5 Top Challenges for Expats Living in Thailand

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5 Top Challenges for Expats Living in Thailand

 

From the buzz of Thai cities, to its beautiful beaches and laid-back style of living, Thailand is moving up fast on the expat list of top destinations.

Also known as the Land of Smiles, Thailand has plenty to offer, and it can be a great place to start a new life.

But the country is certainly no paradise and it has its very own challenges.

Cigna Global, specialist in expat healthcare, has gathered a list of the top 5 challenges of expat life in Thailand. Take a look.

 

1. Bureaucracy

As in many other developing countries, Thailand has plenty of bureaucratic processes that can easily become the cause of headaches for many newcomers.

Going through complicated, lengthy processes to get a Thai visa, or going through any required paperwork in the country can be significant a challenge for many.

Thailand’s immigration laws make it relatively easy for many visitors to come to the country, but trying to obtain a long-term visa and stay in Thailand can be much more difficult.

 

2. Language

Many expats have reportedly found it quite difficult to overcome the language barrier in Thailand.

Even though English is widely taught in schools, many residents struggle to speak the language smoothly, or else; don’t feel comfortable conversing in English.

Expats are advised to learn at least the basics of Thai language in order to find life in Thailand considerably less challenging.

 

3. Traffic jams

For expats living in Bangkok, the continuous traffic jams make driving quite a daunting and challenging experience.

Expats who are used to getting around with a car in their home countries generally agree that driving is one of the things they miss the most once settled in Thailand.

The traffic jams tend to affect the efficiency of emergency healthcare services. Ambulances can hardly respond in a timely manner.

Other problems that expats can experience are related to very different driving manners, and general road safety standards.

The good news is that main Thai cities count with a fairly good public transport consisting of taxis, tuk-tuks, trains and affordable bus services.

 

4. Public healthcare

In comparison to other healthcare systems that expats may be used to coming from more developed countries; public healthcare in Thailand can be underfunded and understaffed to cater for everyone, especially in largely populated cities like Bangkok.

The reported shortage of GPs can make it very difficult to be attended or treated for minor medical problems.

In spite of these problems, the standards of care are generally of high quality.

To fight the challenges of public healthcare, most expats opt for a private plan or an international health policy, which can offer shorter waiting times and grant access to the best healthcare services.

 

5. Poor internet connection

Broadband is readily available in major cities and towns, but many expats find the speed of connection disappointing in comparison to their previous experience.

Recent network tests have found the Thailand’s average broadband Internet speed to be 19.9 megabits per second – far behind world leaders Singapore (121.7 mbps) and Hong Kong (102.6 mbps).

The average broadband speed in other countries, like the US the UK, ranges between 30 and 36 mbps, which helps explain why many expats find Internet connection in Thailand to be quite slow.

This is however likely to change in the near future, with new initiatives to improve connection taking place, and the government aiming to install thousands of new free WiFi hotspots throughout the country over the next years.

 

Cigna Global are specialists in expatriate healthcare, offering a high level of care facilities for expats in over 200 countries and territories, with the flexibility to choose from three levels of cover and optional additional benefits, including outpatient care, medical evacuation, and vision & dental care.

 

 

[gamini]

I don't think the author is very well informed regarding visas. Thailand is one of the easiest and cheapest places in the world to get a retirement Visa. We only have to go once a year to immigration and pay 1900 bt. The amount of money we have in the bank to get a retirement Visa is very reasonable for most people. Since the 90 day reporting can be done by anyone, by post or on the Internet it is not really an issue he also seems to disregard the fact that it is far harder for Thai to get a Visa.  

[Thunderbirds20]

I beg to disagree, .... I think it is falling fast as a preferred destination for expats. Other places are more welcoming than Thailand and prefer a better quality expat community. Thailand is now favoring people that do not respect Thai culture, customs or food and do not even like Thai people, namely Russians and Chinese.

 

You can go to almost any village in Thailand and find Western Expats living there, supporting a Thai family, but you will never see Russians or Chinese in such places. They prefer the beaches like Pattaya, Phuket and Hua Hin.

 

 

[Petchou]

What is mentioned in the article may be partially true. But it sounds like the other side is greener like usual from biased farangs.
Concerning Visa, try US, Canada and England visa, anyone who is not from Europe or Western countries will suffer, the decision made by embassy are irrational and process extremely difficult. Thailand visa is quite straightforward and given even to people who don't deserve it.

Language, most farangs think they are entitled to everything, lazy, don't make any effort to learn, if someone make decision to live in a country, it's normal to learn the language.

Internet connection is not the best in the world but far from being poor connection, I have never experienced any problems and can stream football games, movies,Conn is always on.

Some are born complainers.

Get a life

Try Los Angeles, Paris and other big cities before talking about traffic.

[natway09]

O or B Visas are pretty easy to obtain with the fees being very reasonable.

I can name many countries much more difficult.

May I venture to say that 50% of expats living in Thailand would not even cut the mustard in many countries

other than their own.

 

[Crossy]

I suggest the final paragraph says everything we need to know about the authors.

[Wasa]

5 minutes ago, Petchou said:

What is mentioned in the article may be partially true. But it sounds like the other side is greener like usual from biased farangs.
Concerning Visa, try US, Canada and England visa, anyone who is not from Europe or Western countries will suffer, the decision made by embassy are irrational and process extremely difficult. Thailand visa is quite straightforward and given even to people who don't deserve it.

Language, most farangs think they are entitled to everything, lazy, don't make any effort to learn, if someone make decision to live in a country, it's normal to learn the language.

Internet connection is not the best in the world but far from being poor connection, I have never experienced any problems and can stream football games, movies,Conn is always on.

Some are born complainers.

Get a life

Try Los Angeles, Paris and other big cities before talking about traffic.

Agree.......try the traffic in Manila, makes Bangkok look like a walk in the park.......or my former hometown of Sydney, driving from the city out to the western suburbs at 5.00pm on a weekday afternoon.....

 

 

[Rod Gold]

All of the expressed challenges lead to one BIG challenge, maintaining good mental health.  Many resort to dulling the pain by drinking too much or some other over-indulgence which leads to other problems.

 

When does one face reality?  Thais are not going to change, either learn to accept the cultural differences or move-on for your own personal well-being.

Edited August 31, 2016 by Rod Gold

[quandow]

One more time (I'll NEVER get sick of this!) - I lived in Thailand for nine years, the last couple of years bitched, moaned, whinged and finally said "Enough!"  I picked up, moved to Mexico, and within a few months was RIGHT BACK HERE IN THAILAND!  The visa bureaucracy is merely learning the particulars and sticking to them. It's not hard, just make sure to have plenty of copies of every page of your passport just in case you need them, go to immigration with clean clothes and a nice, polite smile and (particularly in Jomtien) you will receive professional, courteous service.  90-day check ins are a breeze. The internet? Christ, I had to wait for someone in Mexico to leave or die just to get a connection to my apartment!

[Deepinthailand]

The article is just a way of getting you to read then they hit you with buy our insurance. Advertising ploy ģone south due to a poor knowledge of Thailans

[bazza40]

Wonderful - I can bankrupt myself taking out medical insurance as a 73 yo, assuming they are even offering it to that demographic.

With the exception of the advice to learn Thai, the rest of the article is BS.

[212Roger]

The heat and humidity can not be ignored.

[LindsayB]

well the internet seems to be better in Thailand than even the super upgraded Australian NBN that is being installed.I think Thailands is choked down by the net nanny blocking of the smutty sites.As for the Visa's try and get a Thai woman with a 15 year government job to Canada for a 10 day holiday.It took me three attempts with visa lawyers and 3 years.Cant deny the traffic is a butt pain.

/au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/32487546/perth-net-speed-in-slow-lane/#page1

[ksamuiguy]

Know and follow the rules. Know when to "shut-up" and listen.

Inconvenient for some it would seem, as they have such important and hectic lifes

Try 75% of other countries, you'll be back to Thailand or will have gone "home"

 

[lucifer666]

Yet another so called reporter who clearly, has never visited Thailand.

[DerringDo]

It's an advert. Going to paint whatever picture the author wants. Not necessarily what anyone else wants to believe.