Thailand Customs for Korean Products: What You Need to Know

Understanding Thai Customs for Korean Imports

Ordering from Korea is straightforward, but knowing how Thai Customs works helps you avoid surprises. This guide covers everything about importing Korean products to Thailand.

Duty-Free Threshold

Thailand's duty-free threshold for imported goods via post is ฿1,500 (approximately $42 USD). This means:

Under ฿1,500: No customs duty or VAT
Over ฿1,500: Subject to import duty + 7% VAT

Many personal orders (a few cosmetics, an album, some snacks) can stay under this threshold.

Import Duty Rates by Product Type

Product	Import Duty	Notes
Cosmetics/Skincare	20-30%	Higher rate for beauty products
K-pop Albums/Books	0%	Generally duty-free
Food/Snacks	10-30%	Varies by food type
Stationery	5-10%	Moderate duty
Electronics	0-20%	May need NBTC approval
Fashion/Clothing	20-30%	Higher duty category

VAT (Value Added Tax)

Standard rate: 7%
Applied to: CIF value (product + shipping + insurance) + import duty
Note: VAT is charged on top of the duty-inclusive value

How Thai Customs Clearance Works

For EMS Shipments

Package arrives at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airport
Thai Customs (กรมศุลกากร) inspects and assesses
If under ฿1,500 → auto-released, delivered by Thailand Post
If over ฿1,500 → customs sends a notification
You may need to pay duties at the post office or online

If Customs Requires Payment

Thailand Post will notify you (SMS or letter)
You can pay:

- At the post office when collecting the package
- Online through Thailand Post tracking portal

Documents needed:

- Thai ID card
- EMS tracking number
- Purchase invoice (KboxShop provides this)

Restricted Items (Cannot Ship to Thailand)

Standalone lithium batteries (not inside devices)
Flammable liquids and pressurized aerosols
Perishable food requiring refrigeration
Prescription medications (without proper documentation)
Weapons and weapon-related items
Items violating Thai cultural regulations

Tips for Smooth Customs Clearance

Keep orders under ฿1,500 — avoid duties and VAT entirely
Split large orders — separate into multiple shipments if total exceeds threshold
Save your invoice — KboxShop provides a detailed purchase receipt
Accurate declarations — we declare actual values (no under-declaration)
Include your phone number — so Thailand Post can contact you
Order personal quantities — reasonable amounts clear without commercial import scrutiny

KboxShop Customs Support

If your package gets held at Thai Customs, we help:

We provide official Korean store purchase receipts
We assist with any customs documentation
We guide you through the clearance and payment process

Order with Confidence →