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Country Information:
Submitted by: Dick Moore, ALIESHA
Date: 30th January 2008
1. Formal requirements for yachts entering from abroad:
Yachts are only allowed to enter at one of the official ports of entry. (See below)
Skippers should clear in with Immigration, Customs and the Harbour Authorities, in that order. Several copies of the Skipper’s passport will be required on clearing in.
Yachts are only allowed to depart from the official ports of entry, The same offices must be visited, and in the same order.
2. Visa requirements:
All visitors to Thailand need a visa. You can obtain a Visa On Arrival (VOA) from Immigration in your Port of Entry or you can get a tourist visa in advance, valid for 90 days, from outside Thailand. Note that the Captain and members of the crew are treated differently from “passengers”. Even if they hold a Tourist Visa obtained in advance, the Captain (and crew) will be granted a one month visa on arrival. After this they must leave Thailand, even if only for one day, and can then return as tourists. Passengers are granted a one month visa which can be extended for up to two further periods of thirty days each. Therefore, if you are intending to stay longer than one month it makes sense to declare all but the skipper as passengers. Then only the Captain need leave briefly to obtain an extension. Don’t ask why, this is how they are doing these things currently.
For a fuller explanation, see the News section of the website run by the Yacht Haven Marina, see www.yacht-haven-phuket.com and a slightly different version in http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Thailand/?rc=Formalities#Clearance
3. Cruising permits and restrictions:
4. Formal procedures when departing from one port and entering another:
Visit the Harbour Master with the paperwork you received on checking in to the country.
If arriving at an island which is part of a National Park, you should visit the Ranger Station and may be asked to pay a fee. Sometimes the Rangers will visit you as happened to us on our second visit to Ko Phi Phi Le.
5. Recommended cruising guides:
The Indian Ocean Pilot, 2nd Edition, by Rod Heikell, published by Imray Laurie, Norie and Wilson.
The Andaman Sea Pilot, available from www.BookHarbour.com and locally.
Cruising Guide to SE Asia, Volume 2, by Davies and Morgan, published by Imray Laurie, Norie and Wilson in 1999. Do look at the publisher’s website and down load the updates if you have a copy of this book which is getting rather out-of-date..
6. Web links providing local cruising information:
7. Some of the Ports of entry:
Phuket, Satun and Krabi on the West Coast.
8. Recommended sources of weather and climate information and reliability:
9. Where to obtain tidal information:
12. How to contact the search and rescue organisation:
11: Any comments on radio and communications:
12. Any comments on emergency and health services:
Medical tourism is a growing business in Thailand and there are excellent clinics offering all kinds of medical care.
13. Any comments on importing spares:
14: General advice, places to go, warnings:
15: Any comments on safety and security:
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