Update September 2024
Phuket is one of Thailand’s southernmost provinces and its largest island. Phuket and the surrounding islands are undeniably one of the best cruising destinations in South East Asia. Many islands have good anchorages or mooring buoys, and there are several marinas in Phuket and nearby Krabi. Good snorkelling, white beaches, hongs and mangroves to explore. Affordable restaurants, delicious food, chandleries, slip-yards, and happy smiling locals.
All vessels entering Phuket are required to go to a mooring or anchor in Ao Chalong to complete formalities before travelling to other parts of Phuket & Thailand. Once you have secured your boat, you must go to the Phuket Yacht Control Centre at the end of the Chalong Pier in Ao Chalong. *Clearing into and out of Phuket is usually a straightforward process as they have a great system where once you have entered the particulars of the boat into their system, you need never do it again as long as there are no changes.
You simply enter the skipper, crew and passenger details into the system when *checking in and out. Then, make your way to the Harbour Master, Immigration and Customs. We have only been directed to the Quarantine office once (and only the Master had to attend). As we have cleared into and out of Phuket numerous times and have only been to quarantine once, I can’t tell you more about this check-in procedure.
Leaving the vessel in Phuket
Knowing if any crew plans to leave by air or transport other than the vessel they arrived on is essential.
It makes things easier if every person apart from the Master logs themselves as a passenger. The Master and crew of a vessel cannot leave Thailand on a different mode of transport than the boat they entered on. Therefore, you must enter the crew that will be going as passengers. You can not mark everyone on board as a passenger; each vessel does require one crew member (the Master).
If the Master wants to leave the country without the boat they arrived on, they will have to pay a ฿20,000 bond. You do this at Vessel Control at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town. Once they return to Phuket, they must revisit the Vessel Control Office. At Vessel Control, they will receive a cheque for the bond and directions to the bank where they can go to have it cashed.
Alternatively, you can pay ฿2000 (non-refundable) to receive a stamp on your passport, allowing you to leave the country and extend your visa if applicable.
Visas
On July 15, 2024, Thailand implemented a visa-free entry scheme for citizens from 93 countries. This scheme allows them to stay for up to 60 days without a visa and permits them to extend their stay by another 30 days. Additionally, the list of countries eligible for Visa on Arrival (VOA) at immigration checkpoints has been increased from 19 to 31 countries/territories.
Moreover, a new Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) has been introduced, allowing foreigners to stay in Thailand for up to 180 days for tourism and remote work.
Visa and stay extensions cost ฿1900 and can be obtained at three offices in Phuket: the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town, Blue Tree, and Patong.
In 2015, we stopped at Penang and went to the Thai Embassy to apply for a 60-day visa. If desired, I assume you could stop there on the way to Phuket and get the new DTV 180-days visa. I will update this information as I get it. You can also apply online.
Clearing in and out of Phuket at the Phuket Yacht Control Centre.
Where: The two-storey building with the sloping roof at the end of the Chalong Pier in Ao Chalong – 07° 49.08’N, 98° 21.05’E
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- Get to Chalong Pier – take your dinghy through the marina breakwater and head towards the jetty. You will see where people leave their dinghies.
- Shuttle buses carry passengers to the end of the pier from shore for ฿10 (return).
When: Open from 0900 – 1500 (closed from lunch between 1200 – 1300
Phone: +66 (0)76 38 3900, +66 (0) 7638 1614
Website to create an account: http://yachtcontrol.depa.cloud
Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town (For visa extensions and Vessel Control)
Where: 482 Phuket Road, Taladyai, Muang, Phuket 83000 THAILAND
When: Monday to Friday 08:30 – 16:30 (Lunch 12:00 – 13:00. Avoid arriving after 11:00)
Phone: +66 076-221905
Website: http://www.phuketimmigration.go.th/index.php
Email: [email protected]
Checklist
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- Turn on your AIS (It is mandatory for all foreign yachts coming into Phuket to be equipped with an Automatic Identification System.
- Have at least three copies of all passports and boat registration (You can get photocopies at the reception office for a small fee)
- Photo of the vessel (hard copy or a Jpeg ready to email)
- A letter of authority if you are not the owner of the vessel**
- Cash for payments
- Dress neatly and be patient. It can get busy at times.
- Be aware that the office closes from midday until 1300. Arrive before 1130 or wait until after 1300
Checking into Phuket
Registration Office
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- Fill in the arrival logbook.
- If it is the first time the vessel has entered Thailand, an account will be set up (user/password), and you will enter the vessel’s particulars.
- You enter the details of the Master and then of the crew/passengers. Note: You can do this step online at http://yachtcontrol.depa.cl
- Fees: Weekdays – Nil / Weekend & public holidays – Nil
Harbour Master
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- Fill in the arrival log book.
- Supply Harbour Master with a copy of boat registration, passports and last port clearance and your MMSI number.
- Fees: Weekdays – Nil / Weekend & public holidays – Nil
Immigration
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- Supply the immigration officer with all passports and a copy of the boat registration.
- One at a time, you will be called up for biometrics – photo and fingerprints.
- Fees: Weekdays – Nil / Weekend & public holidays – Nil
Customs
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- Fill in the arrival log book.
- Supply the customs officer with –
- Last port clearance
- Copy of boat registration
- Copy of passport (owner/captain)Immigration stamp import
- Picture of the boat (can be emailed to [email protected])
- Power of attorney** (if you are not the owner)
- Certificate of ship entry
- Fees: Weekdays – Nil / Weekend & public holidays – ฿800
Checking out of Phuket
Registration
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- Fill in the departure logbook.
- At the computers, log in and click on check out next to your vessel name.
- Enter the details of the Master and then of the crew/passengers.
- Note: You can do this step online at http://yachtcontrol.depa.cloud
- Fees: Weekdays – Nil / Weekend & public holidays – Nil
Harbour Master
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- Fill in the departure logbook.
- Supply Harbour Master with a copy of the boat registration, passports and last port clearance.
- You will receive port clearance.
- Fees: Weekdays – Nil / Weekend & public holidays – ฿500 (but when we asked for a receipt, he said no (so this may not be legit).
Immigration
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- Supply the immigration officer with all passports and a copy of the boat registration.
- One at a time, you will be called up for biometrics – photo and fingerprints.
- Fees: Weekdays – Nil / Weekend & public holidays – ฿310
Customs
Fill in the departure logbook.
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- Supply the customs officer with –
- The port clearance from the Harbour Master
- Copy of passport (owner/captain)
- Immigration stamp import
- Picture of the boat (you can email to [email protected]
- Power of attorney* (if you are not the owner)
- Fees: Weekdays – ฿200 / Weekend & public holidays – ฿1000
- Supply the customs officer with –
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Notes:
* Clearing in/out & checking in/out are interchangeable. I have used both terms in my article, as I do in general and find that many other cruising sailors also do.
** Power of attorney is the authority to act for another person in specified or all legal or financial matters. In this case, a power of attorney permits another person to check a vessel into or out of Thailand without the owner present. We have had to get a letter of authority when we have taken other people’s boats out of, or into, the country when doing boat deliveries. In its simplest form, a letter from the owner stating you are the Master of the vessel and have permission to leave Phuket will suffice.
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