Moving to a foreign country can be an exciting and life-changing adventure. Whether you're relocating for work, retirement, or any number of reasons, it's important to be well-prepared and organized to ensure a smooth transition. To help you on your journey, we’ll look at some essential tasks you should consider organizing once you've made the decision to move to Phuket.
Firstly, start by doing exactly what you’re doing now, thoroughly researching the country you're moving to. Gaining a basic understanding of Thai culture, customs, laws, and specific requirements for foreigners is immensely helpful. Certain aspects of moving abroad must be dealt with from outside Thailand or in person from your home country. A good place to start is determining the visa and immigration regulations to which type of visa you'll need and the necessary documentation to obtain it. If your passport expires in less than a year, renew it. If it has only a few blank pages, replace it or have pages added.
Of course, you should start with completing whatever tasks possible from your home country first. This includes attending to issues with your passport, notifying your bank or other financial institutions regarding plans to travel abroad, acquiring necessary visas, and checking on any other specific requirements necessary for your situation.
If you currently have health insurance, check which regions/countries your coverage extends to. In some cases, it might make more sense to get health insurance locally. Research the local healthcare system, including hospitals, clinics, and doctors, and find out if there are any specific immunizations required before entering the country. If necessary, arrange for any prescriptions or medical records to be transferred to a local healthcare provider.
The public transportation situation in Phuket is nearly non-existent so plan on securing your transportation. New vehicles can be easily acquired as well as second-hand ones with Facebook Marketplace, bahtsold.com, and one2car.com being a few active platforms for listings. In most cases, a valid car or motorcycle license from your home country is accepted for the first 60 days, after which you are required to obtain a Thai license.
Learning Thai can be a daunting task, but you should at the very least learn some basic phrases to help you navigate everyday situations. Consider taking language classes before your departure or enrolling in language courses upon arrival. There are many resources online to help learn Thai, but in-person lessons with a capable instructor are the best use of your time.
It goes without saying that you’ll need to get your smartphone connected locally. Tourist SIM cards can be bought at the airport, but better plans are available directly from the providers. True, DTAC, and AIS are the major ones with the most thorough coverage. Prepaid plans are available, but postpaid plans are usually a better deal. You can easily and effectively use your smartphone as a hotspot for a laptop if need be.
Reach out to expat communities, social groups, or online forums once you’ve settled into Phuket. Connecting with fellow expatriates or locals can provide invaluable support, advice, and a sense of community. Joining local clubs or organizations related to your interests or hobbies can also help you meet new people and integrate into the local culture.