Do these in order — some steps depend on earlier ones. From the digital arrival card you file before you fly to the 90-day report you'll make at Phuket Town immigration, here's the sequence that actually works, with the island-specific gotchas nobody warns you about.
Visa sorted — confirm your entry matches your plan (visa comparison). Insurance — buy cover before you board; some visas require it. Scan everything to the cloud. File your TDAC — every foreign arrival must submit the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card in the 72 hours before landing (it replaced the old paper form). Book just 2–4 weeks of accommodation — never sign a year's lease on a place you haven't slept in.
Get a Thai SIM (AIS or True, ~฿300/month) at the airport — you'll need it for mobile banking. Install Grab and Bolt — your main way around the island. Sort cash — Thai ATMs charge a flat ฿220 foreigner fee per withdrawal, so take larger amounts less often, and tell your home bank you're travelling. Sort wheels early — see getting around.
TM30 address registration — your landlord or hotel reports your address to immigration; get the receipt (your 90-day report address must match it). Start the long-term condo hunt now that you know the area in person. Open a Thai bank account — note that since January 2026 Bangkok Bank reportedly requires a long-stay visa (not tourist/DTV); Kasikorn has been more flexible. Bring passport, visa proof and a proof-of-address letter, and be ready to try a second branch.
90-day reporting — on a long-stay visa you report your address every 90 days at Phuket Town immigration (it has a drive-through window) or online; note your first due date. Register with a hospital so you're in the system before you need it — our healthcare guide ranks them. Lock in your scooter or car.
Driving — an International Driving Permit covers you short term; for a Thai licence go to the Phuket Land Transport Office with a residence certificate and medical certificate. Enrol the kids via our schools guide. Build a social circle through sports, gyms and expat meetups — it's the difference between surviving and settling.
Rip currents. Phuket records dozens of drownings a year. West-facing beaches (Patong, Kata, Karon, Nai Harn, Bang Tao) get dangerous surf in the green season (May–Oct) — a red flag means do not enter the water, full stop. Jet-ski scam. The long-documented Patong/Kata scam rents pre-damaged skis then demands big "damage" payments — don't rent jet-skis. Transport. There's no public transport and the taxi cartel is real, so budget for your own vehicle from day one.
High season (Nov–Apr) brings dry, calm weather but inflated short-term rents and roughly double the traffic — Dec–Feb is busiest. Green/monsoon season (May–Oct) is cheaper and quieter with lush scenery and easier house-hunting, but rougher west-coast seas and more rain (rarely all day). If you can, arrive in green season to house-hunt on a budget and sign a long lease before high-season prices hit.
Confirm your visa, buy health insurance, scan your documents to the cloud, and file the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours of arrival — it's mandatory for every foreign visitor and replaced the old paper TM6 form. Book only 2–4 weeks of accommodation so you can house-hunt in person before signing a long lease.
At the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town (Talat Yai), which has an in-person counter and a drive-through window, or online. You can file from 7 days before to 7 days after the due date, and your reported address must match your latest TM30 registration. Verify the current location and hours before you go.
Usually yes, but rules tightened in 2026 — Bangkok Bank reportedly now requires a long-stay visa rather than a tourist or DTV visa, while Kasikorn has been more flexible. Bring your passport, visa proof and a proof-of-address letter, and be prepared to try a second branch. Policies change, so confirm current requirements.
Green season (May–Oct) is cheaper and quieter and the best time to house-hunt and sign a long lease before high-season price spikes — but expect rain and rough west-coast seas. High season (Nov–Apr) has the best weather but inflated short-term rents and heavy traffic.