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Importing electrical appliances into Thailand
Updated 2026-10-18 · Thailand
Buyers often ask us to "get the TIS certificate" before placing an order. In Thailand the thing that actually controls the shipment is a licence issued by the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) to a Thai-registered manufacturer or importer — not a certificate the Chinese factory can hold on your behalf. The TIS mark (มอก.) is printed under that licence, in the licence holder's name, and the goods have to be labelled in Thai. Get the sequence wrong and a technically compliant product still cannot be sold.
In short
- The mandatory list decides everything. If the appliance is on TISI's mandatory standard list, it cannot be imported or sold without a licence and the TIS mark. If it is not, the product falls under voluntary certification only.
- A foreign factory cannot hold the Thai licence. The licence holder is a Thai-registered entity, normally your importer. The factory's role is to pass the audit and produce goods that match the tested model.
- First certification includes a factory inspection. TISI assesses the quality system and production control at the manufacturing site, including overseas factories.
- The mark is printed under the licence, in Thai. Product and packaging labels must be in Thai and carry the TIS mark; a pre-printed Chinese label is not a substitute.
- Energy labelling is a separate scheme. Safety certification through TISI does not cover efficiency; specified appliances need the energy label administered by the energy side of government.
Who regulates what
TISI sits under the Ministry of Industry and administers the Thai Industrial Standards (TIS). Under the Industrial Product Standards Act, products named in a mandatory standard must be certified and must carry the TIS mark before they are sold in Thailand. Products outside the mandatory list can still be certified voluntarily.
Three different approvals are often confused. TIS is the safety/quality licence. The energy label is a separate requirement for listed appliances, administered outside TISI. Radio equipment — anything with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or a transmitter — needs an NBTC approval as well.
| Question | Who answers it | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Is it safe and does it meet the TIS standard? | TISI (Ministry of Industry) | TIS licence + มอก. mark |
| Does it meet the energy performance requirement? | Energy ministry agencies | Energy label (separate scheme) |
| Does its radio transmitter comply? | NBTC | Radio equipment approval |
Check the mandatory list for the exact product. A stand fan and a built-in oven are not the same entry, and an appliance that is "probably fine" is exactly the one that gets held.
Who holds the licence
The licence is held by a Thai-registered entity. For imports, that is normally the importer of record; a Chinese manufacturer is not the Thai licence holder and cannot obtain the licence on the buyer's behalf. This changes what you ask the factory for.
- Importer's job: licence application, import compliance, Thai labelling, mark use.
- Factory's job: consistent production that matches the tested model, and a quality system that survives the inspection.
- Both: keeping the model reference on the test report, the invoice, the nameplate and the TIS licence identical.
The sequence
| Step | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm the product is on a mandatory TIS standard, and which one | Importer / certifier |
| 2 | Apply for certification; submit technical file and factory quality documents | Importer with TISI / certification body |
| 3 | Test samples to the TIS standard at a recognised laboratory | Laboratory |
| 4 | Factory inspection: quality system and production control | TISI / inspector |
| 5 | Licence issued; the holder may use the TIS mark with the licence number | TISI |
| 6 | Each import cleared with the licence in place | Importer / broker |
| 7 | Thai labelling and the TIS mark applied before sale | Importer |
Reusing test reports from elsewhere
A CB report or an IEC report is a useful starting point, and in practice it is often accepted as the basis for testing — but Thai national differences still have to be covered, and the final testing has to satisfy TISI. Do not treat a foreign report as a drop-in replacement for a Thai licence.
The same logic applies to models. A certificate or licence is scoped to a model and a factory. Adding a model is a scope question, not an invoice line, and it may require additional testing.
Labels, language and the mark
Mandatory-standard products carry the TIS mark with the licence number, and the labelling has to be in Thai. This is a printing decision that has to happen after the licence exists — so it belongs at the end of the sequence, not on the packaging you print while waiting.
Practical consequence: plan the retail launch around the licence and the label, not the vessel arrival. Re-labelling a container is a cost that never appears in the quotation.
Where shipments stall
- Wrong list check — assuming a product is voluntary when it is on the mandatory list, or the reverse.
- Foreign factory holding the paperwork — the licence belongs to the Thai entity; a certificate in the factory's name does not clear the import.
- Pre-printed Chinese packaging — Thai labelling is required, and the TIS mark cannot be pre-printed without a licence.
- Model mismatch — the tested model, the licensed model and the shipped model have to be the same product.
- Energy or radio obligations missed — safety certification does not cover the energy label or NBTC.
- Surveillance ignored — a licence carries ongoing obligations; letting the factory change components silently puts the licence at risk.
What we check, and what we do not do
We are a sourcing and consolidation company in Shenzhen. We do not issue Thai licences. What we can do is confirm the obligation before you order, prepare the factory for the inspection, and keep the paperwork consistent across the licence, the invoice and the shipment.
- Check the mandatory list for the exact product before quoting.
- Confirm the factory can support an inspection: quality records, calibrated equipment, controlled critical components.
- Keep model references and nameplate data identical across test report, licence, invoice and packaging.
- Flag Thai labelling and the mark as post-licence steps in your timeline.
Categories this applies to
Stand fan · Air fryer & multi-cooker · Electric oven · Induction cooker · Electric kettle & hot/cold water dispenser
Buyer questions
Is TIS certification mandatory for electrical appliances in Thailand?
Only for products listed in a mandatory TIS standard. For those, a licence and the TIS mark are required before sale. Products outside the mandatory list can be certified voluntarily, which is a commercial decision rather than a legal one.
Can our Chinese factory obtain the TIS licence for us?
No. The licence holder is a Thai-registered entity, normally the importer. The factory supports testing and inspection; the licence and the mark belong to the Thai side.
Do we need a factory inspection?
Initial certification includes an assessment of the manufacturing site and its quality system, including factories outside Thailand. It is one of the reasons a factory that has never been audited needs preparation rather than a document pack.
Can we use a CB report to avoid testing in Thailand?
A CB report can reduce what has to be tested, but Thai national differences still apply and TISI is the authority on what it accepts. Ask before you ship; do not assume a foreign report equals a Thai licence.
Does an electric oven need an energy label in Thailand?
Energy labelling is a separate scheme from TIS and covers specified appliance categories. Check the current list for your product. Safety certification does not imply the energy requirement is met.
What happens if we ship without a licence?
Mandatory-standard products cannot be legally imported or sold without the licence and the mark. The shipment can be held, and selling non-compliant goods carries penalties under Thai law. This is not a risk worth pricing into a first order.
Primary sources
Checked 2026-10-18. Rules change; verify with the authority before you ship.
- Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) — official site
- TISI — mandatory standards and certification information
- Ministry of Industry, Thailand
- Thai Industrial Product Standards Act B.E. 2511 (1968) — legal basis for mandatory standards
Ask about your product
Not sure whether this applies to what you are buying? Send the specification and we will tell you what has to be in whose name — request a quote, or email sales@xinhuichuan.com.