Moving to Phuket in 2026 — Your Complete Relocation Guide

1. Before You Leave — What to Sort at Home

A well-prepared move to Phuket requires several things to be handled in your home country that are difficult or impossible to arrange once you've left. Give yourself at least 3–6 months of lead time for a proper move (vs. a trial stint).

Documents to Prepare

• Certified copies of your birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), and any qualifications you may need
• Criminal background check (required for Non-OA visa and LTR applications) — allow 4–8 weeks for FBI/ACRO/NBI checks
• Medical records and prescription medications (request at least a 3-month supply; stock up on anything unusual — Thai pharmacies are good but specialist medications aren't always available)
• Copies of your driving licence — you'll need the original or certified copy to convert to a Thai licence
• Your bank's SWIFT/BIC codes and international transfer setup — you'll need to send money from abroad
• Set up Wise (formerly TransferWise) before you go — it will save you significantly on international transfers

Sort Your Finances

Tell your bank you're moving to Thailand. Some cards get blocked for "suspicious activity" after consecutive Thai transactions. Having a multi-currency card (Wise, Revolut, Starling UK) as a backup is essential — there will be a period before your Thai bank account is open when you'll rely on foreign cards and ATMs.

Set up online banking for all your home-country accounts. Organise how you'll receive pension or salary payments internationally. Research the Thai banking requirements for your visa type (฿800,000 for Non-OA retirement — see our Banking Guide).

2. Sort Your Visa First

Your visa determines everything else — your entry, your timeline, what bank balance you need, whether you need insurance upfront, and where you extend in Phuket. Don't arrive on a tourist visa hoping to sort things out once you're here, unless you have a very clear short-term plan.

The key visa options for new expats in Phuket are the Non-OA (retirement, age 50+), LTR (Long Term Resident for high earners/remote workers/retirees with higher assets), DTV (Digital Nomad/remote workers), and Non-B (working with a company/employer). Each has different requirements, processing times, and annual renewal processes.

See our full Phuket Visa Guide 2026 and our Visa Hub for complete details on each option and our recommended visa agents in Phuket.

3. Shipping Your Belongings to Phuket

This is probably the most complex logistical element of moving to Phuket, and the one people underestimate most. Here's the honest advice after watching dozens of expats navigate this.

Should You Ship at All?

For most moves to Phuket, the answer is: ship much less than you think. Furnished rentals are the norm, and quality furniture, electronics, kitchen equipment, and clothing are all available in Phuket at reasonable prices (HomePro hardware stores, Index Living Mall near Central Festival, Tesco/Lotus, and excellent custom furniture makers in Phuket Town).

What's worth shipping: Sentimental items, specific electronics that are significantly cheaper at home (high-end cameras, specialist equipment), wine collections (import duty is steep), books, children's school supplies, bicycles (cheap to ship relative to replacement cost), and anything with strong personal attachment.

What's not worth shipping: Sofas, beds, white goods (fridges, washers), generic kitchen items, basic clothing, most electronics available internationally.

Sea Freight Timelines & Costs

Most movers use LCL (Less than Container Load) — you share a container with others, paying per cubic metre. For smaller moves (1–5 CBM), this is typically the most cost-effective option.

Phuket Customs & Import Duties

Thailand allows a personal effects exemption for items you've owned for 12+ months when moving as a new resident. You'll need your visa, an itemised packing list, and proof of residency. New items are subject to import duty (rates vary 0–30% depending on category). Electronics and alcohol face the steepest duties. Customs clearance at Phuket or through Bangkok Port takes 1–3 weeks after arrival. Use an international mover with Thai customs expertise — it's not a DIY process.

4. Arrival & First Days in Phuket

Phuket International Airport (HKT) handles direct long-haul flights from several European cities seasonally, and connects via Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi, 1hr 20min flight or 12-hour overnight bus) from most global origins. Most new arrivals fly into Bangkok and connect to Phuket on the same day or take an overnight bus.

Airport to Accommodation

Grab (the Southeast Asian ride-hailing app) works at Phuket airport. From the main exit, use the official taxi queue or Grab — avoid the unlicensed taxi touts who will quote 3–4× the fair price. A Grab to Rawai or Chalong costs approximately ฿450–฿600; to Bang Tao ฿250–฿350; to Phuket Town ฿200–฿280.

First 48 Hours

• Get a Thai SIM card — either at the airport (slightly premium) or at any 7-Eleven, AIS, DTAC, or True Move shop. AIS and DTAC have the best coverage across the island. A 30-day tourist SIM with 20–30GB data costs ฿300–฿500.
• Download Grab (transport), LINE (messaging), PromptPay linked later (payments), and Google Maps with Phuket downloaded for offline use.
• Confirm your landlord has filed TM30 (address registration with immigration) — this is their legal obligation within 24 hours of your arrival.
• Find your nearest immigration office (for visa stamps/extensions: 351 Phuket Road, Phuket Town — tel 076-221-905).

5. Finding Housing in Phuket

Unless you've secured housing before arrival (possible via Airbnb, FazWaz, or agency), most new arrivals stay in a short-term rental or guesthouse for 2–4 weeks while looking for a longer-term place. This is actually the right approach — seeing properties in person is essential, and your priorities will shift once you've spent time in different areas.

How to Find Long-Term Rentals

• Facebook Groups: "Phuket Expats," "Phuket Housing & Accommodation," area-specific groups (Rawai Expats, Bang Tao Living, etc.) — these are where locals and long-term residents post unlisted rentals, often the best value.
• FazWaz: Thailand's main property portal. Good coverage, English-language, filter by area and price.
• DDProperty: Another major Thai property portal — slightly more Thai-language oriented but broad coverage.
• Local agents: Most areas have reputable local agents — particularly useful for finding off-market villas. See our Service Directory.
• Walking: In Rawai, Chalong, and Phuket Town especially, "For Rent" signs (available in English in most expat areas) on properties you actually like are a direct route to owners.

What to Expect in Rentals

Standard Thai rental contracts are 1 year minimum for longer-term leases, typically requiring 2 months deposit + 1 month advance rent. Furnished (including all appliances and basic furniture) is the norm rather than the exception. Utility bills (electricity at 5–8 THB/unit in high-rises, water, sometimes internet) are usually billed separately at cost.

See our full rent price table and area guide in the Housing Hub.

6. First Month Checklist

Get our full 47-step printable relocation checklist at the Checklist page.

7. Banking & Money in Phuket

Opening a Thai bank account is one of your first priorities after arrival. This is easier with a visa in your passport (tourist visa can sometimes work for a basic account, but results vary by branch). The most foreigner-friendly branch in Phuket for new account openings is KBank on Yaowarat Road, Phuket Town.

Required for KBank account opening: passport with valid visa, proof of address (rental agreement + TM30), sometimes a letter from immigration. The process takes 30–60 minutes. You'll receive a passbook, ATM card, and same-day access. Online banking via K Plus app (available in English) is excellent.

For international money transfers, use Wise. It consistently beats bank exchange rates by 1–3%, which on a ฿800,000 transfer saves you ฿8,000–฿24,000. The Wise account also doubles as a multi-currency debit card before your Thai bank account is open.

See our full Banking Guide for a complete bank comparison and account opening walkthrough.

8. Getting Your Thai Driving Licence

A Thai driving licence is important — it keeps you legal on the road, is required if you want to buy or register a vehicle, and significantly simplifies any police stop interactions. The process is straightforward.

Process at the Land Transport Office (LTO)

The LTO is on Chalermprakiat Rd (Route 402), Rassada, Phuket Town. Open Mon–Fri, 8:30am–4pm. Get there early — queues can be long, and processing stops at 4pm sharp.

1. Medical certificate from any Thai clinic (~฿200, takes 10 minutes)
2. Bring to LTO: passport, visa, medical certificate, proof of address, home-country driving licence (original or notarised copy), 2 passport photos, ฿505 fee
3. Brief colour-blindness test and reaction test at the LTO
4. Watch a road safety video (about 1 hour — bring something to read)
5. Receive your Thai licence same day

With a valid home-country licence, you skip the written test and practical test. The whole process takes 2–4 hours including waiting time.

See our Transport Guide for full driving, scooter, and Grab transport options.

9. Healthcare & Insurance — Sort This Early

Get health insurance in place before you arrive, or in your very first week. Don't leave this until "later" — a scooter accident in week two without insurance can ruin your financial plan entirely. Bangkok Hospital Phuket ER doesn't require payment upfront if you have direct-billing insurance; without it, expect to pay a large deposit before treatment begins.

Register with Bangkok Hospital Phuket's International Patient Service (Yaowarat Road, 076-254-425) in your first week. Fill in their patient registration form, register your insurer for direct billing, and get the hospital app downloaded. Having this done before any medical event is significantly smoother than doing it in a crisis.

See our Healthcare Guide for full hospital comparisons and insurance recommendations.

10. Settling In — The Real Timeline

Moving abroad takes longer to feel "normal" than most people expect. Here's an honest timeline from watching dozens of expats make the transition:

Month 1: Everything is exciting and overwhelming simultaneously. You're discovering new things every day, but also exhausted by bureaucracy, unfamiliar systems, and the heat.

Months 2–3: The reality check period. The novelty has faded. You're dealing with the reality of Thai bureaucracy (visa, 90-day reporting, TM30 reminders, driving licence). You may feel isolated if you haven't yet found your community or regular social anchors.

Months 4–6: You know the roads. You have a regular coffee shop. You have some local favourites for food. You know which immigration queue to use and what documents to bring. Life starts to feel genuinely good.

Year 1+: You stop thinking of yourself as a newcomer. You start giving advice to the people who just arrived.