Living in the now might be the ideal philosophy for some, but in reality most of us need to think about the future. As an expatriate, thinking ahead may not only be more crucial but there are unique considerations to keep in mind. While it is unlikely to be a surprise, transitioning to an expat life introduces complexities and various responsibilities that wouldn’t be necessary in one’s home country. 

Visas

One universal, ever-looming responsibility for Phuket expats is navigating the visa landscape. Thailand’s immigration bureaucracy is infamously tricky and almost always creates confusion and frustration for all involved. For this reason, an increasing percentage of expats hire an agent to help with this situation. Those who work for a local company are fortunate in that the human resources department will help organize visas and work permits for its foreign employees. Others who are eligible and can afford the Thailand Elite Visa will also circumvent most hassles. The remainder of expats who start their own businesses, work remotely under a digital nomad visa, reside here on a retirement visa, or marry a Thai citizen and obtain a marriage visa will need to learn the intricacies of the Thai visa system, which is constantly changing. It’s recommended to go to one of the island’s immigration offices to obtain the most up-to-date requirements at least a couple of months before applying to allow enough time to organize all of the paperwork. 

Resources and Environment

These issues are becoming an increasing concern and are gaining greater attention in the media. The spotlight is even brighter this time of year (May) as we are at the tail-end of the dry season when the island’s reservoirs are nearly empty and personal wells start running dry. Unfortunately, water issues have been known for years, but the regional government has acted slowly to remedy the problem. The island’s potential water reserves have not increased while at the same time, the population has grown dramatically. For years there has been talk of a water pipeline from Phang Nga to Phuket with the project being “approved”, but little discussion and no action has been taken. With many thousands of condos, hotel rooms, and villas currently under construction on the island, future water security is a critical issue and ought to be of primary concern for resource officials. 

Environmental degradation is another issue plaguing Phuket. A major and ongoing complaint of many long-term island residents is the polluted runoff that drains into the sea. West coast beaches are usually the focus as this is where most tourists visit and the optics of foul-smelling, opaque gray water emptying into the clear seawater is not positive, to say the least. 

Traffic

After the 2023/24 high tourist season, there is one topic that can easily unite all island residents – the worsening traffic situation. Back when Phuket was more rice fields than beach clubs (which wasn’t that long ago), no one expected that the many motorbike tracks and few roads navigable by cars would one day turn out the way they have – plagued by over congestion. It’s a tough thing to plan for as who would’ve guessed back then that Phuket would see millions of tourists per year? That being said, it has been clear for many years that Phuket will continue to be popular with tourists and expats, but planning officials have largely been reactionary instead of forward-thinking. This has not only resulted in a worsening traffic situation but has made it increasingly difficult to come up with ways to alleviate the pressure.