Bulletin No. 3 — the only one individuals can request directly. Bulletin No. 2 is reserved for French administrative authorities. Bulletin No. 3 is free, requested online at casier-judiciaire.justice.gouv.fr, and often ready within 24 hours with FranceConnect. It then needs a French apostille from the competent Tribunal Judiciaire, plus — while Thailand remains outside the Hague Convention until 28 February 2027 — legalisation at the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris.

Not on its own, currently. The apostille comes from the Procureur de la République at the Tribunal Judiciaire in the issuing jurisdiction — France has been a Hague Convention member since 1965. But Thailand only acceded to the Convention on 30 June 2026 and it doesn't take effect until 28 February 2027. Until then, the apostilled document also needs legalisation at the Royal Thai Embassy in Paris — confirm the current requirement before you travel.

Yes — the retraite de base (CNAV) and retraite complémentaire (AGIRC-ARRCO) are paid abroad without restriction, and unlike the UK State Pension, the French pension is not frozen in Thailand — it stays indexed to French inflation. It's paid in Euros, so currency risk applies. An annual attestation de vie is required to keep payments running; missing it can suspend payments. French tax as a non-resident, and how the France-Thailand tax treaty treats pension income specifically, need a fiscaliste's confirmation rather than assumption.

No — Sécurité sociale affiliation typically ends on permanent departure from France. For the Non-OA visa, OIC-approved Thai health insurance is mandatory (40,000 THB outpatient + 400,000 THB inpatient minimum, as two separate figures). AXA (French parent), Allianz, Cigna, and Pacific Cross offer OIC-qualifying policies. CFE (Caisse des Français de l'Étranger) offers cover for French expats outside the EU — check directly whether it alone satisfies the Non-OA's OIC requirement.

Yes — French passport holders are eligible. Apply online or at the Royal Thai Embassy Paris, or the Thai Consulate-General in Lyon or Marseille. The requirement is a 500,000 THB bank balance, not an income test, plus health insurance. It's a 5-year visa, 180 days per entry, with one in-country extension of a further 180 days. Remote work for overseas employers is permitted; work for a Thai employer is not.

No — as a French/EU citizen your right to re-enter France and the Schengen Area is unconditional. No minimum time spent in France is required to maintain it.

THB 800,000 must be held continuously in a Thai bank account for 3 months before the annual extension. If the balance drops below THB 800,000 at any point during that window, the clock resets. Transfer funds well in advance and maintain the balance throughout.

From 1 January 2024, Thailand taxes foreign-sourced income remitted to Thailand in the same tax year it's earned, for Thai tax residents (180+ days/year). The France-Thailand tax treaty may prevent double taxation on some income categories, but don't assume it resolves every scenario automatically — get advice from a fiscaliste with Thai tax experience.

Royal Thai Embassy Paris (main); Thai Consulate-General Lyon; Thai Consulate-General Marseille. DTV applications can also be submitted online. Confirm current consular jurisdictions directly with the Embassy before applying.

Yes — a condominium unit freehold (49% foreign quota per building; FET Certificate from a Thai bank; funds must arrive from outside Thailand in foreign currency). Land cannot be owned freehold; 30-year registered leases and usufruct are the alternatives. Nominee arrangements are illegal under the Thai Land Code.

Yes — Alliance Française operates in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other cities, and French-speaking legal, medical, and financial services are available in Bangkok. French nationals are well-established in both the Bangkok and Chiang Mai expat communities.

Visa-exempt: currently 60 days for air arrivals. Thailand's Cabinet approved cutting this to 30 days on 19 May 2026, but the change was still pending Royal Gazette publication as of 14 August 2026 — so 60 days remains current. Confirm before travel. Neither this nor the tourist visa (60 days plus a 30-day extension) permits working or establishes long-term residence.