Thailand: Phuket Check-in – Feedback from Cruisers
Useful information on Clearing in and out in Phuket.
Published 8 years ago, updated 6 years ago
Posted 12th August 2014
Phuket Check-in
Recent information on Phuket checks in at the new immigration, customs and harbour master facility in Chalong Pier.
· Friendly service
· Passports, boat papers, documents that are required to be filled in are scanned at the first section where you register.
· All of the forms are prefilled in and signed before they are scanned into the system.
· It takes some time the first time you do it but once the information is on file following visits are much faster.
· Every department you go to after you have scanned your documents in requiring no further paperwork. The scanned information is used.
· They are not enforcing the need to have a tracking transponder aboard. The system isn’t ready and they do not have the transponders.
· They (Phuket) are abiding by the new/current regulations where the boat gets 6 months and the people get whatever their visa allows or they get the normal visa on entry 30 days
· It is clearly written on a sign that Saturdays are a 600B fee and Sundays 800B fee. Fees of 800B apply to public holidays as well.
· A photograph is taken of all crew and passengers, who of course must be there. They use the same system as the airport for photos.
Krabi Check-in
Information regarding Krabi check-in is that they are not using the current Thailand regulations and are giving the boat the same amount of time as the boat owners visa. Example – if you have a 3-month visa your boat gets 3 months only.
If intending to check in at Krabi – it may help to print out this pdf of the New Amendment to Customs Regulations and take it to Krabi Customs. We are trying to get the amendment in Thai so the Customs can read it in their own language.
Report from Bob Mott
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I recently re-entered Phuket in my yacht after several years away from the country. I was, frankly, dreading the check-in procedure with the Immigration, Customs and Harbourmaster offices which, in the past, was somewhat chaotic, with often long queues and numerous forms to complete and photocopies to make. The process at the new ‘one-stop-shop’ on Chalong pier could not have been more different.
On arrival, we were asked if we’d completed the check-in forms online (we hadn’t). A young lady said this was no problem and led us to one of three computer terminals where, with her patient help and good humour, we completed the online forms. We were then directed to the Immigration, Customs and Harbour Master offices (in that order as I recall) which were adjacent to each other. At each station, the information we had pre-entered online was produced with no further need for form-filling. Copies of passports, yacht registration, and clearance from last port were, of course, required – as they are at all entry harbours around the world.
AIS is now a requirement in Phuket/Thailand as, increasingly, it is in other countries. A large screen throws up the locations of yachts and other craft in Chalong and neighbouring anchorages, so trying to bluff your way through (if you DON’T have AIS) is unlikely to work. And it goes without saying that check-in yachts should have their AIS transponders turned on.
From entering the Chalong check-in complex to leaving it with all papers in hand, took no more than about 30 minutes (there were no other yachts checking in at the time). Aside from the efficiency of staff, I also found them courteous and friendly – not something said often of government officials. So all-in-all a painless experience and one which left me with a positive feeling towards Phuket.
All that said, anchoring or mooring in Chalong Bay is not a pleasant experience (especially to newcomers). While it is not unreasonable of the authorities to require visiting yachts to present themselves in Chalong Bay, the provision of ample and reliable mooring buoys or pontoons still leaves much to be desired.