Révisé par ThaiLawOnline, un cabinet d'avocats thaïlandais agréé exerçant en Thaïlande depuis 2006. Avocate thaïlandaise en charge du dossier : Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., licence du barreau thaïlandais 3149/2556.
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For a first move to Thailand, arrange the permission to stay, access to money, healthcare and a temporary place to live before making expensive commitments. You do not need to choose a permanent home during your first week.
A holiday gives a poor test of daily life. Visit the neighbourhood during working hours, travel the route to school or work, and check how ordinary tasks will fit your budget. Use the first month to test the plan before committing to a long lease or property purchase.
Before departure: confirm the legal basis for the stay
Choose an immigration route matching the purpose of the move, such as employment, family, retirement or eligible remote work. Check the requirements for your nationality, application location and proposed activity with the responsible Thai embassy or consulate. Do not rely on an old visa-exemption list.
Visa validity and permission to remain after entry are different dates. Work permission is another question. If you intend to earn money while living here, describe the work accurately before choosing the route. Our recherche de visa helps compare options, and the digital-nomad guide addresses remote work.
Check whether the Carte d'arrivée numérique Thaïlande applies to your entry and submit through the official Immigration website within the required window. The official submission is free. The arrival card does not replace a visa or guarantee entry.
Prepare the documents you will need
Carry secure copies separately from the originals. Depending on your circumstances, prepare:
- Passport, visa and application records.
- Marriage and birth certificates, together with any required translations or legalisation.
- Employment, retirement or financial evidence relevant to the immigration route.
- Insurance details, medical records and prescriptions.
- Driving-licence documents for the vehicles you intend to use.
- School records and parental-consent documents where relevant.
Check medicine restrictions with the Thai FDA’s traveller service before packing. A prescription from home does not remove Thai restrictions on controlled substances. Establish whether a permit is required early enough to obtain one.
Arrival week: get the dates and address right
Check the entry record and permitted-until date as soon as you arrive. Save a clear copy and put the expiry and relevant reporting deadlines in your calendar. Raise an apparent error promptly rather than waiting until the next application.
Ask the hotel or landlord about accommodation reporting and keep the available confirmation. If you later change address, check the reporting requirements for the new arrangement. An address notification does not extend your stay.
Keep enough accessible money for deposits and unexpected expenses, with a second lawful payment method if a card stops working. Before relying on a Thai bank account, ask the bank which documents your status requires. An account is not guaranteed simply because you hold a long-stay visa.
Choose the neighbourhood by the routine
Start with where you must go regularly: work, school, hospital, shops and public transport. A cheaper home becomes expensive if the daily journey is difficult. Test the route at the time you will use it.
Compare the particular area, rather than treating Bangkok, Chiang Mai or a coastal town as one uniform place. Noise, traffic, seasonal air quality, flooding exposure and access to medical care vary. Visit more than once and ask specific questions of people living in the building or street.
If you need reliable internet for work, test the connection in the property and confirm the installation terms. A building advertising Wi-Fi does not establish the quality available in your unit.
Read the lease before paying a large deposit
Confirm who is entitled to rent the property and who will receive the money. Agree the rent, deposit, utilities, repair responsibilities, inspection record, early termination and return of the deposit. Keep receipts and photographs of the condition at handover.
Check pets, guests, smoking, parking and any work-related use against the lease and building rules. Obtain the promises important to your decision in writing. Our guide du contrat de location explains the legal issues in more detail.
For a first move, buying property before understanding the area adds risk. If you decide to buy, review ownership eligibility, the title and the contract before paying a non-refundable deposit.
Healthcare, transport and the real monthly budget
Choose medical care you are able to reach, including outside normal office hours. Compare insurance coverage, exclusions, deductibles, renewal conditions and the insurer’s payment procedure. Check continuing treatment and medication availability before relying on a particular policy or hospital.
Budget for transport as you will use it. If you plan to drive, confirm the licence and insurance requirements for the vehicle. A rental shop handing over a motorcycle does not establish your legal entitlement to ride or insurance coverage.
Track your own spending during the first month. Include rent, utilities, transport, food, insurance, school costs, immigration expenses and trips home. Published average budgets are a starting point, not a substitute for your actual commitments.
Keep financial records from the start
Record travel dates, earnings and transfers. Before moving substantial funds, distinguish income from savings, loans and sale proceeds, and obtain advice on the relevant tax treatment. Living in Thailand while receiving payment abroad does not automatically remove Thai tax exposure.
Keep bank statements and evidence of the source of funds. If you have ongoing obligations in another country, review both positions together. Our personal income tax guide explains the main questions.
At the end of the first month
Review what you have learned before extending the lease or making a major purchase. Does the location work? Is the budget realistic? Are the visa, work and tax arrangements consistent with what you are doing?
For everyday interactions, read our guide de la culture et du savoir-vivre. If a contract, immigration route or family arrangement needs review, réserver une consultation and send the documents before the signing or filing deadline.
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