KOHlist guides
Living, working and buying on the islands
Straight answers for Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, with links to the official office that decides. General information, not legal advice.
Property & land
Buying property in Thailand as a foreignerWhat foreigners can and can't own on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao — condos, leases, houses and companies — and how to buy safely.Thai title deeds explained: chanote, Nor Sor 3 Gor, Nor Sor 3, Sor Kor 1The different Thai land documents, what each lets an owner do, and why it matters when buying or leasing land on the islands.Leasehold in Thailand: 30-year leases, renewals, usufruct and superficiesHow registered leases work on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, what "30+30" really means, and the other rights you can register.
Work & hiring
Work permits and visas for working on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh TaoWho needs a work permit, how employers get one, the reserved occupations, remote work on a DTV or LTR visa, and what happens if you work without one.Hiring staff on the islands: Thai employees, foreign staff and Myanmar workers (MOU)Contracts, minimum wage, social security and the legal routes for employing workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Scooters & driving
Getting a Thai motorbike licence on Koh Samui (and riding legally on Phangan and Tao)When an International Driving Permit is enough, how foreigners get a Thai motorcycle licence at the Department of Land Transport, and what the tests involve.Buying a used scooter on the islands: the green book, tax and transferWhat the motorbike green book is, what to check before buying a second-hand scooter on Samui, Phangan or Tao, and how to transfer ownership.