Moving to Thailand is exciting, but your first 30 days can feel chaotic if you don’t prioritize the right setup tasks. The goal is simple: get your immigration/admin basics correct, stabilize your connectivity and transportation, and set up banking and healthcare so the rest of your life becomes easy.
This guide is designed as a practical checklist you can follow week-by-week. It’s general information (not legal advice). Always verify rules and requirements using official sources, because policies and document formats can change.
Day 0–3: Don’t Miss These Two “Entry Admin” Tasks
1) TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card). Thailand requires non-Thai nationals to submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before entry (commonly within 3 days prior to arrival). Use the official Immigration Bureau system and manual.
Official TDAC: https://tdac.immigration.go.th/
Official TDAC manual (English): https://tdac.immigration.go.th/manual/en/index.html
2) Thai e-Visa (if you need a visa). Many long-stay visas are processed through Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Visa system. Your embassy/consulate page remains the “source of truth” for document format and jurisdiction rules, but the application platform is centralized.
Official Thai e-Visa: https://www.thaievisa.go.th/
If you want a visual walkthrough, the MFA e-Visa user manual (PDF) is also official and explains step-by-step uploads and status checks.
Official e-Visa manual (PDF): https://www.thaievisa.go.th/static/English-Manual.pdf
Week 1: Connectivity + Transportation (You’ll Use These Every Day)
SIM/eSIM first. If you’re arriving in Bangkok, many people buy a tourist plan at the airport or official shops. Start with an official telecom plan page so you don’t get overcharged by random resellers.
Official AIS Tourist Plan: https://www.ais.th/en/consumers/package/international/tourist-plan
Where to buy AIS (official list): https://www.ais.th/en/consumers/package/international/tourist-plan/where-to-buy
Get your transit cards early (Bangkok). If you’ll use BTS/MRT often, setting up the right card saves time and reduces daily friction.
BTS Rabbit Card “How to purchase” (official): https://www.bts.co.th/eng/tickets/ticket-rabbit-issuing.html
MRTA Ticket Information (official): https://www.mrta.co.th/en/ticket-information
Bangkok MRT operator (BEM) ticket types (official): https://metro.bemplc.co.th/Ticket-Type?lang=en
Week 1–2: Housing Setup (And Why Address Reporting Matters)
Choose housing based on your visa timeline. If you’re still stabilizing your status (DTV/LTR/Retirement workflows), start with flexible monthly stays before locking into a long lease. Keep a digital folder for your lease/booking confirmations and landlord contact info.
Address notification (TM30) is real. In practice, landlords/hotels are typically responsible for reporting a foreigner’s stay to Immigration (often referred to as TM30). If you change addresses, it can become relevant for later immigration tasks. When in doubt, ask your landlord/property manager directly whether they submitted the report.
Immigration Bureau (official): https://www.immigration.go.th/
TM30 registration portal (official): https://tm30.immigration.go.th/Foreigner/th/RegisterTH.html
Week 2: Banking Setup (High-Value Ads: Banking, FX, Transfers)
If you’re building a stable life in Thailand, banking becomes a core system: salary/clients, rent, utilities, subscriptions, and day-to-day payments. The key point is that bank requirements for foreigners can vary by branch and by your residence status, so start with official bank guidance and be prepared to show clean supporting documents.
Bangkok Bank “Foreign Customers” (official): https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Foreign-Customers
If you’re an LTR holder, BOI even publishes a dedicated bank-account-opening guidance page (it shows the style of documentation that can be required for certain statuses).
BOI LTR guidance – Opening bank account: https://ltr.boi.go.th/page/opening-bank-account-in-thailand.html
Practical banking checklist: carry your passport, visa/entry stamp details, proof of address (lease/booking), and (when applicable) work/residence documents that match your visa type. Ask the bank to explain exactly what they need for your profile.
Week 2–3: Immigration “Hygiene” (90-Day Reporting for Long Stays)
If you stay in Thailand long-term, you may need to do 90-day reporting (often referred to as TM47). The important part is not the rumor—use the official Immigration Bureau online service pages.
TM47 online system (official): https://tm47.immigration.go.th/
Immigration Bureau main site (official): https://www.immigration.go.th/
Best practice: keep a calendar reminder for your reporting window, and save confirmation screenshots/PDFs in your “Thailand admin” folder.
Week 3: Healthcare & Insurance (High-Value Ads: Insurance, Clinics, Hospitals)
Even if you’re healthy, you should set up a plan for “what happens if something goes wrong.” This is especially true for retirees and long-stay residents, where some visa routes explicitly require health insurance documentation. Always follow the requirements published by your embassy/consulate for your visa category.
If your retirement route requires Thai long-stay insurance, some official embassy pages reference the TGIA long-stay insurance portal for accepted insurers/products.
TGIA long-stay insurance portal (official): https://longstay.tgia.org/
Week 4: “Make Life Easy” Systems (The Stuff That Reduces Daily Stress)
1) One folder for everything. Keep digital copies of passport biodata page, visa/entry stamps, TDAC confirmation, housing proof, bank documents, and insurance documents. When you need something, you’ll need it fast.
2) One admin day per month. Immigration tasks, banking updates, rent receipts, and travel planning are easier if you batch them.
3) Track your days. If you’re a remote worker, your day count can matter for tax residency discussions. Don’t guess—track it from day one.
The “First 30 Days” Checklist (Copy/Paste)
- Submit TDAC (and save confirmation): TDAC
- Create/confirm e-Visa account (if applicable): Thai e-Visa
- Buy SIM/eSIM from official telecom source: AIS Tourist Plan
- Get BTS/MRT cards (Bangkok): Rabbit Card / MRTA Tickets
- Confirm housing + ask landlord about address reporting (TM30): Immigration
- Start bank-account process using official guidance: Bangkok Bank
- If long-stay: understand 90-day reporting (TM47): TM47
- Set up insurance/healthcare plan (especially retirement routes): TGIA Longstay
Internal Links (Recommended for You)
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- Start here: Thailand Long-Term Visas (2026) Hub