| When traveling to Thailand, it's important to have the | | | | without incurring an extra charge. |
| right visa so as not to land in hot water with | | | | The most sensible thing to do for any tourist hoping |
| Immigration. Forget anything you've heard about | | | | to spend some time in Phuket is to buy a tourist visa |
| bribes and under-the-table deals, when it comes to | | | | from a Thai consular office outside of Thailand. |
| your visa, don't treat it like you would a T-shirt from | | | | These visas usually give you 60 days with the |
| a street seller. Phuket has an international airport and | | | | possibility to extend for another 30 days at any Thai |
| there are also ferry links. | | | | Immigration office. This saves the hassle of running |
| Thailand offers most countries a visa on arrival. If | | | | out of days and having to do a visa run. Again, |
| you are arriving by plane, such as at Phuket | | | | however, you can't work on a tourist visa and nor |
| International Airport, then you will be given 30 days | | | | can you change its status to a non-immigrant visa. To |
| for the purpose of tourism. You can't work on this | | | | get a non-im visa you have to leave the country and |
| visa. | | | | go to a Thai consular office. |
| If you are arriving into Thailand over land (not | | | | Another recently introduced Thai Immigration law |
| possible in Phuket) then, thanks to the new | | | | states that tourists cannot be in the country for |
| Immigrations laws, you will only be given a 15-day | | | | more than 90 days during any 180-day period. This |
| visa on arrival. This can be a pain for travelers looking | | | | means that from your first date of entry, you can |
| to stay in Thailand for more than a couple of weeks. | | | | only be in the country for 90 out of the proceeding |
| Officers at some land borders will ask to see | | | | 180 days. Enter Phuket on January 1 and stay for |
| documents for your next journey to make sure you | | | | three months and you'll then have to leave for three |
| won't be staying too long. Likewise, some airlines will | | | | months and won't be able to return until the end of |
| ask to see your ongoing travel documents before | | | | June. |
| they even let you on a plane to Phuket. This can be | | | | Whatever you do, don't overstay your visa, as you |
| frustrating if you're plans are not set in stone, but it | | | | can get into all sorts of trouble and you'll just end up |
| can be worth buying a cheap air ticket from one of | | | | wasting money on fines. |
| the Thai airlines. Dates can usually be changed | | | | |