Thailand Arrival Day Checklist

1✈️On the Plane (Before Landing)

• Complete the TM.6 Arrival/Departure Card (distributed by cabin crew — blue/white card)
• Fill in accommodation address on arrival card (hotel name and address)
• Locate your passport and have it ready
• Screenshot or print your onward/return flight booking if you haven't already
• Check the required funds you need to declare (฿10,000 per person at the border)

2🛂Immigration

Allow 20–60 minutes at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang. The queue moves faster than it looks.

• Join the correct queue — foreign nationals vs. Thai nationals
• Have passport open to the bio page
• Hand over passport + TM.6 arrival card (keep the departure portion — you need it when leaving)
• Be prepared to show return/onward flight booking if asked
• Be prepared to show proof of accommodation (hotel booking)
• Collect passport with entry stamp — check the date permitted to stay
• Confirm permitted days match your visa or expected stay (typically 30–60 days)

3🧳Baggage & Customs

• Collect all baggage from the carousel
• Check belt number on your boarding pass or airport screens
• Count all bags — do not leave the carousel without everything
• Proceed through customs — green channel (nothing to declare) is standard for tourists
• Do not carry over 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of alcohol, or undeclared cash over ฿450,000

4📱SIM Card

Best value SIMs: AIS, DTAC (now True DTAC), or True Move H. Buy at airport kiosk or 7-Eleven. Tourist SIMs from ฿299–599 for 7–30 days unlimited data.

• Head to the official SIM kiosks in the arrivals hall (before or after customs exit)
• Choose a tourist SIM that covers your stay duration
• Ask staff to insert and activate the SIM — test internet connection before leaving
• Save your Thai number somewhere safe (you may need it for app registrations)
• Download Grab (ride hailing), Google Maps, and Google Translate (Thai language pack)

5💰Money

Airport exchange rates are slightly worse than city rates. Get enough for the day — exchange more at a superrich or bank booth in the city for better rates.

• Withdraw Thai Baht from an ATM (most charge ฿220 foreign transaction fee per withdrawal)
• Or exchange at airport currency booth — sufficient for day 1 transport and food
• Recommended: withdraw ฿2,000–4,000 at airport for initial expenses
• Notify your home bank you are in Thailand to avoid card blocks
• Set up Wise or Revolut transfer if you haven't — avoids ATM fees on future withdrawals

6🚕Transport to Hotel

Suvarnabhumi: Airport Rail Link (฿15–45) is cheapest and fastest to central Bangkok. Metered taxi from official stand costs ฿250–400 + ฿50 expressway. Avoid touts inside the terminal.

• Decide on transport: Airport Rail Link, metered taxi, or pre-booked transfer
• For metered taxi: use official public taxi stand (outside arrivals, Level 1) — never accept unmetered offers inside
• Ask driver to use the meter — say 'meter, please'
• Have hotel address ready in Thai script (Google Maps screenshot is fine to show the driver)
• For Don Mueang airport: taxi or A1/A2/A4 bus routes to central Bangkok
• For Phuket: metered taxi (~฿700–900 to Patong) or pre-booked transfer

7🏨Hotel Check-In

• Passport required at check-in (hotel will hold it briefly to copy for TM.30 registration)
• Confirm check-in and check-out times
• Ask for hotel business card with address in Thai (useful for taxis)
• Ask about breakfast, Wi-Fi password, and safe/locker
• Drop bags and rest — you have made it!

8🌟Day 1 Essentials

• Buy a bottle of water (7-Eleven has ฿7 bottles)
• Walk to the nearest 7-Eleven or Family Mart to get oriented
• Test your phone data and ensure maps work offline
• Download offline Google Maps for your region
• Have a Thai street food meal — you deserve it
• Check your passport stamp date again — note the date you must leave or extend by