Phuket International Airport (HKT) has separate Domestic and International terminals. Transport options include airport counter services, metered taxis, app bookings, private transfers and public buses. Before leaving arrivals, confirm the meeting point, charging method and total cost to the accommodation.
Last checked: 19 October 2026.
Before flying
Check passport validity, visa or visa-exemption eligibility and supporting documents with the relevant Royal Thai embassy or consulate. Save the accommodation’s full address, map pin and telephone number offline.
For a booked transfer, provide the flight number, arrival date, passenger count and luggage details. Confirm the meeting point, included waiting time and delay policy. Request child seats or space for mobility equipment in advance.
Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card
Non-Thai visitors entering Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), including children and infants. Submit it within the three-day window that includes the arrival date. The official service is free.
Complete the official Thailand Digital Arrival Card — Thai Immigration Bureau
- Select “Arrival Card” and enter the passport and personal details.
- Enter the flight, arrival date and accommodation address in Thailand, then complete any required health information.
- Review the details, enter an email address and submit. Download the confirmation and QR code for use without an internet connection.
Complete the information in English. TDAC is an immigration arrival form, not a visa or customs declaration. For help, see the Thai Immigration Bureau’s official TDAC instructions.
International and domestic arrivals
- Direct international arrival: follow signs for immigration, baggage reclaim and customs.
- Ordinary domestic arrival: follow signs to domestic baggage reclaim and the arrivals hall.
- International connection through another Thai airport: follow the airline’s instructions. Immigration, baggage collection and customs depend on the connection, and some passengers use a separate Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) route.
The Airports of Thailand arrival guide for Phuket explains the airport’s arrival procedures.
Through immigration, baggage reclaim and customs
On a direct international arrival, follow signs to immigration with the passport, TDAC confirmation and relevant entry documents ready. After immigration, collect checked luggage from the belt displaying the flight number. Immigration and baggage waiting times vary.
Report missing or damaged baggage to the airline’s baggage representative before leaving reclaim. Keep the baggage tag and report reference.
With all luggage collected, follow signs to customs:
- Green channel — Nothing to Declare: use this only when carrying no goods requiring duty, declaration or import permission. Customs officers may still inspect luggage.
- Red channel — Goods to Declare: use this for goods requiring declaration, or ask an officer here if unsure. Have the passport, purchase receipts and any relevant permits ready.
At the red channel, present the goods for inspection. Customs officers determine the required paperwork and any duty or tax payable. Keep the official payment receipt.
Check allowances and restrictions before travelling using the Thai Customs Department’s guidance for arriving passengers. After customs clearance, continue into the public arrivals hall to meet transport.
Find the correct meeting point
Check the terminal, floor and exit against the transport confirmation. A meeting desk, driver’s name board and vehicle collection bay may be in different places.
If the instructions say only “Phuket Airport”, contact the operator before walking outside. For a terminal change, ask airport information staff for the current public walking route.
Request an immediate app ride after collecting all luggage. Before boarding, match the driver, vehicle and registration plate to the booking.
Choosing airport transport
- Private transfer: a pre-arranged vehicle with agreed meeting instructions and booking conditions.
- Fixed-fare counter service: a quoted journey from a named operator. Confirm the destination and inclusions.
- Metered taxi: a meter-based fare with any applicable additional charges.
- App booking: collection arrangements and pricing depend on the selected service and vehicle category.
- Shared minibus: seats in a shared vehicle, with departure and drop-off conditions to check.
- Public bus: a scheduled route requiring travel from the destination stop to the accommodation.
Compare the total for the whole party, including luggage and the final journey to the hotel entrance.
Airport taxi counters and fixed fares
Airport-listed operators include Phuket Airport Limousine (PBC) and P.M.K. Taxi Minibus. AOT lists PBC counters serving both terminals and P.M.K. counters on the first floor of both terminals.
Show the full accommodation address and confirm:
- Whether the price is fixed, estimated or a starting fare.
- Whether it covers the whole vehicle or one passenger, and whether the journey is private or shared.
- Whether the hotel entrance, airport charges, luggage and any extra stops are included.
- How to pay, where to collect the vehicle and what booking slip or receipt is provided.
No current, complete official destination-fare schedule could be confirmed. Check the displayed price for the exact journey before paying and keep the receipt or booking slip.
Official service information: AOT’s Phuket Airport Limousine listing and AOT’s P.M.K. Taxi Minibus listing.
Metered taxis and other airport services
Ask specifically for the metered service if that is the intended choice. Confirm additional charges before departure and check that the meter is used. If offered a fixed fare instead, agree that charging basis before travelling.
AOT also lists CABB and EVme separately; their tariffs should not be assumed to match ordinary metered taxis. The AOT EVme VIP Taxi listing places its service in Domestic arrivals on the first floor.
Using Grab at Phuket Airport
Grab appears in AOT’s Phuket arrivals guidance and has an AOT-listed airport service point. Collection instructions depend on the selected product; an airport listing does not establish access for every Grab category at every terminal door.
Select the correct terminal and airport collection point in the app. Follow the current instructions and signed facility, asking airport staff if the pin and signs differ.
Check whether the quotation is fixed or estimated, together with payment, luggage capacity and waiting conditions. GrabTaxi and upfront-fare products use different pricing arrangements.
Bolt and inDrive
Bolt and inDrive advertise services in Phuket. Current, terminal-specific permission and collection points for their airport pick-ups could not be confirmed from Thai official sources.
Before booking collection, establish whether the supplied vehicle can use the proposed meeting point and whether reaching it requires leaving airport grounds. An accepted app booking does not establish airport authorisation. Permission to drop off passengers also does not establish permission to collect them.
Airport buses
Phuket Smart Bus: AOT lists the airport route through Cherng Talay, Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata to Rawai. The published single-ride fare is THB 100 per passenger. Check the destination stop and remaining journey to the accommodation.
Airport Bus 8411: the orange Phuket Mahanakorn service runs towards Phuket Town. AOT lists distance-based fares, with tickets available on board and payment by cash or QR. Confirm the fare to the required stop.
Ask airport information staff for the current boarding area and next departure. Official listings conflict over the boarding floor, so this guide does not give a definitive floor or exit. Confirm the final departure and luggage arrangements before relying on either bus, particularly after a late flight.
Official route information: AOT’s Phuket Smart Bus listing and AOT’s Airport Bus 8411 listing.
Shared minibuses and private transfers
For a shared minibus, confirm the departure time, luggage allowance and exact drop-off. Ask whether departure depends on passenger numbers and whether the vehicle makes other stops.
For a private transfer, obtain written confirmation of the total price, meeting point, waiting allowance and contact number. Check luggage capacity alongside passenger capacity, especially with pushchairs or mobility equipment.
Mobile data, money and facilities
AOT provides Phuket Airport free Wi-Fi instructions. Check the network name against airport signage and keep essential booking details available offline.
Before buying a SIM or eSIM, check phone compatibility, registration, validity, data allowance and whether calls are included. Test the connection before leaving the counter.
AOT lists Kasikorn Bank currency exchange in International arrivals and airport ATMs. Check exchange rates and transaction charges before confirming. Carry enough baht for the agreed transport payment; foreign payment apps do not necessarily support Thai QR payments.
Ask airport information staff for toilets, baby-changing facilities, terminal directions or help locating a transfer. AOT’s information number is 1722; Tourist Police assistance is available on 1155.
Late arrivals, families and reduced mobility
Late arrivals: confirm that the chosen service covers the flight’s arrival time and possible delays. Keep an out-of-hours contact and clear waiting instructions.
Families and large bags: request a suitable child seat and provide the actual luggage count. Confirm space for pushchairs, sports equipment and other bulky items.
Reduced mobility: arrange airport assistance with the airline and confirm the transfer vehicle separately. The AOT wheelchair-service information identifies airline and airport assistance points. Ask specifically about boarding, steps and space for mobility equipment.
Departing from Phuket
Confirm the terminal with the airline. AOT places Domestic departures on floor 2 and International departures on floor 3. For an international connection through another Thai airport, check whether the airline uses a CIQ arrangement.
Plan backwards from the airline’s required arrival time and check-in or bag-drop deadline. Use a current driving estimate from the accommodation and allow for traffic, vehicle collection and any car return.
Keep identification and boarding documents ready. Check the airline’s rules for cabin baggage, liquids, batteries and special items before packing. Follow the AOT Phuket departure procedure for the airport stages.
For connecting flights, confirm whether bags are checked through and where immigration and customs take place. The AOT Phuket transfer guide should be read alongside the airline’s instructions.
Arrival checklist
The common mistakes are choosing the wrong terminal exit, comparing a shared-seat price with a whole-car fare, and booking before confirming luggage or collection arrangements.
- Complete TDAC before entering Thailand and save the confirmation.
- Complete the relevant immigration, baggage and customs procedures.
- Keep the accommodation address and booking available offline.
- Confirm the terminal, floor and authorised meeting point.
- Check the charging method and total for passengers, bags and destination.
- Match the vehicle to the booking and keep the receipt.
For onward planning, see getting around Phuket, where to stay in Phuket and the Essential Phuket Travel Guides.
