Shipping UK to Thailand and paperwork
 

Hello,
I am being posted by my company to Phuket Thailand starting November 11th. I want to air freight by Harley V-Rod there.
I have searched your forum, but cannot find any details of how to do it. Can I ship direct to Phuket, or will I have to get it to Bangkok and ride down?

I will be working in Thailand on and off for 12 months. I have a business visa which allows me to stay for a max period of three months as many times as I like during a 12 month period. I therefore want to leave the bike there for 12 months.

Could anyone advise me of who to ship it with, and the best paperwork to enable me to leave it there for 12 months. Although I understand that a Carnet is not required for Thailand, I get the feeling having one would allow me to keep the bike there when I leave? I also intend exploring the region, so I will need one. Where does one obtain a Carnet in the UK?

Any help appreciated

Ed

Hi Ed and welcome!

In addition to the HUBB, there is quite a lot of information available on the website, including experience from actual travellers who have shipped into various locations.

I expect you will have to ship into Bangkok rather than Phuket, and I suggest your first stop should be Thai Air Cargo. From their website, their office is:

c/o Menzies World Cargo,
Shoreham Road West,
Heathrow Airport,
Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 3RT
Telephone: 020 8564 0190
Fax: 020 8897 1283

If they won't deal with you directly, they will be able to advise you of an agent. Also, try British Airways cargo. http://www.baworldcargo.com/stations/index.jsp

Although we don't have any reports of shipping from the UK to Thailand, numerous people have shipped into Bangkok from India or Nepal, so there are lots of descriptions of the Thai entry process on the Shipments by Travellers page. See for example:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tri...manduToBangkok

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tri...DelhiToBangkok

Bottom line is - plan to spend about a day in Thailand dealing with paperwork and customs.

As for the Carnet de Passage, Thailand neither requires nor accepts the Carnet. Although some travellers have used their Carnet, this was due to inexperience of customs officers at a particular border. Thailand is NOT a member country of the carnet association, and if your only destination in the region is Thailand, it would be a waste of money to obtain a Carnet. Since you say you wish to travel in the region, you can obtain a Carnet from the RAC in the UK. You can't reach the carnet department via their website, but Sean Kelly advises: "Speak to the wonderfully helpful Sue Collins 01454 208000 ext 33837."

Instead, Thai Customs may stamp the vehicle details in your passport so you can't leave the country without the bike. Or, they may issue a temporary import permit but require payment of a deposit to cover duty and taxes. This permit is valid for 30 days from date of entry, but should be able to be renewed if you have a visa. Limit might be 6 months, though, after which leaving the country and re-entering may allow a new permit.

You'll note a lot of 'mays' here. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get a definitive answer to the question of exactly what paperwork is required. Your situation is also more complex, since you will actually be working and residing in the country. I would start with the Thai Embassy in London, but make an anonymous inquiry or one under a fake name. That way, if you don't like their answer, at least you're not on record as having asked the question http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

When you get to Thailand, be sure to contact or join the Horizons Unlimited motorcycle travellers community in Bangkok. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/com...tEnglish.shtml

Good luck and let us know how you go.

------------------
Susan Johnson

'One world, two wheels'
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com



[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 21 October 2002).]

Hi there. Having a foreign motorcycle can be a bit of a pain. I had a Singapore registered BMW that I would bring in to Thailand, although no carnet was required you can only keep it in the country for 29 days, you then have to ride to the point you entered Thailand ( Sadao ) exit into Malaysia and then turn around and ride back in. I also had a Land Rover that I did this in and they were not interested in the Carnet, the same 29 day rule applied.

I think you may be better off shipping in to Singapore with the carnet ( it is required there, but not Malaysia )Come in Via Malysia. The border to Phuket is about a six hour ride, You may just have to accept the fact that you will need to ride out every 29 days to avoid 200baht per day overstay fines.

I'll look into the carnet situation again, but the Thai's seem a bit sensitive about motor vehilces. I ended up selling my BMW back in Singapore and brought a new one registered in Thailand. Far less hassle. Hope this helps!