Send a parcel from Thailand to France (Official information)

Do you want to send a parcel from Thailand during your stay?

Find out about the different services offered by Thai Post, the delivery method, delivery times and prices.

Guest article: This article is brought to you by Maxime de Thailand Visa.Fr

Send a parcel from Thailand

Thai Post Office, Thailand Post, offers a comprehensive, reliable and generally efficient service.

Opening hours vary, with the general closing time being 16:30pm, but some offices, depending on their location, will have their own hours. For example, in Bangkok, the Ramkhamhaeng office closes at 20pm, the Phra Khanong office closes at 18pm, while the one located within the Assumption University grounds closes at 15:30pm.

Once there, several boxes are available. Prices vary from 5 to 25 baht depending on the size of the box.

Post Office Thai provides everything needed to deliver your parcels or letters.

The three sending modes

If you go to the Thai Post website, you can see These acronyms inform you of the delivery method for your package:

AIR (Airport): Your letter or parcel will be sent by air.

SAL (Sea / Air / Land): The delivery method can be by sea, air and/or road.

SURF (Surface): The sea route is used exclusively.

Services offered by Thai Post

Following the overhaul of its services, the post office has simplified its offering as follows:

Express Service

No need to draw you a picture, this is a fast shipping method, which will necessarily have a higher shipping cost. This is useful if you have a document or something to send urgently, and you can also track the package with a tracking number. Note that compensation in the event of loss or damaged package remains quite low, 3 baht max for a document and up to 000 baht per piece, having taken care to declare the value of the item beforehand.

Thailand Post has split its service into two variants as follows:

EMS World (Express Mail Service)

EMS World is an international express airmail postal service for documents and goods, with 24/7 track and trace capabilities on all items. The service covers 95 countries worldwide. The maximum weight limit is 30 kilograms per parcel. Postage is charged net (without additional charges such as fuel surcharge, VAT, etc.) and is calculated based on the actual gross weight only. Volumetric weight tax is not applied to this service. Items can be tracked 24 hours a day via the Track & Trace app on mobile phones and on the post office website (see TRACKING section below).

In short, it is the fastest service, the delivery time to send a parcel from Thailand to France is 3 to 5 days. Rates updated in 2023

EMS (Document) corresponds to sending letters and documents.
0-250g = 1 baht / 320-251g = 500 baht / 1g-400g = 501 baht

EMS (Package) is for sending parcels
200g = 1 baht / 760g = 500 baht / 2kg = 020 / 1kg = 2 baht / 210kg = 5 baht

You have the list of all the prices on the following link: EMS WORLD RATES, knowing that France corresponds to zone 4.

EMS One Price

A simplified alternative to EMS World has been set up with a single rate system based on the size of the box.

EMS One Price is a service that makes it easy for e-tailers and tourists to send documents or goods in a flat rate envelope or box with a maximum weight allowed provided by Thailand Post. With its flat rate (without additional VAT or fuel surcharge), this service is a convenient and cost-effective option for sending bulk items overseas.

You are entitled to two sizes:

Box number 3

dimensions: 35 x 45 x 20 cm

weight: up to 10 kg

Box number 4

dimensions: 40 x 45 x 35 cm

weight: up to 20 kg

WARNINGS :this service is only available for 3 destinations: AUSTRALIA, FINLAND and USA.

Standard Tracked Service

As the name suggests, this is a shipping service that allows tracking of packages. It is more or less the same as EMS shipping but less fast. Furthermore, depending on what you are sending (weight, type of goods), you will then have several options and types of transport. In addition to the distinctions defined below, you could then see this type of appointment:

• Int'l Parcel AIR
• Int'l Parcel SAL (Surface Air Land)
• Int'l Parcel Surface (ground shipping only)
• Int'l Letter AIR or Post-Item Surf

ePacket and ePacket Plus

This is a traceable goods shipping service, up to 2kg (5kg if sent to the UK) and covering 47 destinations including France. No compensation in case of loss unless you choose the ePacket Plus option which includes an insurance option (30 baht extra) that can cover up to 1 baht.

Its advantage is a rather reasonable price:

0-500g = 225 to 510 baht

501-1000g = 580 to 865 baht

1kg to 2kg = 940 to 1 baht

You have the list of prices according to weight here: ePACKET PRICES, with a logic that is beyond me because in this case, France is in zone 5.

International Parcel Service

This is an affordable international shipping service with a maximum weight of 30 kilograms (depending on the destination country). The service includes two modes of transport, air and land. This service is suitable for those who do not need express delivery and need a variety of products packed in a single package. The delivery process takes from 5 to 25 business days depending on the method used and covers 225 destination countries.

The difference in price depending on the shipping destination remains negligible, so it is best to choose by air, unless you are environmentally conscious, or unless your goods are on the list of products that cannot be sent by air (this is what is known as "Special Goods", special goods prohibited from being transported by air, in particular non-hazardous liquids or batteries).

In this case, France seems to be in zone 4, with prices ranging from about 1 baht to 000 baht up to 2kg for example. See full list here: INTERNATIONAL PARCEL (AIR) RATES

Registered

This is a registered letter service, up to 2kg. This service is also suitable for small, low-value items or product samples packed in envelopes/boxes that allow a postal agent to inspect the contents. The service is priced based on the weight of the item, available to over 200 destination countries.

Here is the price range for sending registered mail:

0-100g = 48 to 101 baht

101-200g = 110 to 184 baht

You have the list of prices according to weight here: REGISTERED RATES, for registered mail, it is normally page 9 since France corresponds in this case to zone 11.

For sending small packages, the rates are as follows:

0-200g = 120 to 200 baht

200-500g = 240 to 430 baht

1kg to 2kg = 920 to 1 baht

I don't really explain the slight difference between the ePacket service and the latter, but since they are very similar, the registered service seems to me to be more secure than ePacket which seems to be a rather basic service.

You also have the list of rates in the same link as above, on page 17 because this time, France is included in zone 9, you can see in the title "International Small Packet Rates by Air", which therefore distinguishes this table with the rates of small packages as opposed to the previous tables concerning registered letters. Furthermore, note that the allocation of zones is indicated in the tables following those of the rates.

Standard Non Tracked Service

In this case, it is a simple shipping service without a tracking number. We distinguish in this the sending of documents or small packages. The fact is that by looking at the associated table: Rates not recommended, we see that France, in zone 11 for letters and zone 9 for small parcels, has the same rates as for registered mail so I don't really see the point, might as well have a tracking number... except perhaps for postcards.

Sending documents

It is intended for documents contained and sealed in envelopes/boxes. This includes letters, postcards and documents such as books, magazines, journals, newspapers (sent in this case as a “Printed Matter” service). The service rate is based on weight.

Sending small packages

Same as above but suitable for small packages up to 2kg.

Calculating the cost

I have given you the links to the respective tables concerning the rates according to the type of shipment and a range of weights, but the post office website offers a practical and much easier tool to visualize an estimate of the cost of your shipment. To do this, click on the following link: Calculate Fee (obviously, this link is in English).

Then, fill in the destination country on the left as well as the weight to be shipped (if you know it, otherwise give an estimate) and click on "Calculate". This will give you the corresponding rate list depending on the type of shipment like this:

Paradoxically, the site in its international version also offers a service to find the shipping cost (link here) but when doing the test, the latter does not seem to work…

Tracking

If you choose a shipment including tracking, a tracking number will be given to you via a sticker.

This number of 13 letters and numbers, is presented in this form: EF582568151TH

You can then follow its progress to its destination via the following link: https://international.thailandpost.com/track-status/?lang=en

If the package is not found or damaged, Thai Post provides a capped compensation (I mentioned some of them above).

Customs exemption

This is tax exemption, an amount below which neither VAT nor customs tax will be requested from you for the amount of your goods purchased outside the European Union.

For sending a parcel from Thailand (for yourself or to a loved one), the customs exemption is €45.
If the value of the package does not exceed €45, in the event of an inspection, you will not be subject to any customs tax or VAT.

For mail order purchases, the customs exemption amount is €150.

If you want more information, you can read this article on the Customs Exemption.

Exporting goods from Thailand

In the context of a commercial activity, there is a legal context and knowledge of taxation to be known.

Therefore, having a French-speaking contact can be a sign of confidence in the shipping procedure.
Such as the mode of delivery and the choice of theIncoterms, cargo insurance, customs clearance…
Having a general knowledge of the transit of your goods is a real added value.

Siam-Shipping is a freight forwarder based in Bangkok, its French-speaking team will assist you and adapt according to your problem.

Request a quote with siam-shipping.fr

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