Thailand SIM Card

Thailand’s mobile networks offer strong value for tourists. A local SIM card gives you data, a Thai phone number, and reliable connectivity for a fraction of what international roaming costs. Most tourists buy one at the airport on arrival; the whole process takes about five minutes once you know which option to pick. All SIM cards in Thailand require passport registration by law. Carry your passport to the counter.

For everything else you need on arrival, see the full Travel to Bangkok guide.

AIS or True Move H?

Thailand’s two main networks are AIS and True Move H. True absorbed DTAC in 2023, so what was three providers is now effectively two. Both cover Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai well. The meaningful difference shows up outside the cities.

AIS has the broadest nationwide reach: better signal in mountain provinces, smaller islands like Koh Lipe and Koh Tao, and rural stretches where True Move H can thin out. For a city-only trip, either network works reliably. If your itinerary takes you off the beaten track, AIS is the safer choice.

Do You Need a Local Thai Number?

Standard tourist SIMs include a Thai phone number along with data. Most eSIMs, however, are data-only. That matters for two apps you’ll likely use in Thailand:

• Grab. Thailand’s dominant ride-hailing app requires a local phone number to register a new account
• LINE. the messaging app locals use for everything from restaurant reservations to tour bookings also needs a Thai number for new registration

If you already have a Grab account registered from another country, it works in Thailand without a Thai number. Just update the country in the app before arrival. If you’re signing up for the first time, a physical tourist SIM (not a data-only eSIM) is the simpler path.

The DTAC Happy Tourist eSIM is an exception worth knowing: it issues a real Thai phone number despite being an eSIM, making it the only pre-arrival option that covers both connectivity and app registration.

Where to Buy

• Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). AIS, True Move H, and DTAC counters are in the Arrivals hall on Level 2, open 24 hours. You’ll pass them as you exit customs, before reaching the ground transport area. Staff will scan your passport, select a package, activate the SIM, and hand it to you ready to use.
• Don Mueang Airport (DMK). carrier counters are in the Arrivals area on the ground floor; smaller range than Suvarnabhumi but the main providers are represented.
• 7-Eleven. tourist SIMs available at most branches, cheaper than airport counters. Less setup assistance, useful if you’re comfortable activating yourself.
• Official carrier stores. found in every major shopping mall; best option if you want help choosing a package or troubleshooting activation.

Airport SIM cards cost more than the same product bought in the city. The trade-off is immediate connectivity on landing. No need to find a store after a long flight.

Buy an eSIM Before You Fly

An eSIM lets you arrive already connected. No airport queue, no cash, no waiting. Install it at home before you board (requires WiFi). You cannot install an eSIM on the plane or from an area without internet, and it activates automatically when your phone connects to the Thai network on landing.

Klook sells the AIS eSIM for Thailand, with high-speed data coverage across Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. Note: this is a data-only eSIM. If you need a Thai phone number for Grab or LINE registration, look into the DTAC Happy Tourist eSIM separately.

Before purchasing any eSIM, confirm your phone supports it. Most iPhones from the XR onward and most recent Android flagships do, but budget and older models often do not.

AIS vs True Move H vs eSIM at a Glance

Tourist SIM Packages

Tourist packages include a set validity period and a high-speed data allowance. Once you reach the data cap, speed drops to around 384 Kbps, sufficient for maps and messaging but not for video calls or streaming. If you plan to work remotely or watch content, choose a package with a larger data cap or an “unlimited” plan where the throttle threshold is higher.

Validity runs from the activation date, not the purchase date. Match the package length to your stay. A 15-day SIM for a 10-day trip wastes the difference; a 7-day SIM on a 10-day trip leaves three days without data. Most packages come in 7, 15, or 30-day options.

Topping Up and Extending

Top up an AIS SIM at any 7-Eleven by providing your Thai number, via the AIS app, or at any official AIS store. AIS SIMs also support USSD top-up: dial *111# from your phone to check balance and add credit.

For stays longer than 60 days, AIS requires identity reconfirmation to keep the SIM active: send your passport number via SMS to 4444161 (free of charge), then follow the verification link in the reply message. Missing this step will deactivate the SIM.

Rabbit SIM: Two Products in One

AIS also operates the Rabbit Card ecosystem. If you plan to use Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain regularly, AIS offers the Rabbit SIM, a single card that functions as both a mobile SIM and a BTS stored-value card, so you can tap through Skytrain gates and make calls from the same card. A standard AIS SIM combined with a separate Rabbit Card works equally well, but the Rabbit SIM is worth considering if you’d rather carry one card than two.

For more practical travel guides, see all tips articles.