QR payments in Thailand: How expats pay correctly!

QR payments in Thailand: How expats pay correctly!

Cashless payments are on the rise in Thailand, and this is particularly noticeable here in Phuket. If you want to pay in one of the many street stalls, cafés or shops, you can hardly avoid QR codes. But not everyone can transfer money with every QR code. Most QR codes in the country use the system PromptPay, which is specifically designed for local banking transactions. This means that expats and tourists have to think outside the box if they want to grab a snack at the market or at a floating restaurant.

Basically, foreigners have three options to take part in the popular QR payments: Firstly, you can open a Thai bank account - this is the best option as it allows you to use PromptPay and QR payments everywhere. Secondly, there is the possibility of using cross-border payment apps, but these only work with merchant QR codes. Thirdly, expats can also ask a Thai friend for a payment and refund the amount in their own currency.

The path to a cashless society

Thailand has slowly been moving towards a cashless society since 2014. Especially in cities like Phuket, where tourist life is pulsating, many restaurants and cafes are already cash-free, such as Swensen's and Starbucks. In these places you have to use digital payment methods, and PromptPay is the undisputed favorite here. Foreigners wanting to pay in Thailand should be aware of the regulations: Personal QR codes, such as those used by street stalls or taxis, do not support foreign payment apps. Only merchant QR codes issued by banks or official payment providers can be used.

Another advantage of PromptPay is that users can send or receive money to other banks within Thailand without additional fees. That goes with warnings about using cash, as you never know when you'll run into sellers in rural areas who haven't quite caught up with the digital age.

Alternative payment methods for tourists

For those who don't have a Thai bank account or don't want to settle down long-term, there are some interesting alternatives. Tools like TAGTHAi Easy Pay, an e-wallet for tourists, are very convenient. TouristDigiPay, an app for converting cryptocurrency into Thai baht, is also on the rise. Likewise, it has True wallet has gained popularity for tourists, although charging options are limited.

As digital purchases have increased in recent years, many establishments have stopped accepting cash. However, you should still have some cash in your wallet. This is not only for security purposes, but is also sometimes the only way to make a quick purchase or two from “old-fashioned” sellers who have not yet switched to QR code payments.

QR codes are not only practical for shopping, but also a cool feature in many restaurants and shops. If you click on a QR code with your smartphone, you can easily enter information or even pay directly. QR code generator have many cool options available to generate these codes, be it for URLs, business cards or even to pay with cryptocurrency.

The conclusion: Anyone traveling in Thailand needs a good knack for choosing the right means of payment - and should always have a plan B in hand. Digitalization has found its place here, but a little cash for security is never a bad idea!