Travelers may bring into Thailand a reasonable amount of personal belongings for personal use that doesn't exceed 10,000 Thai baht (about US $308 as of June 2010). They may also bring up to 250 grams of tobacco (or 200 cigarettes) and 1 liter of alcohol. Items that exceed a reasonable quantity for personal use and items that are intended for commercial purposes are subject to duties.
Certain items have legal restrictions in place that require special permits. Images of Buddha, religious objects and antiques require a permit from the Department of Fine Arts; weapons, bullets and explosives require a permit from the Office of National Police; plants and planting material require a permit from the Department of Agriculture; live animals and animal products require a permit from the Department of Livestock Development; food and drugs require a permit from the Food and Drug Administration; automobile parts require a permit from the Ministry of Industry; tobacco products and alcoholic beverages require permits from the Excise Department; and telecommunications equipment requires a permit from the the National Telecommunications Commission.
Certain items are legally banned from either import or export. These items include illegal narcotics, obscene items, counterfeit or pirated goods, counterfeit currency and protected wildlife. Drug smuggling in Thailand carries a potential death penalty.
An outbound traveler must declare any amount of Thai baht that exceeds 50,000. The exceptions are travelers to Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Vietnam, who must declare baht beyond 500,000 only. For foreign currency, any amount exceeding US$20,000 or its equivalent in other foreign currencies must declare the amount. Failure to declare currency where necessary is a criminal offense.
