Bht 25,000 and a friend last week Bht17,000) - we both sent in containers.

I think you'll find retirement doesn't count.

Edit: Found the link.

Note : Nonresidents entering into the Kingdom with a non-immigrant visa "code O" who wish to retire in Thailand or accompany spouses of Thai residents are not qualified for (1)

http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/Ho ... p?menuNme=

[beachyhead]

When I moved to Thailand three years ago I planned to arrive suit case in hand and start a fresh, then a friend in shipping told me that he could send a 2 metre x 1 metre x metre box here by sea, door to door in 6 weeks at a cost of 130.00 pounds, so I decided to send some personal things I would rather keep. Door to door meant as far as the docks and Thai customs and when I went to collect it there was a cash payment to made of 10,000 Bt or as it was made quite clear the box would stay in storage indefinately. Someone told me later that if you have a Thai friend, use their name on the delivery and you don't get the same problems ? use your name and you may as well address it to Mr ATM Hua Hin.

[hhfarang]

I've heard similar stories Beachyhead.

I shipped a full 40 foot container door to door from the U.S. to a rental home in Hua Hin. I used a professional U.S. moving company that came to my home and packed everything, facilitated the shipping with a container company and the unpacking and delivery from the port at Bangkok on this end with a professional moving company in BKK. We paid no duty and didn't even have to interface with any Thai customs officials as the shipping (receiving) company on this end did all that for us. All they required was a copy of my wife's passport.

The reason we paid no duty was that we shipped it in my wife's (Thai) name and stated (on the shipping forms) that she was a returning Thai citizen who had been living overseas.

Shipping a container half way around the world door to door was expensive, so now I wouldn't bother, but the furniture selection here in 2003 when we looked around was practically nil and we had filled a two story house in the U.S. with good quality furniture a couple of years before so I decided it was worth the expense at the time.

[chaspul]

Gunnar

I shipped 20' container Saudi Arabia/Hua Hin arrived this week with no tax or duty to pay.
The company my shippers used in Bangkok operate under the name of the old British colony, now part of China, this may be just what you are looking for.
My wife and I both had full OA visas prior to leaving Saudi so therefore did not have to wait.

Below I have pasted a reply from the agent in Bangkok to my shipper which may help.

"Actually, according to the Thai Customs Law, all foreign retirees (on Non-Immigrant-O Visa and on Non-Immigrant-OA Visa) cannot import their used household goods (furniture, electrical items, kitchen ware, decorative items) on theDuty-Free basis.

But currently there is only one terminal (LAT KRABANG TERMINAL) which the Customs Chief still allows Duty-Free Importation for used HHGs of the foreigner with Non-Immigrant-OA Visa (not for Non-Immigrant-O Visa) who receives "one-full-year-permission-to-stay-in-Thailand" (not even 1 day short) stamp by Thai Immigration Official upon his arrival at Bangkok Airport. And, shipment must arrive at Lat Krabang Terminal (Bangkok) within 6 months of his 1st arrival in Thailand on the Non-Immigrant-OA Visa.

By so doing, the owner should be able to import his used hhgs into Thailand on the Duty-Free basis.

But this is subject to change without prior notice, and, our company cannot be held responsible for any changes.

Thus, pls ensure that you will ship this shpt to Lat Krabang Terminal (Bangkok) ONLY, and, pls ensure that you declare only 1,240 kilos as the weight of this shpt on the Ocean B/L although the true actual weight of the shpt may be much higher than 1,240 kilos. Pls show only 1,240 kilos on the OBL.

This is to avoid customs duties/taxes and extensive customs inspection".


If you need further details email me direct.
Best of luck
Chas

[hhfarang]

I shipped 20' container Saudi Arabia/Hua Hin arrived this week with no tax or duty to pay.
The company my shippers used in Bangkok operate under the name of the old British colony, now part of China, this may be just what you are looking for.

That is the same company that handled the customs clearing and delivery of my container on this end. They are called "Hong Kong Transpac" and their offices are on a Soi off of Sukhumvit Soi 26.

They are very professional imo.

[Tony_S]

Hi

At the moment I am working in China.
Soon my job here will be completed.

I do have some personel belongings that I want to move from China to my house in Hua Hin.
Nothing expensive, but normal belongings like:
Pilllows, bedsheets, kitchen equipment (non electrical), ornaments etc.
Everything packed in cartons (small).
Any problem with import to Thailand (tax, VAT etc)?

Thanks for you imformation

My Advice

Pillows....Bin and buy new here
Bedsheets...Bin and buy new here
Kitchen Equipment....Bin and buy new here
Ornaments....BIN
Girls....Bin and buy new here

[Tony_S]

[Gunnar]

Hi

At the moment I am working in China.
Soon my job here will be completed.

I do have some personel belongings that I want to move from China to my house in Hua Hin.
Nothing expensive, but normal belongings like:
Pilllows, bedsheets, kitchen equipment (non electrical), ornaments etc.
Everything packed in cartons (small).
Any problem with import to Thailand (tax, VAT etc)?

Thanks for you imformation

My Advice

Pillows....Bin and buy new here
Bedsheets...Bin and buy new here
Kitchen Equipment....Bin and buy new here
Ornaments....BIN
Girls....Bin and buy new here

[margaretcarnes]

Agreed Tony-S, most stuff like that isn't worth the effort or cost of shipping. Two exceptions though IMO are decent cutlery and good reference type books.

(Make that 3 - darts!)

[migrant]

My Advice

Pillows....Bin and buy new here
Bedsheets...Bin and buy new here
Kitchen Equipment....Bin and buy new here
Ornaments....BIN
Girls....Bin and buy new here

Where did you find Bin?? With Pom, Nit and Lek?