Living in Thailand
Information for British people moving to and living in Thailand, including residency, healthcare and driving.
This guide sets out essential information for British people moving to or living in Thailand. Read about how the British Embassy Bangkok can help.
This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Thai authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Support for British nationals abroad sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.
Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.
To stay up to date: follow the British Embassy Bangkok on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Before you go
See our travel advice for Thailand for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.
See moving or retiring abroad.
Visas and residency
Check entry requirements for Thailand in our travel advice.
You risk a heavy fine, possible lengthy detention (limited access to health care facilities and space) and deportation if you overstay your visa. Find more information about visa overstay and deportation.
Passports and travel
Complete the emergency contacts page at the back of your passport. This will help the embassy and local authorities know who to contact in case of an emergency.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Thailand.
Check the Thailand travel advice for passport validity requirements.
You can apply for a new UK passport while you are in Thailand. For passport advice line, contact +44 (0)300 222 0000 or visit https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line.
Healthcare in Thailand
Read our Thailand healthcare and medical services guidance. General information about healthcare in Thailand is also in our travel advice for Thailand.
The NHS has information for people moving abroad.
You should buy comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you enter the country. Most Thai insurance companies will only provide health and medical cover for people up to the age of 70.
If you are resident in Thailand, you should ensure that you have taken out an appropriate health insurance policy. If you are working in Thailand, check with your employer if health insurance is part of your employment package. You can visit the official website of Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) for more information on insurance requirements according to your visa type.
You should also make sure you are covered by health insurance for UK treatment, or you will be charged by the NHS for any care you receive in the UK.
Working in Thailand
If you are planning to move to Thailand and work, you may need a visa. Read the Thai government’s guidance on working in Thailand as a foreign national and how to get a visa.
Be aware of job offers that appear overly extravagant or ‘too good to be true’. There is the possibility that these turn out to be scams, either in Thailand or the wider Southeast Asia region. There have been incidents where people have had their passport confiscated by scammers, have been held in poor living conditions, and have been coerced into undertaking wider online scamming activity.
You should make arrangements through your employer or volunteer organisation and ask your nearest Royal Thai embassy for advice and information.
Your volunteering organisation must be legally registered with the Thai Ministry of Commerce. You will need a recommendation letter from the volunteer organisation for your visa application and the work permit.
You should get your UK educational certificates legalised before you leave the UK.
You can apply for a Thai police clearance certificate, if you have previously lived or worked in Thailand.
You can apply for a police certificate, if you have been asked to provide your UK police records.
Studying in Thailand
If you plan to study in Thailand, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.
Contact the relevant higher education provider in Thailand to check what fees you have to pay.
Retiring in Thailand
There are many things to consider if you are planning to retire abroad.
Guidance on retiring abroad is available from Money Helper, Age UK and GOV.UK.
Read the Thai government’s guidance on the types of long stay and retirement visas that are available and how to get a visa.
Get appropriate health insurance.
The embassy provides a list of care homes and how to access mental health support in our healthcare and medical services in Thailand guidance.
Read Age UK guidance about returning to the UK (PDF, 488 KB) if you moved aboard. See more general information on returning to the UK after living abroad.
Pensions
If you retire in Thailand, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.
Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.
Armed Forces pensions are not paid automatically. You could be eligible for a pension if you are over 59 years of age and served in the armed forces for more than 2 years. Contact the Veterans’ Gateway for more information.
If you get a life certificate from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not. The British embassy cannot assist you. Read further information about who can sign your form.
Wills and Lasting Power of Attorney
The legal requirements and recognition of a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney differ in Thailand compared to the UK.
The British embassy understands a UK Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) may not be officially recognised in Thailand. However, a Thai issued LPA can be recognised in the UK if an application is made to the UK court of protection, therefore allowing decisions to be made about UK based assets.
A Will is unlikely to be recognised in Thailand unless the executor has been formally approved by a Thai court.
Given the above, seek legal advice to check where your documents will be recognised. The embassy has a list of English speaking lawyers in Thailand.
How to make, register or end a UK lasting power of attorney.
Tax
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Thailand so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Thailand. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Thailand.
Read guidance on:
- tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
- tax on your UK income if you live abroad
- tax if you get a pension and live abroad
- paying National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances
See information about taxes in Thailand from the Thai Revenue Department.
Benefits
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you are abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Money and banking
Most foreign nationals can open a bank account in Thailand with their passport and a proof of address.
Follow the advice of the local bank to find out what type of account you can hold given your current visa status and what documents they accept for proof of residence. This could be your lease agreement, a letter from your employer, your work permit or a certificate of residence from an Immigration Office.
Some banks in Thailand may limit the type of account you can open if you have a tourist or other short term visa. You may have to visit several banks or bank branches before being successful.
Accommodation and buying property
Generally foreign nationals are not allowed to own land in Thailand. You should contact a lawyer if you are considering buying property or land.
Driving in Thailand
Read the guidance on what actions you must do to drive legally in Thailand.
Read general guidance on driving abroad.
If you are asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact UK issuing office (e.g. the DVLA).
If you wish to take your vehicle with you, see guidance on taking vehicles out of the UK.
How to get a driving licence in Thailand..
You should be extremely careful when deciding to drive any kind of vehicle in Thailand. If you are involved in an accident, you can contact:
- 191 for Police Emergency Assistance
- 1155 for Tourist Police
If you require urgent medical attention, you or others can contact:
- 1669 for Emergency Medicine Service
- 1554 for Surgico Medical Ambulance and Rescue Team
Road travel
See guidance for travelling by road in Thailand.
Roads in Thailand can be excellent but there are also a lot of accidents. You should be extremely careful when deciding to drive any kind of vehicle in Thailand. To drive a car or ride a motorcycle in Thailand:
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you must have the correct licence. You can apply for an International Driving Permit if you already hold a UK driving licence, or you can apply for a temporary Thai driving licence
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you must make sure you have adequate and appropriate insurance for the category of vehicle you are using
Note that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and you risk being detained, fined or banned from driving.
If you do not follow the rules above it may invalidate your travel insurance if you have an accident or injury.
Riding a motorcycle
A high number of road traffic accidents involve motorcycles. The World Health Organisation (WHO) rates Thailand as one of the world’s deadliest country for fatalities on motorcycles, citing an average of 5,500 related deaths annually. A number of British people have been killed or seriously injured in accidents. Exercise extreme caution if you hire a motorcycle and always wear a helmet - it is illegal not to.
Hiring a vehicle
If you decide to hire a vehicle, do not hand over your passport as a guarantee (it is a legal requirement to carry identification with you at all times). You should offer an alternative proof of ID such as a photocopy. Make sure you hire from a reliable rental shop, that you are covered by your travel insurance, and check the small print of the lease agreement. Motorcycles or scooters for hire in beach resorts are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road.
Quad bikes
Riding quad bikes can be dangerous. It is also illegal to drive one on the road in Thailand, even though they are available to hire on the roadside.
Coach travel
There have been a number of serious accidents involving overnight coach travel. If you are in any doubt about the safety of your transport provider or are involved in an incident, ensure you record the vehicle registration information, date, time, and location of incidents and contact the Department of Land Transport on 1584.
Voting
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership
Births
If your child is born in Thailand you should register the birth with the local authorities. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate.
If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.
Deaths
See what to do after someone dies.
If someone dies in Thailand read our guidance on:
- what to do after a British person dies in Thailand
- English-speaking funeral directors in Thailand
- bereavement information – Thailand: murder, manslaughter and suspicious deaths
Marriage and civil partnership
Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
Pets
See travelling with pets.
Emergencies
Dial 191 for the police, 1669 for ambulance or fire brigade, or dial 1155 for tourist police.
Dial 191 to report a missing child.
If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Thailand, read the guidance on what to do and where to get support in cases of rape and sexual assault. See also https://www.gov.uk/guidance/victim-of-rape-and-sexual-assault-abroad.
If you are the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Bangkok. See the list of English speaking lawyers and translators in Thailand.
Read the guidance on international parental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this.
Returning to the UK
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.
Disclaimer
This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Thai authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Last updated 26 October 2023 + show all updates
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Added a link in the 'Healthcare in Thailand section' to more detailed guidance on Healthcare and medical services in Thailand.
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Information on armed forces pensions added to retiring in Thailand section .
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Added information to Money and banking section, information on opening a bank account
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New section added - 'Retiring in Thailand'
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Annual review.
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Added information on opening a bank account in Thailand.
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Edited Healthcare section under 'Proof of vaccination' - added details on how to obtain a 13 digit number for use with the Mor Prom app.
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Updated Coronavirus section: added link referencing Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health list of private and government-managed COVID-19 testing facilities.
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Healthcare section updated with information about covid-19 testing, vaccinations and proof of vaccinations in Thailand.
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Information about visa overstay and deportation guide created
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Update to Driving In Thailand
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Information relating to COVID vaccinations added
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Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
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First published.