First Month in Thailand Checklist
Whether you are moving to Thailand or spending an extended first stay, these are the practical tasks to tick off in your first four weeks.
Quick Answer
What should I do in my first month in Thailand?
Priority tasks: get a local SIM card, understand your visa situation, find medium-term accommodation, open a Thai bank account (if staying), download Grab and Line, get a basic health check-up, acquire an IDP for driving, register with your country's embassy, and start building a local routine. The rest follows from these foundations.
Week 1: Essentials
SIM card: Buy at the airport or any 7-Eleven on day one. AIS, True Move, and DTAC all sell tourist SIMs with good data packages.
Apps to install:Grab (transport and food delivery), Line (messaging), Google Maps (offline maps for Thailand), Agoda or Booking.com, and your bank's app with international transfer capability.
Visa check: Confirm your visa type, permitted stay duration, and any conditions. Mark the deadline in your calendar immediately.
Local currency: Withdraw 5,000–10,000 THB from an ATM for initial cash needs. Carry the 7-Eleven ATM fee (220 THB) by withdrawing larger amounts less frequently.
Week 2: Housing and Banking
Use your first week in short-term accommodation to explore different neighbourhoods before committing to a monthly rental. Monthly rates are typically 25–40% below nightly rates once negotiated.
Attempt to open a Thai bank account at KBank or Bangkok Bank. Bring your passport and visa documents. Having a local account enables QR payments, easy bill payments, and reduces ATM fees long-term.
Embassy Registration
Weeks 3–4: Settling In
Find your local food spots — the street food stall or restaurant you will eat at regularly. Identify the nearest good pharmacy (Boots and Watsons chains are reliable), clinic, and hospital. Build a mental map of your neighbourhood.
Start learning basic Thai — even 20–30 phrases makes daily life significantly easier and is genuinely appreciated by Thai people. Sawadee krap/ka (hello), khob khun krap/ka (thank you), mai pen rai (never mind/no problem), and numbers go a long way.