This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Do I need a form to avoid paying duty on personal effects when returning to Thailand with my Thai spouse?
ThailandVisaDTV VisaCustoms DutyPersonal EffectsExpat AdviceReturning Thai CitizensBaggage Allowance
May 8, 2025
a year ago
Peter **********
ORIGINAL POSTERNot specifically a visa question, but kinda related. My Thai wife and I (on DTV) visa are coming back to Thailand in a couple of weeks after being away for 20 years. We have probably 8 suitcases (maybe 150kg) of stuff that we are bringing with us, as we are going to mainly base ourselves in Thailand, as I'm close to retirement. Do we need a form to avoid paying duty? Nothing valuable really, just clothes, personal effects, but it all adds up. Mainly her stuff really.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is returning to Thailand with their Thai wife after 20 years, carrying around 150kg of personal belongings. They seek clarification on whether they need a form to avoid customs duty on their items. Comments suggest that generally, there is no charge unless high-value goods are identified. Many expats recommend declaring items as personal effects and using multiple luggage carts. Others mention that Thai citizens can bring used household goods duty-free if certain conditions are met, but caution that customs may still charge duty on personal items. It may also be cheaper to buy new items in Thailand instead of bringing many suitcases.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted DTV Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Ronald ******
Contact an air-freight company... it doesn't cost much and they handle customs...
Holger **************
By the way
A Container from UK to Thailand 20ft IS about 1150
A Container from UK to Thailand 20ft IS about 1150
Ivan *********
Why not pay for a small container ahead of your journey ? There is a Shipping company who do small containers to Thailand . The company is called Seven Sea Worldwide .
Dave **********
A couple decades we used this as my company paid Shipping Duty-Free:
Thai citizens returning home can bring back their used household and personal effects duty-free if they meet the requirements.
Requirements for Returning Thai Citizens:
They need to provide proof of residency abroad for at least a year and demonstrate that the goods were their personal property and used while abroad.
Thai citizens returning home can bring back their used household and personal effects duty-free if they meet the requirements.
Requirements for Returning Thai Citizens:
They need to provide proof of residency abroad for at least a year and demonstrate that the goods were their personal property and used while abroad.
Bob *********
Customs will still get you for duty my wife brought lot of clothes back and got charged 20k baht i knew a case where some work mates wives gathered together loads of clothes might even have been childrens clothes to take to thailand to give to thai charities they were still charged import tax fgs
Peter **********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks to everyone for their advice. As we are flying from Saigon, extra baggage is pretty cheap. We are probably only paying 350 dollars in excess baggage.
Sally *******
If they are all expensive designer goods keep them. If not, leave them for charity.
Scott ********
We moved here 2½ years ago. We flew from the UK to Bangkok with Eva Air. We were allowed 2 cases each weighing in at 25kg apiece and I paid for an extra case per person for another 25kg each. Total weight of 150kg and we managed to bring all what we needed to begin our lives here.
We've got a fair bit of clothing/goods still in the UK in storage and if we ever have a reason to go back we'll take minimal luggage with us in 2 cases apiece then come back to Thailand full again.
We've got a fair bit of clothing/goods still in the UK in storage and if we ever have a reason to go back we'll take minimal luggage with us in 2 cases apiece then come back to Thailand full again.
Basim *******
Get only important matters and documents … it is cheaper to buy new than to take the old one … I donated all my old stuff
David **********
One of my work colleagues tells me that due to the high price of luggage on airplanes he now sends a parcel with his belongings to India instead, apparently saves a lot of money.
Maybe worth looking into shipping costs with someone like DHL to Thailand
Maybe worth looking into shipping costs with someone like DHL to Thailand
Tony **********
@David *********
costs $60 to send a document from Thailand to USA. I'd be afraid to ask what they'd want for 8 suitcases worth of packages...Sylvia ********
@Tony *********
door to door express yes. But can look into surface mail by boat, slow but a faction of the costsReply to
Sylvia ********
Reply
Bob **********
You won’t get a customs break on a DTV just get ride of everything and buy new here it’s cheap as chips
Michael ********
@Bob *********
his wife is a returning Thai citizenReply to
Michael ********
Reply
Kevin ******
If you're bringing in items other than clothing and are stopped, inform CO that they are your wife's personal effects.
Brandon ************
There are certainly things you can and are supposed to declare. But just use 2 luggage carts, one for you and one for your wife, and walk out like you own the place. Most of the time the customs people don't even look up from their phone, but if you don't look like you're trying to sneak anything in, they normally won't bother you even if they see you.
John ******
I had 20 KG overweight at Emirates from Spain, just some non valuable clothes. 450$! Throw away all and buy new here.
Todd *********
@John *****
wow, i did not realize people still attempt this lol. Agree - throw away and start overReply to
Todd *********
Reply
Stuart *********
Wow 8 suitcases. That’s going to cost (in baggage costs).
Generally if you bring stuff with you then there isn’t usually a charge unless they catch you importing high value goods.
Not 100% sure they won’t question 8 suitcases though.
Generally if you bring stuff with you then there isn’t usually a charge unless they catch you importing high value goods.
Not 100% sure they won’t question 8 suitcases though.
Holger **************
Robert *******
@Holger *************
€4700 for 20ftHolger **************
@Robert ******
Maybe can share with othersRobert *******
@Holger *************
prices to Asia went up as I heardRobert *******
@Holger *************
was end of January from Germany to Thailand so many things changed after the orange man started with tariffsReply to
Robert *******
Reply
Holger **************
@Stuart ********
wow...the Queen usualy travelled with 24 suitcases ..😉Reply to
Holger **************
Reply
58 comments
a year ago
48 comments
a year ago
29 comments
a year ago
5 comments
a year ago
2 comments
a year ago
9 comments
a year ago
21 comments
a year ago
35 comments
a year ago
7 comments
a year ago
52 comments
2 years ago
11 comments
2 years ago
2 comments
2 years ago
17 comments
2 years ago
12 comments
2 years ago
24 comments
2 years ago
36 comments
3 years ago
11 comments
3 years ago
13 comments
3 years ago
26 comments
4 years ago
4 comments
4 years ago
21 comments
4 years ago
6 comments
4 years ago
7 comments
4 years ago
6 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.