AIBU to want to live in Thailand for 2 years

[Anusername]

We travelled to Thailand for holidays when we were young (pre kids) and we really enjoyed it. Hence we have been going back to Thailand for tourism many times over the years. I really love the idea of living there for 1-2 years to chill out and relax, but this idea doesn’t sound realistic and my husband has never really acknowledged it although he also reckons that Thailand is our favorite holiday spot.

We now have two kids — one six years old and the other 3 months, and I’m still thinking about it. It sounds a bit extreme to just migrate to a foreign country to live (we may not work there) and to put everything on pause. Just wondering if anyone has actually done it with school aged kids? Moving to another country for one or two years just to experience a different culture.

AIBU to do it?

I have contemplated the possibility of getting a job in another country but not just going there for a jolly/gap year. If I was very comfortable financially and my partner was on board that might be another story!

I've stayed with friends of friends in Bangkok. They were English originally and their kids went to fancy private International School and they had a beautiful large house with air con.

They seemed pretty happy. Personally I stayed 6 months in Asia (3 months Thailand and 3 months Vietnam) and I was soooo ready to come home at the end of it. I missed cold weather and snuggly jeans and jumpers. I wanted to wear boots and have hot drinks. You think you want the endless sunshine but I learnt how much I appreciate the seasons.

There was other things I missed too. The Thais were lovely and their English is good but it wasn't a British sense of humour. I missed home. The expats were either seedy or rich or hippies.

What is your plan for work? How much do you have to support yourself if you went? I think a 90 day break with the visas would probably scratch any itch you have OP, if you are able to sort a career break somehow.

OP I would look into moving to Singapore instead. If I could have a twin life where I got to do more of what I wanted and less tied by family, I would definitely have spent time in Singapore. The lifestyle is amazing and there are many more expat job opportunities. The education is outstanding and you have SE Asia on your doorstep.

I'm still not sure I'd do it now though, seeing as it's so very hot there all the time now and only going to get worse. But I'd choose Singapore over Thailand for long-term work stuff every time over Thailand.

Can you get a visa to stay that long without being expatriated? I spent 6 years in Asia and the longest most countries let you stay without a work permit is 90 days.

You can in fact legally live in Thailand as parents of children attending school in Thailand. You would have to have a good amount of money though for school fees on top of all other living costs.

My friends lived in Thailand for years (they teach in IS) moved home for a couple of years and hated it and have moved back out again, live in Bangkok. They are so much happier in Thailand - they and the kids love living out there.

My friend, her dh and two kids did something similar and enjoyed it immensely. The dc we're quite young at the time, so don't really remember in now, only via photos. They've travelled around quite a bit and lived in different countries.

What about going for 2-3 months? So no visa issue, job loss etc. your 6 year old will certainly remember it! You can take a sabbatical unpaid once in your life I believe

I would definitely do as long a trip as visas allow and 3 months means you could have a sabbatical and your child only miss a term of school. I would love to do a year of travelling when the kids are older and think it would be an amazing experience for them so hopefully when I have paid off the mortgage in about 5 years. I think if you can work out the details sounds amazing

With children that age I think it is a bad idea. Particularly your 6 year old is going to miss out on friendships and lots of important things with regards to development. Unless you are considering sending them to an international school. But that I also don't recommend.

What about relationships with grandparents etc?

I think Thailand has a digital nomad visa that's valid for 1 or 2 years. A youtuber I follow has moved to Thailand for the past year on that visa and obviously that works for her as she can produce her videos anywhere. Would that be viable for you? What are you going to do about schooling for the 6 year old though? There are very good international schools in Bangkok but they cost a pretty penny.

There are digital nomad visas available for Thailand. There are several very good international schools that I would be happy to send my daughter. Where is Thailand would you be thinking of staying?

It would be very, very expensive. Have a look on the embassy website for visa, health insurance, housing and education costs.

I just did some googling about digital nomads. A digital nomad visa costs around 600 dollars and the salary requirement is 80 thousand dollars per annum. I assume that is per adult. There can't be many people who can afford that.

I used to work with people from Thailand and they said it's too hot - their son hated it - and this was years ago before global warming started ramping up.

Whilst its sounds great to go and live in the heat and sunshine and experience different things, as already said being on holiday with no responsibilities, just planning the next visit/meal/drinks/beach is very different to actually living there, full time, with the same things you have to deal with at home.

Apart from the visa issue (you going to do a visa run every 90 days?, that will not work as you will get caught out) how are you planning to get about for shopping etc, bike, car, could you drive in Thailand its not for the fainthearted, or rely on taxis that will add up. Schools, medical insurance, accommodation (and maybe a bank account to pay bills etc) dealing with landlords or agents can get quite stressful coping with mosquitoes (and the threat of Dengue) and other creatures.....chill out and relax for 2 years will not be plain sailing.

Which part of Thailand were you thinking of?

Visa is fine. You just have to exit the country every 90 days and then you get a new one. Very easily done

You haven't answered people asking how you would afford it?

@Grasshopper7 , visa runs are unpredictable and the authorities are clamping down on it, what if they are refused say doing a run to Cambodia for the one day and cannot get back into Thailand.

And thats another expense to think about, if they choose to do that, having to go to another country every 90 days even just for one day or a few days.

That is a tourist visa. You can't work on a tourist visa. Not legally.

We have a family member who has lived in Thailand on the 90 day visa only for the last 15 years. It is very possible. Although yes you can't work on it. Did the OP say they wanted to work?

So no idea of how you will afford it, with two very young dc but you want it to do it because the holidays are great? Seems like your dh is the only sensible one there,

We just got back to the UK after a year in Thailand with our 4 and 2 year old. It was amazing. So amazing that we're going back again in January. We decided to stay in Bangkok as a home base and use our free time to travel to all the different places in Thailand. I highly highly highly recommend it. We didn't go in with any expectations just that it would be an incredible adventure and we would have so many stories to tell at the end of it. As others have mentioned accommodation, schooling, medical insurance, all important things to consider. But with some planning and an open mind and being flexible to change, it was easily the best thing we've done for our family. Our kids loved it, they learned so much in the international school, they made friends easily, the oldest one's confidence growth was amazing to watch. There were definitely some friction points like the heat when everyone's just overheated and tired, figuring out the bureaucracy of a new country(there's a lot of it).
People tutted at us here in the UK and told us all the reasons it was silly and what a mistake we were making. I'm glad we didn't listen to them.

@DailySnail I am so pleased to hear your positive experiences as this thread so far has been very negative. We are moving to Belgium for a few years and then a few years in Hua Hin and we have found great schools in both locations.

Sounds fab.
Do a bit of research and weigh up your options.
I know someone who runs a bar over there- he has to leave the country every 6 months I think. So doesn't have permanent residency but he's been there a good few years now.