Thailand Arrival Checklist
Your first 24 hours in Thailand. Everything you need to do, in the right order, so you land smoothly and start enjoying the country immediately.
Quick Answer
What do I need to do when I arrive in Thailand?
Pass immigration (have your passport and onward ticket ready), collect baggage, clear customs, buy a SIM card in arrivals, withdraw Thai baht, download Grab if you haven't already, and get to your accommodation. Check your passport stamp for your permitted stay duration and mark it in your calendar.
At the Airport
Immigration: Have your passport open to the photo page. Immigration officers may ask to see your onward ticket and proof of accommodation. Have these accessible. For visa-on-arrival, join the separate VOA queue — it is longer. If eligible, use the e-gates for the fastest passage.
Check your stamp: Before leaving the immigration desk, check that your passport has been stamped with the correct permitted days. Write this date in your phone calendar immediately. This is your visa deadline.
Customs: Standard duty-free allowances apply — 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco, 1 litre of alcohol. Prohibited: drugs (harsh penalties), firearms, and certain foods and plants. Failure to declare dutiable goods can result in fines.
SIM card and baht: Buy a SIM in arrivals before you exit to departures/transport. Withdraw baht from the ATM bank machines in arrivals (220 THB fee applies — withdraw at least 3,000 THB to make the fee worthwhile).
Download Grab Before You Land
Getting to Your Accommodation
From Suvarnabhumi: Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai (city terminal, 45 THB, 30 mins), Grab (300–500 THB, 45–60 mins in traffic), or official metered taxi from the taxi desk (350–500 THB including tolls).
From Don Mueang (DMK): Bus A1 to Mo Chit BTS (30 THB), Grab (250–400 THB), or the free shuttle bus from DMK Terminal 2 to DMK Terminal 1 then to the BTS shuttle bus stop.
First Evening Priorities
Check in, shower (the most satisfying thing after a long flight to a tropical country), then find food. Your nearest 7-Eleven stocks basics. Street food within walking distance of almost any Bangkok accommodation is excellent. Rest well — heat and jet lag combined hit harder than either alone.