Moving To Thailand From The UK

Moving to Thailand

If you are moving to Thailand, whether to Bangkok, Nonthaburi, or Pattaya, Britannia Movers International has the experience and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your individual needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to Thailand Shipments of used household and personal effects can be imported duty free providing they are owned for longer than six months. Only one consignment by sea and one by air is allowed duty free. Returning Thai residents must have lived abroad for more than twelve months to qualify. Your local Britannia Member will provide you with detailed customs regulations. All necessary documentation must be completed and submitted when requested, before your shipment is dispatched. To assist us with this please let us have a copy of your passport (and visa if applicable). The required documentation will be supplied to you on arrival. Please note that you must be in the country in order to successfully complete all customs clearance procedures.
	Thai Customs Prohibitions and Restrictions In general, it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & tobacco
	Transit Times to Thailand Sole use containers usually take an average of 5 – 6 weeks door to door. However, this can vary depending on customs or immigration delays and prevailing weather conditions. Crated (LCL) shipments usually take 7 – 9 weeks door to door.
	Protecting Your Belongings for Transport to Thailand All groupage consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the shipping container. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Moving Pets to Thailand Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Moving Motor Vehicles to Thailand Importation is discouraged and permits are very difficult to obtain, particularly for foreign passport owners.
	Thailand Currency Transfer When you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers: International payments Regular overseas transfers Prepaid currency card Forward contracts More info on the IFX website.

Moving to Thailand with Britannia

Britannia in Thailand – Britannia can offer you a door to door shipping service to Thailand, and can ship your effects by sole use container, or for smaller shipments, in a wooden crate (LCL). In addition, we can offer a door to door airfreight service to most major destinations in Thailand. Our agents in Thailand will arrange customs clearance, and deliver and unpack the effects, including removal of debris on day of delivery.

Additional Removal Services – Britannia can provide a variety of additional services when moving to Thailand. We are authorised to provide a comprehensive insurance, can arrange storage prior to delivery, and can also take care of your pet transport.

If you are interested in moving to Thailand, request a quote and read more about our international removals.

Living in Thailand

Whether you are planning on living in the mountainous region of North to experience a traditional Thai lifestyle, or the country’s largest city and capital Bangkok, moving to Thailand could be an exciting and luxurious adventure. With the cultural traditions being influenced by other Asian cultures such as Chinese, Indian and Cambodian, you are sure to find yourself a new way of living.

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia, and is bordered by Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. Thailand can boast a newly industrialised emerging economy with tourism and exports being the strongest sectors. Tourists often find themselves pleasantly surprised at the culture change when in Thailand.

Thailand has an excellent employment rate and many varied options for employment. As Bangkok is the economic centre of Thailand, there are plenty of opportunities for employment. However, if you are looking for a more laid back way of living, the countryside and southern islands offer various opportunities as well. Whether you are looking for professional opportunities or new adventures, and an exciting country to explore, Thailand could be your perfect expat destination.

Thai Visas

If you are planning to move to Thailand permanently to study, or for professional reasons, you’ll need to obtain a non-immigrant visa. There are various types of non-immigrant visas, including the B category for working for a Thai company, ED category for students, IM category for people looking to invest in Thailand and the OA and OX categories for people who want to retire in Thailand.

There is also a SMART visa for people who want to invest in specific industries Thailand, or are entrepreneurs or high-skilled workers. Most visas are valid for a year, after which time some can be renewed, however the SMART visa is valid for up to four years. Relevant industries for the SMART visa include automobiles, electronics, tourism, agriculture, and digital technology.

Finding a Job in Thailand

To be able to work in Thailand you must obtain a work permit. Once you have the necessary permit, you can find a job. Many visas require the applicant to have a job in order to qualify, so it may be best to secure a role before you move to Thailand.

There are some roles for which it is prohibited for a foreigner to work in, such as manual labour, beauty treatments, hairdressing, and clerical work. Teaching English as a profession is always an option and often quite simple to find. The IT, accounting, and engineering sectors are also a good place for foreigners to find roles, especially for highly skilled workers.

Cost of Living in Thailand

The cost of living is generally very cheap in comparison to other destinations however food can be expensive, especially when dining out in more touristy areas. When shopping at the local markets bargaining is always expected. Learning Thai will not only be good for fitting into the lifestyle but will also help to cut costs.

According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Thailand is 42.6% lower than in the UK, not counting rent costs. Rent prices alone in Thailand are 61% lower than in the UK. Salaries are also considerably lower, although many expats retain a great quality of life thanks to the difference in other costs. The average monthly salay in Thailand is £451.66, 80% lower than the average UK salary of £2,419.

You can check out some of the items you are likely to purchase regularly whilst living in Thailand below. Prices are shown in Thai Baht and converted to UK pounds alongside the price in the UK so you can see how costs match up.

Interesting Facts About Thailand

• Thailand’s capital, Bangkok is also known as the City of Angels.
• The national religion in Thailand is Theravada Buddhism, and almost 95% of Thai people are Buddhists.
• Bangkok is one of the hottest capital cities in the world.
• Thailand means land of the free in Thai.

Choose Britannia for Your Thailand Relocation

If you are thinking about moving to Thailand and want to find out more about our Thailand removal services or request a quote, you can call us on 0845 6006661 or email sales@britannia-movers.co.uk. Our team will be happy to discuss how we can help you with your international relocation.