I've had a lot of conversations with Irish expats in Phuket over the years — and the same questions come up every time. Revenue. PRSI. What happens to the HSE card. The pension. Can the credit union wire money to a Thai bank? This guide covers all of it from a Phuket-resident perspective, not generic expat advice.
Ireland doesn't have a full Double Taxation Agreement with Thailand, which creates a few complications. But for most Irish expats making the move — whether retirees heading to Rawai or remote workers setting up in Bang Tao — the practical steps are straightforward once you know them.
📋 In This Guide
Before You Leave Ireland
The Irish system, unlike the UK, doesn't have a formal "leaving the country" notification form — but you still have clear legal obligations to Revenue and the Department of Social Protection. Start these steps 3–6 months before departure.
Notify Revenue
File via myAccount. Update your address and inform your employer PAYE is stopping. File a tax return for your year of departure (Form 11 if self-employed, Form 12 otherwise).
Protect Your PRSI Record
Request your PRSI contribution statement from welfare.ie. You need 520 contributions (10 years) for full state pension. Record is permanent — it doesn't disappear when you leave.
Sort Health Insurance
VHI, Laya, Irish Life all end on departure. You need international health insurance before leaving. Arrange Cigna Global or Pacific Cross before your flight — don't arrive in Thailand uninsured.
Keep One Irish Account
Keep your AIB or Bank of Ireland account open — you'll need it for Irish income (pension, rents). Set up Wise for transfers. Revolut works well as a bridge.
Revenue Commissioners & Irish Tax Residency
You are tax resident in Ireland for a year if you spend 183 days or more there, or 280+ days across two consecutive years. Once you leave permanently and reduce days below these thresholds, Irish tax residency ends — but this happens gradually, not on the day you land in Thailand.
Ireland and Thailand do not have a comprehensive Double Taxation Agreement (DTA). This means Irish-source income (pension, rental income, dividends) may be subject to Irish withholding tax even when you are tax resident in Thailand. Get professional advice from a tax adviser familiar with both jurisdictions before making significant financial moves.
| Your Situation | Irish Tax Residency | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Year you depart (partial year) | Still Irish tax resident for that year | File Form 11 or Form 12 for departure year |
| 183+ days in Ireland per year | Irish tax resident | Normal Irish tax obligations apply |
| Under 183 days but 280+ over 2 years | May still be resident | Track days carefully; get advice |
| Under 183 days (1 year) AND under 280 (2 years) | Non-resident | Revenue Non-Residence declaration |
| Irish-source income (rent, pension) | Always taxed in Ireland | Withholding tax applies regardless of residency |
Irish Rental Income While Abroad
If you let your Irish property before moving, rental income is always taxable in Ireland regardless of where you live. You must file Irish tax returns annually for rental income. Overseas landlords must have a collection agent (typically the tenant or a letting agent) deduct 20% withholding tax at source, or file through Revenue Online Service (ROS) directly.
PRSI & Social Welfare
Your PRSI contribution record is permanent. Leaving Ireland doesn't erase paid contributions — they're banked. This matters most for your state pension, which requires 520 paid contributions (10 qualifying years) for full entitlement.
| PRSI Entitlement | Status When Abroad | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State Pension (Contributory) | ✅ Payable abroad | Paid to foreign bank account; requires 520 paid contributions |
| Jobseeker's Benefit | ❌ Stops on departure | Residence-based; cannot claim from Thailand |
| Illness Benefit | ❌ Stops on departure | Residence-based |
| Carer's Benefit/Allowance | ❌ Stops | Residence-based |
| Child Benefit | ❌ Stops | Child must be resident in Ireland |
| PRSI contributions record | ✅ Permanent | Protected; resumes if you return to Ireland |
| Voluntary PRSI contributions | ❌ Not available | Cannot top up as non-resident worker abroad |
Request your contribution statement at welfare.ie (MyWelfare) before departure. This gives you a permanent record of your accumulated contributions and confirms your state pension entitlement position. Takes 5 minutes online.
HSE Coverage & Health Insurance in Phuket
The HSE (Health Service Executive) is residence-based. Once you are no longer ordinarily resident in Ireland, public health entitlement ends. This includes GP visit cards, medical cards and public hospital access. Private Irish health insurance (VHI, Laya, Irish Life Health) also ends on departure — check your policy but standard terms exclude non-resident cover after a period (typically 60–90 days abroad).
In Phuket, the main hospitals are Bangkok Hospital Phuket (076-254-425 — JCI-accredited, English-speaking, Yaowarat Road), Siriroj Hospital (076-361-888, Cherng Talay), and Vachira Phuket (public hospital, 076-361-234). Healthcare quality is excellent and substantially cheaper than Ireland.
Cigna Global
Most comprehensive for Phuket expats. Direct billing at Bangkok Hospital. Annual premiums from ~€1,200–€6,000 depending on age and coverage level. [AFFILIATE_CIGNA_HEALTH]
Pacific Cross
Popular with long-term Phuket residents. Strong direct billing network. Good value for under-50s. [AFFILIATE_PACIFIC_CROSS]
Non-OA Visa Insurance
If using a retirement Non-OA visa, Thailand requires OIA-approved insurance (min ฿40,000 outpatient + ฿400,000 inpatient). OIA compliance ≠ real coverage — get both.
Dental
Phuket dental is world-class and very affordable. Crown ~฿8,000 (€200) vs Ireland €1,500+. Bangkok Hospital Dental Centre or Phuket Dental Signature both popular with expats.
Irish Pension Abroad
The Irish State Pension (Contributory) can be paid to a foreign bank account. You must have at least 520 paid PRSI contributions and reach pension age (currently 66, rising to 67 in 2028 and 68 in 2035 under current plans). Payments are made by the Department of Social Protection and can be sent to a Thai bank, though exchange rates through the Irish Government payment system are typically poor — using Wise to receive into a Revolut or Wise account and convert is better.
Occupational / Private Pensions
Occupational pension drawdowns are normally taxed in Ireland under PAYE, even when you live abroad, because Ireland taxes pension income at source. The absence of a full Ireland-Thailand DTA means you cannot easily claim a tax treaty exemption on the Thai side. Most Irish expats in Phuket with occupational pensions accept the Irish withholding tax and manage by keeping costs low in Thailand.
Thailand's Department of Revenue issued Instruction Paw 161/2566 in 2023, effective 1 January 2024. Under this rule, foreign income remitted to Thailand in the same calendar year it was earned is now assessable for Thai income tax on Thai tax residents (those spending 180+ days in Thailand per year). This affects Irish expats who bring pension or rental income into Thailand in the year earned. Income remitted from prior-year savings is currently unaffected. Get professional tax advice if you are in this situation.
Irish Banking & Sending Money to Phuket
Keep your AIB or Bank of Ireland account open after moving — you'll need it for any Irish income. The days of Irish banks closing accounts of non-resident customers are mostly past, but notify your bank of your change of address (you can use a family member's address in Ireland as a contact address).
Best Way to Send Money from Ireland to Thailand
| Method | Fee | Exchange Rate | Speed | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (formerly TransferWise) | ~0.6–1% | Mid-market | 1–2 days | ✅ Best overall |
| Revolut | Low outside working hours | Good (check limits) | Instant–1 day | ✅ Good for smaller amounts |
| AIB/BOI SWIFT wire | €25–35 per transfer | Bank rate (poor) | 2–5 days | ❌ Avoid for regular transfers |
| Western Union | Variable | Poor | Fast | ❌ Expensive |
Opening a Thai Bank Account
You'll need a Thai bank account — essential for paying rent, utilities, and meeting visa financial requirements. KBank (Kasikorn Bank) at 1 Yaowarat Road branch in Phuket Town is the most flexible for new arrivals — they sometimes open accounts on a tourist stamp with a local SIM card. Bangkok Bank on Phang Nga Road is the other popular option. Bring: passport, visa stamp, Thai SIM, and local address evidence (hotel booking or lease).
Visa Options for Irish Citizens in Phuket
Irish citizens are visa-exempt for Thailand for 60 days on arrival (air entry). This is enough to explore Phuket and find a rental before committing to a longer-term visa. Your main options for staying long-term are below.
| Visa Type | Cost | Duration | Requirements | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTV (Digital Nomad) | ฿10,000 | 180 days/entry, 5-year validity | Employed/freelance abroad; ฿500k income evidence | Remote workers, freelancers |
| Thailand Elite (TPEC) | ฿900,000–฿2.5M | 5–20 years | Clean background check; no income proof | Convenience-seekers, retirees |
| LTR — Wealthy Global | ฿10,000 | 10 years | Assets USD 500k+ OR income USD 80k+/year | High net worth |
| LTR — Wealthy Pensioner | ฿10,000 | 10 years | Pension/passive income USD 40k+/year; age 50+ | Retirees with good pension income |
| Non-OA (Retirement) | ~฿2,000/year | 1 year renewable | Age 50+; ฿800,000 in Thai bank; OIA insurance | Most retirees age 50+ |
| Non-B (Work) | ฿2,000 | 1 year | Thai employer + work permit | Employed by Thai company |
| Tourist extension | ฿1,900 | 30 extra days | Passport photo + form | Temporary extension only |
Under-50 remote worker → DTV. Over-50 retiree with modest pension → Non-OA. Over-50 with solid Irish pension (€3,000+/month) → consider LTR Wealthy Pensioner for 10-year stability. High-budget, low admin preference → Thailand Elite. A good visa agent in Phuket charges ฿5,000–฿15,000 and is worth every baht for the first application. [AFFILIATE_VISA_AGENT]
Settling in Phuket — First Steps for Irish Expats
The Irish community in Phuket is small but warm. You'll find expat Irish scattered across Rawai, Bang Tao, and Phuket Town — and they're easy to find through the Phuket Expats Facebook group (80,000+ members). Here's what to do in your first month.
Week 1: Immediate Practical Steps
- Get an AIS SIM — Best coverage island-wide. ฿299/month for unlimited data. AIS counters at the airport and Central Festival.
- Get Grab — The Thai equivalent of Uber. Essential for getting around without a vehicle initially.
- Open KBank account — KBank Yaowarat Road branch, Phuket Town. Bring passport, visa stamp, SIM.
- Register LINE — Thailand runs on LINE messaging (not WhatsApp). Landlords, delivery services, local shops all use LINE.
- Set up PromptPay — Thailand's instant transfer system, linked to your Thai phone number via KBank app. Essential for daily life.
Finding a Home Base in Phuket
For Irish expats, the most popular areas are:
- Rawai / Nai Harn — Quiet, community-feel, beautiful Nai Harn Beach, affordable. Popular with retirees. 1-bed from ฿12,000/month.
- Bang Tao / Laguna — Expat-heavy, BISP and UWC schools nearby, strong remote worker scene. 1-bed from ฿18,000/month.
- Phuket Town — Most affordable, walkable, great food scene, great for singles. 1-bed from ฿8,000/month.
- Chalong — Central, practical, near Tiger Muay Thai on Soi Ta-iad, affordable. 1-bed from ฿10,000/month.
Use DDProperty.com and FazWaz.com for listings. Facebook Marketplace and local groups also have excellent direct-landlord deals.
Irish Institutions & Consular Services
Ireland does not have a consulate in Phuket. The nearest Irish consular representation is the Embassy of Ireland in Bangkok (2nd Floor, Diethelm Tower A, 93/1 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Bangkok). For emergencies, Irish citizens can also contact the British Embassy in Bangkok (Ireland and the UK have reciprocal consular assistance agreements). In a genuine emergency, call the Department of Foreign Affairs consular assistance line: +353 1 408 2000.