Official information British people moving to and living in Thailand need to know, including residency, healthcare and driving. Phuket is also known for its restaurants serving gourmet seafood fished fresh from the sea, and there are lots of expat clubs for making new friends and socialising. You should contact a lawyer if you are considering buying property or land. All entrants coming to Thailand on an immigrant visa are advised to get their own expatriate health insurance. If they had to, they would place the item on the ground for you to pick it up. If you are a lady, they cannot hand you anything. Registration of the new company must occur within three months of the day of the statutory meeting. That said, many expats moving to the country live in Bangkok and really enjoy their time there. You should also visit Phang Nga Bay, Similan Islands, Railay Beach, and Phi Phi Islands. For this party, grab some neon-colored clothes and body paint, and you are good to go. The mouthwatering cuisine? Our blog is here to bring you inspiration, destination ideas and practical advice for settling abroad. Thank goodness I have friends that come over and visit. What do you consider at first sight when you think of living at a certain place? What a fallacy that was. Well, Here Are A Few Pros And Cons Of Living In Thailand That You Must Be Aware Of. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have already escaped—and you could, too. If you are already in Thailand, contact the Thai Immigration Bureau with all visa and immigration issues. From North America to Down Under, via a legion of Brits basking in the Mediterranean… there are very few major countries that don’t have a UK expat presence. Here’s our guide to how you can make it happen…. Travel insurance is … Are you making a plan to live in Thailand? It should be noted that most public education centres in Thailand are reserved for Thai nationals, unless the child has one Thai parent and their birth was registered in Thailand. Many expats live in Bangkok for business or professional reasons, although some people simply enjoy the urban lifestyle. It is also an excellent destination to enjoy many of Thailand’s best loved festivals like Yi Pen—when the sky becomes filled with thousands of fire lanterns—or the Chiang Mai Flower Festival, with its much loved flower parade. Thailand is a beautiful and peaceful country. The marine scene is also big with numerous marinas and a large expat community dedicated to life on the water. A wide range of treatments, medications, and surgeries are competitively priced, and tourists flock to the country every year to get everything from hip replacements and cosmetic enhancements to laser eye surgery and root canals, at a fraction of the cost back home. Like most other countries, Thailand has both public and private schools — but what is the best choice for expat families? Apart from offering a great beach lifestyle, the town boasts multiple international standard hospitals, a plethora of water sport activities, ever-expanding golf courses, and some significant events and festivals. It’s also possible to apply for a multi-entry tourist visa, which can be used in such a way that you can spend up to 9 months in Thailand, with a few international trips in between. Major airlines include Thai Airways, AirAsia, NokAir, and Bangkok Airways. Thailand delivers in droves and we can’t wait to help you move there effortlessly. Like I said, not a biggie and easily fixed. Thailand has plenty of convenient transport options for expats looking to travel around the country, or just get around their area. See NHS: cover your healthcare abroad. The low stress and chilled out lifestyle are one of the best things of the country. You can change your cookie settings at any time. And to make matters worse, our flight from New York to Hong Kong was delayed. From getting a visa to finding work and (eventual) citizenship – it’s all here. In lots of safe, warm, friendly spots abroad, a couple can live well for around $2,000 a month. In Thailand we wear our shoes in most buildings, but we always remove our … Gambling is prohibited in Thailand so don’t get yourself involved into any gambling activities on the streets or anywhere else. Essentially, you will require a letter from your Thai bank that shows at least THB 800,000 ($23,000) deposited in your account. There are actually two registrations required: the memorandum registration and the company registration. However, Ayutthaya was sacked during the Burmese–Siamese War during the 18th century, ending the Siamese Kingdom. In addition lessons are taught in Thai, which can be problematic for many expat kids. This is our simple Thailand Immigration Guide, containing all the info you need to get started. It’s hard to choose what expats love most about the Land of Smiles. See list of insurance companies in Thailand. Check here for a full list of useful services you’ll need when moving and living in Thailand. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our, View content and offers specific to your location, Choose a language from the list below and continue. What should you not do in Thailand? We are all on the same side and it will be okay. The crazy, wonderful city of Bangkok is a cosmopolitan metropolis of gleaming skyscrapers, luxury hotels and restaurants, chic bars, and world-class shopping, alongside bustling markets, historical palaces and temples, and the majestic Chao Phraya river. You should buy comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you enter the country. Thailand offers a variety of visas including the Transit Visa, the 30 day Tourist Visa, Non-Immigrant Visa, Diplomatic Visa, Official Visa, and Courtesy Visa. As in the rest of the country you can enjoy the best of the modern world with all manner of shopping malls, fine restaurants, and other places of luxury, or you can spend your time visiting traditional markets, exploring the historic areas of Phuket Town, and eating out at local Phuket restaurants where the food is delicious. Staff in public hospitals often speak little or no English. Moreover, one of the considerations that we keep is to have a good lifestyle in economic conditions. You must have already been resident in Thailand having held a non-immigrant visa for at least three consecutive years and be in possession of one at the time of application, and must either make an investment in the Thai economy of 3 to 10 million THB, be a highly skilled academic or expert in a desirable field, or be in a relationship with a Thai citizen or another foreigner who already has permanent residency. UK citizens entering Thailand for longer than a period of 30 days must apply for a visa. The employer must also register employees for social security and workers’ compensation insurance at the Social Security Office, Ministry of Labour. Though by the 14th century King Uthong had made Theravada Buddhism the official religion of his fledgling city, Ayutthaya. It may have a sleazy reputation for ladyboys, prostitutes and gogo dancers, but Pattaya is also a beautiful beach-side city bursting with opportunities for fun in the sun, including watersports and water parks, bars, restaurants and clubs, plus fantastic temples, museums, and galleries for the discerning expat. With lovely weather, lively nightlife, enticing delicacies and innumerable tourist spots like Agah khan Palace in its vicinity – PUNE has everything one would need to lead a dreamy life. The king is the most important person in the country for Thai people, and he is assigned almost godlike status by the population. That being said, they’re also amongst the most crowded ways to get around Thailand, usually packed with locals and/or intrepid backpackers. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Luxury apartments in Bangkok can easily cost thousands per month, but a one room apartment in the city centre can be had for around 3000 to 4000 THB. The south of the country however has just wet and dry seasons, and sees a little more rainfall than the north. Buses are the most widely used method of transport in Thailand and they commonly reach areas inaccessible by either planes or trains. In fact, it’ll be great. For around 250 USD a month you can get a spacious, furnished apartment with all the bells and whistles; TV, cable, internet and air conditioning. Those who wish to move to the smaller towns will find that their cost of living becomes dramatically reduced the deeper into the provinces they go. When journeying between cities, buses are cheap and convenient; ordinary buses are the cheapest, but can be slow and crowded, as well as lacking mod cons like toilets and air conditioning. See entry requirements for Thailand in our travel advice. The elephant is a national symbol of Thailand and considered a revered animal. Trains in Thailand offer an inexpensive, scenic way to travel, and there are 4 main lines which connect the major cities throughout the country. There is always a solution to any issue here in “The Land of Smiles”. Thank you for supporting the site. If you need help locating a school for your child, why not choose Santa Fe Relocation’s excellent school search service? Little things like, ‘Who is the best internet provider?’ and ‘What is the cheapest way to transfer money overseas?’. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We don’t recommend hiring or buying a car if you can avoid it. Sign in to access your subscriptions and subscriber-only content. How to Move Abroad: Advice and Tips for Future Expats. This visa is renewable annually, and also entitles you to open a Thai bank account. But to be honest, I didn’t realise how good it would be for my health. Once your visa obligations are taken care of you can focus on enjoying your new life in the “Land of Smiles.”. Night buses are a good option for long distance journeys. Temperatures are a little cooler during this time, but it can get uncomfortably humid and sticky at times. The following destinations are among the most popular for expats: Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and the center of the country’s economy. They ended up moving back to Australia and I could never really pay them back so instead I decided to ‘pay it forward’ and help other new expats when the opportunity arises. Applicants must be able to fulfill the following requirements: hold a non-immigrant visa for at least three years; and fall under one of these categories: Investment Category (having a minimum of three to ten million Thai Baht invested in Thailand); Working/Business Category; Support a Family or Humanity Reasons Category (be related to a Thai citizen or foreigner who already holds a residence permit; or be a guardian of a Thai child under 20 years of age); or Expert/Academic Category. Medical costs are reasonable, but most expats choose to take out private health insurance in order to access the best possible healthcare. Listed below are the different types of visa Brits can apply for…. Like most things in Thailand, travelling around the country is relatively inexpensive. The people of Thailand are well known for their friendly nature and they are extremely proud of … For longer journeys it is recommended to travel first or second class to benefit from better seats and air conditioning. But if gambling is essential part of your life, stick to playing at one of the online casinos such as G club Grand or Gclub Slot. There are over 4.5 million UK expats scattered around the world today. If you intend to work or have invested in a Thai company then you will need a Business Visa, which can also be used for multiple entries over a one-year period. Another option is to do what many expats living in Thailand have already done and start up your own business. Sleeper cars are available for overnight trips, and nearly all trains contain a dining carriage. When hiring vehicles it is best whenever possible to hire from reliable international companies such as Avis or National, and take out insurance with them. Burmese rule was short lived, and it wasn’t long until new Tai kingdoms appeared. The island benefits from a number of world-class golf courses that are particularly popular with expats and tourists as well as middle and upper class Thais. For expats, the lifestyle can differ depending on location. Before the Tai people arrived though, different cultures flourished and became part of the trading routes in use by ancient civilisations.