Complete Guide to Customs Clearance Process for Importing Goods in Thailand

An outline of the entire customs clearance process for importing goods into the country until the goods are stored in a warehouse.

1

Pre-Arrival

  • Shipping Documents Preparation: Importer or freight forwarder prepares necessary documents such as Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and Import Declaration.
  • Manifest Submission: The shipping line submits the manifest to Thai Customs electronically before the goods arrive.
2

Arrival at Port

  • Document Submission: The importer or their agent submits the required documents to Thai Customs, including the Import Declaration form via the Customs Department's e-Customs system.
  • Customs Inspection: The customs officer examines the submitted documents to ensure compliance with Thai laws and regulations.
3

Customs Clearance

  • Goods Classification: Goods are classified according to the Harmonized System (HS) code to determine applicable duties and taxes.
  • Duties and Taxes Assessment: Customs calculates the import duties, VAT, and any other applicable taxes based on the value and classification of the goods.
  • Risk Assessment: The e-Customs system automatically assesses the risk level of the import shipment:
  • - Green Line: Low risk, goods are cleared without physical inspection.
  • - Red Line: High risk, goods are subject to a detailed physical inspection.
  • Payment of Duties and Taxes: Importer pays the assessed duties and taxes via the bank or an online payment system.
4

Inspection

  • Physical Inspection: If the shipment is flagged for a red-line inspection, customs officers will physically examine the goods to verify that they match the declared items.
  • Release Order: After successful inspection and verification, a Release Order is issued by Customs, allowing the goods to be transported.
5

Transportation to Warehouse

  • Port or Airport Release: The goods are released from the port or airport, and the importer arranges transportation to move the goods to the warehouse.
  • Delivery Note: A delivery note or goods receipt note is issued during the handover from the transporter to the warehouse.
6

Storage in Warehouse

  • Goods Receipt at Warehouse: Upon arrival at the warehouse, the goods are checked against the delivery note.
  • Inventory Entry: The goods are logged into the warehouse inventory management system.
  • Placement: The goods are placed in designated storage locations within the warehouse.

This process ensures that all imported goods comply with Thai regulations, duties and taxes are collected, and goods are safely stored until they are ready for distribution or sale.