British nationals take millions of trips overseas every year, most of which pass without any kind of incident. Many British people also enjoy living overseas.  However, it is important to remember that outside the UK:

• You are less likely to be familiar with local conditions and risks;
• You may be more exposed to a variety of threats such as crime; and
• Support which you could freely get in the UK may not be available or may be very expensive.

So, to stay safe and secure in Thailand, and to be prepared in case things go wrong, it is important to take a few simple precautions before you travel and while you are here.  These should include the following:

• Research your destination, including checking our travel advice website;
• Make sure that you have full travel insurance, and that your insurance is up to date, valid for the entire trip and covers everyone who will be travelling;
• Make sure that your vaccinations are up to date;
• Make sure that you are aware of the immigration and customs regulations of Thailand, and ensure that you hold the appropriate visa;
• Tell someone where you are going;
• Take enough money for your trip, together with some back-up funds.

There is a wealth of information and resources on the internet about travelling to, and living in, Thailand.  Please see the following useful links.

The Royal Thai Embassy in London

Royal Thai Government

Website addresses of Thai Government Ministries

Thai Customs Department

Thai Immigration Bureau

Lonely Planet Thailand Travel Information

The Rough Guide to Thailand

The Bangkok Guide

While you are living in Thailand the Thai authorities may ask that you obtain a letter from us in certain circumstances, such as when extending your retirement visa, obtaining a driving licence, or opening a bank account:

Proof of Income Letters

British nationals applying for a visa, or an extension of a visa, with the Thai Immigration Bureau may be asked to obtain a letter from us verifying their income. To obtain the letter you must be registered with us. We will also need to see a copy of your passport and, either bank statements for the previous 3 months, or the original evidence of your pension or income. We charge a fee of THB 2,088 for the letter, which is ready to collect from the Consular Section at 09:00 on the working day after the application is submitted to us. You can also apply for a proof of income letter by post. To apply by post you must ensure that the above documentation is included and that the total amount of pension or income you receive is clearly stated. You can only pay in the following ways;

• Banker's Draft, plus THB 200 administration fee;
• Postal orders payable to 'British Embassy' to be cashed at Nana Post Office, Bangkok 10110 (Please note that online postal orders are not accepted.

Return of the letter by EMS, if you apply in person or by post, costs an additional THB 100.

Residency Letters

British nationals may be required to obtain a letter from us confirming their address for a number of different reasons. For example, when obtaining a Thai driving licence, buying and selling a car, or opening a Thai bank account. To obtain the letter you must be registered with us. We will also need to see a copy of your passport. We charge a fee of THB 2,088 for the letter, which is ready to collect from the Consular Section at 0900 on the working day after the application is submitted to us. You can also apply for a residency letter by post.  The same procedures as for “proof of income letters” above apply.

United Kingdom Police Clearance

If you wish to obtain a police clearance certificate for the United Kingdom, you can find information on the website of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters.

The process can take up to 40 days and will cost of £10.00 or more.

If you require a certified copy of your passport for identification purposes to accompany the completed form, we are able to do this for you. Please refer to our consular fee page for details of the appropriate fee.

Thailand Police Clearance Certificate

British nationals resident in Thailand can apply for a Thai police clearance certificate at the Police Clearance Service Center, Special Branch, Royal Thai Police. Further details can be obtained from the website of the Royal Thai Embassy in London.