Buy Property in Phuket as a Foreigner

How buying property in Phuket works

1. 1

   Pick the route to ownership

   Condo? You can own it freehold in your own name. Villa with land? You'll use a registered leasehold or a Thai company. We confirm which applies before you commit.

2. 2

   Reserve and check the title

   Pay a reservation deposit and have the Chanote title, access, and building permissions verified. For condos, we confirm the building is within its 49% foreign quota.

3. 3

   Bring funds in correctly

   For a condo freehold, the purchase funds must be transferred into Thailand in foreign currency and a Foreign Exchange Transaction form obtained, this is required to register foreign freehold.

4. 4

   Set up the structure (villas)

   For landed property we register a Thai Co. Ltd (1-2 weeks) or draft the 30-year registered lease, depending on the route chosen.

5. 5

   Transfer at the Land Office

   The transfer is registered at the provincial Land Office, where transfer fees and taxes are settled and the title or lease is recorded in your (or the company's) name.

Ownership rules for foreigners

Thai law prohibits foreign land ownership. There are three legal routes: (1) buy a condo unit freehold, foreigners can own up to 49% of a building's total floor area; (2) take a registered leasehold of up to 30 years (renewals negotiated by contract) on a villa or land; or (3) hold land through a Thai Co. Ltd, the standard vehicle where foreign investors want a villa with land. For condos, no company is needed; for landed villas, a leasehold or company structure is required.