Phuket International Airport (HKT) is the gateway to Thailand’s most popular island and picking up a tourist SIM card after landing is quick and painless.
Official counters, including AIS, DTAC / True Move H, are right in the arrivals hall, with plans starting at 299 THB (~$8).
If your phone supports eSIM, you can skip the counter entirely and activate a Thailand eSIM before your flight lands. This guide covers all you need to know about buying a SIM card at Phuket Airport (HKT): where to buy at the airport, what each carrier charges, and how an eSIM compares.
👉 Get your Thailand eSIM and activate it before you fly:
In this article
SIM card counters from all major carriers are located in the international arrivals hall (Terminal 2, Floor 1), right after customs. You will walk past them on your way to the exit — they are hard to miss.
🔔 Update about Thai networks: Thailand has two major mobile networks: AIS and True Corp. (True Move H and DTAC merged into True Corp and now share the same infrastructure). Both brands still maintain separate counters at HKT, but the network coverage behind them is identical.
AIS has the widest coverage across Thailand. It is a good option if your trip includes smaller remote islands, Chiang Rai, or the northern mountains around Pai.
Location: International Arrivals Hall, near Exit 1–2 (after customs).
Payment: AIS at Phuket airport accepts Visa/Mastercard (unlike Bangkok airports where cash is typically required). That said, it is still wise to have some Thai Baht on hand as a backup. Currency exchange booths are located throughout the arrivals hall if you need to convert money.
What you need: Passport and a carrier-unlocked phone.
Opening hours: Generally open during all international flight arrivals. However, 24/7 operation is not guaranteed. If you land very late, the counter may be closed.
💡 Pro tip: Staff will take a quick photo of you during registration. This is a standard procedure under Thai SIM registration law.
→ Learn more about guide about AIS SIM cards and eSIM
Since True Move H and DTAC run on the same network, the difference at the airport lies mainly in branding and plan selection. DTAC counters usually carry the cheapest entry-level tourist SIMs, while True Move H offers the premium “Infinite” packages with full 5G speeds.
DTAC locations:
True Move H locations:
→ Learn more about guide about DTAC SIM cards and eSIM
There is a 7-Eleven at Phuket airport, but it is not located in the arrivals hall. The store is on Floor 3–4 (Departure/Public area) — meaning you would need to haul your heavy luggage upstairs after landing just to reach it.
Even if you make the trip, buying a SIM card there is highly unreliable. Travelers consistently report the following problems:
✅ Recommendation: The reliable option is to buy from the official carrier counters in the arrivals hall or use a pre-purchased eSIM. If you want the cheaper 7-Eleven prices, wait until you reach Patong or Phuket Town where the local stores are less hectic and better stocked.
Three carriers sell tourist SIMs at HKT – AIS, DTAC / True Move H – with prices ranging from 299 to 1,699 THB (~$8–$47) depending on the data allowance.
AIS is the premium pick at Phuket, with the strongest coverage on the islands and the widest plan range.
| Duration | Data | Price (THB) | Price (USD) | Notes |
| 8 days | 10 GB + social apps | 299 THB | ~$8.30 | Budget pick |
| 8 days | Unlimited | 499 THB | ~$13.90 | Best seller |
| 15 days | Unlimited (4 Mbps cap) | 699 THB | ~$19.40 | Speed-capped after FUP |
| 30 days | Unlimited (10 Mbps cap) | 999 THB | ~$27.80 | Long-stay budget |
| 15 days | 100 GB | 1,399 THB | ~$38.90 | High-speed heavy use |
| 30 days | Unlimited full-speed | 1,699 THB | ~$47.20 |
DTAC offers the lowest entry price at HKT — good for short beach trips where you mainly need maps and messaging.
| Duration | Data | Price (THB) | Price (USD) | Notes |
| 8 days | 15 GB | 299 THB | ~$8.30 | Cheapest at HKT |
| 10 days | 50 GB | 349 THB | ~$9.70 | Best value for 10 days |
| 15 days | 30 GB | 599 THB | ~$16.70 | Mid-trip option |
True Move H focuses on maximum speed, with “Infinite” packages that include 5G access where available.
| Duration | Data | Price (THB) | Price (USD) | Notes |
| 8 days | Standard tourist | 299 THB | ~$8.30 | Basic |
| 8 days | Infinite (unlimited 5G) | 499 THB | ~$13.90 | 5G-capable |
| 15 days | Infinite | 699 THB | ~$19.40 | |
| 30 days | Infinite | 1,199 THB | ~$33.30 |
⚠️ About “Unlimited” plans: All Thai carriers apply a Fair Usage Policy (FUP). After you hit the high-speed data cap, speeds drop to 384 Kbps — which is enough for messaging and maps, but too slow for video streaming.
👉 Which plan should you choose?
⚠️ Note about ATM fees: ATM withdrawal fees are a flat 220 THB (~$6.50) per transaction at every ATM in Thailand for foreign cards. So, if you need to withdraw cash, withdraw enough in one go to cover the SIM plus your taxi to Patong or Phuket Town.
Landing at Bangkok’s other airports instead? → Read our SIM card guide for Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and SIM card for Don Mueang Airport (DMK) airport.
Most carrier counters at HKT are open during all major international flight arrivals. While DTAC and True Move H officially list their hours as 24/7, Phuket receives fewer late-night flights than Bangkok, so some booths may close early on quiet nights.
If you land late and the counters are closed, the safest options are:
If your phone supports eSIM — most iPhones since the XS and most flagship Android devices do — you can buy and activate a Thailand eSIM from Gigago before your flight. This means no queues, no passport scans at a physical counter, and no cash needed.
Gigago is an authorized partner, running on the exact same premium True Move H network that powers the airport SIM counters. You can verify this directly on the True Move H website.
| Airport SIM (cheapest) | Gigago Thailand eSIM (cheapest plan) | |
| Starting Price | 299 THB (~$8.30) | $8.90 (~320 THB) |
| Data | 15 GB / 8 days (DTAC) | 35 GB / 7 days (updated from 15GB) |
| Network | DTAC / True Move H | DTAC / True Move H (same network) |
| Thai phone number | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Top-up in Thailand | ✅ At carrier stores | ✅ Online or at carrier stores |
| Setup | 5 min at airport counter | Scan QR code before landing |
| Payment | Cash or card (varies) | Any credit/debit card online |
| Queue time | 5–20 min | None |
Gigago also offers other plans for heavy data users or travelers on longer trips as follows:
👉 Get the Thailand eSIM plan that fits your needs from Gigago today:
Phuket Airport is about 45 minutes from Patong and 30 minutes from Phuket Town. If you miss buying SIM cards at HKT airport, plenty of options are available in town:
💡 Pro Tip — Download LINE: Almost every restaurant, taxi driver, tour operator, and hotel in Phuket uses the LINE app for communication. Download and set up the app before you land — it is just as essential as having mobile data!
→ A detailed guide about Thailand SIM cards for tourists
For most travelers landing at HKT, the fastest option is an AIS or DTAC SIM from the arrivals hall — 299 THB, 5 minutes, done. Skip the 7-Eleven upstairs; it is not worth the hassle.
If you want more data for less money, or your flight lands late at night, grab a Thailand eSIM before you board.
👉 Browse Thailand eSIM plans:
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