Everything You Should Know About Moving to Thailand

For several decades now, expats have been flocking to Thailand to start a new life or to live during their retirement years. This may, in part, be due to the laid-back environment, the lower cost of living or perhaps people just love the great scenery. Whatever the reason, Thailand is a popular country and it just may be the perfect place for you as well. Sure, it’s a big move, but with careful planning and working with the right professionals, you can make your move as stress free as possible and will soon find yourself sitting on the deck of a small café sipping a cup of freshly brewed coffee and immersing yourself in the beauty around you.

Obtaining Your Visa

To move and live to Thailand as an expat, you will need to obtain a visa. There are several types of visas that one may choose form based on the reason you are moving, your age or financial status or even your marital status. The Thai Embassy can provide you with a great deal of information on which visa will be best for your personal situation. Some of the various visas include, but are not limited to:

Marriage Visa
Tourist Visa
Business Visa
Retirement Visa
Non-Immigrant Visa

For more information regarding the type of visas in Thailand, be sure to contact the Thai Embassy in your country, prior to your move.

If You’re Going to Be Working in Thailand

To work in Thailand, you will need to have a work permit to do so. Even if the work you will be doing is volunteering, a work permit from the Ministry of Labor is required. Under the Foreign Business Act of 1999, certain jobs are prohibited from being done by foreigners. The Thai Embassy can offer insight into the jobs that are prohibited as well as the work you may be allowed to perform legally within the country. Many expats work for American companies that allow them to perform their work online, or they own their own small business online to make money while living in Thailand.

Moving Your Household Items

When moving to a new country, you may want to bring your household items with you. This can be done with a shipping company that specializes in moving household goods. Thailand is known for their rule of one. You’re allowed one television, one toaster, one vacuum or one of anything else. This allows people to live comfortably without bringing an excessive amount of possessions with them when they relocate.

Always check to find out if the shipping company provides door to door services. This way, you do not have to worry about using another company to send your belongings to your front door.

Bringing Your Vehicle Along

Shipping Your Car To Thailand

Most expats leave their personal car behind when they move. It can be expensive to ship and you must go through some stringent rules with customs to import a vehicle. Some however, need to have a car of their own to drive and if this is you, you will be glad to know you can import new as well as used motor vehicles to Thailand when you move. Keep in mind that stipulations and specific guidelines to apply when moving a vehicle into Thailand. For more information about shipping a vehicle to Thailand, read more here.

Have these documents ready when shipping items to Thailand:

For Household Property, you will need:

Passport and Bill of Lading
Import Goods Declaration with 3 Copies
Commercial and Insurance Invoice
Release Order

For Motor Vehicles, you will need:

Vehicle Registration
Import Permit
Re-Export Contract
Bill of Lading
Commercial Invoice
International Driver’s License
Passport
Special Goods Declaration

For other mandatory paperwork, your shipping agent will let you know what you need.

Tips For Moving to Thailand

Moving to Thailand can be an exciting adventure for one and all. Be sure to speak to our professional real estate agents to search for the home of your dreams before you make your move permanent. Don’t forget to make a checklist, a planning and an estimate about the cost of moving to Thailand, even if you plan to stay only for a year.
Once you arrive to begin your new life in Thailand, you will quickly see that Thailand is one of those countries that make living a stress-free life easy.

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Live Your Dream in Amazing Thailand!

Spend the best days of your life in the embracing culture, climate and landscape of this paradise on earth… Amazing Thailand.— Herman Ostendorf