Do these in order — some steps depend on earlier ones. From the digital arrival card you file before you fly to the 90-day report at Chaeng Wattana immigration, here's the sequence that actually works in the big city, with the BTS, banking and air-quality gotchas.
Visa sorted — confirm your entry matches your plan (visa comparison). Insurance before you board. Scan everything to the cloud. File your TDAC — every foreign arrival submits the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours of landing (it replaced the paper form). Book 2–4 weeks near a BTS/MRT station — never sign a year's lease unseen.
Get a Thai SIM (AIS or True, ~฿300/month) at the airport — needed for mobile banking. Install Grab and Bolt, and grab a Rabbit card for the BTS. Sort cash — Thai ATMs charge a flat ฿220 foreigner fee per withdrawal, so take larger amounts less often. From Suvarnabhumi, the Airport Rail Link beats the traffic — see getting around.
TM30 address registration — your landlord or condo reports your address to immigration; keep the receipt. Start the long-term condo hunt now that you know the area and your nearest station. Open a Thai bank account — note 2026 tightening: Bangkok Bank may require a long-stay visa; Kasikorn is often more flexible. Bring passport, visa proof and a proof-of-address letter; link PromptPay.
90-day reporting — on a long-stay visa you report your address every 90 days, online or at Chaeng Wattana immigration (the Government Complex, north Bangkok); note your first due date and that the address must match your TM30. Register with a hospital so you're in the system — our healthcare guide ranks them.
Work permit — if employed, your company sponsors the Non-B and work permit. Enrol children via our schools guide (apply ahead). Build a social circle through coworking, sport, gyms and the city's huge expat scene — Bangkok makes this easy.
Air quality. The burning-season haze (roughly Dec/Jan–Apr) pushes PM2.5 above safe levels — if you can choose, arrive in the cool, clearer Nov–Dec window, and budget for a HEPA air purifier (see weather & air quality). Pick your home by its station. Living near a BTS or MRT stop is the difference between a 20-minute ride and a 90-minute traffic crawl.
Confirm your visa, buy health insurance, scan your documents, and file the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours of arrival — it's mandatory for every foreigner and replaced the paper TM6. Book only 2–4 weeks of accommodation near a BTS/MRT station so you can house-hunt in person first.
At Chaeng Wattana immigration (the Government Complex in north Bangkok), or online or by post. You can file from 7 days before to 7 days after the due date, and your reported address must match your latest TM30 registration. Verify current options before you go.
Usually yes, but rules tightened in 2026 — Bangkok Bank may now require a long-stay visa rather than a tourist or DTV visa, while Kasikorn has been more flexible. Bring your passport, visa proof and a proof-of-address letter, link PromptPay, and be prepared to try a second branch.
The cool, dry season (November–February) is the most pleasant and the clearest for air quality. Try to avoid arriving at the peak of the burning-season haze (roughly January–April), when PM2.5 pollution is at its worst.