Moving from Australia to Thailand 2025: The Practical Guide for Australians
Tens of thousands of Australians make the move to Thailand every year — permanently, semi-permanently, or as long-term residents who split their time. The logistics are manageable if you plan them in the right order. This guide covers what to sort in Australia before you go, what to do in the first 30 days in Thailand, and the ongoing compliance obligations that catch Australians off-guard.
SORT IN AUSTRALIA BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Visa: the single most important decision. Tourist entry is fine for initial exploration; for stays beyond 90 days you need a purpose-built visa (Non-O-A, DTV, LTR, Non-B, or Privilege Card). Applying from Australia is always simpler than trying to convert in-country. See Visa Centre's service pages for your specific situation.
Tax residency exit: if you are leaving Australia permanently or semi-permanently, your Australian tax residency status changes. The ATO's rules on ceasing tax residency are complex — the "domicile test" and "resides test" can keep you as an Australian tax resident even while living abroad. Get advice from an Australian tax accountant with expat expertise before your departure date, not after.
Superannuation: you cannot access your superannuation early by moving overseas (unless you permanently departed Australia on a temporary resident visa — Australians do not qualify for this). Super remains in your fund until you reach your preservation age. Review whether you want a self-managed super fund (SMSF) or whether your existing fund's offshore drawdown process works smoothly.
Australian bank account: keep at least one Australian bank account open. You will need it for super, tax refunds, Australian property management, and family transfers. Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ, and Westpac all allow overseas operation, though some term deposit products require Australian residence.
Phone number: keep an Australian SIM active (a cheap Woolworths Mobile or Boost SIM at $10/month) for bank two-factor authentication and Medicare correspondence.
FIRST 30 DAYS IN THAILAND
Find a registered address and ensure TM.30 is filed: your landlord must file within 24 hours of your arrival. Get the receipt immediately — Immigration will ask for it.
Open a Thai bank account: Kasikorn (KBank) and Bangkok Bank are the most foreigner-friendly. You need your passport, visa stamp, and TM.30 receipt. Do this in the first week — the financial requirements for long-stay visas require the account to be open and funded at least 2 months before your extension application.
Health insurance: activate or purchase before you rely on Thai healthcare. Emergency treatment at private hospitals requires payment upfront or direct billing through your insurer.
Register with the Australian Embassy: register your overseas presence at smartraveller.gov.au. Not mandatory, but useful for consular assistance and emergency notification.
ONGOING COMPLIANCE
90-day reporting (if on Non-O-A, Non-B, or Non-O): report every 90 days to Immigration. Online, by post, or in person.
TM.30: re-file within 24 hours after every re-entry to Thailand, even if you are returning to the same address.
Annual extension: for Non-O-A and Non-B holders, apply for your annual extension up to 45 days before your current permission expires.
General guidance only, as of June 2025. Sources: ATO (ato.gov.au); Services Australia (servicesaustralia.gov.au); Thai Immigration Bureau (immigration.go.th). Not tax or financial advice.
Verified against official sources. Visa rules and fees change — our specialists confirm the current rules with the Thai Immigration Bureau for your specific case.