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🇹🇭 Moving to Thailand: what you actually need to know
Thailand has long been a base for remote workers and location-independent professionals, primarily because of its low cost of living and high quality of day-to-day life. The Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, launched in 2022, is Thailand's first serious attempt at a proper digital nomad and remote worker visa. It is well-designed but has income requirements that exclude many early-career nomads. The education visa route, while widely used, is a legal grey area for people working remotely.
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Visa routes
Your main options for moving to Thailand
LTR: Long-Term Resident Visa
10-year visa (renewable) for four categories: wealthy global citizens (assets over $1M), wealthy pensioners (income over $40k/year, age 50+), work-from-Thailand professionals (income over $80k/year, employed by company outside Thailand), and highly skilled professionals. Processing: 20 business days through the BOI.
SMART S Visa (Startup)
Part of the Thailand SMART Visa program for startups endorsed by a Thai government agency partner. Allows 4-year stay, work permit exemption for the visa holder. Requires a business registered in Thailand.
Retirement Visa (Non-Immigrant O-A)
For people aged 50+. Requires THB 800,000 in a Thai bank account (approximately €21,000) or monthly income of THB 65,000 (approximately €1,700). Annual renewal.
Tourist Visa + Education Visa
Many remote workers enter on tourist visas (single-entry 30 days, or 60-day tourist visa) and extend or do border runs. Thai language or muay thai schools offer education visas (Non-B or ED) as a semi-legal long-stay mechanism: permitted but not the intent of the visa.
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Cost of living
What it actually costs to live in Thailand
Bangkok
THB 45,000–90,000/month (€1,200–2,400)
Wide range depending on neighbourhood and lifestyle. Serviced apartments in central areas: THB 20,000–45,000/month. Street food meals: THB 50–100. International restaurant meal: THB 300–700.
Chiang Mai
THB 25,000–55,000/month (€660–1,450)
Popular remote work base. Excellent internet infrastructure, large expat community, significantly lower rent than Bangkok. Studio or 1-bed in good areas: THB 8,000–18,000.
Phuket, Koh Samui
THB 35,000–75,000/month (€920–2,000)
Higher in tourist-facing areas. The beach lifestyle premium is real: everything from rent to restaurant meals costs more than Chiang Mai.
Key steps
What to do and in what order
1
File TM30 (address registration)
Your landlord is legally required to report you to immigration within 24 hours of your arrival at a property. In practice, many long-stay residents do it themselves at the local immigration office. Required for visa extensions.
2
Submit 90-day reports
Non-immigrant visa holders staying continuously in Thailand must report to immigration every 90 days. Can be done online at imm.immigration.go.th or in person. Missing a report results in a THB 2,000 fine.
3
Open a Thai bank account
Requires a non-immigrant visa (not tourist visa), passport, and proof of address. Kasikorn Bank (KBank) and Bangkok Bank are the most accessible for foreigners. Some branches require you to have been in Thailand at least 3 months.
4
Get a work permit (if employed locally)
If you are doing any work for a Thai entity, a work permit is required. The employer applies on your behalf. Remote workers for foreign companies legally do not require a work permit under the LTR visa program.
5
Health insurance
Thai government hospitals are affordable but quality varies. International hospitals (Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej) are excellent by global standards. International health insurance covering Thailand runs €80–250/month depending on age and coverage level.
Common mistake
The most common mistake is treating the tourist visa as a long-term solution and being surprised when Thai immigration tightens border run policies or questions your intent at re-entry. If you plan to stay more than 6 months per year, apply for an LTR or retirement visa through a legitimate channel.
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