Import License

Are you an importer and exporter willing to expand your business in Thailand? If yes, we at BLS, have got you covered! Right from offering appropriate and the most accurate and updated advice on Thailand import-export, to assisting you through the process of documentation and application, we come in as the comprehensive partners guiding and assisting you for import licenses in Thailand.

Import and export business in Thailand attracts a lot of foreign entrepreneurs across the globe. Of course, there are several rules and regulations associated with the import and export policy of Thailand. However, here are some reasons why import and export forms a favourable venture for foreign entrepreneurs.

• It isn’t restricted by the Foreign Business Act of 1999.
• It allows a foreign business owner to indulge in export/import without having a 51% Thai shareholder, or without having to apply for government’s permission.
• Besides, there isn’t an overarching law regulating the import of goods. This generally refers to the unrestricted import of goods in Thailand.

Nevertheless, amidst the above leeway, the Thai government imposes a restriction on the import of certain goods. The biggest of all challenges, however, with an import business in Thailand, is that of obtaining licenses for different goods from different governmental departments. Although the Department of Foreign Trade issues licenses for most of the goods, for some specific ones, it is necessary for the business owner to obtain licenses from the concerned government departments. This is mainly because of the existing government policies that govern the import of one good as opposed to the other.

So, for instance, for good such as unfinished clothing parts, used cars, and bikes, color copy machines, etc. it is the Department of Foreign Trade that issues the import license. But, on the other hand, for the import of pharmaceuticals, drugs, etc. it is imperative for the importer to obtain a license through the Food and Drug Administration. This is mainly from the viewpoint of safeguarding public health, along with national economic security. Similarly, the import of gold requires an import license from the Ministry of Finance to safeguard national financial security.

Of course, the list is exhaustive, and as we cannot enlist the type of good and the license issuing authority for each one of it, as an importer and exporter, you must get in touch with the Department of Foreign Trade that is a subdivision of the Ministry of Commerce.

• At the onset, the applicant will have to setup a company in Thailand, register for VAT, and open a corporate bank account. Once all of these elements are covered, the applicant can apply for the import/export card that would display a number required to export or import goods in and out of Thailand.
• The next part of the process is to fill in the application form and gather the required documents for submission to the Customs Department.
• The process takes around one working day, after which, you’d be given the company license number to carry out of import and export.

• KSK 1 application (only the first and the second page)
• Passport copy
• Two copies of the value added tax certificate (PP 20)
• Copy of seal registration (BAJ 3)
• Copy of the company affidavit (updated within six months)
• Copy of the first page of the bank account and the bank statement
• Power of attorney (The 3rd page of KSK 1)

For more insights on our import license process, and the range of assistance that we offer, get in touch with us.