Before moving to Chiang Mai

Thailand offers several visa types: tourist (60 days, extendable), Education (ED) for studies, Long Term Resident (LTR) for qualified professionals, Smart Visa for startups and Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for digital nomads. Each one has its own paperwork and different windows for legal work. Before deciding, talk to the Thai embassy in Brazil and to Brazilians already living here.

Without these, you don't board. Passport valid for at least 6 months; International Vaccination Certificate against yellow fever (CIVP) — required for Brazilians, without it you don't enter Thailand, get it at least 10 days before the trip; Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) filled out online before the flight; Thai Health Pass (digital health declaration); proof of initial accommodation; outbound ticket; financial proof (usually 20,000 baht per person for tourism).

Wise and Revolut work well for your first months — fair exchange rate and ATM withdrawals with an international card. To open a Thai account, you usually need a long-term visa (non-tourist) and proof of local address. Banks most welcoming to foreigners: Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn (K-Bank) and SCB.

Buy travel insurance covering Thailand BEFORE boarding. Private hospitals (Bangkok Hospital, Chiang Mai Ram, Sriphat) speak English and meet Brazilian quality standards. Public hospitals cover the basics but English is limited. Recommended vaccines (not mandatory): hepatitis A/B, tetanus, typhoid. Dengue circulates — bring repellent.

Heavy clothing (it's hot 9 months a year), 110V-only electronics (here it's 220V), unprescribed medicine without a prescription in English (customs may question). The essentials are all here — Lazada, Shopee and the malls cover 99% of your needs.