Moving to Thailand from Australia: The Complete 2025 Checklist

VISA Choose your visa category first — everything else flows from this: [ ] Retirement visa (Non-OA): if 50+ and meeting the financial requirements. Apply at Thai Consulate in Sydney or Melbourne. [ ] DTV (Destination Thailand Visa): if working remotely for an overseas employer or client, freelancing, or running an online business. Best option for working-age Australians. [ ] Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR): if high net worth retiree, remote professional, or skilled professional invited by a Thai company. Requires BOI application. [ ] Non-B (employment): if taking up employment with a Thai company. Applied for after receiving a job offer. [ ] Tourist visa / SETV: if visiting first to test before committing.

See our full visa guide for Australians for a side-by-side comparison of all long-stay options.

[ ] Open a Thai bank account as soon as possible after arrival — you cannot open one from Australia in most cases. Target KBank or Bangkok Bank. [ ] If applying for a retirement visa extension: ensure 800,000 THB equivalent is available to transfer to a Thai account. [ ] If applying for a DTV or Non-OA: prepare 3 months of Australian bank statements showing balances equivalent to 500,000 THB (DTV) or required funds. [ ] Set up Wise or Revolut for international transfers to minimise exchange rate fees. [ ] Notify your Australian bank of international use to prevent cards being blocked. [ ] Confirm your Australian bank allows ATM withdrawals internationally (all Big 4 do, with fees — check fee structure).

[ ] Contact your super fund to update your contact details and address. [ ] If you have an SMSF: consult an SMSF specialist about trustee structure before leaving — living overseas may create a compliance risk if you are the sole trustee. [ ] Confirm your fund can pay to an international bank account if you are in pension phase. [ ] Check beneficiary nominations are current. Do NOT attempt to access preserved super simply because you are moving overseas — the conditions of release do not change.

[ ] Speak to an Australian accountant about your Australian tax residency status. Moving abroad does not automatically make you a non-tax-resident — it depends on your circumstances, the nature of your Australian ties, and your intentions. [ ] If you expect to be a Thai tax resident (183+ days/year), understand the 2024 Thai overseas income remittance rule and the Australia-Thailand DTA before making large fund transfers. [ ] If you own Australian property: understand the CGT main residence exemption position for non-residents. The rules changed in 2020 — non-residents may not be able to access the full CGT exemption.

[ ] Medicare does not cover medical care in Thailand. Arrange private health insurance before you leave. [ ] If moving permanently, you can suspend (not cancel) Medicare. Contact Services Australia. [ ] If your visa requires health insurance (Non-OA, DTV): purchase from an OIC-approved insurer or internationally-recognised policy before applying for the visa.

MEDICARE LEVY SURCHARGE: if you are no longer an Australian tax resident, you do not pay the Medicare Levy or Levy Surcharge. If you remain an Australian tax resident while living in Thailand, the levy may still apply — confirm with your accountant.

[ ] Australian driver's licences are valid in Thailand for short stays but not as a permanent solution. [ ] The International Driving Permit (IDP) from the AAA or NRMA extends Australian licence validity internationally — get one before leaving (valid 1 year, issued same day). [ ] A Thai driver's licence can be obtained after arrival using your Australian licence + IDP — this is straightforward and recommended for long-term residents.

PHONE [ ] Australian plans: some Australian providers (Optus, Vodafone) offer international roaming plans — useful for the first month but expensive long-term. [ ] Better option: port your Australian number to a SIM-only plan (e.g. Optus $15/month SIM-only) to keep your number, then buy a Thai SIM (AIS, DTAC, TrueMove) for local calls and data. [ ] Thai SIMs: available at the airport, 7-Eleven, and carrier stores. Tourist SIMs give 30 days + data; ask for a permanent SIM with ID registration if staying longer.

[ ] Air freight (fast, expensive): for electronics and essentials — up to 30kg, 3–7 days door to door. [ ] Sea freight (slow, affordable): for household goods — 4–8 weeks from Australian port. Use a licensed customs broker; Thai customs charges apply on items over THB 10,000. [ ] Sell and buy: Thailand's furniture and electronics markets are excellent and affordable — often cheaper to sell in Australia and rebuy in Thailand than to ship. [ ] Import duties: cars cannot be privately imported to Thailand without significant duty costs — plan to use local car rental or purchase Thai-registered vehicles.

[ ] Open Thai bank account at KBank or Bangkok Bank (bring passport, visa, and proof of address — your lease agreement or TM30 form). [ ] Confirm your landlord has filed TM30 within 24 hours of your arrival. Check at imm.immigration.go.th. [ ] Buy Thai SIM. [ ] Register with the Australian Embassy (Bangkok): smartraveller.gov.au — not mandatory but recommended; helps if you need consular assistance. [ ] If you arrived on a tourist visa/SETV: begin planning your long-stay visa application well before your stamp expires.

[ ] If on a retirement visa (Non-OA) or marriage visa: ensure the 800,000 THB (or 400,000 THB for marriage) is in your Thai bank account. Keep the balance stable for the 3 months before your first extension. [ ] Get a Thai driver's licence: visit the local Land Transport Office (DLT) with your Australian licence (original + copy), IDP, passport (original + copy), medical certificate (issued at a Thai clinic), and completed application form. Fee: approximately 500 THB. Valid 2 years on first issue. [ ] Obtain a Thai tax ID number if required for employment or if you expect to file a Thai tax return. [ ] Begin researching health insurance providers if you haven't purchased yet.

[ ] All non-tourist visa holders must file a 90-day address report every 90 days from first entry. Online at imm.immigration.go.th or in person at Immigration. Set a calendar reminder. [ ] On each international trip back to Thailand, confirm your TM30 has been re-filed by your landlord (new TM30 required every re-entry).

[ ] Retire/Non-OA holders: extension must be applied for before the current permission to stay expires, at the Immigration Bureau for your province. [ ] DTV holders: the first 180-day stay can be extended in-country at Immigration for a further 180 days (total 360 days continuous).

General guidance only, as of June 2025. Not financial or tax advice. Australian and Thai rules change — verify current requirements with Australian government agencies (ATO, Services Australia, DFAT), Thai Immigration (immigration.go.th), and qualified advisers in both countries before making decisions. No outcome guaranteed.