Settling in Thailand — visa-adjacent essentials
Practical, dated guides on the parts of moving to Thailand that sit right alongside the visa itself — bank accounts, proof of funds, address reporting, insurance and the order to do everything in. They support the visa journey; for broader lifestyle and community content, see our partner ExpatsThai.
Moving-to-Thailand checklist, tied to the visa journey
Moving to Thailand goes smoothest when you treat it as a sequence locked to your visa: sort documents and visa before you fly, arrive, register your address (TM.30), open a bank account, season any required funds, then keep up 90-day reporting.
Read guideProof of funds for Thai visas
Almost every long-stay Thai visa makes you prove money — but the amount, where it must sit, and how long it must be "seasoned" differ by visa. Get the bank-letter format and the seasoning months right; those are the commonest rejection causes.
Read guideHow a foreigner opens a Thai bank account
Most major Thai banks now want a long-stay visa, a proof of Thai address and a Thai mobile number before they will open an account — Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn are the most reliable. Branch discretion is the biggest variable.
Read guideStaying compliant: TM.30 and 90-day reporting
Two separate reporting duties trip up newcomers. TM.30 is an address notification due within 24 hours of arriving at an address and after every re-entry; the 90-day report is a periodic "I am still here" filing. They are easy to confuse — and one does not replace the other.
Read guideHealth insurance for Thai visas
Health insurance is mandatory for some Thai long-stay visas (O-A, O-X and LTR) and optional but sensible for others. The exact figure for the O-A is genuinely contested — embassies and Immigration offices differ — so confirm with the authority you must satisfy before you buy.
Read guideMore on day-to-day life in Thailand — visit ExpatsThai