What you cannot ship from Thailand
Last reviewed:
32 items we are asked about most, each with the authority that controls it, the permit lead time where one exists, and what actually happens at the counter. 11 cannot leave Thailand at all. 15 move with paperwork we can obtain for you.
Two separate rule sets apply to every shipment: Thai export law, covered here, and the destination country's import rules, covered on each destination page. An item can be legal to export and still be seized on arrival. Read both before you buy.
32 of 32 items shown
| Item | Status | Authority | What this means in practice | Permit lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buddha images and antiques | Restricted | Fine Arts Department | Export licence required for any Buddha image, religious icon or object over 100 years old. Souvenir amulets under 5 cm are generally accepted; full statues are not without a licence. | 10-20 working days |
| Antique and reproduction art | Restricted | Fine Arts Department | Reproductions still require a certificate of non-antiquity. Sellers rarely supply it; we obtain it on your behalf before booking. | 10-20 working days |
| Ivory, in any form | Prohibited | DNP / CITES | Both Thai law and destination customs prohibit it. Seizure is certain and the shipper is named on the seizure record. | - |
| Coral, seashells, turtle shell | Prohibited | DNP / CITES | Includes decorative shells sold openly to tourists. Australia, the US and the EU seize these on arrival. | - |
| Orchids and live plants | Restricted | DOA phytosanitary | Needs a phytosanitary certificate plus a CITES export permit for orchids. Sea freight is not viable; air only. | 5-10 working days |
| Exotic hardwoods, teak furniture | Restricted | Royal Forest Department | Teak and rosewood need proof of legal origin. Rosewood (Siamese) is CITES Appendix II and effectively unshippable. | 15-30 working days |
| Lithium batteries, loose | Sea only | CAAT / IATA | Batteries not installed in equipment are refused on passenger aircraft. Installed batteries under 100 Wh ship by air with UN38.3 documentation. | - |
| Power banks | Prohibited | CAAT / IATA | Refused as cargo by every express carrier we work with, regardless of capacity. There is no workaround. | - |
| Vape devices and e-liquid | Prohibited | Thai Customs | Import, export, sale and possession are all illegal in Thailand. We do not handle these under any circumstance. | - |
| Aerosols, perfume, nail polish | Sea only | CAAT / IATA | Flammable liquids above 70 percent alcohol are air-prohibited. Small perfume quantities move as limited-quantity DG at a surcharge. | - |
| Paints, solvents, adhesives | Sea only | IMDG | Requires a dangerous goods declaration and a DG-certified packer. Adds roughly THB 3,500 to a shipment. | 3-5 working days |
| Engines and machinery with fuel residue | Sea only | IMDG | Must be drained, purged and certified. Any fuel smell on inspection returns the unit to you at your cost. | - |
| Durian, fresh | Prohibited | Carrier policy | Refused by all air carriers on odour grounds. Freeze-dried and vacuum-packed durian ships normally. | - |
| Fresh fruit and vegetables | Restricted | DOA / destination biosecurity | Needs a phytosanitary certificate and is still refused by Australia, New Zealand and the US for most species. | 3-7 working days |
| Dried food, snacks, instant noodles | Restricted | Destination customs | Shippable, but meat-flavoured products are seized in Australia, the EU and the US. Vegetarian variants clear. | - |
| Meat, fish and dairy products | Prohibited | Destination biosecurity | Includes dried squid, fish sauce with anchovy and shrimp paste in most markets. Fines apply to the recipient, not us. | - |
| Herbal supplements and Thai medicine | Restricted | Thai FDA | Personal quantities usually clear. Commercial volumes need an FDA export certificate and destination registration. | 10-15 working days |
| Prescription medicines | Restricted | Thai FDA | Requires a Thai prescription copy and, for many destinations, an import permit held by the recipient. Controlled substances are refused outright. | 7-14 working days |
| Kratom and cannabis products | Prohibited | Thai Customs / ONCB | Legal to buy in Thailand, illegal to export. This is the single most common reason a parcel from Thailand is seized. | - |
| Cosmetics and skincare | Restricted | Thai FDA | Personal quantities clear. Resale volumes need an FDA certificate of free sale plus destination product registration. | 7-14 working days |
| Gold, jewellery and gemstones | Restricted | Bank of Thailand / Customs | Values above USD 20,000 need a customs declaration and BOT notification. Insurance beyond USD 5,000 needs prior arrangement. | 2-5 working days |
| Cash and negotiable instruments | Prohibited | Thai Customs | Currency cannot be shipped as cargo. Amounts over USD 15,000 must be declared when carried in person. | - |
| Counterfeit and replica goods | Prohibited | Thai Customs / IP law | Seized on export from Thailand and again on import. We inspect for this and refuse the shipment before it is booked. | - |
| Firearms, ammunition, replicas | Prohibited | Thai Customs | Includes airsoft, BB guns and deactivated replicas, which Thai law treats as firearms. | - |
| Knives, swords and tools | Restricted | Carrier policy | Kitchen and craft knives ship by sea and by most air carriers when sheathed and declared. Swords need an export declaration. | - |
| Drones | Restricted | NBTC / CAAT | The device ships; the battery does not. We remove and dispose of the battery, or ship the set by sea. | - |
| Radio transmitters and signal boosters | Restricted | NBTC | NBTC export approval required. Most destinations additionally require type approval on import. | 10-20 working days |
| Alcohol and spirits | Sea only | Excise / carrier policy | Air carriers refuse above 24 percent ABV as general cargo. Sea freight works but destination excise duty is charged on arrival. | - |
| Tobacco products | Prohibited | Thai Excise | Export of tobacco as parcel cargo is refused by every carrier we use and attracts penalty duty at the destination. | - |
| Used personal effects and household goods | Restricted | Destination customs | Duty-free entry usually requires a packing list valued item by item plus proof of residence change. Missing paperwork means full duty. | 3-7 working days |
| Motorcycles and vehicle parts | Restricted | Thai Customs / DLT | Complete vehicles need deregistration documents. Parts ship freely except airbags and pretensioners, which are dangerous goods. | 15-30 working days |
| Batteries installed in devices | Air only | CAAT / IATA | Section II lithium shipments are accepted by air with UN38.3 and correct labelling. Some sea carriers refuse them in consolidated boxes. | - |
How we handle a restricted item found in your box
- 01Intake inspection. Every parcel is opened, weighed and photographed on arrival at our Hua Hin warehouse.
- 02Hold and notify. If we find something on this list, the parcel stops. You get the photographs and the specific rule that applies, usually within one business day.
- 03You decide. Return to the Thai seller at your cost, hold in storage, apply for the permit where one exists, or authorise disposal. We do not decide for you.
- 04Repack and ship the remainder. The compliant contents move on the original booking, with the weight and price corrected.
What happens when something goes wrong after dispatch is documented separately on our failure procedures page.
Questions we get about restricted goods
Not sure about your item?
Send us the product link or a photograph. We check the Thai tariff line and the destination rule, and tell you before you spend money, not after.