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What are the best options for transporting equipment to Thailand for work with a DTV visa?

DTV VisaTransportationShippingImport DutiesCustoms RegulationsExpat LifestyleMusic ProductionThailand
Jun 3, 2025
25 days ago
Patrick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does anyone have any experience in transporting stuff to Thailand from Europe? I’m about to move to Thailand for workation (DTV visa), I’m a music producer and sound engineer so obviously I’ll need to bring some gear with me to do my remote work.

How much? Well, here’s the thing: I could technically take the bare minimum that will fit into let’s say 3 flyable cases. That plus personal items would make me fly with at least 7-8 pieces of luggage, and give me only basic stuff. To be comfortable I’d need to bring gear in volume closer to a pallet or preferably two.

Is there any point in trying to organize something like a pallet freight or is it simply not worth it / not possible / not economically viable? Do you actually know someone who could help?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the logistics of transporting music equipment from Europe to Thailand for work as a music producer under a DTV visa. The author considers the feasibility of bringing gear through air travel versus shipping via a container. Community responses emphasize the high import duties and customs hurdles associated with shipping electronics, suggesting partial container shipping as an alternative, but warning of potential delays and costs. It's advised to bring as much equipment as possible by air to minimize customs charges or to consider buying new equipment in Thailand due to high import fees.
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Travis *******
I think some people maybe underestimating the cost of your equipment. Shipping by container is liable to be flagged for import fees, which if you don't declare (with receipts) they will look for the highest price online and apply a 10-30% fee. While I'm in a different field of audio (car audio engineer), bringing a few suitcases of equipment could very easily land a $3000-6000 import fee 😅. So depending on the cost of the items needing declared, it maybe far cheaper to fly in with everything (or even rebuy here, I did this with my PC and work stuff).
25 days ago
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Jeremy ********
The import taxes will make the products cost more than the original new price

I used to buy lots of shoes and a $100 AJ1 I was paying $120 in taxes

So it might be cheaper to fly back and forth a few times.
25 days ago
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John *********
Container
25 days ago
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Bent *************
You may be ripped by the Thai customs!
25 days ago
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Tony ******
Your best option will be to bring as MUCH as possible with you’

Everything you bring is subject to a possible customs charge and this is massively increased if you ship it..

I’d research shops like

Lazada and Shoppe for online purchasing replacement items … and the cost of getting new equipment CS shipping / selling your current.
25 days ago
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Lutz *******
That makes no sense at all, customs would make this process so expensive that it would make much more sense to buy the things you need for production here again.I simply sold everything at home that was too big to take with me and bought new things here
25 days ago
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Patrick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lutz ******
 Robert Merrell that’s unfortunately not an options - many items (like vintage instruments or British-made ATC studio monitors) are impossible or nearly-impossible to obtain in Thailand and most others are 60% more expensive so I’d still rather pay some $10k in import fees than lose five times that on trying to recreate a kinda unique inventory… But yeah, I’ll consider flying. Thanks.
25 days ago
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Travis *******
@Patrick ********
 I thought you may have some more rare and expensive items, I would definitely fly with them if you feel you can pack them well enough. The luggage fees are FAR less than import fees, and you don't have to have customs rummage through your stuff unattended for weeks.
25 days ago
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Lutz *******
@Patrick ********
 Yes, I know, I'm pretty old school too, but sometimes you just have to make a break and move with the times.I have now found many alternatives with which I can work just as well. Of course I can understand the issue with the instruments, but you can learn them bit by bit and on every trip.
25 days ago
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Lutz *******
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Michael ********
You can check here, but as someone who imported large boat before they go through it with checking individual items. They used exchange and mart (uk website) in my particular case to check value of items. (Dont undervalue)

**************************
25 days ago
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John *******
When I initially moved here, we used the company called Asian Tigers. It was probably around a pallet size and cost around 12,000USD. That is not including customs, etc.
25 days ago
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Patrick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 that would still be a good deal for me. It’s still under 10% of what I’d have to spend to even try to recreate the inventory I plan to bring, so that doesn’t scare me at all. Thanks for the company name, I’ll reach out to them for a quote.
25 days ago
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Frank **********
@John ******
 that's crazy.
25 days ago
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John *******
@Frank *********
 my employer paid for it though.
25 days ago
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Frank **********
@John ******
 that is good. But it sounds like a ridiculous price for just 1 pallet.
25 days ago
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Dany ********
@Frank *********
 yes that is a scam / ripoff. for that price you get a large full 40ft shipping container everything included. even from the US
25 days ago
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John *******
@Frank *********
 I was also coming from the US, not Europe. It came via cargo ship.
25 days ago
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John *******
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Robert *********
Be prepared to pay huge import tax ,better to buy here
25 days ago
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Patrick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ********
 that’s unfortunately not an options - may items (like vintage instruments or British-made ATC studio monitors) are impossible or nearly-impossible to obtain in Thailand and most others are 50-60% more expensive so I’d still rather pay some $5-10k in import fees than lose five times that on trying to recreate a kinda unique inventory
25 days ago
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Robert *********
@Patrick ********
 i hope you will have your work permit sorted first ,as this would be clear evidence that you intend to work .

I wish you luck
25 days ago
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Patrick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ********
 but yes, I get the point that bringing that much gear could raise suspicion from

customs / immigration that I might actually intend to do some kind of a business serving local clients. Which is totally not true and easily provable, but anyway. Thanks for the input, that might actually be worth taking into account when deciding on what to bring and what not.
25 days ago
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Patrick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ********
 I work only remotely and that’s exactly what my DTV visa allows me to do. I work exclusively for European and American clients, I’m not doing any services for Thai clients nor do I intend to, so I do not need a work permit. That’s confirmed by two independent legal experts in Thai law, so I’m pretty certain that’s actually the case.
25 days ago
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Jack ********
@Robert ********
 you don’t understand the DTV visa
25 days ago
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Jack ********
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Bob **********
If it’s electronics be prepared to pay huge custom taxes
25 days ago
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Simon *********
Sending by post is usually cheaper than currier. You may get taxed, but it will be the correct amount, as per the import duty tarrifs.

Fedex, UPS, DHL, will always tax you and, use their magic formulas... 7% can and often does, magically become 150-200%
25 days ago
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Stefan ******
Airplane check-in bags are usually the worst option as for price. The cheapest is usually partial-container loads, yes, but might take several weeks to arrive and you have to find a reliable provider that won't rip you off and have to deal with customs in your country and TH (you'd have to do that too on the flight, ofc you can try to go through the green lane but will not always work, basically illegal if you bring valuable items)
25 days ago
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Brandon ************
For shipping, you purchase space by the shipping container. I believe there are companies that will sell you a partial container shared with others. It's not something you can do by yourself at this level, and even if you tried you'd be raked over the coals with duty fees. So you need to find a shipping agent that works with shipping containers to Thailand.
25 days ago
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Patrick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
. Thanks, that might actually be a clue! I just realized that in any scenario like this I’ll still have to figure out how to clear the customs, cause that might make the whole operation not worth it at all…
25 days ago
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Dany ********
@Patrick ********
 and expect 35-50+ days door-to-door transit time. pretty crazy if you ask me. but if you can plan the delivery and it lines up with your life then go for it. otherwise it is air freight for a premium price…
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Patrick ********
 in Germany, you can get shared space in a Container. The company ships from out of Bremerhaven, the name is Pangaea Cargo
25 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
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