Exemption from excise duties, and VAT:

Only for Official Use and is subject to reciprocal treatment.

     Exempted goods and services.

1.

Please refer to Section 13, Part 5, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

 Exemption process and procedures.

2.

Members of the Diplomatic mission are not exempted from VAT. Please refer to Section 13, Part 5, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Do exemptions apply to both the Diplomatic mission and members of the Diplomatic mission?

3.

DCIOs shall be accorded zero-per cent value added tax only if the value of goods and services sold or provided by a supplier to the DCIOs for official use on each particular purchase is of 5,000 Baht or more.

What is the exempted duty percentage permitted to the Diplomatic mission and members of the Diplomatic mission? Are there full/partial exempt conditions? What is the minimum value for duty exemption?

4.

Traffic and motor vehicles:

Exempted. Please refer to Section 9.3, Part 5, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Fees payable for official or personal motor vehicle registration and licensing.

1.

Exempted. Please refer to Section 8, Part 5, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Fees payable for issuing/renewal of driving license for members of the diplomatic mission.

2.

The import quota is 3 diplomatic privileged persons for 1 official vehicle. Please refer to Section 8, Part 5,  of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

How many duty exempted motor vehicles are permitted for official use of the diplomatic mission and the head of the mission? and are the limits of motor vehicles above determined according to a certain quota?

3.

No exemption.

Are spouses of diplomatic agents granted duty exemption for a motor vehicle?

4.

Not required to conduct a driving exam, if the individual has a valid driver’s license from his/her respective country. However, he/she must go to the Department of Land Transport personally to obtain a new Thai driver’s license.

How are members of the diplomatic mission and their families treated when applying for a driving license or a driving test?

5.

  Visa and residence permit:

Diplomatic agents and their immediate family members (spouse and children) fall under Article 15 of the Immigration Act, B.E. 2522 (1979) will receive a stay permit until completion of their duty without fee.

A &T staff also fall under Article 15 and will receive an initial stay permit extensions of 3 years and renewable for each consecutive year afterwards without fee.

Service staff and private servants are also classified under Article 15 and will receive a yearly extension without fee.

Other members fall under Article 35 of the Immigration Act, B.E. 2522 (1979), they will receive a year-by-year extension and required to pay the stay permit extension fee (1,900 Baht).

Please refer to Section 1,2 and 3, Part 2, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Length of validity of stays permits and visit visa for members of the diplomatic mission.

1.

Approval of stay permits are usually completed within a 2-week period after the Department of Protocol has received a completed e-Privilege application and NV hardcopies, therefore, it is advisable for the Embassy to submit stay permit renewal requests 1-2 months before the expiration date.

For visa issuance process please contact the Department of Consular Affairs and/or the Royal Thai Embassy in their respective country.

Time required for application and approval of stay permit and visa.

2.

Yes, they can apply for the Non-Immigrant Category “O” visa from the Royal Thai Embassy in their respective country.

Are members of the immediate families of administrative staff and local staff granted family visit visa. (Parents, siblings, children, spouse)?

3.

Yes, they can apply for the Non-Immigrant Category “O” visa from the Royal Thai Embassy in their respective country.

Are diplomatic staff, administrative staff, and local staff granted visit visa to their relatives and on special cases?

4.

Parents and siblings of diplomats are classified under Article 35 of the Immigration Act, B.E. 2522 (1979). They are subject to a year-by-year extension and required to pay the stay permit extension fee (1,900 Baht). Please refer to Section 1,2 and 3, Part 2, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

What are the procedures for stay permit and visit visa for parents and siblings of diplomatic staff, and do they pay fees?

5.

Under Thai law, the age limit is 20 years. If children of diplomats are over 20 years, they are required to attend a higher education institution as a full-time student and will be applicable to receive a stay permit extension on a yearly basis and required to pay the stay permit extension fee (1,900 Baht) under Article 35 of the Immigration Act,
B.E. 2522 (1979).

Length of stay permit for children of diplomatic staff, especially if above the age of 18 years old?

6.

Diplomatic ID:

No issuance of ID cards.

Are there any diplomatic IDs issued to parents residing with a diplomatic agent?

1.

No requirement set forth.

Requirement to specifying designation, class, and rank, of diplomatic and administrative staff on their passports to be accredited.

2.

Employment of Embassy staff, Administrative staff, and service staff and privileges and exemptions granted:

No requirement to receive prior permission from the host country.

Employment of local staff, and service staff at the diplomatic mission subject to prior permission from host country, and what are the requirements and procedure?

1.

No exemption granted. Size of local and service staff is in accordance with the Embassy’s functional necessity. The Department of Protocol will facilitate the annual stay permit renewal request.

Number of local staff, and service staff permitted to the diplomatic mission and its members, and exemptions granted?

2.

It is advisable for the Embassy to submit stay permit renewal requests 1-2 months before the expiration date.

Time required for processing exemptions of servants?

3.

They are subject to a year-by-year extension and required to pay the extension fee (1,900 Baht).

Fees/insurance or any other charges under other categories collected by host country for stay permits and renewal of stay permits for local staff and service staff of the diplomatic mission.

4.

Airport pass:

Permanent airport pass quota is based on the basis of reciprocity and functional necessity and is non-transferable. Please refer to Part 5, Section 3 of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Please Note:

Issuance of airport pass for Suvarnabhumi Airport is based on reciprocity and functional necessity.

Don Mueang Airport only allocates a maximum of
3 permanent airport passes for each Embassy.

Number of airport passes issued to members of the diplomatic mission.

1.

Permanent airport passes are valid for 1 year and renewals can be made on a yearly basis.

Validity period of the airport pass.

2.

Transit Area, Passenger Terminal, VIP Lounges, Baggage Area, Cargo and Apron (upon functional necessity and consideration of AOT).

Accessible areas of the airport. (transit, baggage loading area, airplane, etc.).

3.

Permanent airport pass (valid for 1 year) fee is 220 Baht.

Temporary airport pass (valid for 1-14 days) fee is 110 Baht.

Fees for permanent airport pass.

4.

Approval of airport pass is usually completed within a 1 month period after receiving a completed e-Privilege application and NV hardcopies, therefore, it is advisable for the Embassy to submit airport pass renewal requests 1-2 months before the expiration date.

Time required for process to issue a permanent airport pass.

5.

Customs exemptions:

Yes, if they are determined to be considered official use items of the Embassy by the Thai MFA. Please refer to Part 5, Section 10 of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Are the diplomatic mission’s procurements of furniture, stationary supplies, office equipment, computer systems, building materials and tools exempted from duties?

1.

No exemptions.

Are members of the diplomatic mission exempted from duty and taxes of electrical appliances and furniture?

2.

The fee for the use of frequency of the DCIOs shall be considered by the NBTC on a reciprocal basis. Please refer to Section 12, Part 5, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Is the use of satellites for communications by the diplomatic mission exempted from fees, VAT, and fees and revenues of frequencies?

3.

No exemptions.

Are members of diplomatic missions exempted from payable fees and taxes for alcohol, tobacco, food products and consumer goods?

4.

Exempted. Please refer to Section 9.3, Part 5, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Motor vehicle registration fee exemption?

5.

Please refer to Section 10, Part 5, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Procedure for processing of customs exemptions.

6.

Fees:

No exceptions in accordance with Article 41 of VCDR 1961.

Are diplomats exempted from paying penalties for traffic violations of private or official vehicles, and do exemptions vary according to type of traffic violations?

1.

In general, the expenses incurred on the reception of dignitaries who are on official visits or perform official missions in Thailand will be borne by the Royal Thai Government. Please refer to Section 9, Part 2,  of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Fees for use of lounges and VIP lounges at airports.

2.

Property Transfer Fee, Duty Stamp and Specific Business Tax can be exempted in accordance with reciprocal basis and principle as stated in the Exchange of Notes (EoNs).

Fees for ownership of a new premise for the diplomatic mission?

4.

Security:

DCIOs can request extra security measures if deemed nescessary. The Special Branch Bureau of the Royal Thai Police will consider the DCIOs’ request for additional security measure on a case by case basis. Please refer to Section 1.5, Part 5, of the Guidelines on Protocol Practice 2^nd edition

Security, escorts, and guards, provided for the diplomatic mission’s premises and residence of the head of mission.

1.