Relocating to Thailand
Understand the country before you commit to the move.
45% verifiedThailand is a Southeast Asian constitutional monarchy on the Indochinese peninsula, a popular retirement and long-stay destination with no EU/Schengen membership of its own.
Ask about moving to Thailand
Answered only from Atlas's verified Thailand guides — if it's not covered yet, we'll say so rather than guess.
Life in Thailand
What will life actually be like?
Where should I live?
Living: Major Cities
What will daily life cost?
Living: Cost of Living
What is healthcare like?
Healthcare: Average Costs
What about schools?
Living: Education
How will I bank?
Banking: Best Banks
How will I get around?
Living: Transportation
Cities
Where should I live?
Thailand offers distinct relocation destinations for different lifestyles: Bangkok is the capital and by far the largest expat hub, with the best job market, healthcare, international schools, and public transit (BTS/MRT), but also the highest cost of living and traffic congestion. Chiang Mai is the leading destination for digital nomads and retirees seeking a lower cost of living, a large long-term expat community, and a slower pace, though air quality (seasonal burning-season smog, roughly Feb-April) is a known drawback. Phuket and Pattaya are the leading coastal/beach destinations, popular with retirees and remote workers wanting an island or seaside lifestyle, with Phuket generally more upscale and international, Pattaya more budget-oriented with a larger nightlife/tourism footprint. Hua Hin is a quieter, more family- and retiree-oriented beach town closer to Bangkok.
Read the cities guide →Residency
Find your residency route
Your best route depends on how you plan to live, work and invest. These are the guides Atlas currently holds for Thailand.
How do you plan to support yourself in Thailand?
Residency: Citizenship
Thai citizenship may be acquired through naturalisation by eligible foreign nationals who satisfy the residence, legal and nationality requirements establish…
Residency: Digital Nomad Visa
Thailand has introduced long-stay options intended to attract remote workers and digital professionals through specific visa programmes, including the Destin…
Residency: Permanent Residency
Thailand provides a pathway to permanent residence for eligible foreign nationals who satisfy the legal residence, immigration and other statutory requiremen…
Residency: Processing Times
Processing times for Thai visas vary depending on the visa category, the diplomatic mission handling the application and whether additional verification is r…
Residency: Required Documents
The documentation required for Thai visas and residence permits depends on the visa category, the purpose of stay and the applicant's individual circumstance…
Residency: Retirement Visa
Thailand offers retirement visa options for eligible foreign nationals who meet the applicable age, financial and immigration requirements. These residence p…
Residency: Visa Overview
Thailand offers a range of visa categories for foreign nationals seeking to visit, work, study, retire or establish long-term residence in the country. Visa …
Residency: Work Visa
Thailand provides employment-based visa pathways for foreign nationals who have secured employment with a Thai employer or an eligible organization. Most for…
Property
A home is a relocation decision
Taxes
Understand the cost of your move
Banking
Banking
Healthcare
Healthcare
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Business
Business
Business: Accounting
Verified guideBusiness: Annual Compliance
Verified guideBusiness: Company Formation
Verified guideBusiness: Hiring Employees
Verified guideBusiness: Limited Company
Verified guideBusiness: Payroll
Verified guideBusiness: Social Security
Verified guideBusiness: Sole Proprietorship
Verified guideFrom the Journal
Latest on Thailand
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Siam Amazing Park, a historical attraction in Thailand, has been forced to close due to flooding,…Ready to turn this into a plan?
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