First 30 Days Checklist
Moving to Thailand is exciting, but the first few weeks can feel overwhelming. This priority-ordered checklist will keep you on track. Complete these tasks roughly in order, though some can happen in parallel.
Week 1 — Immediate Priorities:
- Arrive and clear immigration — keep your TM6 departure card (stapled in passport)
- Get a Thai SIM card at the airport (AIS, DTAC, or TRUE counters in arrivals)
- Exchange enough cash for the first few days (SuperRich gives the best rates)
- Install Grab for transportation and food delivery
- Check in to temporary accommodation (hotel or short-term rental)
- Your landlord or hotel files your TM30 notification within 24 hours
Week 2 — Getting Established:
- Begin apartment hunting for long-term housing
- Open a Thai bank account (Bangkok Bank is most foreigner-friendly)
- Register on LINE messenger — it is the primary communication app in Thailand
- Get a residence certificate from your embassy if needed for banking
Week 3-4 — Settling In:
- Set up international transfers (Wise is recommended)
- Research and purchase health insurance
- Register with your home country's embassy
- Explore your neighborhood — find your local 7-Eleven, pharmacy, and market
- Join local expat groups on Facebook and LINE
Essential Documents to Bring
Before you leave your home country, make sure you have these documents. Getting replacements in Thailand is difficult and time-consuming.
Absolutely essential:
- Passport — valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay, with at least 2 blank pages
- Visa — if required for your nationality (check before you fly)
- Passport photos — bring 10-15 copies (4x6 cm, white background). You will need them for visa extensions, bank accounts, and other paperwork
- Flight itinerary — proof of onward travel (required for visa-exempt entries)
- Proof of funds — THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family (immigration may check)
Highly recommended:
- International driving permit (IDP) — get this in your home country before departing
- Bank statements — last 3-6 months, useful for visa extensions and bank account opening
- Marriage certificate — if applicable, with apostille or embassy legalization
- Birth certificates — for children, apostilled
- Medical records — vaccination history, prescriptions, and ongoing treatment records
- Insurance documents — proof of health insurance coverage
- Employment letter — or business registration if self-employed
Tip: Make color copies of everything and store digital scans in cloud storage (Google Drive or iCloud). Keep physical copies separate from originals — in case of theft, you will still have backup copies.
Finding Temporary Accommodation
Do not sign a long-term lease before you arrive. Spend your first 2-4 weeks in temporary accommodation while you explore neighborhoods and understand what you want.
Short-Term Options
- Serviced apartments — fully furnished with kitchen, cleaning, Wi-Fi. THB 15,000-40,000/month (~US$450-1,200). Great for the first month.
- Hotels with monthly rates — many budget hotels offer steep discounts for monthly stays. THB 8,000-20,000/month (~US$240-600).
- Airbnb / Agoda Homes — good for 1-2 week stays while apartment hunting. THB 600-2,000/night (~US$18-60).
- Hostels — if you are on a tight budget, hostels start at THB 200-400/night (~US$6-12) for a dorm bed.
Finding Long-Term Rentals
Once you have picked your preferred neighborhood, search for a long-term condo or apartment. Typical lease terms are 6 or 12 months with 2 months deposit plus 1 month advance rent.
- Facebook groups — search for "[City Name] Rentals" or "[City Name] Condos for Rent." These are the most active listings.
- Agents — many condos have on-site agents. Walk into a building you like and ask about vacancies. Agent fees are typically paid by the landlord.
- DDproperty.com — Thailand's largest property listing site
- Hipflat.com — another popular listing aggregator
- Walk the neighborhood — many buildings have "For Rent" signs not listed online
Important: Always inspect the unit in person before signing. Check water pressure, air conditioning, neighborhood noise levels (especially at night), and internet speed. Ask about utility costs — electricity in Thailand can be expensive at THB 6-8 per unit for condos (versus THB 4 for government rate).
Getting a Thai Phone Number
A Thai mobile number is essential — you need it for banking apps, food delivery, ride-hailing, and communicating with locals. Thailand has three major carriers, and all offer tourist and long-term SIM options.
The Three Major Carriers
| Carrier | Coverage | Best For | Tourist SIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIS | Best nationwide coverage, especially rural areas | Best overall network | THB 299 — 15GB, 8 days |
| DTAC (now merged with TRUE) | Strong in Bangkok and tourist areas | Budget-friendly plans | THB 299 — 15GB, 8 days |
| TRUE | Excellent in cities and malls (owns TRUE Wi-Fi hotspots) | City dwellers | THB 299 — 15GB, 8 days |
Where to buy: Airport arrival halls have counters for all three carriers. You can also buy SIMs at any 7-Eleven, but airport staff speak better English and handle passport registration on the spot.
What you need: Your passport. Thai law requires SIM card registration with a valid ID. The carrier staff will photocopy your passport and take a photo.
Long-term plans: Once settled, switch to a monthly postpaid plan for better rates. Unlimited data plans run THB 500-900/month (~US$15-27). AIS and TRUE both offer fiber internet bundles with mobile plans.
Opening a Bank Account
You will want a Thai bank account as soon as possible. It is needed for paying rent, utility bills, receiving salary, and using mobile payment systems like PromptPay and QR code payments that are ubiquitous in Thailand.
Requirements vary by bank, but generally you need:
- Passport (original)
- Valid visa (some banks require a Non-Immigrant visa; others accept tourist visas)
- Proof of address — a utility bill, rental agreement, or residence certificate from your embassy
- Thai phone number
- Work permit (for some account types)
- Minimum deposit — typically THB 500-1,000 (~US$15-30)
Best bank for new expats: Bangkok Bank is widely considered the most foreigner-friendly. Their Silom branch (head office) has an international customer service desk with English-speaking staff who are accustomed to helping expats. Some branches may turn you away — if that happens, try the head office or a branch in a tourist area.
For a detailed guide on banking, see our Banking in Thailand page.
TM30 Reporting Obligations
The TM30 is a notification that your landlord or hotel must file with Thai Immigration within 24 hours of a foreigner staying at their property. This is one of the most confusing parts of Thai bureaucracy for newcomers.
Who Files It?
The property owner or hotel is legally responsible for filing the TM30, not you. However, if your landlord does not file it, you may face problems when extending your visa or doing a 90-day report.
When Is It Required?
- When you first move into a new address
- Every time you re-enter Thailand (even if returning to the same address)
- When you change addresses
- Some immigration offices require re-filing after domestic travel outside your province
What Happens If It Is Not Filed?
If the TM30 is not filed and you need to do a visa extension or 90-day report, immigration may require it before processing your application. The landlord can face a fine of up to THB 10,000, and you may face a fine of THB 2,000 for not having a notification on record.
Practical advice: When signing a rental agreement, explicitly ask your landlord if they will handle TM30 reporting. Many landlords in popular expat areas are familiar with this. Hotels and serviced apartments handle it automatically.
Key Apps to Download
These apps will make your daily life in Thailand significantly easier. Download them before or right after arrival.
Essential Apps
- Grab — ride-hailing (like Uber), food delivery, and package delivery. The most-used app in Southeast Asia. Accepts cash and credit cards.
- LINE — Thailand's dominant messaging app. Everyone uses it — landlords, businesses, government services, delivery drivers. You absolutely need this.
- Google Maps — navigation and finding businesses. Works well in Thailand with accurate traffic data.
- Lazada — e-commerce (like Amazon). Huge product selection with fast delivery. Great for setting up your apartment.
- Shopee — another major e-commerce app, often has cheaper prices than Lazada
- Bolt — alternative ride-hailing app, sometimes cheaper than Grab
- FoodPanda — food delivery, particularly strong in some areas where Grab is less popular
Banking and Payment Apps
- Your Thai bank's app — K PLUS (Kasikorn), SCB Easy, Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking — all are excellent
- Wise — international money transfers with the best exchange rates
- TrueMoney Wallet — e-wallet for payments, top-ups, and bill payments (useful before you have a bank account)
Useful for Daily Life
- Google Translate — the camera translation feature is excellent for reading Thai menus and signs
- Agoda — hotel and travel booking, Thailand-based company with great local deals
- Robinhood — food delivery app by a Thai bank (SCB), no delivery fees
- 7-Eleven app (7-Eleven TH) — rewards program, delivery, bill payments
- Wongnai — Thai restaurant review app (like Yelp for Thailand)
Note: Most of these apps require a Thai phone number for registration. This is why getting a SIM card is your very first priority upon arrival.