Moving with 3 children to Thailand

Content:

• About moving abroad?
• Advantages of Thailand
• Disadvantages of Thailand
• Interim result
• Personal experience: Eugene and Valentina moved to Thailand with three children
• What caused the welcoming family to relocate from Russia to Thailand?
• Searching for and purchasing housing
• Kindergarten and school for children
• The cost of housing
• What are the conditions for buyers?
• Additional expenses:
• Thailand relocation review
• We will help you purchase real estate in Thailand

About moving abroad?

All families have their reasons for moving. Some are tired of the climate of their hometown and want to move to a warmer place and have new experiences; others seek stability. Parents try to enrol children in international schools or kindergartens that provide them with a high-quality education. You can obtain an education that meets high international standards at any of the nation's international language schools. Adults can apply for a one-year student visa with the option of an extension until they complete their studies. Another option is to get a long-term visa under the Thailand Elite programme to stay in the country for up to 20 years.

Advantages of Thailand

Although moving to Thailand with a small child is difficult and fraught with challenges, many people are not at all frightened by the prospect. The most common reasons for parents bringing their children to Thailand are:

• Thailand has large English-speaking communities located throughout the entire Foreign nationals living in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and the island resorts of Phi Phi and Koh Samui. The communities are friendly and often arrange informal meetings for compatriots. Many are raising children, making it easier for kids to adapt to new situations and get past the language barrier.
• The education system. There are kindergartens, public and private schools, specialised secondary schools and higher education throughout the country. Most of them teach in English and diplomas from Thai universities are valued internationally. The schools focus on creative thinking. In some cities, there are private English schools. So, there are no difficulties for kids of foreign families to attend a school or kindergarten.
• High level of healthcare. There are hundreds of public and private clinics in Thailand that provide high-quality care. You do not need to be concerned about medical care; just ensure that you have insurance.
• Affordable housing rentals. Renting a fancy 3-bedroom apartment in Pattaya, in a new residential complex with all amenities will cost USD 1,950 (THB 65,000) or more per month. Depending on the location, prices and offers can vary. The apartment is suitable for your furniture and household appliances. The catalogue on Thailand.Estate website contains the price ranges.
• Rich in nature, sea and sun.
• There are many parks and picturesque beaches where you can spend an active holiday with your family.

Disadvantages of Thailand

A change of residence, especially relocating with three children to Thailand, may not be as wonderful as some people may think. In addition to its advantages, the country has the following shortcomings that need to be considered:

• Quality medicine and education are expensive.
• Most of Thailand’s major locations are not suitable for comfortable walking, much less for walking with strollers. There are few sidewalks and even fewer playgrounds.
• Those who love the warmth and come here for the year-round summer will enjoy Thailand, but others will have difficulty with the constant heat (above 30C) and increased humidity. Children should never go outside without sunscreen and hats.
• Obtaining visas, work permits and so on may be delayed.
• Problems with employment for foreigners. In some sectors, foreigners are not employed at all. They can be arrested for illegal work. Therefore, it’s essential to secure a job and obtain a work visa before arriving in the country.
• A lot of insects including spiders, cockroaches and mosquitoes, can be carriers of infection.

Interim result

Thailand is ideal for those who are not afraid of changes and, despite possible inconveniences, are ready to start a new life. However, when moving with children to a new country, it’s worth paying attention to many things or developing a strategy. A significant advantage is that a child can get a decent education here and then go into the world with an international diploma and develop a career in any country. But first, they need to adapt to the new climate, mentality and rhythm of life. Children’s brains are flexible. Surrounded by a new language and culture with peers will allow them to learn several languages (at least English and Thai) and parents will become a reliable support in their endeavours.

Personal experience: Eugene and Valentina moved to Thailand with three children

Over three years ago, Valentina and Eugene made their home in Baan Dusit, a Russian-speaking community in Pattaya that is 15 kilometres from the city centre. They have three children living with them. The youngest child is five years old, while the older two are fifteen and eleven. Here are their comments regarding their experience.

What caused the welcoming family to relocate from Russia to Thailand?

Valentina answers: "Eugene and I had long fallen in love with Thailand. This is our power base. We first came here about 15 years ago before the birth of our eldest daughter and then, again, later with her. Previously, we holidayed in Phuket, Bangkok and Chiang Mai but most of all, of course, in Pattaya. We admire the local lifestyle and sights. There are many places to go on a guided tour or your own. There are amazing farms where we usually go with our children.

My husband and I were able to combine our professional and personal lives by working remotely and we decided to move relatively simply. We discovered that Baan Dusit is a wonderful community with a predominantly Russian-speaking community. I felt that we needed to do something."

Searching for and purchasing housing

Eugene said, "Before we actually moved, we talked about relocation. We daydreamed and pondered on it. When Valya was expecting, careful planning got underway. This can be regarded as an impulse. We previously tried to find the best accommodation in Baan Dusit while taking a break in Pattaya. The village is cosy and bustling and everything follows some sort of routine. We immediately thought it would be simpler to start a life in a foreign country after being startled by the abundance of Russian speech and the shouting of our parents. For recreation, there are parks, a gym, a library and even sports clubs where locals can play basketball and volleyball. An idyllic family life is immediately evident. Pay attention to the playgrounds and parks. We were told that there were schools and kindergartens, which was later confirmed)."

"We bought a spacious one-storey three-bedroom villa. One room was equipped as a nursery, the second room was for our daughter and my wife and I lived in the third room. There’s a spacious kitchen and living room, the surrounding area has been turned into a courtyard and we have instaled several swings and a sandbox. The developer offers these options. Some of our neighbours, from Russia as well, ordered the construction as per an individual plan for a separate price but this was not suitable for us as we would have had to wait another year and a half. So we settled the paperwork and moved in."

Kindergarten and school for children

Tina says, "In Thailand, kindergarten attendance is not required; some kids wait until they are six years old to start school. Zhenya and I just need some free time as we work remotely. The young son now attends a kindergarten a short distance from the house. The garden has a unique educational programme that requires the kids to study and speak English, Thai and Russian (although I'm not sure if this is more of a characteristic of our "reservation" than the rest of Thailand). The teachers are accommodating and kind and they constantly monitor the child's development. There’s a cost associated with everything good. The monthly cost for kindergarten is USD 175 to USD 435 (THB 6,000–15,000). The school is also compensated; the starting price for a year of study at an international institution is USD 7,660 (THB 264,000). Of course, it’s expensive, but we were aware of the costs beforehand. Additionally, both the children and ourselves have a completely satisfactory level of education."

The cost of housing

Thailand offers instalments to foreign homebuyers. The family claims that the home cost them USD 110,120 (THB 3.8 million).

What are the conditions for buyers?

• Deposit for booking and withdrawal of real estate from the market – USD 1,500 ( THB 50,000);
• Contract payment – 10%·
• 24 payments for 2 years at 2% – 48%;
• The last payment – 42%.

Additional expenses:

• Payment via bank - the buyer bears the additional costs;
• Registration and instalation of counters;
• Registration of the contract of sale;
• Additional payment for the location is between USD 3,000-$4,500 (THB 100,000-150,000);
• Utility bills;
• Security, garbage collection and cleaning.

In some locations, it’s cheaper to buy an apartment in Thailand. Maintenance costs may also vary.

Thailand relocation review

Valentina says, "It feels like we're going our own way. Of course, this is the merit of our environment and the microclimate that it supports here; a very friendly community. We have several Thai friends who help us understand the local flavour. We are gradually learning the language and it’s far easier for the children. At school, they communicate with their peers and learn faster.

Anyone who, like us, is thinking about relocating to Thailand, I advise you to study the area better. We were lucky but sometimes assimilation is incredibly difficult; there are more indigenous people, a foreign language and a different culture. It’s better to study everything in advance, travel, live, take a closer look and then make a decision."

We will help you purchase real estate in Thailand

You will find more housing options from proven developers in the catalogue in Thailand.Estate. Our specialists will help you buy an apartment in a new building in Thailand, provide information and support and ensure a legal transaction.