What are the rules for bringing personal items and books into Thailand on a retirement visa?

We've already done it many times from USA and Europe to various Asian countries. But these times we were holding a work permit AND everything was used and tax free.

So for our retirement move to Thailand, we got lots of quotes to send our stuff from Singapore to Thailand. Prices were ridiculous even when we had already packed everything ourself. 27 boxes. No furniture.

It turns out that the quotes include the "extra" cost for customs tax. If we had a work permit, we would NOT need to pay this on our personal goods. But a retirement extension didn't get an exemption.

We couldn't get a breakdown, but it seems to be included in all the quotes. We finally transferred by land which was still quite high as they still needed to "pay" fees to border officials. It was by weight though so at least transparent. We carried about 250kgs by air when we were traveling back and forth...which was actually cheaper, all inclusive!

Books are very complicated actually, strict rules on the content and if educational. I once had a client want to send a library to Afica to a school, guess what, they wouldn't allow it. Other items had to have h&s certificates otherwise they couldn't go and electrical items tested and certified, it goes on and on, it becomes too much hassle.

Understand your best intentions, do alot of research first. 👍

I worked in freight services for 35 years, you can find a charity first to donate all to, then they bring in as charitable items, they will know the rules. If you want to bring in as personal effects then you need to catalogue the items and value for customs (not insurance)

Then find a specialised personal effects carrier. They will check and confirm everything with their agent in Thailand prior to shipping.

Costs have gone up immensely so I would image its cost prohibited and you would be better off selling in the US and make a donation instead.

Hope that helps.

Have to agree with others, a friend got a job, flew up to organise accommodation came back shipped of his stuff. Got hit with more taxes than the goods were worth, as the goods weren't on the way when he flew in the first time. And the goods were purely house content.

It used to be within 90 days from first stamping in, but that changed after covid. I do know it is not six months. You still pay shipping cost, and that goes by weight unless you have a full container load. Plan on over US$5000 just in shipping cost

I brought a guitar in by taking the neck off the body and putting it in my larger luggage. You can probably carry another one in without having to pay as I've heard many people say they've carried guitars in without being stopped. No guarantees, though.

But if you ship guitars in, you will pay.

I contacted several shipping companies trying to bring over such items. It became real clear real quick that it was too much of a hassle and not worth the expense or headache.

I started listing things on Facebook market and was amazed at how quick things went even out in the country side of South Dakota.

I don't believe there's any tax on books.

The other things, it's just not worth it. It doesn't matter what you find online, what the rules say, what you know the value of your items is etc.

The customs officers will tell you their value, and will tell you what you pay, or you don't get the items. Many times the value they state is going to be much higher than the item was new, and the cost to bring it in is going to make the cost to ship and pay the tax more than it would cost to buy a new one in Thailand.