If you attempt to work or even to volunteer with only a retirement visa, it could void your visa. The retirement visa also does not allow you to leave and re-enter the country. If you plan to travel, even just to visit home, anytime in your first year of residence, you will need to apply for a re-entry permit. The permit application is relatively simple. Besides the application form, you need to have a picture of yourself and various parts of your passport. Once your retirement visa is nearing expiration, you will need to apply for a visa extension.
This application is similar to the initial application with some additional requirements. For example, you will need to provide proof of address, copies of a bank statement and pictures of every page of your passport. Residents of the U. Healthcare is important to factor into your budget. There is no public health insurance for expatriates in Thailand. You will need to get private insurance.
The average cost of healthcare is still lower than in the U. This may work for you if you plan to travel a lot or return home frequently. Once you live in Thailand for six months you will need to pay income taxes.
Health Blog. About Cigna About Us. Member Log In. Becoming an Expat. Scroll to read. The types of visa that can be issued by Thai Embassies or Consulates include: Thailand tourist visa This visa cannot be used for business or employment purposes. To be eligible for this visa, applicants will need to hold the following: A current passport with validity of over 6 months beyond the date of application, At least 2 blanks pages in their passport A completed visa application form [1] Thailand business visa When you are employed or sponsored by a Thai company you can obtain a business visa, which allows a stay of up to 90 days for a single entry or one year for multiple entries.
Your choice will be determined based on your work visa. Very few banks allow foreigners to open banks without a visa. Some banks require proof of residence, which a lease or affidavit from your embassy or consulate can provide. Almost no one uses a current account checking account. Checks are rarely used. Bank transfers are much more common and can be done using ATMs or online banking. PayPal also operates in Thailand and though they do not have a credit card option like in other countries, it is possible to transfer funds between your Thai PayPal account and Thai banks as well as US banks.
Get a cell phone. It is pretty easy to get a cell phone in Thailand. There are hundreds of retailers and all of them offer no-contract, pay as you go service. So just buy a phone, get some credit, pick a phone number, and start making calls right away. Many expats complain that Thai phone companies charge you based on time rather than data for using the internet on your smartphone.
Some people find that their data deteriorates quickly, especially if you have several apps that constantly use 3G to update themselves. All these companies have branches all over the country. All you need to do to set up a cell phone service is to go into one of these branches with your passport and purchase a SIM card for your phone.
If you plan to live in Thailand for an extended period of time usually longer than 6 months , let them know and they can usually give you a cheaper post-paid plan. Get internet access. Most of Thailand is still on the dial-up system, but the urban areas like Bangkok offer cheap high-speed internet. If your internet reliance is not that high, most bigger cafes and restaurants have free wifi internet.
Purchase health insurance. In general, health treatment costs are cheaper than in the United States and Europe. You have two options. You can either pay for international health insurance form your home country or you can sign up for Thai health insurance, which functions like health insurance elsewhere in the world. If you plan to permanently relocate to Thailand, international insurance may not work.
Ask your provider before you move. Sometimes, they place time limits on how long you can hold health insurance in specific countries. Part 3. Learn the language. Most people who relocate to the country find it nearly impossible to distinguish between sentences or even individual words. Get cracking. Moreover, the Thai people love it when foreigners put forth an effort.
In tourist areas, there are usually some English-speaking customer service people for example, the main branches of the Internet and Cell phone service providers. It is wise to learn as much of the Thai language as you can to assist with navigating daily life among the Thai people. Options for learning Thai include taking classes facilitated by native Thai speakers; learning to read Thai using text books and Thai-English dictionaries; hiring a native Thai speaker to be your conversation partner; or taking an online course that offers free and fee-based materials.
One of the best ways to improve your language skills is to watch T. Learn about Thai politics. If you move to Thailand, you'll inevitably have to deal with its government. Thailand has technically been a constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy since Yet, since its foundation, the military and the monarch have intervened repeatedly and temporarily disrupted democratic proceedings.
Despite this, the bureaucratic system works pretty well and is relatively open to foreigners who want to relocate. The Thai people are very serious about their nation and their government.
Do not show any signs of disrespect. Read books about Thai history and religion. The Thai people are fiercely proud of their country and their history. There are temples throughout the country you can visit and monks are the most revered members of society. You can even see images of monks in graffiti, in taxi cabs, and on TV commercials.
Embrace the spiritual side of Thailand. The primarily Buddhist country offers meditation retreats and tours of several shrines and temples throughout Thailand. Chiang Mai in particular has many beautiful Buddhist temples that are open to the public. Be sure to show respect when you enter any of these temples. Wear appropriate clothing and be sure to remove your shoes before you enter.
Learn how to act in Thailand. Most importantly, avoid raising your voice or getting angry. Various requirements will need to be met to obtain this visa. Those who only wish to travel and live in the country rather than retire, work, or study often go with the simpler option of getting a Tourist Visa which allows for stays of up to 60 days with extensions allowed for another 30 days.
Many expats will stay in Thailand for the maximum duration allowed under the Tourist Visa then visit other countries in the region to obtain another visa so they can re-enter Thailand. One is that making the decision to live or retire overseas is far more difficult than actually moving and doing it. The thinking and planning ahead of time can be stressful but the actual act of moving to another country is nothing short of enthralling.
They are not biggies but they would have been good to know ahead of time, which is why I want to share them with you…. There are all kinds of silly little things that you need to sort out when you move overseas. You will have all sorts of questions that back home you would have instantly had the answer to. They were so kind, knowledgeable, and generous with their time. We are all on the same side and it will be okay. I was aware that a move to Thailand would make my life easier.
The food is wonderful and cheap, I have cleaners come in once a week, and my husband, teenage son and I take small trips to explore the country all the time. My life now has so little stress and with less stress comes a healthier lifestyle. I have no complaints there. Labels and generalizations can be very misleading. Being a realist, I thought that I would have to make some lifestyle sacrifices when I moved to Thailand.
What a fallacy that was. The specialist at my local hospital is managing a chronic health issue perfectly, in fact, I have never felt better. I am living my best life here.
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