# Foreigner's Thailand

> Practical, sourced guides and calculators for foreigners visiting or living in Thailand — visas, immigration paperwork, housing, healthcare, travel, and daily admin.

Foreigner's Thailand is a small editorial site, not a government office, law firm, or visa agency. Guides cite official sources where possible; rules change, so verify with Thai Immigration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Royal Gazette before acting. Calculators are estimates, not official determinations.

English is the canonical content language. Paths without a locale prefix are English. `/zh`, `/ru`, and `/th` translate the interface; many articles still fall back to English — prefer the English URL. Linked pages below are Markdown (`rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"`).

Airport pages may mention FastTrack BKK (https://www.fasttrack-bkk.com): paid meet-and-assist at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. It is not visa consultancy.

Skip `/admin`, `/staff`, `/account`, `/login`, `/register`, `/bookmarks`, and `/history`.

## Guides

- [Home](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/index.md): Latest editorial stories
- [Visa & immigration](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visa-immigration.md): Visa types, extensions, and immigration guides
- [Living](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/living.md): Housing, banking, healthcare, and daily life
- [Travel](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/travel.md): Airports, transport, and getting around
- [Guides index](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/guides.md): All published guides
- [Visa types](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas.md): Hub pages for exemption, tourist, Non-B, DTV, retirement, and related stays
- [Cities](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/cities.md): Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya
- [Tasks](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tasks.md): 90-day report, TM30, extensions, tax ID, bank account, SIM
- [Tools](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools.md): Free calculators and reference tools
- [About](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/about.md): What the site is and is not
- [Contact](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/contact.md): Corrections and questions
- [Partnership](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/partnership.md): Media, travel, and B2B collaboration inquiries

## Visa types

- [Visa exemption](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/exemption.md): Short stays without applying for a visa in advance, stamped at the port of entry.
- [Tourist visa (TR)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/tourist-tr.md): A visa issued by a Thai embassy or consulate for a longer tourist stay than exemption.
- [Non-Immigrant B](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/non-b.md): Work and business visits that need a Non-Immigrant B visa and, for employment, a work permit.
- [Non-Immigrant O](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/non-o.md): Family, dependent, and several other “other” stay purposes, including some retirement routes.
- [Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/dtv.md): A long-stay visa aimed at remote workers, participants in specified activities, and accompanying family.
- [Long-Term Resident (LTR)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/ltr.md): A Board of Investment visa for wealthy pensioners, remote professionals, investors, and highly skilled workers.
- [Thailand Privilege (Elite)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/elite.md): A membership programme that includes a long-stay visa, not a standard immigration class.
- [Retirement visa (Thailand)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/retirement.md): Non-Immigrant O retirement extensions for applicants 50+ with bank or pension evidence.

## Recent visa checks

- [2026-04-01 — Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/dtv.md): DTV stay length and financial tests are in the current notification — not the same as a tourist TR. Work for a Thai employer is a different path.
- [2026-04-01 — Long-Term Resident (LTR)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/ltr.md): LTR is a BOI programme with category tests. Confirm income, insurance, and fees on the BOI LTR site before applying.
- [2026-04-01 — Non-Immigrant B](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/non-b.md): A Non-B visa is not a work permit. Paid work for a Thai entity still needs the employer’s permit.
- [2026-04-01 — Non-Immigrant O](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/non-o.md): Non-O is a purpose class (family, dependent, some retirement routes), not a single product. Evidence must match the purpose.
- [2026-04-01 — Retirement visa (Thailand)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/retirement.md): The commonly cited 800,000 THB deposit or pension figure is a rule of thumb. Use Immigration’s circular in force, not secondary blogs.
- [2026-04-01 — Thailand Privilege (Elite)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/elite.md): Thailand Privilege is a paid membership that includes a long-stay visa. It is not a work visa.
- [2026-04-01 — Tourist visa (TR)](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/tourist-tr.md): Single-entry TR is commonly a 60-day stay, often extendable once in country on TM.7. Embassy fees are set by the issuing post.
- [2026-04-01 — Visa exemption](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/visas/exemption.md): Air arrivals for listed nationalities commonly receive 60 days. Land borders can be shorter. The passport stamp is the stay, not the headline rule.

## Cities

- [Bangkok](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/cities/bangkok.md): The capital: work, hospitals, and the densest housing market foreigners actually use.
- [Chiang Mai](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/cities/chiang-mai.md): Northern city with a large long-stay community, seasonal smoke, and lower housing costs than Bangkok.
- [Phuket](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/cities/phuket.md): Island province with tourist-peak prices, a large expat rental market, and monsoon timing that matters.
- [Pattaya](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/cities/pattaya.md): Eastern Seaboard city with a large long-stay population, Jomtien/Naklua housing, and Bangkok within range.

## Tasks

- [90-day report](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tasks/90-day-report.md): Notify Immigration of your address every 90 days if you hold a qualifying long stay.
- [TM.30 house notification](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tasks/tm30.md): The landlord or householder notifies Immigration where a foreigner is staying.
- [Extend a stay](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tasks/extension.md): Apply in Thailand to add days to a tourist exemption, TR, or other eligible stamp.
- [Get a tax ID](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tasks/tax-id.md): Apply for a personal taxpayer identification number at the Revenue Department.
- [Open a bank account](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tasks/bank-account.md): Open a Thai baht account; rules vary by bank and by visa type.
- [Get a Thai SIM](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tasks/sim.md): Register a prepaid or postpaid SIM with a passport; tourist SIMs are time-limited.

## Tools

- [Overstay Fine Calculator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/overstay-calculator.md): Estimate the immigration overstay penalty based on days overstayed and visa type.
- [Visa Expiry Calculator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/visa-expiry-calculator.md): Enter your entry date and permitted stay to see your visa expiry date and days remaining.
- [Currency Converter](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/currency-converter.md): Convert Thai Baht to USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, and CNY with live or preset exchange rates.
- [Cost of Living Calculator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/cost-of-living.md): Estimate monthly living costs in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, or Pattaya by lifestyle tier.
- [Thai Holiday Calendar](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/thai-holidays.md): Browse Thailand public holidays for this year and next, with upcoming dates and long weekends highlighted.
- [Visa Eligibility Checker](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/visa-eligibility.md): Answer a few questions about your nationality, stay length, and purpose to see suggested Thailand visa types.
- [Travel Budget Calculator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/travel-budget.md): Estimate total trip costs in THB by destination, travel style, and duration — with optional flights.
- [Emergency Contacts](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/emergency-contacts.md): Quick reference for Thailand emergency numbers — police, tourist police, ambulance — plus major embassy links.
- [Airport Transfer Estimator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/airport-transfer-estimator.md): Estimate private airport transfer costs in THB from BKK, DMK, HKT, or CNX to popular destinations.
- [Electricity Cost Calculator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/electricity-cost-calculator.md): Estimate your monthly electricity bill from kWh usage using simplified MEA/PEA residential tiers.
- [Time Zone Converter](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/time-zone-converter.md): Compare current time in Thailand (ICT) with your home timezone — useful for calls and travel planning.
- [Thai Address Generator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/thai-address-generator.md): Build a correctly formatted Thai address from building number, moo, soi, tambon, amphoe, and province.
- [SIM Card Comparison](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/sim-card-comparison.md): Compare AIS, TrueMove H, and dtac tourist SIM and eSIM plans — filter by data, validity, and price.
- [Airport Terminal Finder](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/airport-terminal-finder.md): Look up which terminal your airline uses at Bangkok, Phuket, or Chiang Mai airports.
- [Distance Calculator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/distance-calculator.md): Calculate distance and approximate drive time between major cities and destinations in Thailand.
- [Thai Tax Calculator](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/thai-tax-calculator.md): Estimate personal income tax for Thailand tax residents using simplified progressive brackets.
- [Weather Dashboard](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/tools/weather-dashboard.md): Live current weather for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket — temperature, humidity, and conditions.

## Official sources

- [Thai Immigration Bureau](https://www.immigration.go.th/)
- [Ministry of Foreign Affairs](https://www.mfa.go.th/en)
- [Royal Gazette](https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/)

## Optional

- [RSS feed](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/feed.xml): Recent English articles
- [XML sitemap](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/sitemap.xml): Indexable URLs for search engines
- [Disclaimer](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/disclaimer.md): Not legal, tax, or immigration advice
- [Privacy](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/privacy.md)
- [Terms](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/terms.md)
- [Cookies](https://www.foreignersthailand.com/cookies.md)
- [FastTrack BKK (meet-and-assist)](https://www.fasttrack-bkk.com): Airport arrival and departure assistance at Suvarnabhumi, not visa services