There are many reasons why Thailand is top of the list for digital nomads and tourists alike; in 2018, more than 30 million people visited the Land of Smiles before the pandemic put a stop to travelling and if you have a plan to relocate to this tropical paradise, here is some important information.
Obtaining a long-term visa
The good news is, if you are aged 50 or over, you can apply for a retirement visa, which can be renewed annually. If you have yet to reach retirement age, there are a number of options; you could study the Thai language, Buddhism or take a course in Muay Thai. Start by applying for a tourist visa from the Thai Embassy in your home country, which is good for 60 days and you can extend for a further 30 days, then another 15 days. You can enlist the help of a visa agent once in Thailand and they can help you obtain a non-immigrant visa, which can be renewed within the country.
Medical insurance
Talk to one of the health insurance companies in Thailand and take out a comprehensive policy that offers you full protection. Medical treatment can be very expensive, as you would expect and Thailand has some of the best hospitals in Asia. There are quite a few expats posting on GoFundMe.com who are looking for donations to pay their medical bill, which should act as a warning. For the little it costs, you can have peace of mind, knowing that you are covered for any eventuality.
Is marijuana legal?
You may have seen the aaj ka news that Thailand has embraced medical marijuana; they have gone one step further, weed can be grown, bought and sold and even consumed, providing it is on private property. Crazy as it might sound, vaping is illegal in the Kingdom of Thailand, so if you vape, leave your pen at home!
Accommodation
Whether you are looking to buy or rent, there is no shortage of prime real estate in this land of plenty; you could rent a condo unit for a month, which would give you the time to explore the city of Bangkok, which is huge. Of course, you might prefer to rent a pool villa in Phuket, which is most people’s dream lifestyle, while there are many places where tourists have yet to discover and you can gain an insight into the Thai way of life. Here is how to book a hotel room online, in case it’s your first time.
Open a Thai bank account
This is the first thing you should do when you arrive and you can also apply for Internet banking, which allows you to pay bills and transfer funds. Some banks will only let a foreigner open a bank account if they have a work permit; there are no policies regarding this and if you keep trying, you will find a branch that is willing to give you banking services.
Please visit the website of the Tourist Authority of Thailand, where you will find a lot of useful information and check for the current entry requirements for Thailand.
