Where Do Most Foreigners Live in Thailand? - Moving Companies From Europe

What You Can Bring to Thailand:

• Personal belongings and household goods (if you've owned them 6+ months)
• One car or motorbike (but import duties are very high - usually not worth it)
• Reasonable amount of personal items

What You Cannot Bring:

• Weapons or ammunition
• Illegal drugs
• Vaping devices (illegal in Thailand!)
• Pornographic materials
• Counterfeit goods

Import Duties:

If you have a work permit or retirement visa, you usually don't pay duties on used household goods. Professional removal companies help with all the paperwork.

Our Advice: Don't bring too much. It's cheaper to buy new furniture in Thailand than ship from UK. Focus on bringing personal items, photos, and things with sentimental value.

Public vs Private Healthcare:

• Public hospitals: Very cheap but basic. Long waits. Limited English spoken.
• Private hospitals: Excellent quality, modern, English-speaking doctors. Popular with expats.

Costs:

• Doctor visit: £15-£30
• Dental cleaning: £20-£40
• Major surgery: £3,000-£8,000 (still much cheaper than UK private)

Health Insurance:

British expats should get international health insurance. Costs £80-£200/month depending on age and coverage. Many retirees self-insure and pay as they go.

Note: Your UK NHS coverage doesn't work in Thailand. You'll need private insurance or pay yourself.

Opening a Thai Bank Account:

You'll need a long-stay visa (tourist visa usually not enough). Required documents:

• Passport
• Thai visa
• Proof of address (rental contract or utility bill)
• Sometimes a letter from your embassy

Best Banks for Expats:

• Bangkok Bank (largest, most branches)
• Kasikorn Bank (good English service)
• SCB (Siam Commercial Bank)

Transferring Money from UK:

Don't use your UK bank - fees are terrible! Use services like Wise, Western Union, or specialist transfer companies. You'll save hundreds of pounds.

Pensions: Most British pension companies can pay into your Thai bank account. Contact your pension provider to set this up.

Condos: Yes! Foreigners can own condos in their own name (up to 49% of a building can be foreign-owned).

Houses/Land: No. Foreigners cannot own land in Thailand. However, you can:

• Lease land for 30 years (renewable)
• Own the house structure (but not the land it sits on)
• Put property in a Thai spouse's name (but you have no legal ownership)

Many British expats buy condos or do long-term leases on houses.

Yes, Thailand is generally very safe. Violent crime against foreigners is rare. However:

• Petty theft: Watch your belongings in tourist areas
• Scams: Be careful with taxi drivers, gem shops, and people offering "amazing deals"
• Road safety: Traffic accidents are common - drive carefully
• Drinking: Be sensible - don't get too drunk in public

Most British expats feel safer in Thailand than they did in the UK!

Not necessarily, but learning basic Thai will make your life much easier and more enjoyable.

In expat areas: Many Thai people speak some English, especially in Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya. You can get by with English only.

In other areas: Less English spoken. You'll need basic Thai for daily life.

Our advice: Learn basic Thai phrases. Thai people really appreciate the effort and will treat you much better!

Popular phrases: "Sawasdee" (hello), "Khop khun" (thank you), "Mai pen rai" (no worries)

By sea (most common):

• 8-12 weeks total (port to port)
• Add 2-3 weeks for packing, customs clearance, and final delivery
• Total time: 10-15 weeks from UK to your Thai home

By air (expensive but fast):

• 1-2 weeks total
• Costs 3-5 times more than sea freight
• Only worth it for urgent items or small amounts

Our advice: Send most things by sea. Bring essentials in your luggage. Don't ship furniture - buy new in Thailand.