Moving to Thailand from the UK: a complete guide

Dreaming of moving to a vibrant country like Thailand? You’re certainly not alone, since over 40,000 British expats already live there.¹ In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Thailand from the UK, including the cost of living, whether anything has changed for Brits after Brexit and much more.

We’ll also point out a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders from the money services provider Wise. Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Thailand for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate.

Want to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.

Table of contents

Can you move to Thailand from the UK? Moving to Thailand from the UK after Brexit How to get a Thai visa?² How to move to Thailand from the UK?⁵ What’s the cheapest way to get to Thailand from the UK? Options for retiring in Thailand Retirement visas⁸ Pensions⁹ Living in Thailand - what you need to know Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Thailand?¹¹ Healthcare system¹² Opening a Thai bank account¹³ Finding a job in Thailand¹⁴ Renting or buying property in Thailand¹⁵ Checklist for moving to Thailand from the UK Save on your relocation costs to Thailand with Wise

Can you move to Thailand from the UK?

Yes, you can move to Thailand from the UK as long as you meet the criteria, have the right documents and follow all the rules. We’re going to take you through the steps and the available routes.

Moving to Thailand from the UK after Brexit

Since Thailand is not a European country, Brexit has no effect on anyone moving to Thailand from the UK.

How to get a Thai visa?²

There are four main types of visas that Thailand offers to foreigners: tourist, transit, Non-immigrant and SMART visa.

The Non-immigrant visa is made for foreigners who visit Thailand for purposes other than tourism. In other words, this is a long-term visa for those who want to stay in Thailand for a certain period of time.

There are ten types of the Non-immigrant visa. What differentiates them is either your profession or the purpose of your stay. Here’s a list:

• F category - for those who work with a government agency, embassy or consulate
• B category - for conducting business, working for a Thai company or as a teacher
• IM category - for investment purposes
• ED category - for studying in Thailand, taking a seminar, conference etc.
• M category - for journalists, reporters and film producers
• R category - for religious purposes, such as missionary work
• RS category - for those plan on conducting scientific research or teaching at a Thai research institute
• EX category - for experts or specialists in certain categories
• O category - for various reasons, such as medical treatment, attending a judicial process, working in a diplomat’s household, joining your Thai spouse
• O-A and O-X category - retirement visas, O-A is valid for a year and O-X for five years

You can also apply for the SMART visa. It’s made for investors, high-skilled workers or entrepreneurs who want to invest in certain industries in Thailand. Each subcategory has certain financial conditions, in terms of the amount of money you’re earning or investing.³

Another new visa type is Thailand’s Long-Term Resident visa (LTR), made for four categories of foreigners - Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners, Work-from-Thailand Professionals and Highly-Skilled Professionals. Although the eligibility criteria is pretty restrictive, the visa is valid for 10 years and you can renew it. This is a good option for digital nomads, as long as you meet the conditions.⁴

How to move to Thailand from the UK?⁵

The first step is visiting a Thai Embassy or Consulate and applying for your visa of choice. Make sure you contact them beforehand to find out exactly which documents you need to provide.

After 90 days on your Non-immigrant visa, you can apply for a one-year extension and a re-entry permit. Then, once you’ve spent three years in Thailand legally, you can apply for permanent residence. You can even apply for citizenship five years into your permanent residence.

What’s the cheapest way to get to Thailand from the UK?

Pretty much the only way to get to Thailand from the UK is by plane. At the moment, the cheapest month to fly is February, when you can get a one-way ticket for £208.

However, you can expect the average ticket prices to be higher. Since it’s not always possible to find a good deal, a more realistic price is between £300 and £400 for a one-way ticket.

📚 Read more: How to use the UK-issued Wise card abroad?

Options for retiring in Thailand

Thinking about spending your retirement in a tropical paradise? Whether you’re already approaching that age or just thinking ahead, Thailand can be a great option.

But how easy is it to retire in Thailand? Here are the things you should be aware of:

Retirement visas⁸

Thailand’s retirement visa is better known as the O category Non-immigrant visa. There are two subcategories of this visa - the O-A and O-X. You have to be at least 50 years old in order to apply for either one of them.

The O-A visa is only valid for a year. In order to apply, you need to have a monthly income of 65,000 THB or an 800,000 THB security deposit in a Thai bank.

The O-X visa is only available to citizens of certain countries, the UK included. It allows you to stay in Thailand for 10 years. The financial requirements for this visa category are either a 3,000,000 THB deposit in a Thai bank or an annual income of 1,200,000 THB.

Pensions⁹

If you manage to retire in Thailand, know that you can claim your UK state pension or new UK State Pension there. We recommend contacting the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.

Living in Thailand - what you need to know

Here are some basic facts for you to know about Thailand if you’re considering moving there:

• Currency - Thai Baht (THB)
• Main languages - Thai
• Population - 71,871,510¹⁰
• Number of British expats - around 41,000¹

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Thailand?¹¹

Ahead of moving to another country, it’s good to know what you can expect when it comes to living costs.

In general, the cost of living in Thailand is much lower than in the UK. On average, you’ll pay over 60% less for rent and around 30% less for groceries. Of course, prices depend on many things, such as the city you live in.

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in Thailand, compared with the UK:

• A three-course meal for two costs around £19 in Thailand, while it’s £60 in the UK
• A loaf of bread is around £1.03, compared to £1.21 in the UK
• A draught beer is around £1.5, compared to £4.5 back in the UK
• A monthly public transport pass is approximately £26, compared to £68 in the UK
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around £363, compared to £1,062 in the UK
• Utilities for a typical apartment are around £55 a month, compared to £250 in the UK

If you want to buy an apartment in Thailand, this is also much more affordable than in the UK. For instance, the price per square metre for a city centre apartment is over 45% lower compared to the UK.

Healthcare system¹²

Thailand is known for having very good, affordable healthcare. Citizens and working legal residents have access to the public healthcare sector.

Many expats have private health insurance as well, which is more expensive, but still relatively affordable. The quality of the staff and equipment in private Thai hospitals have made Thailand a popular medical tourist destination.

Opening a Thai bank account¹³

Opening a local Thai bank account should be one of the first steps in your new life abroad. It’s essential for paying rent and utility bills, as well as everyday expenses and withdrawals as cash is widely used in Thailand. Also, managing your money will be easier.

Most banks in Thailand won’t let you open an account online. Instead, it’s necessary to go in person and bring certain documents, such as your visa and passport. Some banks will ask for other things, such as proof of Thai residency or proof of property ownership, but you should check with your bank of choice directly.

You should also ask whether you can keep your UK bank account while living in Thailand.

And, as an alternative to a bank account, check out the Wise account. You can send, receive, and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and Thai baht. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

Learn more about the Wise account 💰

Finding a job in Thailand¹⁴

Many expats already have a job lined up before arriving in Thailand, since that can help them get a visa. Both the Non-immigrant and SMART visa are job-dependent. However, some small companies don’t want to bother with handling documentation and helping expats apply, but don’t let that discourage you.

There are many job search portals and recruitment agencies which can help you find employment in Thailand. For example, JobsDB and JobThai are popular websites, while Hays and RECRUITdee are recruitment firms. If you’re the entrepreneur type, you could consider starting a business in Thailand.

Renting or buying property in Thailand¹⁵

Finding a place to live is one of the most important things when starting a life in a new country. Whether you’re renting or buying property in Thailand, deciding on a suitable apartment will most likely require patience.

Even when it comes to renting, you should consider hiring a real estate agent. This way, an expert can help you find just what you’re looking for. If you’d like to get an idea of the apartment offer in Thailand, these are some popular property websites:

• Dot Property
• Thailand-Property.com
• DD Property
• Hipflat
• Rightmove Thailand

If you’re interested in buying, know that foreigners aren’t allowed to buy land in Thailand. The only way to go around this is setting up a private limited company with over 50% Thai ownership. However, you can buy apartments and condominiums without complications.

📚 Read more: How to transfer large amounts of money from the UK?

Checklist for moving to Thailand from the UK

Let’s go through the most important steps of moving to Thailand:

• Go through available visa options, gather your documents and apply for your visa
• Find a place to live - this may also require you to travel to Thailand to view properties
• Do some research and get quotes for shipping your belongings to Thailand
• Look into banks in Thailand, find some that suit you and see what documents you need to apply
• Look into taking out a private health insurance policy
• Tell HMRC that you’re leaving the UK
• Book your flight

Save on your relocation costs to Thailand with Wise

Before moving to a new country, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Thailand for low, transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

You can also use Wise once you arrive in your new home. For starters, you can spend in THB from the moment you step off the plane using your contactless Wise card. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

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Sources used:

1. William Russel - Cost of living in Thailand
2. Visa Guide - Thailand Non-immigrant visa
3. Visa Guide - Thailand SMART visa
4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand - LTR visa
5. Visa Guide - Moving to Thailand
6. Skyscanner - London to Thailand
7. Skyscanner - Flights from London to Bangkok
8. Visa Guide - Retirement visa
9. Gov.uk - Living in Thailand
10. Worldometers - Thailand population
11. Numbeo - Cost of living in the UK compared to Thailand
12. Allianz Care - Healthcare in Thailand
13. Wise - How to open a bank account in Thailand
14. Expatica - Finding jobs in Thailand
15. Wise - Buying property in Thailand

Sources last checked on date: 29-Apr-2024