Moving to Thailand offers a wide array of opportunities for expats. Career prospects, especially in the tech market, are on the rise. Furthermore, the climate, culture and beaches are a big positive.

Numbers on how many expats actually live in Thailand vary from 500,000 to one million, but many of those will choose to reside in the capital of Bangkok. Living close to the Skytrain and the MRT travel network is key to getting around easily. Many expats live in the popular areas of the upper and lower Sukhumvit Road and south along the Chao Phraya River.

Thais will call foreigners ‘farangs’ even if they know your first name. Expats shouldn’t be offended. Thais are in general thoughtful and kind. They are law abiding too. In fact, if there is a traffic accident in Thailand, as a foreigner you will be held responsible, based on the fact that if you weren’t living in the country there wouldn’t have been an incident.

In recent years Thailand has become something of a hot-spot for start-ups with American companies offering investment opportunities. Large businesses such as Uber and Google have headquarters in Bangkok as well as accountancy firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Salaries are good and the cost of living is far cheaper than most European countries. Renting a condominium in the centre of Bangkok can stand at 21,000 baht (£476.616) according to online research database, Numebo. This is far cheaper than living in the centre of London where a one-bedroom flat may cost nearly £3,000 per month to rent.

The weather and the beaches are a big draw to holiday makers and expats alike. The weather is predominantly tropical and humid, but this will be dependent upon where you live in the country. Northern Thailand has three seasons with warm weather eventually interrupted with a monsoon period. In Southern Thailand there are just two seasons – wet and dry and it will see more rain than its northern counterpart.

That said, along with the all the benefits there are of course a few issues about upping sticks and moving to a completely different country and culture. Gaining a Visa has in recent years become a much harder experience especially if you are looking for Thai Permanent Resident status. If you are to gain PR status you can get a work permit and buy a condominium without a foreign money transfer. You’ll need to have had a non-immigrant visa for at least three years, before applying for the PR. Be warned if you outstay your visa you’ll be fined up to a maximum of 20,000 baht and you’ll be deported after 42 days. If deported you’ll be banned from re-entering Thailand.

If you are considering a move to Thailand PSS International removals can help. We are a family run company, which has specialised in international removals for over 40 years. We are committed to providing a friendly, professional and stress free overseas move for all our customers. Whether you’re sending a full or part household removal, excess baggage or a vehicle, we will ensure that you receive the highest level of care and attention.