Includes import documentation and other requirements for both the U.S. exporter and foreign importer.
Last Published: 8/9/2019

Import licenses are required for 26 categories of items.  Licenses are required for the import of many raw materials, petroleum, industrial, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.  Imports of goods not requiring licenses must comply with applicable regulations of concerned agencies, including, in some cases, extra fees and certificate of origin requirements.
Additionally, several products are subjected to import control:

  • Importation of processed foods, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and cosmetics require licensing from the Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health. 
  • Importation of tungsten oxide, tin ores, and metallic tin in quantity exceeding two kilograms require permission from the Department of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Industry. 
  • Importation of arms, ammunition, or explosive devices requires licensing from the Ministry of Interior. 
  • Importation of antiques or objects of art, whether registered or not, require permission from the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Education. 

General customs clearing procedures for both imports and exports in Thailand require the submission of a Customs’ export entry form or import entry form.  The form should be accompanied by standard shipping documents, which include:  commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/airway bill, and letter of credit.  Some products may require an import/export license and/or authorization from relevant agencies.  These include food products (processed or unprocessed), pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare products, cosmetics, hazardous substances, animals, and some agricultural products.  Thailand has already eliminated its requirement of a certificate of origin for information technology imports pursuant to the WTO Information Technology Agreement.  The use of a freight forwarder to deal with import and export customs clearing in Thailand is highly recommended.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.