Pack for Teaching in Thailand | Teacher Checklist

📌 FIELD SUMMARY FOR EDUCATORS

Keep your essential document folder in your carry-on bag, including your original unlaminated degree and transcripts, clean background check, passport photos, and contract printouts. Complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) at tdac.immigration.go.th when your flight is close, and save the QR confirmation offline: explore our full TDAC arrival guide. For spending, bring some clean, uncreased cash notes alongside a working international debit card. Bring your personal laptop if you have one, pack lightweight collared school wear, and review our teacher dress code guide. Skip heavy winter coats, high-wattage hair tools that overload Thai 220V sockets, and casual clothes that are inexpensive to buy at night markets. For clean water choices on arrival, see our drinking water guide.

Chapter 01 : Essential Paperwork

Carry-On Documents: Keep These Within Reach

Checked luggage can occasionally be delayed. Keeping your core records in your hand luggage ensures school paperwork begins smoothly.

"Over 20 years welcoming teachers to Sukhothai, the most relaxed arrivals are always those who keep their paperwork neatly organized in their daypack. You do not need an elaborate filing cabinet: just a sturdy plastic or card folder holding your degree, transcripts, and passport photos. Having them on hand makes onboarding comfortable from your very first morning."

Matthew John : KET Operations Manager & 20-Year Veteran

Identity

Passport & Photos

An original passport with at least six months of remaining validity. Bring 8 to 12 extra passport photos on a plain white background. Thai photo sizes vary slightly between 3.5x4.5 cm and 4x6 cm for school files and extension paperwork.

Academic Credentials

Original Degree & Transcripts

Your physical Bachelor's degree parchment and official sealed university transcripts. Many Thai offices dislike laminated originals because verification stamps and embossing cannot sit on plastic. If yours is already laminated, check with your school or agency before you panic-order a new diploma.

Clearances & Proofs

Background Check & TEFL

A clean national criminal background check from your home country, an accredited 120-hour TEFL certificate if you have one, printouts of your school offer or placement confirmation, and health insurance policy documents.

Chapter 02 : Arrival Logistics

TDAC Pre-Registration & Smart Cash Buffer

How to manage your online arrival card and initial spending money with ease.

Pre-Arrival Form

Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

Thailand uses the online TDAC system to record incoming travelers. When your flight date is near, complete the free form on the official government site (tdac.immigration.go.th) using your flight number and first hotel address. Save the confirmation QR code offline so you can show it easily at airport immigration.

Spending Strategy

Realistic Cash & Card Reserve

You do not need to lock yourself to a rigid cash sum, but carrying a clean cash reserve (such as $800 to $1,500 in clean USD, Pounds, or Euros) alongside a working international debit card is very helpful. Thai currency exchange booths prefer crisp, uncreased banknotes with no tears or pen marks.

Arrival Expenses

Covering Your Early Weeks

Your initial funds cover your apartment security deposit (often one month of rent plus one month deposit), food, SIM card setup, and local transport until your first full monthly paycheck. ATMs in Thailand charge a standard 220 THB fee for foreign card withdrawals, so withdrawing larger amounts less frequently saves money.

Gift for the School Director? Totally Optional

Some teachers wonder if they must bring an expensive gift for their new school director. It is entirely optional and should be small: a box of chocolates, biscuits, or a postcard from your home state or country is more than enough to share warm goodwill.

Chapter 03 : School Wardrobe & Tools

School Clothing & Classroom Tech

What to wear on campus, why a personal laptop matters, and how to manage tropical heat.

Male Teachers

Men: Collars & Slacks

Pack 4 to 5 light-colored, breathable collared dress shirts (short or long sleeves), 3 pairs of tailored slacks or chinos in dark or neutral tones, and dark closed-toe shoes. Bring 1 or 2 neckties for morning assemblies, Wai Kru ceremonies, and photo days.

Female Teachers

Women: Modest Blouses & Skirts

Pack modest tops covering your shoulders and chest, paired with knee-length or longer skirts, dresses, or tailored slacks. Closed-toe flats or comfortable low heels work best. Bring one smarter outfit for formal school ceremonies. Review our full teacher dress code guide.

Work Machine

Personal Laptop & Adapter

Many Thai public schools do not issue teacher laptops. Bringing your own reliable laptop ensures you can prepare slides, plan lessons, and record grades smoothly. An HDMI adapter and a compact surge-protected power strip are very useful.

Chapter 04 : Sensible Packing

Health Supplies & What to Leave Behind

Keep your baggage light by skipping heavy winter layers and items that are easy to purchase in Thailand.

Pack Thoughtfully

Items Worth Bringing

Personal Prescriptions: A 2 to 3 month supply of essential medications in original boxes with an English doctor letter for controlled items.
Travel Health Insurance: A policy that covers your first few weeks until your formal school placement and social security setup are complete.
Comfortable Walking Shoes: One pair of supportive shoes for travel days and campus walks.
Light Cardigan: Helpful for air-conditioned staffrooms or cooler Northern mornings in December and January.
Small First-Aid Pouch: Basic painkillers, band-aids, and rehydration salt packets for your travel days.

Leave at Home

Items to Skip

Heavy Winter Parkas: Even in cool season, bulky winter jackets take up half a suitcase and are unnecessary.
Suitcases of Casual T-Shirts: Casual weekend clothes are light, comfortable, and very inexpensive at local night markets.
High-Draw Hair Dryers: North American 110V styling tools can trip Thai 220V wall sockets. Buy a local hair dryer in town for a few hundred Baht.
Heavy Hiking Boots: Unless you are planning serious mountain trekking, light running shoes or sneakers are more than enough.
Bulky Beach Towels: Studio apartments and local shops provide affordable towels: do not waste suitcase room on them.

Everyday Drinking Water

Do not drink untreated tap water in Thailand. Sealed bottled water is available everywhere for roughly 10 to 15 THB per 1.5-liter bottle, and coin-operated reverse osmosis machines provide easy, affordable refills. Learn more in our drinking water guide.

Direct Answers

Packing for Thailand FAQs

Straightforward answers to the most common questions about packing for a teaching position in Thailand.

How much cash should I bring when arriving to teach in Thailand?

Bringing a comfortable cash buffer of around $800 to $1,500 USD (or equivalent in British Pounds, Euros, or Australian Dollars) in clean, uncreased banknotes is a sensible plan. Thai currency exchange booths often prefer undamaged notes without tears or pen marks. Pair this cash reserve with a working international debit card so you can cover orientation costs, apartment deposits, and daily meals until your first salary paycheck.

Can I laminate my original university degree or academic transcripts?

It is best to avoid laminating original academic documents. Many Thai government offices, including the Teachers' Council of Thailand (Khurusapha) and provincial labour departments, prefer unlaminated originals so they can inspect embossed stamps and watermarks directly. If your degree is already laminated, check with your school or placement coordinator first before paying for an emergency replacement from your university.

Do Thai schools provide work laptops for foreign teachers?

While some private or bilingual campuses have dedicated computer labs or staff laptops, many public schools do not issue personal computers to teachers. Bringing your own dependable laptop and an HDMI adapter ensures you can prepare lesson slides, track grades, and connect to classroom projectors without relying on shared equipment.

What clothing should I leave at home?

Leave heavy winter parkas, dozens of casual graphic t-shirts, bulky trekking boots, and high-voltage hair styling tools at home. Casual shorts and tees are easy and inexpensive to buy at local night markets, while high-wattage 110V styling tools from North America can trip Thai 220V electrical circuits. A simple adapter plug and surge-protected power strip are usually all you need.

What is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)?

The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is an online pre-arrival registration system replacing traditional paper arrival slips. When your flight date is close, complete the free form at tdac.immigration.go.th and save a screenshot of your confirmation QR code to your phone so you can present it smoothly at airport immigration. Read our full overview in the TDAC arrival guide.

Why must original documents be kept in my carry-on bag?

Never pack your original degree, transcripts, background clearance, or passport inside checked luggage. Airlines occasionally misplace suitcases, and school onboarding or visa paperwork cannot move forward without physically inspecting original documents. Keeping them inside a sturdy folder in your backpack guarantees they arrive safely with you. For everyday communication upon arrival, installing the LINE messaging app on your phone is standard across Thai school faculty rooms.

Written by Matthew John

Co-Founder & Operations Manager : 20 Years in Thailand

Matthew John is the co-founder of Kids English Thailand (KET) and has spent 20 years guiding foreign educators through school placements, legal visas, and everyday life across Northern Thailand. He lives in Sukhothai with his family.

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