Great! You will be glad to know that the time and cost; apparently the two most important elements for a successful business; is significantly lower in Thailand than the average neighboring countries in the East Asia. So, you can be happy about your decision. But did you get your import/export license in Thailand? If not apply for it now. But yes only after the company is set up and has been registered for VAT plus a corporate bank account has been opened.
Import license is required for twenty-six categories of items such as; petroleum, textiles, raw materials, industrial, pharmaceuticals as well as agricultural products. In addition, there are many products that are subjected to import control;
- Import of tungsten oxide, metallic tin and tin ores in quantity that exceeds 2kgs needs permission from the Department of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Industry;
- Import of medical devices, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, vitamins and processed foods need licensing from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Ministry of Public Health;
- Import of antiques or objects of art, be it registered or not, need permission from the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Education;
- Import of explosive devices, arms and ammunition requires license from the Ministry of Interior.
As for general customs clearing procedures for imports and exports in Thailand needs submission of a Customs’ export entry form or an import entry form. Also, the form must be accompanied by the standard shipping documents, including; commercial invoice, letter of credit, bill of lading/airway bill and packing list. However, there could be exceptions and thus some products need import/export authorization from the relevant agencies. Such foods include medical devices, cosmetics, some agricultural products, hazardous substances, animals and healthcare products.
Thailand has eliminated the requirement of a certificate of origin for information technology imports that are pursuant to the WTO Information Technology Agreement. Similarly, using a freight forwarder to handle import and export customs clearance in the country is highly recommended.
So, what documents you require to obtain import/export license?
The documents are listed below;
- A copy of the VAT certificate;
- A copy of the ID card or passport and work permit;
- A copy of the business registration certificate (BAJ 3);
- KSK 1 application (1st and 2nd page)
- A copy of company affidavit (updated within 6 months)
Now that you know how to get going, pull up your socks and start some real actions.
