Living

Moving to Pattaya with children: a checklist

Moving to a new country with children is easier with a plan. This checklist covers the main steps.

Before you move

1. Shortlist schools and contact them about places. See choosing an international school in Pattaya.
2. Gather school reports from the last two years, birth certificates, passports and vaccination records.
3. Check visa requirements for every family member with the Thai embassy or consulate.
4. Arrange health insurance that covers the whole family in Thailand.

Documents to bring

• Passports for every family member, with at least six months left before they expire.
• The right visa for each person, including the children.
• Birth certificates, and a marriage certificate if a parent is applying as a dependant.
• School reports from the last two years and any learning support records.
• Vaccination records for each child. Schools usually ask for them on enrolment.
• A transfer letter or leaving certificate from the current school.
• Copies of prescriptions and a short medical summary for anyone with an ongoing condition.

When you arrive

1. Find somewhere short-term first, then look at houses near your chosen school.
2. Register with a hospital or clinic and keep a copy of everyone's records.
3. Open a Thai bank account if you will pay rent and school fees locally.
4. Learn the main emergency numbers, including 1669 for medical emergencies.

The first weeks at school

Children are often tired in the heat at first. Keep the first weeks simple, and ask the school how your child is settling.

Further reading

The International Schools Database has an overview of schools in Thailand. For a comparison with life in the capital, see Bangkok or Pattaya?.