Where to start
- How long you can stay visa-free: what changed on 15 September 2026
- Destination Thailand Visa: the main option for long stays and remote work
- Foreign bank cards in Thailand: ATM fees and which cards work
- Common tourist scams: money changers, passport deposits, street tour sellers
- Phuket by area: where to live, schools, hospitals and drive times
Visas and entry
- How long you can stay visa-free: 30 days for 60 countries since 15 September 2026
- Extending a visa-exempt stay: THB 1,900, form TM7, Phuket immigration office
- Visa runs and border runs: the two-entries-a-year limit and who it covers
- Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): 5 years, up to 180 days per entry, documents from 31 August 2026
- Onward ticket and 20,000 baht: what immigration may ask for
- Thailand Digital Arrival Card: free, only on the official site
- Tourist entry fee: has the 300 baht fee started
- Property and visas: what a condo buyer can get
Money
- Which currency to bring and where to change it: dollars, roubles, UnionPay and licensed exchangers
- Renting for a month or longer: deposits, official electricity rates and TM30
- Foreign bank cards: ATM fees, UnionPay and charging in baht
- Which US dollar notes to bring: denominations and note years
- Paying by QR without a Thai account: TrueMoney and TAGTHAi Easy Pay
Health
- Health insurance: when it is required and what to check in a policy
- Vaccines for Thailand: what is required, what doctors advise, dengue
- Bringing a dog or cat: permit, microchip, rabies and certificate
- Pharmacies: finding an equivalent by active ingredient, prescription-only drugs
- What you can bring in: 30 days of medication and rules for controlled drugs
Safety
- Police and documents: carrying your passport and what to do if stopped
- Drugs and the law: penalties, deportation and cannabis
- Tourist scams: common schemes and the 1155 tourist police line
- Red flags and rip currents: when not to swim and how to get out
- Vapes and IQOS: import ban, possession and fines
Getting around and staying connected
- Driving in Thailand without getting fined: left-hand traffic, licences, helmets, alcohol and what to do after a crash
- Taxis in Phuket: Grab, Bolt, inDrive, tuk-tuks and the Smart Bus
- Car rental in Phuket: licence, insurance and rental desks
- Scooter licence: why a car licence is not enough
- Phuket Airport transfers: bus, taxi, Grab and travel times
- Tourist SIM or eSIM: operators, prices and the face check
Culture and language
- Thailand etiquette: shoes, head and feet, the monarchy and Section 112, temples, tipping, alcohol hours
- How to greet people: the wai, sawatdi khrap and using khun
- Thai holidays: Songkran, Loy Krathong and the 2026 no-alcohol days
- Thai for travelers: phrases for shops, taxis, cafes and emergencies
Where to live in Phuket
All areas with official condo valuations are compared on the Phuket page. Area by area: Rawai, Nai Harn, Chalong, Phuket Town, Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao, Laguna, Layan, Mai Khao. Monthly weather is in our Phuket climate data.
FAQ
How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa?
From 15 September 2026, travellers from the 60 listed countries get up to 30 days for tourism, and the 60-day exemption has been revoked. If you entered earlier, you can stay until the date in your stamp. The stay can be extended at immigration for THB 1,900, usually once per entry.
Can I live in Thailand on back-to-back border runs?
It is getting harder. TAT says that from 15 September 2026 visa-exempt travellers can generally enter through land borders no more than twice per calendar year, and the officer decides on every entry. Our visa run page explains who the limit covers.
Which visa suits a long stay in Thailand?
Remote workers and freelancers usually look at the DTV: a 5-year visa with up to 180 days per entry and one extension of another 180 days. You need THB 500,000 in the bank, and applications from 31 August 2026 also need a police clearance certificate. Buying a condo does not give you a visa by itself.
Will my bank card work in Thailand?
Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards issued abroad work at Thai ATMs and terminals, but each withdrawal carries a flat fee charged by the Thai bank. Always choose to be charged in baht. Visitors without a Thai account can pay by Thai QR through TrueMoney or TAGTHAi Easy Pay.
Can I ride a scooter with a car licence?
No, Thai rules treat car and motorcycle licences as separate. You need a motorcycle category on your home licence and your International Driving Permit, or a Thai motorcycle licence. Without it, travel insurance may refuse to pay after a crash.
Where should I live in Phuket?
For a long stay by the sea people pick the south: Rawai, Nai Harn and Chalong. The northwest (Bang Tao, Layan, Mai Khao) is closest to the airport, while Phuket Town has the hospitals, public schools and the lowest official condo valuations. All areas are compared on our Phuket page.
Sources
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