International Moving Services for Your Personal Belongings to/from Thailand

You can usually ship clothes, personal wear, and household goods (cutlery, crockery, basic decorations) without paying duty if they are clearly used and declared as personal effects.
Avoid shipping collections of luxury items like watches or handbags by air—they’re often taxed heavily.
For furniture, you can bring one of each type (one sofa, one table, etc.) duty-free, or double if moving as a family.

It’s usually better to buy new appliances in Thailand.
Appliances like refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines lose warranty once shipped abroad and may not be compatible (Thailand uses 220 V/50 Hz). Adapters are expensive and breakdowns common.
However, small electronics and gadgets (laptops, cameras, phones) are fine to bring—they’re designed for international voltage and only need a plug adapter.

It’s possible, but very expensive and bureaucratic.
Import taxes range from 200 % – 300 % of the vehicle’s value.
You’ll need:

• Import license and permit (from the Department of Foreign Trade)

• Car registration/title certified by the Thai embassy

• Passport, driver’s license, and photos of the car
  Processing takes 1–2 months, and you must register the car with the Department of Land Transport on arrival.
  Because of high cost and right-hand-drive differences, most expats sell their vehicles before relocating.

Typical transit times:

• Sea freight: 6 – 8 weeks (includes customs clearance)

• Air freight: 5 – 10 days

• Road freight (in Asia): 1 – 2 weeks
  Times vary depending on origin, volume, and inspection requirements.

Costs depend on distance, volume, weight, and service level.
As a general guideline, moving a 20-foot container of household goods from the UK, USA, or Australia to Thailand costs around USD 4,000 – 6,000.
Always check whether your quote includes packing, door-to-door delivery, and customs clearance, as cheaper options may exclude them.

If packing yourself:

• Use strong cardboard or plastic boxes with secure lids.

• Wrap each item in bubble wrap, cloth, or towels.

• Seal boxes with quality tape in an “H” pattern.

• Pack by room (Living Room = L1, Kitchen = K2, etc.) and label clearly.

• Create a digital inventory and share a simplified version with the shipping company for customs forms.
  Start early—packing a full household can take 1–2 months.

Insurance is optional but recommended. It typically costs 3 % of the declared value and covers about 90 % of that value.
For example, if your shipment is worth 200,000 THB, insurance costs about 6,000 THB and covers 180,000 THB.
Make sure to pack properly; poor packaging may void coverage. Most damage occurs during loading and unloading, so choose a reputable mover.

Thai customs valuation can be unpredictable. Even two identical items can be taxed differently depending on the officer.
To minimize risk:

• Ship used personal goods.

• Provide receipts showing reasonable value.

• Ask merchants abroad to mark shipments as “gift” or “used personal belongings” when possible.

• Prefer sea freight for personal moves; air freight is taxed more frequently.
  Siam Shipping can calculate expected duties in advance and handle payment directly with customs.

We combine international freight expertise with personalized relocation support.

• Licensed customs brokers handle your Thai paperwork and duty exemptions.

• We provide door-to-door service, including packing, shipping, clearance, and home delivery.

• You’ll have one dedicated contact from quote to delivery.

• Our rates are transparent, with no hidden fees or surprise charges.

With Siam Shipping, you don’t just move your belongings — you move with peace of mind.