Can you buy property in Phuket as a foreigner?
You have stayed in Phuket often and now want a home of your own. Here is what a foreigner can own, and how. The check most buyers leave too late: ask for the building's foreign quota before you make an offer.
Yes, within clear limits. You can own a condominium unit freehold in your own name, if the building's foreign quota is not full. You cannot own land. For a villa, you own the house and hold the land on a registered lease. These rules apply across Thailand, not only in Phuket.
Foreign buyers choose one of three homes. A sea-view condo, a pool villa on leased land, or a unit in a branded residence run by a hotel group. Each has its own paperwork and its own risks. The right one depends on how often you will use it, and whether you plan to rent it out.
Read our buying property in Thailand guide for the national rules in full. Below is what changes when you buy in Phuket.
Condo, villa or branded residence: what you can own
A condo is the only home a foreigner can own outright, land share included. A villa means owning the building and leasing the land. A branded residence is a condo or a villa with a hotel brand's service, so it follows one of those two sets of rules.
- Condominium: freehold in your own name. Foreign ownership in the building may not go over 49% of the total unit floor area (Condominium Act B.E. 2522, section 19 bis).
- Villa: you can own the building, but not the land under it. The land is held on a registered lease.
- Land lease: up to 30 years per term. Renewal options are terms in the contract and are not guaranteed by law.
- Branded residence: a condo or villa with hotel services and often a rental programme. Check which legal form you are buying.
If the building's foreign quota is full, the unit can only go to a Thai buyer or be held on a lease. See our branded residences guide for how the hotel-run homes work.
Can an American (or anyone) legally buy a house in Thailand?
Yes, and the rules are the same for every nationality. An American, a Briton or an Emirati can own the house itself, but not the land under it. The land is held on a registered lease of up to 30 years per term. A condo can be owned freehold within the foreign quota.
Walk away from any offer to put land in the name of a Thai person or a Thai company that acts only for you. We do not arrange nominee structures, and we tell you to avoid them.
Your independent lawyer checks the title deed, the seller and the lease before you pay anything.
Where to buy in Phuket
Most buyers look at the west coast, from Layan in the north to Nai Harn in the south. Each area has its own feel. Bang Tao and Laguna suit families and golfers. Surin and Kamala are smaller and more private. Cape Yamu, on the east coast, faces the islands of Phang Nga Bay.
- Bang Tao and Laguna: a long beach, a large resort area, golf and good schools nearby. See our Bang Tao guide.
- Layan: quiet, green and close to the airport side of the island.
- Surin: a short beach with some of Phuket's most private homes.
- Kamala: a calm bay with a village feel and hillside sea views.
- Cape Yamu: a private headland on the east coast with views over Phang Nga Bay.
- Rawai and Nai Harn: the south, with a local feel, sailing and long-stay residents.
Drive times matter if you fly often. From Phuket International Airport, Surin Beach is about 40 minutes by car and Nai Harn about 70 minutes (checked November 2026). Our Phuket guide covers every area.
How a purchase works
On request, we introduce a Phuket agent we trust and an independent lawyer. The agent shows you homes that fit your brief; the lawyer works only for you. A purchase runs in five steps.
- Brief: you tell the agent the area, size, budget and how you will use the home.
- Shortlist: the agent sends homes that fit, with photos and the legal form of each.
- Viewings: you see the homes with the agent, at your own pace.
- Lawyer: your independent lawyer checks title, quota and contract.
- Transfer: registration at the Land Office, with your lawyer present.
Never sign or pay on the day of a viewing. Time to think is part of a good purchase.
What it costs
Government fees and taxes are paid at the Land Office on transfer day. The contract should say who pays each one. Your lawyer agrees their own fee with you before any work starts.
The Department of Lands charges a transfer fee of 2% of the official appraised value. The Revenue Department charges specific business tax of 3.3% on a sale within 5 years of buying; otherwise stamp duty of 0.5% applies. A company seller withholds 1% income tax, and a private seller pays on a scale set by the years held.
For a condo, keep the bank's proof that the money came from abroad in foreign currency. Your lawyer asks for it before the transfer. Running costs, such as the building's common fees, differ by project. Get them in writing.
Visas for owners
Owning property in Phuket gives you no visa. For a long stay, owners use a separate route, such as the Long-Term Resident visa run by the Board of Investment, or Thailand Privilege. The LTR visa lasts 10 years, with a fee of ฿50,000 when collected in Thailand (BOI).
Thailand Privilege Gold costs ฿900,000 for 5 years, per its own price list. Read our LTR visa guide to see if you qualify.
Plan it with Tanner
Tanner, your planner, books the search trip for you. We also plan your stay, flights and car while you look. Moving for good? Our relocation services cover schools, banks and visas too. You choose the home; the trip, the viewings and the introductions are ours. Send us your brief. We get back to you right away.
