Rules

Can you vape or bring an e-cigarette into Thailand?

Short answer

No. Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal.

No. Thai Customs lists e-cigarettes and baraku as prohibited imports, so don't pack a vape, pods or e-liquid. The UK government says possessing or using any vape, e-cigarette, e-liquid or heat-not-burn device in Thailand is illegal, with confiscation, fines (typically 5,000 to 30,000 baht), detention and court cases. There is no tourist exception, and we found no law change in 2026 (news, July 2026).

Checked · 7 sources · How we check

Illustration: an open passport with two entry stamps and a closed passport under a desk lamp, by a window onto the bay at dusk

The rules

  • Bringing one in: Thai Customs lists electronic cigarettes and baraku as prohibited imports; violators face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of 5 times the goods' value, or both.1
  • Possessing or using one: the UK government says possessing or using any vape, e-cigarette, pod, e-liquid or heat-not-burn device is illegal, with confiscation, fines typically of 5,000 to 30,000 baht, detention and court proceedings.2 Canada and Australia also say possession is prohibited, even for personal use.34
  • Selling one: banned under the Consumer Protection Act (news).5

The penalties differ by source

The law and the fines people report don't match. Possessing goods known to be smuggled carries up to 5 years in prison or a 500,000-baht fine under the Customs Act, as Thai news reports and Australia's advice describe;54 the UK quotes fines of 5,000 to 30,000 baht as typical in practice.2 We give both, because neither source settles which applies to a tourist.

Enforcement

A government-ordered crackdown from late February to mid-March 2025 led to 1,741 cases and more than 1.28 million items seized (news).6 In July 2026 the rules were unchanged: e-cigarettes remain illegal under the Customs Act, the Consumer Protection Act and a 2014 Commerce Ministry notification (news).7

Heated tobacco

The UK government names heat-not-burn devices among the illegal products.2 We found no Thai official source that names them separately.

Questions people ask

Can I bring a vape to Thailand?

No. Thai Customs lists e-cigarettes and baraku as prohibited imports, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of 5 times the goods' value, or both.

Is vaping illegal in Pattaya?

Yes. The UK government says possessing or using any vape or e-cigarette in Thailand is illegal, with confiscation, fines typically of 5,000 to 30,000 baht, detention and court cases. There is no tourist exception.

Are heated tobacco devices legal in Thailand?

The UK government says heat-not-burn devices are illegal to possess or use in Thailand. We found no Thai official source that names them separately.

Sources

  1. Electronic cigarettes and baraku are prohibited goods for import into Thailand, Customs Department. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Thailand travel advice: safety and security (updated 12 October 2026), UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Travel advice and advisories for Thailand (updated 13 October 2026), Government of Canada. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. Thailand travel advice (updated 29 September 2026), Australian Government, Smartraveller. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. E-cigarette laws: possession, sale and penalties (news, February 2023, in Thai), Thai PBS. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. E-cigarette crackdown results, February to March 2025 (news, in Thai), THE STANDARD. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. No change to the e-cigarette ban in 2026 (news, July 2026, in Thai), Hfocus. Checked 14 October 2026.

Facts on this page were checked on the date shown. Rules and prices change; the source is the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.

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