anyone familiar with current currency restrictions - Ajarn Forum

russellsimpson · 29th October 2008, 12:52

I know it's been done before. Is anyone reasonably sure about what the current restrictions are ? I've researched this thing to hell and still keep coming up with a dizzying array of conflicting information.

About fifty percent say you can take equivalent 10,000 US in convertible instruments out. The other fifty percent say that there are no restrictions on foreign currency items you can walk out with.

Anybody have any hard facts. Much appreciated.

kenkannif · 29th October 2008, 13:19

Seems to be 10K USD max...but more if you report it mate:

http://www.thailawforum.com/news-aug01-dec01.html

Quote:

Under new draft rules pursuant to the Money Laundering Act, Travelers in and out of Thailand will soon have to report amounts of money exceeding US$10,000 cash in foreign currency to customs officials or risk having those funds seized. According to a representative of the Money Laundering Commission, a declaration was compulsory under a new rule of the commission and the Finance Ministry. Currently, the draft is awaiting endorsement by the Finance Minister.
Presently, no restrictions exist concerning the amounts of foreign currency cash a foreigner may take in and out of Thailand. Conversely, 50,000 baht remains the maximum amount of Thailand currency that persons may take out of the country (except for travel to Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia which have a higher maximum).

http://www.cockatoo.com/english/thailand/thailand_finance.htm

Quote:

Foreign visitors may freely bring in foreign banknotes or other types of foreign money. Upon leaving Thailand, a foreign tourist may freely take out foreign means of payment which he brought in with him. However, there is a limit on foreign notes or coins to a maximum equivalent of 10,000 US Dollars unless the visitor has declared a higher amount upon arrival. Forms to declare the amount of foreign currency brought in are available at the immigration counters of border check points.
Attempts to take out of the country amounts higher than 10,000 US Dollars without having them declared upon arrival can lead to arrest, confiscation of the excess amount involved and/or prosecution.

According to a brochure on "Exchange Regulations in Thailand", published by the Foreign Exchange Department of the Bank of Thailand, there is since April 1, 1991, "no restriction on the amount of Thai currency that may be brought into the country. A person travelling to Thailand’s bordering countries and to other countries may take out local currency up to Baht 100,000 and Baht 50,000 respectively without authorization... Foreign tourists are freely allowed to take out gold ornaments."

So kind of sounds like they're both right.....10K USD max, as much as you want if you report (or don't get caught).

russellsimpson · 29th October 2008, 13:29

Thanks Ken.

I know there's that old saying about not shooting the messenger and all but in this case.....well, an exception may have to be made.

In any case, those do look like 2001 regulations. Anyway, I'll go read the links. Merci.

kenkannif · 29th October 2008, 14:06

^ Yeah the top one is definitely pre 2001 as it's talking about what will/may happen.

I don't understand the shooting bit mate, or do you mean you want to have anal sex with me?

russellsimpson · 29th October 2008, 15:27

Shooting the guy with the message you don't want to hear Ken.

I'll pass on the anal sex offer.

So let me extend and widen the question a bit.

What would folks consider to be the safest way to carry convertible instruments. Traveller's cheques could draw attention. Any other innocuous instruments that you should be able to walk through customs with without any chance of problems.

I should clarify of course that I'm seeking this information at the request of a friend who has to travel overseas in the near future to visit her terminally ill grandmother.

Quote:

Any other innocuous instruments that you should be able to walk through customs with without any chance of problems.

Come on all you banker types. Please give me some ideas.

kenkannif · 29th October 2008, 15:31

^ I'd personally do it all cash mate on my body/hand luggage.

Have you thought about calling customs and asking them what the 'law' is??? They may well know

russellsimpson · 29th October 2008, 15:48

Quote:

Have you thought about calling customs and asking them what the 'law' is??? They may well know

I did that once in Korea. Was assured by all and sundry, bank official and customs folks that there were no "limit" problems. Got stopped at customs and there were going to refuse me leaving the country.

Anyway, waited for a shift change at the customs desk, bullshitted my way through with lies and then got to sit at the departure lounge at incheon for two hours chewing my fingernails off.

Not, not, not fun at all. Never again.

That's the crux of it here Ken. Even if customs told me no problems I figure it would still be 50/50 at the airport. I don't like the odds.

Quote:

Have you thought about calling customs and asking them what the 'law' is??? They may well know

Ah yes. I see. A joke, eh. I'm a bit thick today.

kenkannif · 29th October 2008, 15:55

^ I feels you!

I'm pretty sure Isaan Alex did a thread about this before....pretty sure it was 10K then as well.....might be worth dropping him a PM mate?

I have been reliably informed though you can fit 3 ounces of goods in your special place.....so how much will the wedge weigh???

Killing Me Softly 101 · 30th October 2008, 07:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenkannif

^ I'd personally do it all cash mate on my body/hand luggage.

As long as under 10k USD you should be ok. If over and caught (they have dogs that sniff for money-ink) you can loose it all.

Customs guys don't have much of a sense of humor. Once one asked me if I had more than 10k and I said, "I wish". I ended up in secondary. One thing. Don't race to be the first in line. Everytime I ever did that, secondary. Coming from the Golden Triangle (with lots of Lao PDR stamps, Burma at Techalik, and the odd Stamp for Peru, Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia. I figure it is off to secondary most of the time. I have yet to have a cavity search, I must look like fat bastard and they shy away from it.

kenkannif · 30th October 2008, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killing Me Softly 101

As long as under 10k USD you should be ok. If over and caught (they have dogs that sniff for money-ink) you can loose it all.

I'll make sure it's tight then mate

Dogs for money ink? Really? I thought they could 'count' it through the metal detectors? Or urban myth???

russellsimpson · 30th October 2008, 11:59

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Once one asked me if I had more than 10k and I said, "I wish".

Was that in Thailand, if you don't mind my asking?

Quote:

Dogs for money ink?

That sounds a tad far fetched. Anything possible though.

kenkannif · 30th October 2008, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenkannif

Dogs for money ink? Really?

True....can't see anything that says they're in Thailand, but definitely being used in America and the UK/Europe....mental! Apologies!!!

Killing Me Softly 101 · 31st October 2008, 06:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by russellsimpson

Was that in Thailand, if you don't mind my asking?

USA. World's custom nazis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by russellsimpson

That sounds a tad far fetched. Anything possible though.

USA and true. I had a friend who worked for customs. The dogs can smell the ink. They sniff for large amounts of it. They ignore a few bills.

Quote:

Currency aids
Currency training aids are analyzed the same way narcotics training aids are, but they are different. Unlike drugs, whose odor varies from seizure to seizure, or batch to batch, U.S. Federal Reserve Notes of every denomination and age possess the same olfactory components. Currency canines are trained to detect odor levels equivalent to 500 bills, which correspond to $10,000 in $20 bills, with training aids consisting of authentic circulating currency, shredded currency, and currency ink.

U.S. Customs Today - October 2002 - The link between chemist and canine

Quote:

Sniffer dogs are being used on trains to detect large amounts of cash being brought into London by criminals. Thirty spaniels, retrievers and pointers trained to sniff out the ink on currency notes will be used on trains and platforms to intercept couriers bringing criminals' cash from Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.

BBC NEWS | England | London | Sniffer dogs track train cash

Quote:

Although officials are uncertain how the dogs can detect large denominations of notes, they believe it may be due to the smell of the ink used.

BBC News | UK | Smell of success for drug dogs