This page puts a move to Thailand in order and sends you to the detailed Thaipedia guides. Figures are only those we checked against primary sources on 24 October 2026. If you are coming for a holiday, the travel section is what you need instead.
Which status to choose before you fly
| Status | What we confirmed on 24 Oct 2026 | Who it suits | More detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa exemption | From 15 September 2026 one scheme per country: 30 or 15 days for tourism, or a visa, depending on your passport; the 60-day scheme is revoked | Testing a city for a few weeks | Visa-free days |
| DTV | 5 years, up to 180 days per entry; THB 500,000 statement for the last 3 months; Moscow embassy fee USD 350, other embassies publish their own; no Thai employer | Remote workers, freelancers, course students, medical stays and their families | DTV visa |
| Work in a Thai company | A DTV does not allow it; you need a work permit | People hired by a Thai employer | Work permit |
| Retirement, LTR, Thailand Elite | Separate conditions for each programme | Retirees, investors, long-term residents | Retirement, LTR, Elite |
How buying property relates to visas is covered in does property give a visa.
Order of action
- Pick a status and count the time: DTV bank statements must cover the last 3 months
- Collect documents: police clearance, proof of permanent residence in the country where you apply, proof of remote work or freelance status; the embassy lists differ and may ask for certified translations
- Apply online at thaievisa.go.th while you are outside Thailand, and wait for the embassy decision
- Book your flight, fill in the arrival card on the official site (TDAC) and book somewhere to stay for the first weeks
- After check-in make sure the landlord or hotel files TM30, and buy a SIM (SIM card guide)
- Decide how you will pay: cash, a foreign card, a QR wallet or a transfer; a Thai bank account is not available to everyone
- Arrange insurance and look for long-term housing on the ground
- Put the dates in your calendar: visa expiry, the TM.47 report and your day count for tax
Three months before departure: funds and documents
The Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow (page updated 12 September 2026) lists for the DTV a photo, proof of permanent residence in the country of application, bank statements for the last 3 months with a minimum balance of THB 500,000 or the equivalent, proof of remote or freelance work, and a police clearance certificate. The Moscow fee is USD 350 and the visa is valid for 5 years with multiple entries. Embassy lists differ, so open the page of the embassy you will use. The Royal Thai Embassy in London, for example, says that from 31 August 2026 it requires proof of permanent residence in the UK, Ireland or the British Overseas Territories and a police clearance issued within 6 months. Details and common questions are in the DTV guide.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest explains that the DTV allows up to 180 days per entry and is valid for 5 years, and that it is a special kind of tourist visa: holders cannot obtain a Thai work permit or work for Thai companies or Thai clients. For a child who will mainly study in Thailand, the embassy points to a Non-ED visa, and a DTV application for that purpose is not accepted. If work is part of your plan, read our remote work guide and the work permit guide.
First week: address, housing and phone
For the first 2-4 weeks it is usually easier to book a stay and look for long-term housing on the ground. That is our advice, not a rule. Rental rules, deposits and contracts are in how to rent for a month or longer, and the areas are compared in the Phuket guide, the Pattaya guide and the Chiang Mai guide.
The Immigration Bureau quotes section 38 of the Immigration Act 1979: the owner or occupier of a home, or a hotel manager, who takes in a foreigner must report it to Immigration within 24 hours (form TM30). Ask your landlord whether they will file it for you: according to our guides, banks and driving licence offices ask for proof of address, see the certificate of residence guide. For your phone, see the SIM card guide and mobile and internet.
Money: account, cards, transfers
For the first weeks keep cash, a card that works at Thai ATMs and a QR wallet; see ATM fees and QR payments. A Thai bank account depends on the bank and your visa, and our bank account guide goes through them one by one. For regular transfers see sending money to Thailand: options, fees and a worked example. Never exchange money through strangers in chat groups, the scams guide describes the schemes.
The first month, week by week
This is an editorial plan, not a legal requirement.
| Week | What to do | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check in, confirm TM30, buy a SIM, withdraw cash and test the QR wallet | SIM cards, QR payments |
| 2 | Look at areas and monthly rentals, read the contract, ask about insurance | Renting, insurance |
| 3 | Try to open an account or set up a wallet, locate a hospital and a pharmacy, choose a school if you have children | Bank account, Phuket hospitals, Phuket schools |
| 4 | Sort out a scooter or car licence, add the TM.47 date and your tax-day count to your calendar | Driving licence, 90-day report, taxes |
The 90-day report and tax
The Immigration Bureau describes the TM.47 notification for a foreigner who has stayed in the country for more than 90 days. File it from 15 days before to 7 days after the due date. If you are late you report in person and pay a THB 2,000 fine; the handbook lists no fee. After you leave and re-enter, the count restarts from your latest arrival. The report does not extend your visa: see the 90-day report guide.
The Revenue Department says a foreigner who spends 180 days or more in Thailand in a calendar year pays tax on foreign income earned from 1 January 2024 if it is brought into Thailand, including in a later year. A tax adviser decides how that applies to you; the general rules are in taxes for foreigners.
Who this move does not suit
- Anyone who wants to work for a Thai company on a DTV: the DTV does not allow it
- People without a statement of THB 500,000 for the last 3 months or without the DTV documents; visa exemption or a tourist visa remain, but they are not a permanent status
- Anyone counting on opening a bank account in any bank in the first week: it depends on the bank and the visa
- Anyone relying on a bank card from a country where cards do not work in Thailand: for Russian cards see Russian cards in Thailand
FAQ
Where do I start when moving to Thailand?
With your visa, not your apartment. Check whether your passport gets a 30-day or 15-day exemption or needs a visa, then choose a visa for the stay you want. The DTV needs a 3-month bank statement of THB 500,000 or more, a police clearance and proof of permanent residence in the country where you apply. Look for long-term housing after you land.
Can I live in Thailand on visa exemption?
Only for the period the exemption gives you: 30 or 15 days from 15 September 2026, depending on your nationality. It is a way to test a city, not a residence status. Extensions and border runs follow separate rules, covered in our visa-free and border-run guides.
How much money do I need to start?
The confirmed figure is the DTV funds requirement: a statement of at least THB 500,000 for the last 3 months, which must be on your account but is not a fee. The Moscow embassy charges a USD 350 visa fee, and other embassies publish their own amounts. Monthly costs depend on the city and housing, and our cost of living guide gives an estimate with its sources.
Can I work in Thailand on a DTV?
Only remotely for an employer or clients outside Thailand. The Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest says the DTV is a special kind of tourist visa and holders cannot obtain a Thai work permit or work for Thai companies or freelance for Thai clients. A job with a Thai employer needs a work permit.
Do I need a Thai bank account right away?
No, and you may not get one at once. Banks differ on visa types, and our bank account guide lists them. For the first weeks, cash, a foreign card and a QR wallet are enough, and our transfers guide explains how to move money in.
How do I avoid missing the 90-day report?
File TM.47 from 15 days before the due date to 7 days after it. If you are late you must report in person and pay a THB 2,000 fine. After you leave and re-enter, the count restarts from your latest arrival. Put the date in your calendar on the day you land.
When do I become liable for Thai tax?
The Revenue Department says a foreigner who stays in Thailand 180 days or more in a calendar year pays tax on foreign income earned from 1 January 2024 if it is brought into Thailand, including in a later year. Your own case depends on the type of income, so ask a tax adviser.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy, Moscow. Revision of Thailand’s Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival Schemes (2 September 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Moscow. Destination Thailand Visa (updated 12 September 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, London. Adjustment of supporting documents for DTV applications (8 September 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Budapest. Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
- Thai e-Visa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Destination Thailand Visa
- Immigration Bureau, Bangkok. Notification of residence of a foreigner, TM30 (Thai)
- Immigration Bureau. Public Handbook: Notification of Residence over 90 Days (TM.47)
- Revenue Department. How do foreigners living in Thailand pay tax (2024)
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.