Setting Up A Home In Thailand

I’m a 52-year-old geological engineer with dual Canadian and British nationality. I’ve just completed a 4-year contract in Taiwan, and my personal effects (papers, books, furniture, electrical goods etc.) are packed away in a 20-foot container awaiting a shipping address.

However, one of the two overseas (i.e. outside Thailand) job prospects that I was hoping for has just fallen through, and the other one is by no means guaranteed.

I’m no stranger to Thailand, having worked here in the mid 1980’s, and visited frequently ever since, albeit for stays of a week or two. But last year, I purchased some land in Chiangmai through a lifelong Thai friend, and intend to build a retirement home on it, though I have no intention of retiring for at least another decade.

However, should my second job prospect drop through, I would like to base myself in Thailand, ship in my personal effects, and establish a home here. I would then freelance overseas within my profession, using Thailand as my base, but not working here unless a bona fide opportunity presented itself here (Hey – I can dream!)

My question is: How do I go about getting Thai customs to clear my shipment when (a) I am not marrying a Thai, ( am not starting work here, and © am nowhere near ready to retire. Any advice on what visa to obtain, and how to go about this operation would be most appreciated. (I’m currently here on an entry permit, but appreciate that I would probably need a visa to expedite this.)