Your first 90 days in Thailand: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
TM30 gates everything downstream: if the landlord never filed it (common in private rentals), 90-day reports, extensions, and residence certificates stall until it's fixed — usually discovered at the worst moment.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
TM30 (residence notification, filed by the landlord/hotel) + TM47 90-day address report at Immigration
TM30 within 24 hours of taking up residence; 90-day report after each 90 days of continuous stay
Hotels file the TM30 automatically; private landlords often don't — the receipt is required later. 90-day reports can be filed online when the system cooperates.
Get your TIN (Tax Identification Number), Revenue Department
Needed to file Thai returns — relevant since 2024, when foreign income remitted by 180-day tax residents became assessable.
Issued at an area Revenue office with passport and lease/residence proof; commonly same-day.
Open a bank account
Branch-lottery: a long-stay visa plus work permit or an immigration residence certificate are commonly demanded, and requirements differ per branch; most arrivals run Wise until the paperwork lands.
Enrol in healthcare
No public enrollment for most long-stay routes — only work-permit employees join Social Security; everyone else carries private cover (mandatory minimums apply on O-A and LTR visas).
Sort your driver's license
An IDP or valid foreign license covers short stays; a Thai license (2-year temporary first) needs an immigration residence certificate + medical certificate — tests commonly waived with a valid home license.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Thailand: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Thailand?
TM30 (residence notification, filed by the landlord/hotel) + TM47 90-day address report at Immigration — TM30 within 24 hours of taking up residence; 90-day report after each 90 days of continuous stay. Hotels file the TM30 automatically; private landlords often don't — the receipt is required later. 90-day reports can be filed online when the system cooperates. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the TIN and do I need one?
TIN (Tax Identification Number), Revenue Department is Thailand's personal tax/ID number. Needed to file Thai returns — relevant since 2024, when foreign income remitted by 180-day tax residents became assessable. Issued at an area Revenue office with passport and lease/residence proof; commonly same-day.
Can I drive in Thailand on a US license?
An IDP or valid foreign license covers short stays; a Thai license (2-year temporary first) needs an immigration residence certificate + medical certificate — tests commonly waived with a valid home license. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Thailand?
No public enrollment for most long-stay routes — only work-permit employees join Social Security; everyone else carries private cover (mandatory minimums apply on O-A and LTR visas). See our healthcare-systems guide for how Thailand's system treats foreign residents.