Your First 30 Days in Thailand

The first month abroad can feel like a lot of admin landing at once. It's much easier if you do things in the right order. Here's the sequence I'd follow, with links to the deeper guides for each bit.

Before you fly

• Sort your visa. The visa guide covers your options.
• Fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online, it's free and required within about 72 hours of arrival, at tdac.immigration.go.th.
• Book your first few nights somewhere central in the area you're aiming for. Don't lock into a long lease from abroad.
• Get some decent travel insurance before you fly. It covers you for the early stage while you settle in, and once you're staying longer you can switch to local cover. I go into the long-term options in the health insurance guide.
• If you want to ride a scooter, make sure your International Driving Permit has the motorcycle endorsement (see the getting around guide). And read the small print on your travel insurance, a lot of insurers won't pay out on a motorbike accident unless you hold the right scooter or motorbike licence.

Week one: get connected and grounded

• Grab a SIM at the airport or a 7-Eleven. The popular networks here are AIS and True, and the SIM and internet guide has the details.
• Want to be sorted before you even land? Get an eSIM. They're more flexible, you don't physically swap anything, you just turn them on or off and top up whenever. You sometimes get a slightly better deal with a local physical SIM once you're here, but for arrival day an eSIM is the easy option.
• Live in your chosen area for a few days before committing. Walk it, do the gym-and-supermarket test.
• Start viewing monthly rentals, not nightly ones. Long-term rates are a fraction of holiday prices.
• Get health insurance sorted if you haven't already. The insurance guide explains why it matters.

Weeks two to four: settle in

• Sign a lease once you're sure of the area. The where to live guide breaks down the options.
• Rent a scooter monthly (3,000 to 5,000 THB) and ride legally, helmet on, correct licence. If you're staying a while, look at getting your Thai driving licence, it's more straightforward than people expect.
• Open a bank account if your visa allows it, the banking guide explains who can.
• Find your people early. A gym, a run club, a coworking spot, this is what makes or breaks the move.

Don't rush it

You don't need everything sorted in week one. Get connected, get a base, and let the rest come together. The people who settle best treat the first month as setup, not a sprint, and lean on the local community to fill in the gaps.