Moving to Thailand — The Preparation Checklist for Australians

Before You Leave Australia

Financial

Centrelink / Services Australia

• •Notify Centrelink of your intention to move overseas
• •Confirm your pension portability status and expected overseas payment amount
• •Set up myGov online access (you'll need this from Thailand)
• •Arrange for your pension to be paid into your Australian bank account (you'll transfer to Thailand yourself using Wise)
• •If applicable, notify Centrelink of any assets or income changes

Banking

• •Keep at least one Australian bank account active — you'll need it for pension deposits, Centrelink dealings and Australian financial transactions
• •Set up online banking access and confirm it works from overseas
• •Get a debit card that works internationally with low fees (ING Orange Everyday or Wise debit card are popular with expats)
• •Consider opening a Wise multi-currency account before you go

Superannuation

• •Speak with a financial adviser about your super drawdown strategy
• •Ensure you have online access to your super fund
• •Update your address and contact details with your super fund

Tax

• •Speak with an accountant about your Australian tax residency status after moving overseas
• •Understand your obligations for the financial year of departure
• •Consider whether you need to lodge a tax return as a non-resident

Legal and Documents

Passport

• •Ensure your Australian passport has at least 18 months remaining — ideally 2+ years
• •Renew before you go if needed (renewals from Thailand are possible but more complex)

Thai Retirement Visa

• •Apply at the Thai Embassy in Canberra or Thai Consulate before departure (for Non-OA visa)
• •Alternatively, enter on a tourist visa and convert to a retirement extension in Thailand

Documents to bring originals of:

• •Australian passport
• •Birth certificate
• •Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• •Any relevant medical records and vaccination history
• •Prescription list from your doctor
• •Police clearance certificate (needed for retirement visa)
• •Medical certificate from a registered doctor (needed for retirement visa)

Documents to have certified copies of:

• •All of the above
• •Keep digital scans of everything in a secure cloud service (Google Drive, iCloud)

Health

Before Your Last Australian Medicare Visit:

• •Full general health check — blood tests, blood pressure, anything outstanding
• •Dental check and treatment — Thai dental care is good but start fresh
• •Eye check — glasses or contact lens prescription current
• •Skin check — important given Thailand's sun exposure
• •Discuss all current medications with your GP — get scripts and a full medication list
• •Ask about vaccinations — Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and typhoid are often recommended for Thailand

Health Insurance

• •Research and purchase Thai health insurance before leaving Australia — pre-existing conditions are excluded from new policies after diagnosis
• •Ensure your policy meets the Thai retirement visa requirements (฿40,000 outpatient / ฿400,000 inpatient minimum)
• •SafetyWing is one popular option among expats

Medications

• •Bring a generous supply of any regular medications (3–6 months)
• •Most common medications are available in Thailand but brand names differ
• •Some medications require a prescription in Thailand that are over-the-counter in Australia (and vice versa)

Personal and Practical

Australian Address

• •You'll need an Australian address for official correspondence — use a trusted family member's address or a mail forwarding service

Power of Attorney

• •Consider giving power of attorney to a trusted person in Australia to handle financial or legal matters on your behalf if needed

Will

• •Ensure your Australian will is current
• •Consider whether you need a Thai will for any assets you acquire in Thailand

Phone and SIM

• •Check whether your Australian phone is unlocked (can accept foreign SIMs)
• •You'll buy a Thai SIM on arrival — no preparation needed

On Arrival in Thailand

First Week

• •Buy a Thai tourist SIM at the airport (฿300–฿500 for 30 days data)
• •Find temporary accommodation (hotel or serviced apartment) — don't commit to a long-term rental until you've had time to explore
• •Download and set up Grab on your phone
• •Download Google Translate with Thai offline pack
• •Start exploring your chosen city — visit different neighbourhoods

First Month

• •Open a Thai bank account (Bangkok Bank or KBank recommended — ask in local expat Facebook groups for the easiest branch)
• •Start the process of depositing ฿800,000 for your retirement visa (remember the seasoning requirement — it needs time in the account)
• •Find a longer-term rental after getting to know the city
• •Register your address with your landlord (TM30 form — your landlord's responsibility)
• •Find a local GP and private hospital you're comfortable with
• •Connect with the local expat community — find the relevant Facebook groups, attend an expat club event

First Three Months

• •Apply for your retirement visa extension (if you arrived on a tourist visa or visa exemption)
• •Get a Thai driving licence if you plan to drive
• •Set up home internet with AIS, True or 3BB
• •Establish your regular routines — favourite local restaurants, market, gym, coffee shop
• •Start learning basic Thai phrases

Things People Commonly Forget

• •Notifying Australian electoral roll of overseas status
• •Cancelling unnecessary Australian subscriptions (gym, clubs, services you won't use)
• •Forwarding mail or notifying important contacts of address change
• •Checking whether any Australian memberships or services can continue overseas
• •Bringing enough of a favourite product that's hard to find in Thailand (Vegemite, specific medications, particular brands)

The Bottom Line

Moving to Thailand is a big logistical exercise, but thousands of Australians do it every year. The most common issues come from not notifying Centrelink properly, leaving health insurance too late, or not having enough documentation for the visa process.

Start the checklist 3–6 months before your planned departure date. The preparation time is well spent.

Use our pension calculator to confirm your financial numbers are solid before you start booking flights.