Guide to PromptPay Thailand for foreigners: Requirements, how to use, and more

Many countries globally are moving rapidly towards cashless payments, with payments through apps proving especially popular. One option in Thailand is PromptPay¹. If you’re a Thai foreign resident, or a frequent visitor there, PromptPay could offer an easy way to send money to friends with a Thai bank account, or to pay merchants in stores and restaurants.

So - what is PromptPay Thailand, can foreigners use PromptPay, and how about PromptPay Thailand for tourists? This guide covers all you need to know. We'll also introduce Wise, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

🚀 Send with Wise

What is PromptPay in Thailand?

PromptPay is an app based payment solution which launched in Thailand in 2016. It lets you link your Thai bank account with an app to send money to others with a Thai bank account (and in some cases, foreign accounts), and to make payments by scanning a merchant’s QR code when spending in Thailand.

It’s helpful to know that PromptPay is a Thai system and the vast majority of payments are handled in THB. If you’re visiting from abroad you may still be able to use PromptPay, but it may not be your most economical option due to the currency conversion costs which may be incurred. We’ll touch on one option which offers low cost cross border payments and transfers - Wise - at the end of this guide, as an alternative.

Read on to learn more about PromptPay - including how to use PromptPay in Thailand if you’re a local resident, and your options if you’re a tourist visiting the country.

Can foreigners use PromptPay?

PromptPay Thailand is offered for foreigners, but your options will depend on whether you’re a long term Thai resident with a Thai bank account, or a tourist visiting the country short term.

If you have a Thai bank account you can link this to PromptPay using your phone number or other identifier, to allow you to make payments directly from your account. In this case, the process works the same as it would for a Thai citizen with a local bank account. Generally, you can not open a Thai bank account as a tourist or if you’re on a short term visa, making this a feasible option for long term and permanent residents only.

There’s also a PromptPay Thailand for foreigners app called TAGTHAi², which allows short term visitors to access the system. You’ll need to first get a PAY&TOUR prepaid card on arrival in Thailand, which you can then link to TAGTHAi to access the PromptPay system.

Finally, one other possible use for PromptPay comes through partnerships with regional banks across South East Asia³. PromptPay has a cross border network which works with banks in Singapore, China, Malaysia and other countries, to allow people with e-wallets in those countries to use a PromptPay QR to pay when in Thailand. There’s also the option to send remittances using PromptPay from Thailand to Singapore.

How to register for PromptPay?

You can register for PromptPay if you have a Thai bank account, by logging into your bank’s online or mobile banking system and looking for the PromptPay page. Here you’ll be asked to enter your preferred identifier - like a mobile number - and the account you want payments to be made from. You can confirm this using your bank’s digital security process such as with an OTP.

We’ll cover how to get PromptPay as a foreigner visiting Thailand as a tourist in just a moment.

How to use PromptPay in Thailand?

Generally, there are two ways to use PromptPay in Thailand:

• Pay with a QR code in a store or restaurant
• Send a direct payment using your recipient’s identifier (like their mobile number)

If you want to use PromptPay to pay in a store you’ll need to log into your bank’s app and then navigate to the PromptPay page. Here you can open the camera to scan the merchant's QR code and enter the amount to pay. Just check and confirm and the transfer should be processed in real time.

You can also use your PromptPay to send money to someone else directly. You can do this by simply entering the recipient’s preferred identifier - like their mobile number or ID number - and entering the amount to send. The transfer is processed and deposited to the recipient’s linked bank directly, without you needing to get or enter their full banking information.

How to use PromptPay in Thailand for foreigners

If you’re a foreigner in Thailand with a Thai bank account you can use PromptPay just like a local. Or if you’re a tourist and would like to use PromptPay you can do so via TAGTHAi.

To use TAGTHAi to access PromptPay you must visit a K Bank FX booth and apply using your passport as ID. You’ll get a PAY&TOUR prepaid card, which you can then top up and link to PromptPay to start using the system even without a Thai bank account.

PromptPay fees and charges in Thailand

The standard PromptPay fees and charges in Thailand are listed below - but Bank of Thailand also notes that most banks waive fees for certain payment types, so it's worth checking with your own bank to understand the specific costs involved for you:

*Correct at time of research - 6th January 2026

Is there an app for foreigners to use PromptPay?

To use PromptPay as a foreigner you can download the TAGTHAi app on Apple and Android phones, and apply for a PAY&TOUR card on arrival.

If you have other bank accounts or e-wallets from the South East Asia region you may also be able to use these to scan PromptPay QR codes thanks to the PromptPay cross border relationships. For example, PromptPay is compatible with Octopus cards from Hong Kong, BigPay and Touch ‘n Go from Malaysia, or WeChat Pay or Alipay from China. Overall, PromptPay linkups cover countries and destinations including Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Laos.

Convert and send THB with low, transparent fees and the mid-market rate with Wise

Looking for a quick and easy way to send money to Thailand? Consider using Wise to manage your international transfers.

Converting money to Thai baht and transferring it from abroad can get very expensive when using traditional banks and remittance services. On top of transaction fees, you might end up paying more due to hidden charges like conversion fees and exchange rate markups.

Wise transfers use the mid-market rate, also known as the rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees that are shown to you upfront. This makes it easy to see how much you’ll be sending or receiving at a single glance.

See how Wise compares with other providers:

1. PromptPay (Bank of Thailand)
2. TAGTHAi
3. PromptPay cross border (Bank of Thailand)