Which cards work in Thailand in 2025

Thailand is one of the most beloved destinations for travelers from Russia. Sun all year round, exotic fruits, a gentle sea... But when planning a trip to this beautiful country, the main question arises: how to pay? After the changes of recent years, the situation with bank cards has become more complicated.

We have prepared detailed instructions on which cards work in Thailand in 2025 and which ones are better to leave at home. Before you buy Moscow – Bangkok tickets, let's figure out the working options.

In brief: what doesn't work

Let's clarify immediately to avoid false hopes. Visa, Mastercard, and MIR cards issued by any Russian bank do not work in Thailand. They cannot be used to pay in stores or withdraw cash from ATMs. This country does not accept cards from Russian banks due to sanction restrictions, as international payment systems have stopped processing their transactions outside the Russian Federation.

Option #1 (most reliable): foreign bank card

This is the best and most stable way to use cashless payments in Thailand. If you have a Visa or Mastercard issued by a bank in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, or any other country (except Russia), it will work without problems. You will be able to pay for purchases in any stores and withdraw cash from ATMs just like tourists from Europe or the USA do.

• How to get one? Obtaining such a card is often called "card tourism". A Russian citizen can travel to one of the neighboring countries to open an account. Conditions vary in different banks, but usually, a foreign passport and a local SIM card are required. The process takes from one day to a week.
• Pros: Reliability, predictability, works worldwide.
• Cons: Requires a separate trip and time for processing.

This option provides the most comfortable answer to the question of which cards to use in Thailand.

Option #2 (with nuances): UnionPay cards

UnionPay is a Chinese payment system that has become the main alternative for Russians. Some Russian banks continue to issue these cards.

Which bank cards work in Thailand? For 2025, UnionPay cards issued by banks not subject to blocking sanctions work most stably. Primarily, these are Rosselkhozbank and Gazprombank (although for the latter, it's worth clarifying information directly before the trip).

But there are important nuances:

• Not accepted everywhere. Despite the UnionPay sticker being present in many stores and ATMs, not all terminals and banks in Thailand correctly process transactions from Russian cards of this system.
• Cash withdrawal. It's best to look for ATMs from Bangkok Bank (purple), Kasikornbank (green), and Krungsri (yellow). They are more likely to dispense cash.
• In-store payments. Cards usually work in large chain supermarkets (7-Eleven, Big C, Lotus's) and big shopping malls. In small shops and cafes, the probability of rejection is high.
• Fees. Be prepared for fees for cash withdrawals (around 220 baht from the Thai bank + your bank's commission) and a less favorable conversion rate when paying.

Conclusion: Which UnionPay cards does Thailand accept? Russian ones, but with caveats. This is a working, but not the most stable, option. It should be considered as a backup or for withdrawing cash from verified ATMs.

Option #3 (promising): QR code payment

Thailand is a country where QR payments are incredibly popular. Almost every market in Phuket or cafe in Pattaya, you will see a sign with a Thai QR system code.

For tourists from Russia, direct payment via SBP (Faster Payments System) or Russian banking apps is not yet available. However, you can use local e-wallets, such as TrueMoney Wallet.

• How it works: you download the app, register with a local SIM card, complete verification with your foreign passport, and top up your wallet (e.g., with cash at any 7-Eleven store). After that, you can pay with your phone almost anywhere.
• Pros: Convenient, modern, accepted almost everywhere.
• Cons: Requires purchasing a local SIM card and topping up with cash.

Option #4 (classic): cash

Despite technological advancements, cash is still highly valued in Thailand. In some places, especially markets, small cafes, and when paying for a tuk-tuk, it's the only method of payment.

How to get it?

• Bring dollars or euros with you. This is the simplest way. 50 and 100 dollar/euro banknotes are exchanged at the most favorable rate. It's better to exchange money at exchange offices in the city, not at the airport.
• Money transfer systems. Services like "Zolotaya Korona" (KoronaPay) allow you to send a transfer to yourself from Russia and receive it in Thailand in baht at pickup points.
• Cryptocurrency. Advanced users can use crypto wallets for P2P exchange into local baht.

So, how to pay?

Payment method	Pros	Cons
Foreign bank card	Reliability, works everywhere, good exchange rate	Difficult and time-consuming to obtain
UnionPay card (RF)	Can be obtained in Russia	Unstable operation, not accepted everywhere, fees
QR codes (TrueMoney)	Convenient, modern, wide coverage	Requires local SIM card and cash top-up
Cash	Accepted absolutely everywhere	Unsafe to carry large amounts

The ideal strategy for a trip to Thailand in 2025 is to combine several methods. It's optimal to have a foreign bank card for main expenses and some cash dollars to exchange for small expenses. If you don't have such a card, then UnionPay and cash are your choices.