How long does it take to move to Thailand?

There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 5 stages (Before you leave, Getting the visa, First weeks in Thailand, Staying compliant, Work, property and school) covering 20 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.

What catches people out when moving to Thailand?

A single-entry visa or an extension of stay (including the standard retirement extension) is voided the moment you exit Thailand unless you hold a re-entry permit. Officers at the border cannot undo this - always confirm whether your current permission is single- or multiple-entry before any trip.

How much of the Thailand guide can I see for free?

The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Settle Steps / Moving to Thailand

Moving to Thailand, step by step

20 steps for your move to Thailand - which office, what to bring, what it costs and how long it takes - checked against official sources where an official answer exists, and marked clearly where it depends on your situation instead.

See the free preview for Thailand

How the move breaks down

1
Before you leave
Pick the right visa route and get your paperwork and finances in order
7 steps
2
Getting the visa
Apply through the e-Visa system or an embassy/consulate before you travel
1 step
3
First weeks in Thailand
Address notification, bank account, SIM, and settling in
3 steps
4
Staying compliant
90-day reporting, re-entry permits, and annual renewals
4 steps
5
Work, property and school
Work permits, buying a condo, and enrolling children
5 steps

18 of the 20 steps are checked against an official source, with the date it was checked. The rest depend on your own circumstances, or are practical guidance no authority publishes - each step says which.

If you get stuck in Thailand

191 Police (general emergency)
1155 Tourist Police
1178 Immigration Bureau call centre

Things people don't expect about moving to Thailand

Leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit
A single-entry visa or an extension of stay (including the standard retirement extension) is voided the moment you exit Thailand unless you hold a re-entry permit. Officers at the border cannot undo this - always confirm whether your current permission is single- or multiple-entry before any trip.
Assuming the landlord filed the TM30
Within 24 hours of moving into a residence, the owner/landlord/hotel is legally required to notify Immigration of your presence (form TM30) - but many Thai landlords never do it, and it's your visa extension, 90-day report, and re-entry permit that get blocked later. Ask for and keep a copy of the TM30 receipt every time you move.
Thinking you can buy land because you can buy a condo
Foreigners can own a condo unit outright (freehold), capped at 49% of a building's floor area. Foreigners cannot own land or a house's land outright under any circumstance - what's sold as 'buying a house' is almost always a leasehold (commonly 30 years) or a risky workaround structure.
Confusing the visa with the right to work
Holding a long-stay visa does not itself permit employment. Working without a separate work permit from the Ministry of Labour is illegal regardless of visa type.

Questions people ask about moving to Thailand

How long does it take to move to Thailand?
There's no fixed number of days - it depends on appointment availability and how much paperwork you're bringing. The guide breaks the move into 5 stages (Before you leave, Getting the visa, First weeks in Thailand, Staying compliant, Work, property and school) covering 20 individual steps, so you know what's next instead of guessing.
What catches people out when moving to Thailand?
A single-entry visa or an extension of stay (including the standard retirement extension) is voided the moment you exit Thailand unless you hold a re-entry permit. Officers at the border cannot undo this - always confirm whether your current permission is single- or multiple-entry before any trip.
How much of the Thailand guide can I see for free?
The first three steps of your route are free to preview, no account needed. The full route - every step, what to bring, the cost and the official source - unlocks with one payment once you've picked where you're moving from.

Moving to Thailand from an EU country, or from outside the EU

The steps differ depending on where you're moving from. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally register locally with no visa required; moving from outside the EU usually means a visa or residence permit arranged before you travel. Pick your own country on the guide and you'll only see the steps that actually apply to you - not a generic list for everyone.

Get the full guide

Pick where you're leaving from on the main guide, and the first three steps are free. The full route for Thailand - every step, what to bring, the cost, the timing and the source - unlocks with one payment, on the page itself.

Choose your route to Thailand

Moving to Thailand, step by step

How the move breaks down

Before you leave

Getting the visa

First weeks in Thailand

Staying compliant

Work, property and school

If you get stuck in Thailand

Things people don't expect about moving to Thailand

Leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit

Assuming the landlord filed the TM30

Thinking you can buy land because you can buy a condo

Confusing the visa with the right to work