Thailand Factory Sourcing & Contracts

What usually goes wrong

01
Prepayment, then silence.

The money is sent, the factory keeps delaying — and from another country you can't check anything.
02
The language barrier.

Key agreements stay verbal and get lost in translation.
03
Paperwork.

Errors in certificates of origin and invoices are costly at customs.

What customs and regulators require

The key rules for importing into and exporting from Thailand. Checked against official sources on 17 October 2026.

Requirements change. We check them against official sources before every application.

Customs registration

To file declarations yourself, the importer or exporter must register with the Customs Department. At a registration unit, the original ID card or passport of the authorised signatory is shown to the officer. The online Customs Trader Portal is open only to Thai nationals and to companies whose directors are all Thai. The Online Customs Registration website requires a digital certificate. Before applying, check the company's English name as registered with the DBD.

Source: Thai Customs Department
Imports: declaration and payment before release

The importer files form 99/1, which is also the excise and VAT return. The data goes to the Customs system electronically: from the importer itself after registering, from a customs broker or through a service counter. Duty and taxes are paid before the goods are released. Based on risk, the system assigns a lane: green with no inspection, red with inspection.

Source: Thai Customs Department
Exports: declaration before the goods reach the port

The exporter or its agent sends the export declaration (form 101/1) and the invoice to Customs electronically. The system issues a declaration number, the exporter pays any export duty and the fee, and only then are the goods moved to the port. Controlled goods need an export licence or another permit document. Whether the seller or the buyer handles export clearance depends on the Incoterms rule in your contract.

Source: Thai Customs Department
Restricted and prohibited goods

Restricted goods need a licence or must meet specific rules, such as labelling or a certificate of analysis. Prohibited goods include, among others, goods with counterfeit trademarks and goods that infringe copyright. Importing or exporting prohibited goods, or restricted goods without a permit, is an offence under the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017), sections 244 and 246.

Source: Thai Customs Department
Food and cosmetics go through the Thai FDA

Food may be imported for sale only under a Thai FDA licence (Food Act B.E. 2522, section 15). The importer needs a commercial registration, a place of business in Thailand, and premises and storage that meet FDA criteria. Cosmetics for sale may be imported only after the Thai FDA issues a notification receipt (Cosmetics Act B.E. 2558, article 14).

Source: Thai FDA; Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Cosmetics Act B.E. 2558 (2015)
Certificate of origin

For imports into Thailand, a certificate of origin is needed to claim a reduced duty rate. For exports, certificates are issued by the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) through its online system. Under the DFT Self-Certification system, a registered exporter certifies the origin of its goods itself. To register, a manufacturer also submits its factory licence (for example, Ror.Ngor.4 or an IEAT permit) and a description of the production process.

Source: Thai Customs Department; Department of Foreign Trade (DFT)
VAT: exports are zero-rated

Exports of goods are taxed at 0% VAT. On imports, Customs collects VAT on the CIF price plus import duty, excise and any other taxes and fees.

Source: Revenue Department of Thailand
Selling inside Thailand: the Foreign Business Act

A company counts as foreign if foreigners hold half of its capital or more. Such a company needs a Foreign Business Licence (FBL) or a certificate — for example, one based on BOI promotion — for retail with total minimum capital under 100 million THB (or under 20 million THB per shop) and for wholesale with minimum capital under 100 million THB per outlet.

Source: Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (translation for the DBD)

How we help

01
Supplier search and check

Registration, capacity and reputation.
Choose
02
Negotiation and contract

In Thai, with a contract in English and Thai.
Choose
03
Production and shipment control

Quality, shipment and customs documents.
Choose
04
Payment support

Money moves only once the terms are met.
Learn more

Documents for the deal

Manufacturer check

Recent company registration extract from the DBD
Financial statements and shareholder list from DBD DataWarehouse+
Factory operating licence (for example, Ror.Ngor.4 or an IEAT permit)
Photo and video report from the production site

Contract and payment

Contract in English and Thai with the Incoterms 2020 rule and delivery point
Product specification, quality and packing requirements
Pro forma invoice
Payment terms: a letter of credit under ICC UCP 600 or a contractual escrow arrangement

Shipment and Thai customs

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading, or an air waybill for air freight
Cargo insurance premium invoice — for imports
Certificate of origin — to claim a reduced duty rate
Licence or permit — for restricted goods
Other documents — for example, on the goods' composition, properties and use, or a catalogue

The customs list follows the Thai Customs Department. Your customs broker checks the destination country's rules. We make sure the contract, invoice and certificates all match.

Send documents for a check

Shipping documents by a window over the port

Trade service prices

Approximate exchange rate

Manufacturer check

Our fee

from 10,000 THB
- Registration, capacity and reputation
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Most popular
Negotiation + contract

Our fee

from 35,000 THB
- Negotiation in Thai
- Contract in English and Thai
- Delivery terms under Incoterms
Choose this package
Full delivery support

Our fee

from 60,000 THB or 5–10% of the deal
- Quality and shipment control
- Customs documents check
Choose this package

Pay in stages

30% at the start, 70% after the result. Longer projects are paid by contract stages.

Guarantee

If an application is refused because of our mistake, we refund our fee in full. We guarantee the process, not the authority's decision.

20+ years in Thailand
0% VAT on exported goods
11 rules in Incoterms 2020

We work with

Immigration Bureau
Department of Business Development (DBD)
Revenue Department
Ministry of Labour
Banks

Step 1

Request

Take the quiz or message us — we reply within 15 minutes.
Step 2

Case review and price

We discuss the product, the stage and the destination, and give you a price.
Step 3

Checks and negotiation

We check the manufacturer and talk to them in their own language.
Step 4

Contract and support

We put the terms in the contract and make sure they are met.
Step 5

Result

Quality and shipment control, customs documents.

Step 1 of 5 · Need

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Confidential
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Price before we start

How we differ from a typical agent

Criterion	Sabai Legal	Typical agent
Price	Fixed, published on the site	"Message us and we'll quote"
Government fees	Shown as a separate line	Hidden in the total
Payment	In stages	100% upfront
Company structure	Legal, no nominees	Nominee shareholders
Response	15 minutes, 7 days a week	"On business days"
Case status	In a Telegram bot	Only by phone
Language with authorities	Thai, in person	Through an interpreter

Frequently asked questions

Do you buy the goods yourselves?

No. We represent your interests: checks, negotiation, contract, control. You are the buyer.

Can I visit the factory with you?

Yes. Or we can go on our own and send you a photo and video report.

What language is the contract in?

Usually bilingual: English and Thai.

Do you help with logistics?

We coordinate the shipment with your logistics provider and check the shipping documents, matching the invoice and certificate of origin against the contract.

Which Incoterms edition should the contract use?

The current edition is Incoterms 2020: 11 rules published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The contract should name the rule, the place and the edition, for example "FOB Laem Chabang, Incoterms 2020". The rule decides who pays for freight and insurance, who handles export clearance and when the risk passes to you.

Which law should govern the contract?

Thailand is not a party to the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). So it is best to state the governing law and how disputes are resolved directly in the contract. Thailand is a party to the 1958 New York Convention on foreign arbitral awards, which matters if you choose arbitration.

How do you check a Thai factory?

We check the company's registration, financial statements and shareholders in the Department of Business Development database (DBD DataWarehouse+). We ask for the factory licence, for example Ror.Ngor.4. Then we visit the site and see the production capacity for ourselves.

Who issues the certificate of origin?

Export certificates of origin are issued by Thailand's Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) through its online system. There is also self-certification: an exporter registered in the DFT Self-Certification system certifies the origin itself. Registration needs a company registration certificate no older than three months, the authorised signatory's ID card or passport, a map of the address and a letter confirming the goods meet the rules of origin. A manufacturer adds its factory licence, a description of the production process and a map of the production and storage sites. We check that the certificate matches the contract and the invoice.

Do I need a licence to import goods into Thailand?

Restricted goods need a licence or must meet specific rules, such as labelling. Food for sale is imported under a Thai FDA licence, and cosmetics only after the Thai FDA issues a notification receipt. We can help with permits — see our Licences service.

Can a foreign company sell goods inside Thailand?

Yes, with limits. If foreigners hold half of the capital or more, retail with total minimum capital under 100 million THB (or under 20 million THB per shop) and wholesale with minimum capital under 100 million THB per outlet require a Foreign Business Licence (FBL) or a certificate — for example, one based on BOI promotion. We find a legal route — no nominees.