If you arrive in Thailand by air or by rail at Padang Besar, you will be given a customs declaration form and a sheet detailing the regulations. You should complete the form and hand it to the customs officer as you leave the airport arrivals hall. If you enter Thailand by rail, customs officers will board the train to carry out their duties. Customs formalities are straightforward, and the officers are polite and efficient.

Prohibited items: all kinds of narcotics (hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin), obscene literature, pictures, articles.

Firearms: importation of firearms and ammunition can be done only after a permit has been obtained from instruments may be brought in free of duty.

Cameras: one still-camera or one movie camera can be brought duty-free. Five rolls of still-camera film or three rolls of 8 or 16 mm. movie-camera films may be brought in free of duty.

Tobacco, alcohol: cigarettes, cigars, or smoking tobacco each or in total must not exceed 250 grams in weight but cigarettes not more than 200 in quantity. One liter both of wine or alcohol may be brought duty-free.

Household effects: a reasonable amount of used household effects are also free of duty.

If you are bringing in prescription drugs ask your doctor for a note detailing the drugs you are taking.

Antiques may only be taken out of Thailand with a certificate from the Fine Arts Department in Bangkok . A reputable dealer will be able to offer advice on the practicality of obtaining this certificate. Buddha statues old or other, may not be taken out of the country. (This does not apply to the very small items found in gift shops).