Thailand

Office of the National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)

MCOT Public Company Limited

TrueVisions

Currency: Thai Baht (THB)

Q. Are there any requirements, when sending THB?
A. Just your details, the beneficiary details (including the beneficiary bank SWIFT BIC) and the purpose of the payment. Please note, if the beneficiary bank is a branch bank with a different address to the SWIFT BIC, the branch name and address will also be mandatory to send.

Q. Can I send inbound and outbound payments?
A. Yes, there are no restrictions on sending money into or outside of Thailand.

Q. Are there any restrictions when sending THB?
A. Payments that are related to securities, such as capital investment or a bond purchase, are not permitted in Thailand.

Q. How much can I send?
A. There is a minimum payment, for the majority of banks in Thailand, of THB 500 (approximately £10). Also, for payments over THB 5 million (approximately £125,000), the beneficiary could be required to provide a copy of the invoice to the beneficiary bank.

Q. How long will it take for my funds to be received?
A. Standard international payment times. However, with the right foreign exchange provider, this can be done as fast as the very next day.

Q. Who can I send THB to?
A. Both individuals and businesses can receive funds.

Q. Is sending THB expensive?
A. Not if you use the right currency broker, who will be able to offer you bank-beating exchange rates and significantly lower payment charges.

Q. Can you use forward contracts with THB?
A. Yes. With the right currency broker, you can book a THB exchange rate forward. However, rates can vary up to 10% each year, so expert advice is recommended.

Top Tip

Thai Foreign Exchange controls dictate that Thai Baht, sent outside the country, must be sold for local currency or deposited in an account with an authorised bank. In short, you must sell as they arrive and cannot wait for better rates (speculate), but you can sell them in advance with a forward contract.

Information courtesy of Currencies Direct.

Thailand Film Office (TFO)

Visas & Work Permits

Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Crews entering on Western passports can enter Thailand visa-free.

If the visiting crew is working less than 15 days, permission must be sought from the Department of Employment. Crews planning to stay for longer than 15 days need to have a work permit.

Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry who may be able to assist.

Film Location Permits

In Thailand, productions with a minimal footprint are quick and easy to permit.

Larger more complicated shoots come with a lot of red tape, and require plenty of lead time and patience for various authorities to approve permits.

Bangkok doesn’t offer any citywide permits, so permits for each location will be needed for filming. Some locations have restricted hours of use, which can only have traffic controlled on weekends or nights.

Special permits are required for filming in national and historical parks.

Filming topics including anything to do with the monarchy or religion are the most problematic for obtaining permission. Filming with the military can also be tricky. An experienced fixer or producer is essential to navigate the intricacies and sensitivities.

Customs

For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Thailand is an ATA carnet country.

When to Film

Thailand is a tropical country with a hot, humid climate, with cooler temperatures on the coast and in the mountainous north.

Weather-wise, the best time to shoot is during the warm, dry season from November to February. Thailand gets very hot and humid from March to June. The monsoon wet season runs from June to October.

Underwater photography is possible all year-round, with the best visibility in the Gulf of Thailand from May to September and the Andaman Sea from October to April.

Thailand is a predominately Buddhist country, so those holidays are observed. A Muslim minority lives mainly in the south of the country.

Public Holidays

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Thailand.

Thailand is one of the more expensive countries to shoot in South East Asia. Still, compared to other countries offering the same high standard of production services, Thailand offers very good value for money.

The standard VAT rate in Thailand at the time of writing is set at 7%.

Incentives

Entertainment Partners' Production Incentives Map: Information for Thailand.

At the time of writing, the UK does not have a trade agreement with this country. However, up to date information about UK trade agreements can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Thailand Market Assessment: Creative Industries (2022)