Moving to Thailand 2025: The Complete Expat Checklist

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME Choose your visa category: decide between Non-O-A (retirement), DTV (remote worker), Non-B (employment), Non-O (marriage), or Thailand Privilege Card. Apply for the appropriate visa at your nearest Thai embassy or consulate before departure where required (Non-O-A and Non-B should be obtained before arrival; DTV applicants can also apply in-country in some cases). Gather legalised documents: criminal background check (nationally certified and apostilled), birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, academic or professional qualifications for work permit. Legalisation takes 2–6 weeks depending on your home country — start early. Sort health insurance: mandatory for Non-O-A. Strongly advisable for all visa categories. International health insurance covering Thailand: arrange before departure. Notify your home country: update your tax residency status, inform your bank of the move, arrange mail forwarding or a registered address for legal and financial correspondence. FIRST TWO WEEKS IN THAILAND TM.30 address registration: your landlord or host must file a TM.30 form notifying Immigration of your address within 24 hours of your arrival at that address. Most reputable serviced apartments and hotels handle this automatically. Confirm it has been done — you will need the TM.30 receipt for later Immigration applications. SIM card and phone number: AIS, True, and DTAC all offer tourist and long-stay SIM packages. A local number is required for banking and many services. AIS and True offer the best coverage nationally. Open a bank account: Kasikorn Bank (KBank) and Bangkok Bank are the most foreigner-friendly. Bring passport, TM.30 receipt, and proof of address. The Non-O-A visa or a work permit helps — some branches are stricter than others for non-residents. FIRST MONTH Work permit (if applicable): your employer initiates this at the Department of Employment. You need the Non-B visa in place first. Processing: 7–14 working days. Collect the physical permit from the DOE. Visa extension (if on initial 90-day Non-Immigrant): apply at your local Immigration office at least 30 days before expiry. Bring all supporting documents for your visa category. Pay 1,900 THB. Register with your home country's embassy: most embassies offer a voluntary overseas registration service. Useful for emergency contact, voting, and obtaining embassy letters for visa applications. Healthcare: register with a local GP or hospital for routine care. Arrange health checks required for visa renewals (medical certificate for Non-O-A). Driving: an International Driving Permit covers the first 90 days. For longer stays, obtain a Thai driving licence at the Land Transport Office (DLT) — requires medical certificate, residence proof (TM.30), home-country driving licence, and passport. ONGOING 90-day address reporting: every 90 consecutive days, report to Immigration (in person, by post, or online). Set a phone reminder. Annual visa extension: apply 30–45 days before your current permission expires each year. Tax obligations: if you spend 183+ days in Thailand in a calendar year, consult a Thai tax accountant about your assessable income. General guidance only, as of June 2025. Sources: Thai Immigration Bureau (immigration.go.th), Department of Employment (doe.go.th). Not legal advice. No outcome guaranteed.