What it means
Your courier cannot clear the shipment through its routine express process. It needs a formal customs entry. Common reasons are a value above 40,000 baht FOB or goods that need a permit. Ask the courier what it needs and who will file the entry.
Courier shipment held at Suvarnabhumi? Send your courier notice
The wording varies. You may see this message in DHL tracking, or a courier may ask by email or phone for formal clearance or for your own customs broker. The steps below apply to shipments at Suvarnabhumi.
Express clearance or formal entry?
Couriers clear most shipments through express clearance. Shipments outside it need a formal entry.
| Express clearance | Formal entry | |
|---|---|---|
| Who files | The courier | The importer, or a customs broker acting for the importer |
| Customs registration | Not needed | The importer must be registered with Thai Customs |
| Value | Up to 40,000 baht FOB | Above 40,000 baht FOB, or goods that need it |
| Time | The fastest route | Typically 1–2 days longer once documents are complete |
Values and timings are from FedEx Thailand’s guidance. Permits and registration add time.
Why does a shipment need formal entry?
- Its value is above 40,000 baht FOB.
- The goods are controlled by another agency, such as the FDA or the plant or animal checkpoints.
- The importer wants to claim a tax benefit.
- Customs needs more information about the value or tariff code.
Incomplete paperwork also causes delays. DHL names the invoice, the goods description, the declared value and the HS code as the details to get right.
What to do next
- Ask the courier exactly what it needs and by when.
- Ask who will file the import declaration: the courier, your own broker or you.
- Check whether the importer is registered with Thai Customs.
- Gather the invoice, payment proof, a clear description of the goods and any permit.
- Ask when storage charges start and the daily rate.
- If you appoint your own broker, ask the courier for its handover process and documents.
Courier, own broker or yourself?
At Suvarnabhumi, Thai Customs accepts the import declaration from the importer, from a customs broker acting for the importer, through a service counter, or at the customs counter.
- Courier: convenient if it offers to file. Ask for its fee and timing in writing.
- Your own broker: useful when permits, value questions or storage are involved.
- Yourself: possible, but it takes several steps across the cargo area.
Not registered with Thai Customs?
Every person or company must register with Thai Customs before making a customs transaction. FedEx Thailand says registration can add 7 to 10 days if you are not registered yet.
Start early. The registered name must match the name on the delivery order exactly. Using a foreign passport? Send the courier’s request to your broker to confirm the documents needed.
Common questions
Is my shipment in trouble?
Not necessarily. It needs a different clearance route. Delays grow if no one acts on the request.
Can it go through express clearance instead?
Not if its value or type requires formal entry. If the sender declared details wrongly, ask them to correct it with the courier.
Will I pay more tax?
Duty and VAT apply either way. A formal entry may add a broker or clearance fee and warehouse charges.
How long will it take?
FedEx Thailand says formal clearance typically takes 1–2 days longer than express. Registration and permits add time.
Sources
Reviewed on 8 November 2026. Sources [1–2] and [5] are Thai Customs. Sources [3–4] describe the carriers’ own processes.
