Prohibited Goods, Restricted Goods and Import Permits: What to Check Before You Order
The difference between goods that cannot be imported at all and goods that can with a permit, plus how to check before you pay the supplier.
Sea Import Clearance Step by Step: From Vessel Arrival to Collecting Your Cargo
· 8 min read
Most importers know their goods have to be "cleared". Far fewer know what happens in between — so when cargo sits at the port, nobody knows who to chase.
Key points
- The core document set should be complete before the vessel arrives, not after
- The bill of lading must be exchanged for a delivery order before cargo is released
- The import declaration is filed electronically with Thai Customs, which then assigns an inspection channel
- Green channel clears quickly; red channel means physical inspection and several more days
- Free time starts when the cargo is discharged, not when your paperwork is ready
A single ocean import passes through many hands: the overseas supplier, the carrier, the port, Thai Customs, any licensing agency, and the customs broker. Without a map of who does what and when, a delay is impossible to chase. This article walks the whole route.
The process at a glance
| Step | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Supplier ships the goods and issues the document set | Supplier / origin agent |
| 2 | Carrier confirms the arrival date and sends the arrival notice | Carrier |
| 3 | Freight and destination charges settled, bill of lading exchanged for a delivery order | Importer |
| 4 | Import declaration prepared and filed electronically | Customs broker |
| 5 | Duty and tax paid; the system assigns an inspection channel | Importer / Customs |
| 6 | Release at the port, then haulage or collection | Broker / transport |
1. Get the documents ready before arrival
The base set is the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus a certificate of origin if you intend to claim a preferential duty rate under a free trade agreement.
Some goods need a permit from the relevant authority first — food and cosmetics, medical devices, telecommunications equipment, and anything subject to a mandatory standard. These permits are not issued overnight. Start before you place the order, not when the vessel is already alongside.
Ask the supplier for draft documents before the vessel sails and have your broker check them. Amending a bill of lading after departure is slow and costs money.
2. Exchange the bill of lading for a delivery order
The bill of lading is a document of title. The carrier will not release cargo until it has been surrendered and destination charges are settled; it then issues a delivery order.
If the supplier couriers original documents and they arrive after the vessel, the cargo sits while everything else is ready. Agree on telex release or a surrendered bill of lading in the contract to avoid this entirely.
3. File the import declaration
Declarations are filed electronically with Thai Customs. You declare the tariff classification, the customs value, any preferential treatment claimed, and the transport details.
Two fields cause most of the expensive problems: the tariff code and the customs value. The wrong code means the wrong duty rate and can forfeit an FTA benefit; an understated value is reassessed, with penalties.
4. Green channel and red channel
Once the declaration is filed and duty paid, the system assigns a channel based on risk criteria.
- Green — released without inspection; the fastest outcome.
- Red — physical inspection, by scanner or by opening the container. Expect several extra days plus lift and labour charges.
You cannot choose your channel, but consistently accurate declarations reduce the odds of being selected. A clean declaration history matters over time.
5. Collect the cargo
After release you can haul the container or collect loose cargo. Book transport in advance, particularly before long public holidays when haulage capacity is tight.
Where shipments most often stall
| Cause | How to prevent it |
|---|---|
| Original bill of lading arrives late | Agree telex release in the contract |
| Import permit not yet issued | Apply before ordering, not before arrival |
| Certificate of origin in the wrong format | Review a draft before the supplier issues the original |
| Details disagree between documents | Check description, quantity and weight match on every page |
| Destination charges unpaid | Request the invoice as soon as the arrival notice lands |
One thing about timing
Free time starts at discharge, not when your paperwork is ready. Every day spent chasing a document is a day of free time already spent, and once it runs out the daily charges begin.
Procedures, timings and document requirements change with notifications from Thai Customs and other agencies. Confirm the current position with your broker for any live shipment.
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