Working Remotely From Phuket: Visas, Internet and Coworking (2026)

Visas for remote workers

Thailand does not formally allow work on a tourist visa or visa exemption, even for a foreign employer, and guides describe remote work on those entries as a legal grey area that is not recommended for a long stay. The Destination Thailand Visa, called the DTV, was created in 2024 for remote workers, freelancers and people on a long workation. It is usually described as lasting 180 days per entry with a possible extension of 180 more, with a fee of about 10,000 baht, and it requires proof of remote work or income and funds. Other long-stay routes include the Long-Term Resident visa and the Privilege card. Our visa guides explain each one, and the entry rules have been changing, as the news section reports.

Tax: the 180-day rule

Your visa does not decide your tax position, but your days in Thailand do. If you spend 180 days or more in a calendar year, you are a Thai tax resident, and foreign income that you bring into Thailand may be taxable, as the tax guide explains. Keep a record of your days and your income, and ask a tax adviser before you stay for a long period or move money in.

Internet and backup

Fibre broadband is common in condos and many villas, with speeds from tens to several hundred megabits depending on the building. Test it before you sign a lease, run a speed test at different times, and ask other tenants about reliability. Sources report coworking speeds that range from about 20 to 50 megabits in some places to 100 or more in others, so check the actual figures.

Always keep a backup. A Thai data SIM or eSIM on a different network, as the SIM guide explains, will keep you online when a storm or a line fault takes the home connection down. A small battery backup for your router helps through short power cuts.

Coworking spaces

Phuket has dozens of coworking spaces, with concentrations in Bang Tao, Chalong and Rawai, Kata, Patong and Phuket Town. Guides quote day passes from about 250 to 600 baht, monthly hot desks from roughly 3,500 to 8,500 baht and private offices from about 8,000 baht upward, and prices differ widely between places. Cafes with good Wi-Fi are a cheaper alternative, but noise and power sockets vary. Visit a space and try a day pass before you commit to a month, and check opening hours, meeting rooms, backup power and the community.

Where to live

• Bang Tao and Cherngtalay: modern, with many coworking spaces and a large remote-working community, but higher rents.
• Chalong, Rawai and Nai Harn: relaxed, with a large long-term expat community and good value.
• Phuket Town: local life, cafes and lower costs, but farther from the beaches.
• Kata and Karon: beach life and good services, but busier in the high season.
• Patong: lively and convenient, but noisy.

The areas guide and the long-term rentals page give more detail, and the cost of living guide shows typical budgets. Some sources quote monthly budgets of about 55,000 to 90,000 baht for a comfortable remote-work life.

Practical checklist

• Choose a visa that allows your plan, and keep your documents ready.
• Track your days for tax.
• Test the internet in the flat before you sign.
• Set up a Thai SIM and a second connection.
• Get health insurance that covers you, as the health guide explains.
• Open a bank account if your visa allows, and learn the money transfer rules.
• Join a coworking space or a community group to meet people.
• Plan for the rainy season, when storms can interrupt power and internet.