Passports
All visitors to Thailand must carry a valid passport with proof of onward passage (a return or through ticket). Visa applications are not required, if you are staying less than 30 days and are a national of 1 of 41 designated countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States (New Zealanders may stay up to 3 months).
Customs
What You Can Bring into Thailand -- It is prohibited by law to bring the following items into Thailand without a license: narcotics, pornography, firearms and ammunition, blood, live animals, and agricultural products. Tourists are allowed to enter the country with 1 liter of alcohol and 200 cigarettes (or 250g of cigars or smoking tobacco) per adult, duty free, and there is no official limit on perfume. Customs no longer deem photographic film, PCs, or cameras as restricted items, as long as they are taken out of the country upon departure.
What You Can Take Home from Thailand -- Pay more attention to what you can actually import to your home country, as Thai export Customs are rather lax. However, one exception is cultural treasures: It is forbidden to take antique or authentic Buddha images or Bodhisattva images or fragments out of the kingdom. Special permission is required for removing antique artifacts from the country. You will be required to submit the object along with two 5*7-inch photographs showing a frontal view of the object, your passport, and a photocopy of your passport notarized by your home embassy. The authorization process takes 8 days. For further details, contact the Department of Fine Arts, Na Phra That Road, next to Thammasat University (tel. 02224-2050), open weekdays 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Please note: This is an issue only if the object in question is an antique, especially one that has been removed from a temple or palace, or a piece that has particular historic value to the kingdom. If you purchase a small Buddha image or reproduction, whether an amulet or a statue, you can ship it home or pack it in your bag. Any antique dealer will be able to notify you about which images require special permission.
Medical Requirements
No inoculations or vaccinations are required unless you are coming from, or passing through, areas infected with yellow fever, but do verify what may be recommended. Yellow fever certificates are required for those coming from 42 African and South American countries.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
