First Month in Thailand Checklist for New Residents

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Before and on moving-in day

Check the visa or entry your stay is based on
How long you may stay depends on your nationality and purpose; the travel checklist links the official pages.
Open tool: Travel Checklist
Check the deposit, advance rent and notice period in the leaseOfficial rule
From a landlord letting 3 or more units, advance rent and deposit together may not exceed 3 months of a monthly rent.
How
Keep your copy of the signed leaseOfficial rule
A landlord letting 3 or more units must give you one copy, in Thai, when you sign.
How
Photograph the room and appliances on moving-in day
Dated photos help when the deposit is returned.
How
Note the meter readings and the electricity and water ratesOfficial rule
A landlord letting 3 or more units may not charge more than the utility charges the landlord.
How

Ask your landlord whether your TM30 was filedOfficial rule
The landlord or host must notify immigration within 24 hours; keep a copy of the receipt.
How
Get a Thai SIM registered with your passport
Banks and apps send codes to your Thai number.
How
Decide how you get drinking water
Bottled, delivered in large bottles, or filtered.
How
Set up a way to pay by phone
TrueMoney accepts a passport for sign-up; PromptPay needs a Thai bank account.
How
Save Thailand’s emergency numbersOpen tool: Thailand Essentials

Ask a bank which documents it needs for an account
It differs by bank, branch and visa.
How
Find out who bills your electricity and water
The utility, the building or the landlord.
How
Put your 90-day notice date in your calendarOfficial rule
Staying over 90 days: notify 15 days before to 7 days after the due date; late notice is fined 2,000 baht.
How
Add up your monthly costsOpen tool: Monthly Cost of Living Planner