Customs & Visas

Depend on the purpose of the trip and the length of time visitors to the Kingdom of Thailand will need a Visa on arrival, a tourist visa, or a non—immigrant  visa. Visitors from the United States spending 30 days or less will be issued a visa on arrival. If you are a tourist wanting to stay in Thailand for 30 to 90 days you will need to apply for a tourist visa before coming to Thailand. Those coming here to work retire or other non tourist reasons need a non-immigrant visa. Visas are issued by the Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate. For complete information about visas I recommend going to the Thai Embassy Washington DC web site.

A reasonable amount of clothing for personal use, toilet articles, and professional instruments may be brought in free of duty. Cameras: One still-camera or one movie camera can be brought in without duty. Tobacco, Alcoholic Beverages: Cigarettes, cigars, or smoking tobacco each or in total must not exceed 250 grams in weight but cigarettes not exceeding 200 in quantity. One liter each of wine or spirits may be brought in free of duty. A reasonable amount of used household effects, accompanied by the owner on change of domicile are also free of duty. Some items; illegal drugs, obscene literature, pictures or articles, are not allowed and the penalties can be serve.

Export of Antiques is restricted Buddha images, Bodhisattva images or fragments thereof are forbidden to be taken out of Thailand. There are limited exceptions for worshipping by Buddhists, or cultural exchanges, or academic studies. Visitors are also allowed to take small modern Buddha images that will fit in your hand out of the country in limited numbers. No more than five small Buddha images or a export permit is required.