Thailand is one of the favorite destinations for families who expatriate: a lower cost of living than in Europe, a great quality of life and a well-established international community. This guide walks you through step by step to settle in with your spouse and your two children, while continuing to trade. One point to settle first: your departure from France (tax residency, exit tax — see our foundational article on the subject).
Who Thailand is a good choice for
It suits a family looking for a pleasant living environment on a controlled budget, and who is not bothered by an Asian time zone or an unfamiliar environment. Three cities concentrate most of the options for families: Bangkok (lively capital), Chiang Mai (in the north, quieter and more affordable) and Phuket (tourist island). There you find both international schools and an active French-speaking community.
To get your bearings before choosing, our glossary and our country fact sheets are a good starting point, as are the blog and the "JARVIS Readings" for the economic context of the region.
The visa — for you and for your family
Several paths exist, and they have evolved recently:
- The DTV (Destination Thailand Visa), designed for people who work remotely — meaning: you carry out your activity online, without being an employee of a local company.
- The LTR (Long-Term Resident), which targets profiles meeting income or investment conditions.
- The Thailand Privilege program, a paid visa offering long-stay options.
Depending on the visa chosen, your spouse and your children can be attached as dependents (that is, family members whose stay depends on the main holder). The procedures and documents to provide — translated and legalized birth and marriage certificates, for example — must be verified directly with Thai immigration, because the rules change quickly. As with a subscription whose terms change, it is better to confirm the version in force at the time of your application.
Where to submit the application: the official e-Visa on thaievisa.go.th, the LTR via the Board of Investment on ltr.boi.go.th, and immigration on immigration.go.th. The up-to-date entry conditions are on France Diplomatie.
Settling in: housing, banking, transport
Housing is significantly more affordable than in Europe: a furnished condo in the city, or a house on the outskirts. Opening a local bank account depends on the type of visa — it is often one of the first steps once you are there, because it determines many things (payments, rent, subscriptions). For transport, Bangkok has a metro and the BTS (the city's elevated train); elsewhere, a scooter or car depending on the areas and the distance to schools.
The children's school
The offering is rich: international schools with British, American or IB programs (the International Baccalaureate), and an approved French network — for example the Lycée français international de Bangkok — invaluable for maintaining continuity with the French curriculum if you plan to return.
Tuition fees represent a significant budget per child per year, varying widely from one institution to another. The orders of magnitude must be verified directly with the schools, and waiting lists must be anticipated: the best spots are booked well in advance, a bit like a highly sought-after nursery.
Daily family life
Tropical climate, welcoming population, and good-quality care in private hospitals in the major cities — via private health insurance (essential for a family). Daily life is easy: parks, markets, beaches. Two things to anticipate: the rainy season and the heat, which set the pace of the days differently from Europe.
Continuing your trading and your activity
The GMT+7 time zone means Thailand is several hours ahead of France. Concretely, the opening of the US markets falls in the evening or in the middle of the local night: something to factor in if you trade the US30 or the Nasdaq. Otherwise, you can focus on the Asian and European sessions, which fall during the day.
The internet connection is good in the cities; still plan a 4G backup in case of an outage. In terms of organization, the Institute's Telegram assistant can help you keep a framework despite the time difference: plan of the day, morning market brief, news watch and reminders.
To structure your practice remotely, the complete and structured training program (with bootcamps, mentoring and events) and the member area — progress tracking, orientation test, trading journal and "My Trading" hub with statistics — are useful supports. The JARVIS METHOD serves here as an analysis framework, available via the training. Mindset coaching (discipline, emotional management) and the "My fitness" component (lifestyle habits) make even more sense when you change country and pace. To keep a long-term vision, the investment journal (stocks, ETFs and crypto, with prices and a weekly report) completes the whole.
Taxation: the 2024 rule to know
You become a Thai tax resident beyond a certain threshold of presence in the country — often cited as 180 days per year. In 2024, the treatment of repatriated foreign income (that is, money you bring from abroad into Thailand) was tightened: in some cases, this income is taxable in the year you receive it. This is a decisive point and must absolutely be verified with a local tax advisor, because it can change everything about your budget.
Indicative budget: single vs. family (2 children)
Alone, you live comfortably for much less than in France. As a family, the item that changes everything is international school: it often becomes the leading expense, ahead of housing, followed by health insurance. These benchmarks must be built on up-to-date local sources and are never fixed — hence the value of comparing before leaving rather than relying on a single figure.
Safety and crime
Thailand is generally safe for families, and violent crime affecting foreigners remains rare. Vigilance mainly concerns three points: scams (tours, rentals, currency exchange), traffic — two-wheel accidents are the leading cause of risk for expatriates — and certain areas to avoid. Remember to check the official travel advisories from France Diplomatie, regularly updated.
Activities and places to discover (you and the children)
Beaches and islands (Phuket, Krabi), parks and ethical animal sanctuaries, temples, floating markets, water parks: enough to keep the children occupied all year. The region also offers easy getaways to many Southeast Asian countries, a real asset for varying family discoveries.
Points of vigilance (including the French framework)
A departure outside the European Union can trigger the exit tax (Article 167 bis of the French General Tax Code) without automatic deferral — in other words, taxation on unrealized capital gains at the time of departure, under certain conditions. In addition, your foreign accounts must be declared (Form 3916, Article 1649 A of the French General Tax Code). The time zone, meanwhile, is not just a practical detail: it is a real lifestyle choice. In all cases, validate your situation with a professional before leaving.
Key takeaways
- Recent visas (DTV/LTR) and attaching the family as dependents — to be verified.
- French and international schools: quality is there, fees are high.
- Gentle cost of living, but school weighs heavily on a family budget.
- Reasonable safety; vigilance regarding scams and the road.
- 2024 taxation (repatriated income) and the French framework (exit tax, foreign accounts): a professional first.
Indicative information (up to date as of September 11, 2026) — not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa, school, 2024 taxation and safety must be verified with the authorities, the schools and a professional. Educational content: trading involves a risk of capital loss, this is not investment advice.