Best credit cards for foreigners in Thailand: How to apply, requirements, restrictions, and more

If you’re a Thai resident you may find it’s useful to build a credit history locally, and to have a credit card for day to day spending. So - can a foreigner get a credit card in Thailand, and if so how?

This guide looks at options for the best credit card for foreigners in Thailand and also how to apply for a credit card in Thailand for foreigners so you can get your card set up and ready to use. We'll also introduce Wise, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

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Can a foreigner get a credit card in Thailand?

Yes. A foreign resident in Thailand can get a credit card from many major local banks, subject to meeting eligibility criteria which include age, income and employment status.

Not all banks offer all credit cards to foreign applicants. Where cards are made available to foreigners they may also have higher minimum income requirements (usually at least 50,000 THB a month) and a requirement to show an established work history in Thailand. This is because you’re less likely to have an established credit history for the bank to rely on when assessing your suitability for a card.

How to apply for a Thailand credit card as a foreigner?

Thai banks may have an online or in app application process for credit cards, but this is often not available to foreign applicants. That’s because foreigners are asked to provide different documents compared to Thai citizens in many cases, and may also have differing minimum income and employment requirements compared to locals. For this reason, it’s common to be asked to visit a branch to complete your card application and get everything verified.

If you’re going to a branch to apply for a card you’re likely to be asked to bring along proof of ID and address, income and employment. The exact documents needed can vary but may include the following.

Identification documents:

• Copy of Passport
• Copy of Work Permit in Thailand

Other supporting documents such as:

• Copy of Non-Immigrant Visa or Smart Visa
• Copy of Yellow House Registration Book
• Secondary ID document issued by the Thai government or your home country government

Proof of income:

• Copy of income documents such as a salary certificate, payslip, or a withholding tax certificate
• Copy of personal bank statements for the past 6 months

Best credit cards in Thailand for foreigners

There’s no single best credit card for foreigners in Thailand - several major banks make their cards available to eligible foreign residents of Thailand, so you can shop around to find the best one for your specific needs. Here are a few to consider:

Krungsri credit card for foreigners

Krungsri credit card options¹ include 20+ different cards, both issued independently by the bank, and as co-branded offers working with other businesses such as insurance companies and department stores. The core Krungsri credit card options for foreigners include:

• Krungsri Platinum Credit Card
• Krungsri Signature Credit Card
• Krungsri Exclusive Signature Credit Card
• Krungsri Private Banking Credit Card

Card options offer ways to earn Krungsri Points, or get cash back or discounts at select retailers. Some premium tier cards have extras like travel perks and benefits as well. You can apply for Krungsri credit cards through the UCHOOSE app if you’re a Thai citizen, but if you’re a foreigner in Thailand you’ll need to visit a branch to apply. Krungsri credit card requirements for foreigners aren’t made publicly available, but the bank staff can talk you through them in branch.

Kasikorn bank credit card for foreigners

The most popular K Bank credit cards for foreigners include²:

• KBank PLUSTINUM credit card
• Kasikorn Thai JCB credit card
• Kasikorn Thai Titanium credit card
• THE PASSION credit card
• One Siam credit card
• KBANK - SHOPEE credit card

Foreign applicants can not apply for the Kasikorn Blue credit card.

Each card has its own eligibility requirements - for example, for the Kasikorn credit card requirement for foreigners when applying for a Platinum card³ included an income of 50,000 THB per month or more, as well as meeting other eligibility criteria such as having worked for at least a year and having no bad debts or history of default.

SCB credit card for foreigners

Popular SCB credit cards for foreigners can include⁴:

• CardX JCB PLATINUM
• CardX BEYOND
• CardX ULTRA PLATINUM
• CardX Family Plus
• CardX MY TRAVEL

There are also several CardX cobranded cards which are offered in conjunction with other partners.

When you apply for a SCB card you’ll need to provide information and documents to show you meet eligibility requirements which can vary depending on the specific card you prefer. To give an example, SCB credit card requirements for foreigners when applying for a CardX JCB PLATINUM card⁵ mean you must show you have an average monthly income of 100,000 THB or more. This card then offers cash back on spending in select foreign countries, which may make it appealing to expats who travel a lot.

KTC credit card for foreigners

KTC has around 20 personal credit cards to choose from, plus invitation only cards for high earning customers. Common choices for a KTC credit card for foreigners include⁶:

• KTC X Visa Signature
• KTC Visa Signature
• KTC X World Rewards Mastercard
• KTC World Rewards Mastercard
• KTC JCB Ultimate
• KTC UnionPay Diamond

Many KTC cards allow you to earn KTC FOREVER points which you can later redeem for specific benefits, depending on the card. There are also some cards which reward spending overseas in particular countries with higher reward earning opportunities which can be attractive for frequent travellers.

Eligibility requirements do vary depending on the card you select - to give an idea, to apply for the KTC X Visa Signature card⁷ as a foreigner you’ll need a minimum monthly income of 50,000 THB and you must have been employed in Thailand for at least 2 years.

Bangkok Bank credit card for foreigners

Bangkok Bank has a few different options for a credit card for foreigners, which can offer lifestyle and travel benefits, privileges, discounts and partner points such as airmiles.

Popular Bangkok Bank credit cards for foreigners include⁸:

• Bangkok Bank Pinnacle card
• Bangkok Bank Visa Infinite card
• Bangkok Bank Platinum Leader card

There are also several Bangkok Bank co-branded cards with services such as AirAsia or Toyota. To apply for a Bangkok Bank credit card as a foreigner you’re asked to complete an online form and then await contact from the bank. A member of staff can then talk through the cards which may be suited to your own needs.

UOB credit card for foreigners

UOB offers 15+ different personal credit cards, including cards issued by itself and through partnerships with other providers like Grab, Singapore Airlines and Mercedes. Some good choices for a UOB credit card for foreigners can include⁹:

• UOB PRIVIMILES Credit Card
• UOB Premier Credit Card
• UOB World Credit Card
• UOB One Credit Card
• UOB Zenith Credit Card
• UOB Preferred Credit Card

You can check the exact detail for each card’s eligibility requirements easily online, but to give a feel, for the UOB PRIVIMILES Credit Card¹⁰, as a foreign applicant you need a monthly income of 50,000 THB or more, and you must have been employed for at least 4 months and passed your probation period.

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.

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See how Wise compares with other providers:

1. Krungsri credit cards
2. Kasikorn credit cards
3. Kasikorn Platinum card
4. SCB credit cards (Card X)
5. CardX JCB PLATINUM
6. KTC credit cards
7. KTC X VISA SIGNATURE
8. Bangkok Bank credit cards
9. UOB credit cards
10. UOB Privimiles card