I’d really appreciate any feedback on this plan - anything inaccurate, missing, unnecessary, or wrong. I know many of you have real hands-on experience and are very helpful, so I’d value your input. If this forum isn’t the right place for this kind of question, I’d appreciate being pointed to a more suitable one.

A program for the first 100 days for me, 53, moving to Chiang Mai with my border collie, Jessy

1. Apply for a Non-Immigrant O retirement visa (90 days)

- Passport copy

- Photo taken within the last 6 months

- Proof of current location

- Bank statement for the last 3 months showing at least 800,000 THB or equivalent

- Once issued, I have 90 days to enter Thailand

2. Purchase a one-way ticket to Bangkok + AVIH (Animal Vivant in Hold) for Jessy

3. Prepare all required documents for Jessy

- Import permit via email from the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS), 60 days before arrival

- Vaccination book with DHLPP proof from a local vet

- Official International Health Certificate, issued within 10 days before arrival

- Rabies titer blood test certificate

4. Book a room at Flora House, a pet-friendly hotel in Chiang Mai, for 1 month

5. Book a minivan from Bangkok airport to Chiang Mai for the arrival day (10K–12K THB)

6. Purchase temporary health insurance for 90 days in the country of origin

7. Do not forget an international driving permit (IDP)

8. Fill out the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) 3 days before arrival

9. Fly to Bangkok and get a 90-day stay permit stamped in the passport

10. At the airport

- Go through AQS, get the dog entry permit, and pay all fees (cash only)

- Use the red channel and pay tax if required

11. Travel to Chiang Mai by minivan and check into Flora House

- Get TM.30 registration

- Get a monthly rental contract

12. Purchase a local SIM card

- Get one from AIS, cheapest prepaid (e.g. "The One SIM")

- Get confirmation that the number is linked to the passport for bank use

13. Get CoR (Certificate of Residence)

- Four copies: two for banks, one for a driving license, one for the Revenue Department

- At the immigration office near the airport

- Pay 1000 THB for express service

- Valid for 30 days only

- Specify the organization CoR is issued for (Bangkok Bank, Revenue Department, etc.)

14. Open a bank account for immigration deposit (800,000 THB)

- Try Kasikorn Bank first

- If unsuccessful (they may require a long-term stay), try another branch or Bangkok Bank

- Choose a branch in a large mall (e.g. Maya Lifestyle Center or Central Festival Chiang Mai), more foreigner-friendly

- Dress business casual, no shorts or slippers

- Prepare copies of passport, visa, TM.30, CoR, rental contract, and SIM confirmation letter

- Agree to purchase Personal Accident Insurance (PA), 3K–7K THB

- Open a savings account

- Get a basic debit card and a passbook

- Complete biometric face scan

- Set up and activate the mobile banking app

15. Transfer 800,000 THB to the Bangkok Bank account

- Use Wise, "International Transfer (Bahtnet)"

- Set purpose as "Funds for long-term stay in Thailand"

- Ensure it appears as FTT (Foreign Transfer) in the passbook

16. Install useful apps: Grab, Bolt, InDrive, Line, FoodPanda, AirVisual

17. Start searching for a long-term detached house with an agent

18. Sign a 1-year lease, likely in a moobaan

19. After 90 days, apply for a 1-year Extension of Stay (retirement)

- Do not wait until the last day, apply 21 days before the end of 90 days

- At the immigration office near the airport

- Get a bank guarantee letter confirming 800,000 THB has been in the account for 2 months

- Bank statement must be same-day (make an ATM transaction and request it after)

- Update TM.30 and the rental contract if the address has changed

- Pay 1900 THB

- Get a multi re-entry permit (TM.8) for 3800 THB

- Note: TM.30 resets after each exit/entry and must be renewed

20. Purchase long-term health insurance for the coming year

21. Open a bank account for daily use

- Kasikorn Bank, best app for QR payments and English support

- Same approach as Bangkok Bank, choose a branch in a large mall

22. Get a Thai driving license for a motorbike

- At Thai Honda Safety Driving Center Chiang Mai

- Bring a medical certificate from any clinic

- Takes 3 days, no need for DLT tests or theory

- First license is temporary (2 years), then upgraded to a 5-year license

23. Buy a scooter, Honda PCX 160 + ABS

24. Report every 90 days using the TM.47 form

- Can be done at the immigration office

- Or online via IMM eService (first report must be in person)

25. Get useful documents

- Yellow book (Tabien Baan, Thor Ror 13), requires cooperation from the house owner

- Pink Card (Alien Identification Card)

- Quite a complex process, but it makes life easier later

- Requires passport translation into Thai and certification at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

- A Thai driving license often works as a practical alternative

26. Get TIN (Thai Tax ID)

- Do not apply until after 6 months in the country

- Needed if staying more than 180 days

- At the Revenue Department

- Requires CoR

- If asked why: "to get a 15% refund on bank deposit interest"

27. Enjoy life in Thailand, learn Thai, take a cooking course, hike Doi Inthanon, etc.

Edited May 13May 13 by Mishka2000
fixing some formatting

Amazing detail. Excellent post.

Obviously you have included a extra detail list.

Hard to find anything to add.

I don't see need for insurance your mention.

Also if you have a current DL from pp country you wouldn't need a international drivers permit.

Re TDL suggest you obtain car + bike.

Transport office will accept one COR plus photocopy for bike.

Don't really follow the Tax concerns.

Obviously done lot of research.

Immigration may want request from bank for COR. So check that out.

I also use Kasikorn. Good option esp using WISE.

Cannot advise re your pet however after you are all settled a report on that aspect would be very helpful.

Best of luck.

Well thought through. Just be careful not to initially expose your Collie to too much heat. Collies are not designed to live, and work in many cases, in hot countries.

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

Collies are not designed to live, and work in many cases, in hot countries.

Perhaps.... However they are #1 work dog in North Australia and it's damn hot there

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Perhaps.... However they are #1 work dog in North Australia and it's damn hot there

Of course. They are born and brought up there.

23 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Of course. They are born and brought up there.

A Google of "Border Collie Thailand"

provides many resources from home wanted to cost to breeders.. you name it

21 hours ago, Mishka2000 said:

Buy a scooter,

How does that work with a dog, consider getting a small EV like the Lumina.

https://www.facebook.com/100095574184540/posts/lumina-evpremium-ecar-all-reserved-/1081625528366577/

On 5/14/2026 at 1:41 PM, DrJack54 said:

A Google of "Border Collie Thailand"

provides many resources from home wanted to cost to breeders.. you name it

Since the OP's dog was presumably neither born nor brought up here, how is this relevant?

12 minutes ago, OutofLondon said:

Since the OP's dog was presumably neither born nor brought up here, how is this relevant?

I wasn't "born nor brought up here"

The joint fits like a second skin.

On 5/13/2026 at 9:19 PM, Mishka2000 said:

. Get a Thai driving license for a motorbike

- At Thai Honda Safety Driving Center Chiang Mai

- Bring a medical certificate from any clinic

- Takes 3 days, no need for DLT tests or theory

- First license is temporary (2 years), then upgraded to a 5-year license

23. Buy a scooter, Honda PCX 160 + ABS

Why no need for DLT testing?

On 5/14/2026 at 3:43 PM, Srikcir said:

How does that work with a dog, consider getting a small EV like the Lumina.

You suggesting to a man that owns a Border collie to forgo a scoot and buy one of these ?

Bwahahahahahahaha

9 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Why no need for DLT testing?

In my case a drivers licence from my home country, certificate of residence plus a few thousand baht agent fee.

A day trip to the office and 3 easy physical tests. ie: step on a break pedal, tell the tester the colours he pointed at... red, yellow and green and some other test I got wrong and got waved on 😀

Edit: was the "Depth Perception Test" I got wrong.

Edited May 20May 20 by BaanOz

1 hour ago, BaanOz said:

In my case a drivers licence from my home country, certificate of residence plus a few thousand baht agent fee.

The OP would be best advised to obtain drivers license + bike license same time.

Tip for others: applying for both licenses transport office will accept one COR with photocopy for other license.

Same for medical.

15 hours ago, BaanOz said:

n 5/20/2026 at 1:15 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Why no need for DLT testing?

In my case a drivers licence from my home country, certificate of residence plus a few thousand baht agent fee.

A day trip to the office and 3 easy physical tests. ie: step on a break pedal, tell the tester the colours he pointed at... red, yellow and green and some other test I got wrong and got waved on 😀

Edit: was the "Depth Perception Test" I got wrong

OK, yes, you require DLT testing.

Do you have a motorbike licence from your home country?

Edited May 21May 21 by SAFETY FIRST

On 5/13/2026 at 12:19 PM, Mishka2000 said:

5. Book a minivan from Bangkok airport to Chiang Mai for the arrival day (10K–12K THB)

Seems a bit like stating the obvious, but check they'll let a dog on board. Some won't.

On 5/13/2026 at 12:19 PM, Mishka2000 said:

Choose a branch in a large mall

I would choose a regular branch as they open early in the morning. YMMV.

On 5/13/2026 at 12:19 PM, Mishka2000 said:

Use Wise, "International Transfer (Bahtnet)"

Think you're mixing up terms there. Bahtnet is a local transfer mechanism and you want international. Wise should support this but there could be some hiccups which need extra legwork (unlikely).

On 5/13/2026 at 12:19 PM, Mishka2000 said:

16. Install useful apps: Grab, Bolt, InDrive, Line, FoodPanda, AirVisual

Foodpanda is long gone. Try Lineman for another food delivery option.

On 5/13/2026 at 12:19 PM, Mishka2000 said:

18. Sign a 1-year lease, likely in a moobaan

If you're used to a house back home, try downsizing. The convenience of not maintaining half a dozen mostly unused rooms is immense.

On 5/13/2026 at 12:19 PM, Mishka2000 said:

Quite a complex process, but it makes life easier later

Debatable. May on here insist it's worthless, some like having them.

On 5/13/2026 at 12:19 PM, Mishka2000 said:

Get TIN (Thai Tax ID)

Forego the refund to maintain your invisibility to the Thai taxman, unless you plan on working over here.

On 5/21/2026 at 10:41 AM, SAFETY FIRST said:

OK, yes, you require DLT testing.

Do you have a motorbike licence from your home country?

No, I don’t and didn’t apply for one. Just a car licence. Agent arranged the medical certificate.

On 5/21/2026 at 2:41 PM, treetops said:

If you're used to a house back home, try downsizing. The convenience of not maintaining half a dozen mostly unused rooms is immense.

I doubt the OP is looking to rent a 6 bedroom house.

19 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

I doubt the OP is looking to rent a 6 bedroom house.

Who mentioned bedrooms?

Even a small mooban house can have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 public rooms along with kitchen and closets etc. many of which will be mostly unused.

I am doing something similar, but will be living with a girlfriend when I apply for Non O in Bangkok.

Does she have to create a rental agreement for me to take to immigration when I apply, or can I just take copies of her ID and tabien baan?

8 minutes ago, Dazzler said:

Does she have to create a rental agreement for me to take to immigration when I apply, or can I just take copies of her ID and tabien baan?

She needs to do a TM30.

That can be done online.

Signed copies if ID and TB best to have.

Out of interest did you consider obtaining Non O from outside of Thailand.

Obviously you have a Thai bank account and Non O based on over 50.