Shipping a letter or package to Thailand? Moving to Thailand and need to send all your belongings here?
You’re probably worried about whether your items will make it to Thailand at all, never mind on time.
But you can set your fears aside. Sending important documents, furniture–even pets–to Thailand doesn’t have to be hard.
You just have to know which service is right for you. And that’s what this guide will help you determine.
So if you’re sitting there asking yourself, “How in the world am I going to get my stuff to Thailand?” then this guide is for you.
This guide shows you which shipping services are available to you, how much they’ll cost, how long they’ll take, plus how to deal with Thai Customs.
If you want to save time and skip the lengthy read, fill out the form on our contact page and get five free quotes from international shippers within 24 hours.
If you are going to live your new life in Thailand, become our premium subscription member and get access to hundreds of exclusive contents with practical advice to help you live here hassle-free while saving thousands of dollars.
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Contents
- Preparing Packages
- Filling Out Shipping Paperwork
- Writing Thai Addresses
- Shipping Large Items to Thailand
- Shipping Small Items to Thailand from Around the World
- Calculating Shipping Costs to Thailand
- Insuring Your Package
- Shipping Amazon Packages to Thailand
- Shipping Vehicles to Thailand
- Shipping Pets to Thailand
- Dealing with Thai Customs
- Shipping Times
- What’s the Current Shipping Situation in Thailand after COVID-19?
- Avoiding Common Shipping Mistakes
- Now, on to You
- Latest Guides on Moving to Thailand
Preparing Packages
When preparing a package for international shipping, take extensive care while packaging items. FedEx recommends this packing process
Shipping services worldwide subject packages to a wide array of abuse, and this is especially true for international shipping to Thailand.
Marking your package fragile does little if anything in preventing rough handling.
One consideration is water damage, an issue that is not often accounted for until it’s too late. Wrap your items inside a plastic bag before sealing the package. This helps your item stay dry.
Finally, shipping containers get hot. Be aware of this when shipping items sensitive to high temperatures. Expect your items to reach temperatures of at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
There may be other times, though, when you won’t be the one preparing your package for shipping. If this is the case, it’s important to find out who will prepare your package and by what methods.
Most private shippers can take photos of your package after they’ve prepared it for shipping.
You can follow our packaging tips that can help protect your items from any damage that may occur during shipping.
You will also learn how to organize your goods during packaging, knowing which items to pack first and which ones to pack later, making it easy to unpack after your move.
Packing properly also makes it easy for you to declare your items with customs.
It’s one of our 100+ exclusive pieces of content available only to our premium subscribers.
To get access, please become a subscriber.
Filling Out Shipping Paperwork
When you ship your items into Thailand, you have to fill out a Customs Declaration form. Post offices may fill it out for you. Without these forms, you can’t send your package to Thailand.
On the form, you have to list:
- your sending and receiving addresses.
- what items are in the package.
- how much the items are worth.
The forms may differ depending on which shipper you use.
Writing Thai Addresses
Thai addresses can make little sense to foreigners. However, they do in fact make sense, but it may take a bit to familiarize yourself with them.
One major hang-up is the lack of standardization of street names in Thailand. This is especially true when dealing with addresses in rural Thailand.
It’s common for roads in villages to not have names. Instead, locals identify these roads by their location in reference to other landmarks.
A local Thai may identify a street as the one with the three banks on it, the street between Road A and Road B, or the intersection with the big 7-ELEVEN.
Not only do you face challenges with non-standardized street names, but you also find shops, stores, apartments, and dwellings tucked in every little corner down every winding soi, or small road, in Thailand.
These locations can be hard to identify with an address, such as an apartment that sits behind a storefront down an alley that branches off a soi that branches off a larger road with no house numbers or street names.
Despite these points of confusion, the Thai Postal Service is remarkable at figuring out where a package is heading, even if the addresses are obscure.
For instance, a family member in the USA sent a package to me in Northeast Thailand. They wrote the wrong address on the package.
The postal worker not only figured out what the right address was, but he also knew where I worked and brought the package to me while in my office.
I wouldn’t count on you being this lucky when sending a package, but even if you don’t get the address right, there’s still a good chance the package will arrive at its destination.
One saving grace is that Thailand follows the Universal Postal Union’s Postal Addressing System, so the general structure of Thai addresses follows a similar logic of addresses found in Western countries.
With Thailand addresses, begin with the smallest, specific unit of identification and progress to the largest:
Building name (if any)
Plot, House number, Village (if any), Road, Soi (if any)
Subdistrict, District
Province, Postal Code
Thailand
Here’s an example:
US Embassy
120–122 Wireless Rd
Lumphini, Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
Thailand
When moving to Thailand, you need to decide what to take and what to leave.
There are some items that you definitely do not want to ship over, as shipping prices can be very expensive and you might need to pay hefty taxes.
There are also some items that you don’t need to bring since you can find them easily in Thailand.
To help you decide, you can read our article on what to bring when shipping to Thailand.
It’s one of our 100+ exclusive pieces of content available only to our premium subscribers.
To get access, please become a subscriber.
Shipping Large Items to Thailand
If you need to ship a car, bike, furniture, or other large items to Thailand, use container shipping or a freight forwarder.
If you’re looking for a company to ship your belongings to Thailand, fill out your info on our international shipping page and get free quotes from international shipping companies.
When using their services, be sure to ask about restrictions, what items are taxable, pickup fees, and shipping rates and times.
Container Shipping
Container shipping involves shipping goods in a container on a shipping vessel.
Container shipping is good if you’re looking to ship a significant quantity of goods or large items.
When choosing container shipping, you have two choices:
- LCL = less than container load
- FCL = full container load
Let’s look at how each one differs.
LCL
LCL involves buying partial space in a container usually by the cubic meter. As such, it’s cheaper as you’re only paying for a partial area of a much larger container.
This is great if you have items that are too large to ship through the postal service but are not a large enough quantity to warrant an entire container.
The major drawback of LCL shipping is that you must wait until the entire container is full and ready to ship before your items leave port.
So you may wait months just until the container is full and ready to ship, and then have to wait more time for the actual transportation of the goods.
FCL
FCL, on the other hand, involves filling an entire shipping container. Although the price is significantly higher, you have more control over when and where the container is filled and shipped.
Freight Forwarders
If you’re considering container shipping, begin by choosing a freight forwarder. A freight forwarder is a firm that acts as an intermediary between you and a shipping company.
A freight forwarder offers a full range of services:
- finding freight shippers
- negotiating shipping prices
- preparing documents
- tracking shipments
- storing shipments
- helping with inland transportation
A freight forwarder doesn’t actually ship your items. They are an industry broker who helps you navigate the complex facets of international shipping.
They have industry relations with many shipping services and extensive knowledge of shipping logistics.
Use Freighnet’s freight forwarding directory to locate a suitable freight forwarder. On the site, you’re given a list of freight forwarders in Thailand to choose from.
Most of the forwarders don’t list shipping costs or times on their websites because of the many variables. But they calculate packages in one of two ways:
- gross, or real, weight of the package
- dimensional weight
If you’re shipping a palette of feathers, for example, the shipper would charge you by dimensional weight. Otherwise, they’d lose money because the real weight is so light.
If you wonder what the cut-off is between real weight and dimensional weight, contact the freight forwarder.
Case Study
Container shipping is the best choice when moving all your belongings to Thailand. This is what our editor, John, and his family did.
Since they had a daughter and already bought her necessities in America, they found out it would be cheaper to ship what they had to Thailand instead of buying it again, often at more expensive prices.
They found an international shipper in NYC that shipped to and from Thailand. For a palette-and-a-half of goods, 48 in. high and 42 in. long and wide, the cost came out to $1,400.
John and his wife had to pack everything in boxes, but the shipper’s employees came in a van and picked everything up for them. The shipping company also handled all the shipping paperwork.
The only thing John and his wife had to do was create a general list of items being shipped.
Since they were shipping their personal belongings, like furniture, kid’s clothes, toys, bikes, and so on, they didn’t have to pay import taxes.
It took six weeks to ship their belongings by sea. When everything arrived at port, a shipper in Thailand called them and delivered it to their house in Samut Prakan.
In total, they shipped 62 boxes from America, and 62 boxes arrived at their house. Not one thing was missing or broken.
But if you’re concerned about lost or damaged belongings, most private shippers offer insurance. If John and his wife wanted insurance on their shipment, the international shipping company would’ve charged them an extra $200.
Container Shipping Costs
The total price for shipping a container of goods depends on how much of the container you fill.
Most shipping companies offer half containers at 20 feet long, or LCL, and full containers at 40 feet long, or FCL.
Prices vary by shipper. But most shippers in the U.S. tack on a US$45 export fee.
All taxes are calculated by the value of items you ship. Sometimes you won’t have to pay taxes. This is especially true if what you’re shipping in the container is for personal use.
Since the cost of containers varies greatly between each person. The best way to check the price for yourself is to fill out the form on our contact page and get five free quotes from international shippers within 24 hours.
A key part of shipping to Thailand is to choose the right shipping company.
We have insider tips on this matter, including a list of shipping companies that you might want to consider.
It’s one of our 100+ exclusive pieces of content available only to our premium subscribers.
To get access, please become a subscriber.
Shipping Small Items to Thailand from Around the World
When sending a letter or small package to Thailand, you have two main choices:
- international shipping companies
- government-run organizations
International shipping companies are usually more expensive yet faster and more flexible when it comes to what you’re allowed to send. This is because they take care of the international shipping and delivery process themselves. Their tracking systems are usually better, too. And they may be able to help you with customs clearance.
On the other hand, each country has its own government-run organizations and tends to be the cheapest option when sending items to Thailand.
However, these government-run organizations don’t have their own fleet. They usually ship your items via airlines in their networks, and then forward them to local shipping companies, including Thailand Post.
Since there are many parties involved, it tends to take longer, is harder to track, and is less flexible.
For example, you might be able to send toothpaste and medications with private shippers but you can’t do that with government-run organizations.
International Shipping Companies
No matter where you are in the world, you should be able to send your packages to Thailand with these three shippers:
- DHL
- FedEx
- UPS
Let’s take a look at each company closely.
DHL
With DHL, you can ship parcels from anywhere in the world to Thailand. They have five services available.
DHL Express Worldwide: an express shipping service that offers fast, reliable delivery to Thailand, typically within one to three business days. This service includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.
DHL Express 12:00: an express shipping service that guarantees delivery to Thailand by noon on the next possible business day. This service includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.
DHL Express Easy: a simplified express shipping service that offers fast delivery to Thailand at a lower cost. This service is designed for small packages and documents, including door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.
DHL eCommerce: an economy shipping service that offers affordable delivery to Thailand for small parcels and lightweight shipments. This service typically takes seven to 14 business days and includes tracking.
DHL GlobalMail: a budget-friendly shipping service that offers delivery to Thailand for lightweight parcels and small shipments. This service typically takes seven to 14 business days, depending on the origin location, and includes tracking.
FedEx
FedEx sets international shipping limits by weight: 150 pounds to be exact. FedEx’s International Priority can get your package from mostly anywhere in the world to Thailand within three working days.
If you’re looking for overnight delivery, check out their International Next Flight service.
When using FedEx, you get guaranteed customs-cleared shipping.
There are four main shipping options from FedEx.
FedEx International Priority: an express shipping service that offers fast, reliable delivery to Thailand, typically within one to three business days. This service includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.
FedEx International Economy: an economy shipping service that offers affordable delivery to Thailand for less urgent shipments. This service typically takes between three and five business days, and includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.
FedEx International First: an express shipping service that guarantees delivery to Thailand by 9:00 AM on the next possible business day. This service includes door-to-door delivery, customs clearance, and tracking.
FedEx Ground: a ground shipping service that offers delivery within Thailand. This service is typically used for domestic shipments within Thailand and includes door-to-door delivery, tracking, and customs clearance services for international shipments.
UPS
UPS offers a variety of international shipping services to Thailand, including express, standard, and economy options.
UPS Worldwide Express: an express shipping service for urgent shipments to Thailand, typically within one to three business days depending on the origin location. This service includes a money-back guarantee and tracking.
UPS Worldwide Expedited: fast, reliable shipping to Thailand with a typical transit time of four to five business days. This service is designed for less urgent shipments and includes door-to-door service, customs clearance, and tracking.
UPS Worldwide Saver: an express shipping service that provides reliable delivery to Thailand in one to three business days. This service is designed for time-sensitive shipments and includes customs clearance and tracking.
UPS Standard: a more economical shipping option that provides reliable delivery to Thailand in four to six business days. This service is designed for non-urgent shipments and includes customs clearance and tracking visibility.
Unlike FedEx, UPS charges for add-on services that are usually included with FedEx’s shipping services.
From the USA
When shipping from the USA to Thailand, you can use the United States Postal Service.
Most of the USPS’s shipping choices come with:
- free packing supplies for shipments over $44;
- package pick up from your home or office;
- package tracking; and
- between $100 and $200 of insurance, depending on what you’re shipping.
Below is a list of shipping methods, depending on what you’re sending from the USA to Thailand.
Best Method for Sending Letters or Documents
If you have to send a letter or important documents from the USA to Thailand, use the USPS’s Global Express Guaranteed.
Best Method for Shipping Small-to-Medium Packages
When sending packages no larger than 70 lbs. and 42 in. long and 36 in. Wide, use USPS’ Priority Mail Express International.
USPS Customs Forms
When you send a package to Thailand, you have to include customs forms. You can print US customs forms right from your computer.
Check out all of the USPS’s international shipping choices.
From the UK
When shipping from the UK to Thailand, you can use the UK Post.
The UK Post offers:
- international shipping prices starting at £9.78;
- up to a £100 insurance for loss or damaged parcels; and
- the option to buy up to £500 worth of insurance for more expensive parcels.
Below is a list of shipping methods, depending on what you’re sending from the UK to Thailand.
Best Method for Sending Letters or Documents
If you need a letter or document rushed to Thailand from the UK, use the UK Post’s International Confirmed shipping service.
You’ll get your letter or documents in five to seven business days.
Best Method for Shipping Small-to-Medium Packages
Use the UK Post’s International Standard shipping. The UK post offers shipping to Thailand for parcels weighing up to 30 kgs.
You’ll get your parcel in six to seven working days.
UK Post Customs Forms
Make sure to fill out and attach the right customs forms with your international letter or parcel. Download the UK custom forms here.
Check out all of the UK Post’s international shipping choices.
From Australia
If you need to ship something from Australia to Thailand, use Australia Post.
Depending on which method you pick, air or sea, your package will reach Thailand anywhere from two to 30 days.
The Australian Post offers:
- package tracking;
- shipping prices starting at $11.55
- the option to add extra insurance.
Below is a list of shipping methods, depending on what you’re sending from Australia to Thailand.
Best Method for Sending Letters or Documents
If you need a letter or document urgently, use Australia Post’s International Courier service. Your letter will get to Thailand in one to two days in most cases.
Best Method for Shipping Small-to-Medium Packages
If you have to send a parcel from Australia to Thailand and you’re not in a rush, use Australia Post’s International Standard service.
Australia Post Custom Forms
You can download Australia Post’s customs forms and read more about their customs regulations on their website.
Check out all of Australia Post’s international shipping choices.
From Singapore
Singapore Post lets you send up to 30 kgs. to Thailand. Singapore Post provides:
- tracking
- notification of receipt
- insurance of up to $150
- door-step delivery; and
- on-call collection.
Below is a list of shipping methods, depending on what you’re sending from Singapore to Thailand.
Best Method for Sending Letters or Documents
If you need a letter or document right away, use Singapore Post’s Speedpost service. Your letter will get to Thailand in one to three business days.
Best Method for Shipping Small-to-Medium Packages
If you have to send a package from Singapore to Thailand and it’s not urgent, use Singapore Post’s Speedpost Economy or Standard service.
Check out all of Singapore Post’s international shipping choices.
Calculating Shipping Costs to Thailand
To calculate shipping costs, consider the item’s weight, size, and value, and how quickly you need it to arrive. The answers to these questions will tell you what service is best for you.
The tables below compare different shipping services using the example of shipping a 16-ounce computer part valued at US$150.
When shipping small packages, there’s not much difference between government and private shippers. But if you need a shipper who can work with you on a large or custom shipment, your best bet is to use a private shipper.
You will find shipping costs for containers at the end of this section.
To get a precise shipping cost, you can use online shipping calculators provided by various shipping companies such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS. These calculators will require you to input the weight and dimensions of your package and the origin and destination to provide an estimated shipping cost.
Shipping from the USA
Service | ETA | Price USD |
Priority Mail Express | 3–5 days | $61.85 |
Priority Mail | 6–10 days | $45.75 |
Medium Flat Rate | 6–10 days | $67.95 |
First Class | 10–14 days | $22.25 |
FedEx International Economy | 8 days | $122.73 |
DHL Express Worldwide | 3 days | $105.50 |
UPS Worldwide Expedited | 7 days | $107.85 |
Shipping from Australia:
Service | ETA | Price AUD |
Courier | 2 days | $81.60 |
Express | 4 days | $41.06 |
Standard | 8 days | $22.26 |
Economy Air | 10 days | $14.39 |
FedEx International Economy | 6 days | $133.94 |
DHL Express Worldwide | 1 day | $93.64 |
UPS Worldwide Expedited | 5 days | $86.36 |
Shipping from the UK
Service | ETA | Price GBP |
Global Express | 2 days guaranteed | £64.85 |
Global Priority | 4 days | £53.30 |
Global Value | 6–8 days | £40.50 |
FedEx International Economy | 6 days | £91.12 |
DHL Express Worldwide | 2 days | £62.58 |
UPS Worldwide Expedited | 7 days | £56.89 |
Shipping from Singapore
Service | ETA | Price SGD |
Standard (surface) | 3–4 weeks | $5.00 |
Standard (air) | 4–6 days | $11.70 |
Speedpost Priority | 2–3 days | $59.00 |
Speedpost Express | 1–2 | $82.00 |
FedEx International Economy | 2 days | $87.72 |
DHL Express Worldwide | 1 day | $100.92 |
UPS Worldwide Expedited | 5 days | $36.68 |
Insuring Your Package
All services mentioned above offer shipping insurance for an additional charge.
Here are some general insurances costs:
USPS
Most things you send through USPS come with $50 to $100 worth of insurance. You do have the choice to buy additional insurance for more expensive items up to $5,000.
Prices start at $2.10 and go up from there, depending on the declared value.
UK Post
When you use the UK Post to send items to Thailand, you can get between £20 and £2,500 worth of insurance. The amount of insurance you can get depends on which service you pick. But all insurance covers losses, damages, and delays.
Australia Post
Australia Post offers insurance for international shipping starting at $5 for items valued at $100. You can buy more insurance for $3.50 for each additional $100 of value, up to $5,000.
So if your item is valued at $1,000, you pay $5 for the first $100 and $3.50 for each additional $100. This means it would cost you $36.50 to insure your $1,000 item.
Singapore Post
Singapore Post offers international shipping insurance starting at $1.50 for items worth up to $1,000. For items worth over $1,000, you pay 2% of the item’s declared value.
DHL
If you want to insure your shipment through DHL, you pay 1.5% of the total value of the item you ship.
FedEx
You’re covered for any shipment under $100 declared value. For items valued between $100 and $300, insurance is $2.10. Any item valued over $300 costs $0.70 per $100 to insure.
UPS
You are covered for any shipment under $100 declared value. For shipments greater than $100 declared value, insurance costs are calculated into the shipping charges.
Shipping Amazon Packages to Thailand
Can you ship Amazon packages to Thailand? This has been a hot question lately, especially for expats looking to buy things from back home and have them sent to Thailand.
Amazon does ship certain items to Thailand. If you’re not sure if they’ll ship what you’re looking to buy, check the text under the Buy Now button.
It should say something like this:
Amazon does estimate and charges you import tax, but if they overestimate the tax Amazon will refund you the money.
Having Amazon calculate the import tax means you don’t have to deal with Thai customs when your package arrives—Amazon does it for you
If Amazon doesn’t ship what you want to Thailand, an alternative option is to have your package sent to a family member or friend and have them ship it to Thailand.
Shipping Vehicles to Thailand
Can you ship a personal vehicle to Thailand? The short answer is yes, but it’s extremely challenging because of regulations.
In fact, Thailand customs almost does not allow any vehicle import to Thailand unless there’s a very specific reason behind it, such as diplomacy. The process is so complex that even many car shipping companies don’t provide this service.
In addition, import taxes are high, around 200 percent to 300 percent of the car’s value.
If you want to try your luck, here are some general steps to follow.
First, check the eligibility. Before importing a vehicle into Thailand, make sure that the vehicle is eligible for importation. Certain types of vehicles are prohibited from being imported, such as cars that are more than five years old.
Second, you need to obtain an import permit from the Thai government. This permit can be obtained from the Department of Foreign Trade. When applying for the permit, you must provide documentation such as the vehicle’s registration and proof of ownership.
Third, you need to ensure that the vehicle meets Thai safety and emissions standards. If the car doesn’t meet these standards, it will need to be modified or you may not be able to import it.
Fourth, be prepared to pay taxes and duties on the vehicle. The amount depends on the make and model of the car, its age, and value.
Finally, you need to arrange for the car to be shipped to Thailand. You can do this through a shipping company that specializes in international car shipping.
Shipping Pets to Thailand
If you’re moving to Thailand or staying for a long vacation and want to bring your pet(s), you have quite a few choices.
Our writer, Thomas Wanhoff, who covers all topics related to expats and pets, covers the entire process in our guide to importing your pet to Thailand.
Dealing with Thai Customs
When your package makes it to Thailand, it has to go through Thai Customs. Customs may tax or add duty rates to your package.
Duty rates, taxes, and Thai Customs laws are always changing, so if in doubt, check with the Thai Customs Department.
Duty Rates
Thailand uses the cost, insurance, freight—or CIF—to calculate the value of incoming packages. Duty rates are based on the CIF total value:
Item Value: $100
Shipping: $20
Insurance: $30
Total CIF: $150
CIF values are used to determine duty rates. Duty rates range between 0% to 80%, with an average of 21%.
Some items are exempt from duty charges. Laptops, some electronic devices, and items with a value below $30 might not incur duty charges.
Thai Customs offers this duty rate assessment PDF. You can also use this duty rate calculator to help estimate duty costs.
When using private shippers like DHL, FedEx, or UPS, there’s no way to pay for import taxes ahead of time. These private shippers leave the collection of duties to Thai Customs officers.
Despite what you claim the item’s value to be, Thai customs often appraise the item at a higher rate.
You may claim a pair of shoes you’re shipping to Thailand only costs $50, but Thai customs may value the shoes at $100 or even $150.
This is standard practice with Thai customs, and you have little recourse in preventing it from happening. Some people have claimed success by bringing in receipts and documents that show the item’s true value.
The other issue with duty rates is the inconsistency between the percentages. Like so many other things in Thailand, there is little standardization when it comes to policies and procedures.
What duty rate you end up paying often comes down to the given postal or customs agent on any given day. It’s common to pay differing duty rates when shipping the exact same item.
Without much effort, you’ll find horror stories when dealing with Thai customs. People report items going missing or getting seized or delayed in customs for months.
You’ll also find stories of customs holding packages for ransom as a means to collect more duty. I experienced this when receiving some banking info through the mail.
People report bribes to pay half of the duty rate under the table without invoices or paperwork.
These events vary and depend on your location in Thailand. It’s wise to save all shipping documents and receipts for later verification.
There are few rules you can follow to decrease or even completely avoid custom taxes. We show you how in an exclusive guide for our supporters.
VAT
Value Added Tax, or VAT, is a sales tax added to items coming into Thailand.
The current VAT rate is 7%, calculated over the CIF value plus any duty added to the item.
Therefore, the value that the VAT is applied for is higher than the item’s initial value, as it includes the item’s value, shipping, insurance, and duty.
You might have to pay another 10% VAT on alcohol and food.
Restricted Items
Each international shipping service restricts certain items you can import into Thailand. But in the end, Thai Customs has the ultimate say on what can and can’t be brought here.
Check with your shipper, but cross-reference their restrictions with those listed on the Suvarnabhumi Airport and Thai Customs websites.
General restrictions:
- tobacco
- beef products
- any type of seeds
- dry tea leaves
- non-prescription drugs
- e-cigarettes
- baraka, shisha, hookah (water pipes)
- obscene objects, literature, pictures
- pornographic materials
- goods with Thai national flags
- narcotics
- fake currency, bonds, or coins
- fake royal and/or official seals
- intellectual property rights infringing goods
- counterfeit trademark goods
- sex toys
- graven image and/or religious idols
Although some animals are restricted from entering Thailand, most household pets aren’t. Jump to our section on importing your pet into Thailand for more info.
You can also visit the Thai Customs website to find out about Thailand’s Importing and Exporting Procedures.
It’s hard to calculate the amount of tax you need to pay since it depends on the customs officers’ opinion.
However, with certain conditions and items, you don’t need to pay it at all.
You can find out more from more on how to avoid customs tax here.
It’s one of our 100+ exclusive pieces of content available only to our premium subscribers.
To get access, please become a subscriber.
Shipping Times
If you’re wondering how long it will take to ship your letter or package to Thailand, that depends on what you’re sending and which service you pick.
On average, you can expect to get your letter or package to get to Thailand Customs in between two days and two months.
Rush or priority services from most of the post offices and private shippers mentioned in this guide take a few days to reach Thailand.
If you’re sending your items in a container, it could take up to two months, but most times it takes around six weeks.
After your items reach Thai Customs, you may have to wait for Customs to clear your items. Usually, items are cleared reasonably quickly—around one or two days.
But you may have to go to Customs to pay for duties and/or VAT, and that could hold up your letter or package for a few more days.
What’s the Current Shipping Situation in Thailand after COVID-19?
During COVID-19, many countries all around the world, including Thailand, shut their borders and implemented international travel restrictions, making shipping time unpredictable.
Now that Thailand, as well as most countries in the world, is open again, you can expect packages to be delivered on time.
However, when shipping internationally, unexpected delays are always a possibility.
If time is a pressing concern, we recommend using a private shipping company to ensure your parcel reaches you in time.
Avoiding Common Shipping Mistakes
Avoid these common mistakes when shipping your items to Thailand to make sure your belongings get here safely and on time:
- shipping prohibited items
- packaging items incorrectly
- failing to account for duty and VAT
- setting inaccurate shipping weights
- picking the wrong shipping service
- misunderstanding custom’s procedures
- failing to include the required paperwork
- filling out addresses and forms incorrectly
If you can avoid making any of these mistakes, your letter or package will get to Thailand on time.
Now, on to You
There are no guarantees in life, and this is especially true with international shipping.
But by following this guide, you should be able to mitigate as much risk and unnecessary spending as possible.
Whether you’re a soon-to-be expat looking to ship your belongings to Thailand, or you’re an expat looking to receive a care package from back home, fill out the form on our contact page and get five free quotes from international shippers within 24 hours.
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- How to Get a Residence Certificate in Thailand 2024-03-24 A simple guide on how to prove your residence when opening banks accounts, applying for a driver's license, and more.
- How to Watch Formular 1 in Thailand (2024 Season) 2024-05-04 The first official race of Formula 1 2024 will begin in Bahrain on March 2, 2024. It is a global…
- Dating in Thailand for Single Expats: How and Where to Meet Single Thais 2024-01-15 Let’s get one thing out of the way before we begin: this isn’t going to be one of those articles.…
- Thailand’s For-Profit Hippies: The Proliferation of Exploitative Wellness Guru Types in Thailand 2023-12-19 Thailand has long been a magnet for people seeking holistic wellbeing and going on a Thailand Yoga retreat is a…
- How to Deal with Homesickness as an American Expat in Thailand 2023-12-04 Three years ago, my wife and I made a life-changing decision to leave the United States and move to her…
- Thailand Scams – Tuk Tuks and Touts and Taxis, Oh My! 2023-11-28 I love Thailand. It is my chosen adoptive home for so many reasons. I adore the people, the culture, the…
- Plus Size Bangkok: Best Places to Shop for Big Sized Clothing 2023-10-23 Of course it is a sweeping generalization that Thai people are small and foreigners are big. But there is truth…
- Soi Dog Foundation: Its Heartwarming Story and How You Can Volunteer 2023-09-06 After we published an article on how to become a volunteer in Thailand, we had a chance to interview Chrissie…
- Moving to Thailand With a Dog or Cat: A Quick Guide 2023-09-20 So you have decided to leave your home and move to Thailand with your loved ones. For us pet lovers,…
- The Big List of Best (and Affordable) Restaurants in Bangkok 2023-08-08 Exploring the culinary scene in Bangkok is an exhilarating endeavor, but listing the best restaurants is a daunting task. Every…
- The Complete Guide to Buying Furniture in Thailand 2023-08-17 Where to find practical, traditional, and antique pieces of all price ranges in the country.
- Shipping From Thailand: Procedure, Costs, and Customs 2023-09-28 If you live or vacation in Thailand, there’s a good chance you may have to send something back home. Whether…
- An Expat’s Guide to Sustainable Living in Thailand 2023-07-03 One of the greatest frustrations for expats living in Thailand is how to manage household waste and recycle effectively. Although…
- The Five Best Places to Retire in Thailand 2023-09-29 There are plenty of good reasons to consider retiring in Thailand: nice weather, low cost of living, inexpensive, high-quality medical…
- How to Find the Best Moving Company in Bangkok 2023-07-03 Moving is a good chance to get rid of all the stuff you no longer want or need. But packing…
- The Complete Guide to Getting Married in Thailand 2023-07-03 If you are lucky enough to fall in love with a Thai woman and know that you want to spend…
- How to Ditch the Desk at 53 and Retire in Thailand 2023-10-03 Pat and I chose to escape the daily grind and retire early while we had our health, energy, and sense…
- Choosing the Best Place to Live in Thailand – A Primer for Expats 2023-07-02 Expats in Thailand are particularly lucky. One of the great things about this country is its enormous variety. Whether you’re…
- What It’s Like to Live in Thailand as an American 2023-08-25 Ever wonder what it's like living in the country as a U.S. expat? Here's my take.
- Bringing Medicine Into Thailand: Everything You Need to Know 2023-10-03 How to enter the country with Category Two through Category Four drugs.
- Moving to Thailand from the UK: How and Why I Did It 2023-06-30 This article shows you how to move to Thailand from the UK, survive the first year, and thrive in the…
- Sin Sod in Thailand: How Much Do You Need to Give? 2023-09-28 About to get married to your Thai fiancee and worried about sin sod? Here's what you need to know.
- Moving To Thailand: A Guide for Expats to Live Here 2024-04-07 An in-depth guide to making this Southeast Asian country your new home.
- How to Change or Update Your Address at Thailand Immigration Office (TM30) 2023-10-03 A step-by-step guide on informing Thai immigration of your new location.
- How to Get Free Yet Fast Wifi in Thailand 2023-06-30 The mobile data from your internet package might not be enough to carry you through your internet usage every month.…
- How to Choose the Right Retirement Home in Thailand 2023-09-28 A step-by-step guide on picking the right place for you or your loved one.
- How to Find an International Freight Forwarder in Thailand 2023-06-22 Importing and exporting goods into and out of Thailand is not as easy as sending or picking up a piece…
- Bookstores in Bangkok: Where to Get Your Reading Fix 2023-09-20 Coming to a foreign country always implies downtime. There is the slowness of travel, the moments in which you don’t…
- How to Get Unlimited Internet for Your Phone in Thailand 2023-06-30 Cell phone plans in Thailand come with internet usage limits no matter which plan you get. Although you may pay…
- Getting Deals and Discounts on Your Daily Life 2023-06-30 This is one of the 100+ exclusive pieces of content created for our Premium subscribers. To read and unlock all…
- A Full Checklist on What to Bring When Shipping to Thailand 2023-10-19 Deciding what to bring to Thailand and what’s not is a big headache. You don’t want to ship too less…
- How to Find a Good Mechanic in Your Area 2023-06-30 When you have a car, you need to find a good mechanic in your area that can fix and service…
- How to Become a Digital Nomad in Chiang Mai 2023-06-15 Money was tight. My business was languishing. My personal life was in the dumper and I was not a happy…
- Shipping to Thailand: Services, Costs, and Customs 2023-11-20 Shipping a letter or package to Thailand? Moving to Thailand and need to send all your belongings here? You’re probably…
- Moving to Thailand from America: How and Why Our Family Did It 2023-10-03 Moving to Thailand was an exciting and at the same time stressful experience for me and my family. It was…
- How to Save Over 50% on Your Thai Cell Phone Plan 2024-02-29 This is one of the 100+ exclusive pieces of content created for our Premium subscribers. To read and unlock all…
- Local Shipping Company That’s 50% Cheaper than Other Moving Companies 2023-06-30 This is one of the 100+ exclusive pieces of content created for our Premium subscribers. To read and unlock all…
- Best Day to Do Online Shopping in Thailand 2023-07-02 Online shopping in Thailand is getting bigger every year. Now you can buy almost anything on the internet and have…
- How to Avoid Custom’s Tax 2023-06-30 When you ship or bring any item into Thailand, there’s a chance you’ll get charged taxes by Thai Customs. Although…
- All the Apps You Need for Living in Thailand 2023-06-30 Your life in Thailand will be much easier when you have certain apps on your phone. These apps will save…
- Easy Packaging Tips to Keep Your Belongings Protected for International Shipping 2023-06-30 If you choose to do the packaging yourself, there are a few things you should always follow. This is to…
- How to Get Upto 60% Discounts When Booking a Hotel 2023-06-30 Once you get a flight ticket, now it’s the time to book a hotel. Unlike flight deals, you do not…
- How to Choose the Right Shipping Company 2023-06-30 When choosing a shipping company, it’s important to choose the one that has expertise in shipping between Thailand and your…
- A Seamless Shipping Experience: Sending Items from Thailand to the World 2023-02-22 Are you in need of a hassle-free way to send your items from Thailand to destinations around the world? Look…
- How to Choose the Right Internet Providers in Thailand 2023-06-30 There are many available internet providers in Thailand. You might be wondering which one to choose.In this article, we are…
- The Complete Guide to Online Dating Sites in Thailand 2023-08-31 There’s relatively little social stigma about meeting people online in Thailand, particularly among 20- and 30-somethings. Whereas it was once…
- The Cheapest and Easiest Way to Watch International Football from Thailand 2023-01-11 In Thailand, watching Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, UEFA Champion League, and so on at home can be quite…
- How to Buy or Adopt Dogs, Cats, and Exotic Pets in Thailand 2023-01-11 Everything you need to know before adding a furry friend to your family.
- Bangkok Veterinarians: Hospitals, Services, and Costs 2023-09-20 When one of my dogs had a kidney problem, I had no idea where to take him for an ultrasound.…
- Christmas Dinner in Bangkok: Restaurants, Locations, and Prices 2023-06-30 It was around seven thirty. The staff came out and lined up on the floor. I took a bite of…
- Thailand Roaming: Plans, Packages, and Options 2022-12-20 While you are traveling outside of Thailand, instead of buying a new SIM card in your vacation country, it might…
- Recommended Apps for Expats in Thailand 2022-12-19 Life in the country becomes a whole lot easier when you have these helpful tools on your phone.
- How to Save 50% on Food and Groceries at Supermarkets 2023-06-26 Although food and grocery prices in Thailand supermarkets aren’t that different, there’s still a way for you to get a…
- How to Find a Handyman in Bangkok, Thailand 2022-12-26 What to look for when getting help for your home repairs.
- How to Find a Maid, Nanny, Babysitter, and Housekeeper in Thailand 2023-10-03 Everything you need to know when it comes to finding help at home for your family.
- The Complete Guide to Booking an Alternative State Quarantine in Thailand 2023-06-30 COVID-19 has brought a new normal to everyone in the world. One of these is staying in quarantine after travel. …
- How to Get Proof of Covid-19 Insurance to Come to Thailand 2023-06-30 Since Covid-19 hit the whole world in 2020, insurance with Covid-19 coverage has become necessary in order to fly to…