Answered2 months ago
How can a foreigner obtain a permanent Thai phone number and what are the requirements?
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How the heck did you get a permanent Thai phone number pre/post paid as a foreigner??? I have DTV and both ais and true in person told me you can't. Only tourism sim/esim and keep renewing it/putting money on it. I need a real number to make account with Big C etc etc etc.
Need something faster than 15mbps speed too.
Thanks in advance. And yes I was in store in person w my visa and passport and they said can't do, must be have Thai national id number (not Thai DL number which I also have)
Need something faster than 15mbps speed too.
Thanks in advance. And yes I was in store in person w my visa and passport and they said can't do, must be have Thai national id number (not Thai DL number which I also have)
Answer summary
Obtaining a phone number in Thailand as a foreigner can be confusing due to varying policies among different carriers. It appears that both prepaid and postpaid options are available, but requirements can differ drastically. Users have reported that you can get a permanent Thai number as a foreigner by visiting a proper store of major carriers like AIS or True with necessary documentation such as your passport and DTV (Digital Tourist Visa) certificate. While some users successfully utilized tourist SIM cards for years without problems, others indicated that a national ID might be needed for postpaid plans. Overall, it's crucial to visit reliable stores and confirm the specific requirements for the SIM type you wish to obtain, and the usage limits, as services and options can vary widely.
82 repliesnewest first
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Phil ******
@Eric ******
ask for a One Sim prepaid
Dustyn **********
For post-paid, non-o visas work.. But it genuinely makes no difference
Elver **********
i walked into ais and was issued one no questions
Gianluca ******
Make tourist sim
When finish the period, with True for example, go to a reatail and ask to became permanent.
Every month you charge and you can have a new offer
When finish the period, with True for example, go to a reatail and ask to became permanent.
Every month you charge and you can have a new offer
Waqar ********
Renewal for extended stay takes just 15 Baht for 180 days. Is that too much?
Roger *********
AIS in Central Samui allowed to get a permanent Thai number no problem. Though I was buying a new phone + had a different top up number for a year beforehand. Just needed my DTV and Passport
Jordi *******
As far as im aware, all thai sim cards have a number and an expiry date. Topping up adds days to the expiry
Sam *********
You have a DTV and you haven't worked out what a phone shop, 7 eleven or lazadaa/ shopee is? jesus christ.
Bobby ***********
My parents get Thai numbers when they visit for a month...
Jay **********
So my setup is actually 2 sims, because I think it's the best deal. I have the same regular AIS sim that's my consistent phone number I've had for the past 16 years. I top it up with 20 baht every now and then just to keep it alive, for the rare phone calls I make, and for when people call / SMS me. But most of my usage is in data- so I have a different SIM on a great plan for that. AIS offers a pre-paid 1 year sim with 50gb a month of data that's 2200 for the whole year. I buy a new one every year. Never think about data usage and always running strong. Swap it out for a new one each year.
Ivan ************
@J**
I'm on similar deal I think, 100GB data @15Mbps. I used replace the SIM card annually but 3-4 years ago they gave me the option to renew it, you might not have to actually replace the SIM. In my case it's 1,940 which I think is a grandfathered price, it's around 2,200 new I think. I just have to make sure I have 1,940 in it at the start of the year when it expires and it renews for another year. You can transfer credit between numbers as well, so if I had excess credit in my voice SIM I can transfer that to the data one to pay for the next year.Jay **********
@Ivan ***********
interesting, I'll call them up and check it out. Thanks for the heads up 😊👍🏼
Wannikea *********
Pay your bill or continue to top-up. AIS is the best IMHO as you can extend validity up to a year. Each top up adds another month of validity.
Kevin *******
I got 4 postpaid accounts with ais 3 phone Sims and 1 fiber internet account on dtv visa with passport and thai driver license very easy
Arefeh *******
bough one from 7-11, after 3 months went to true place in the mall they switched my plan to monthly bill!
Retarde********
What are you on about? I've had an AIS "tourist" prepaid SIM for 8 years, works with everything incl BigC/banking etc etc and I have 300 (yes, that's three hundred) mbps unlimited internet+ Hotspotting more than 4 devices almost
****
(1,500 bt/month)Chris **********
This sim and prepaid package has been great, and I've had no issues with it "not being a "real" Thai number" whatever that means. I do a lot of remote hiking and I usually have reception on most mountains
Chris **********
You can also get this package if you really want a super fast phone. Not sure what you would need that speed on a phone for though
Chris **********
That's 1300 baht for 6 months as well, not monthly
Eric *******
OP@Chris *********
it says 1300b per month thoChris **********
@Eric ******
no idea why but it is per 6 months
Delightfu**********
Just walked into an AIS in the mall and showed them my Thai driver's license and passport and it was arranged straight away
Andrew *******
I walked into AIS with my passport and my DTV slip and got a postpaid plan without issue.
Andrew ********
I had no issue getting a post paid thai number as a tourist at True Mobile branch
Winston ************
I've had the same Thai number since 2024, no issues, and it's what I put in for my TDAC. It works overseas too as I enabled roaming. Just go to a different shop and stop wasting time at the same shop.
BubblyStra**********
I’ve went to AIS central world they are the best branch afaik because we have AIS WiFi and that’s postpaid and I wanted it on my name for POA for international banks etc.
But to get to the point you can only keep that tourist sim but it’s not a problem in itself and speed is not an issue for example I got true max speed which I just top up every 30 days for 90gb or 60gb I believe. And as long as there is money on there it won’t get cancelled. I did get this number from a true store not from 711 which only mostly sells tourist sims and they did tell me it was a different type which still expired but after a longer period of not putting money on it or getting used.
But to get to the point you can only keep that tourist sim but it’s not a problem in itself and speed is not an issue for example I got true max speed which I just top up every 30 days for 90gb or 60gb I believe. And as long as there is money on there it won’t get cancelled. I did get this number from a true store not from 711 which only mostly sells tourist sims and they did tell me it was a different type which still expired but after a longer period of not putting money on it or getting used.
Rhys ***************
Pmsl
Garrett ***********
Assume you asked at the airport. Airport just ells tourist sims.
Terry ********
Go to a big AIS store in a mall...not a small kiosk.
They will help you out.
They will help you out.
Eric *******
OP@Terry *******
that is precisely what I did. talked to 2 diff people same answer.Terry ********
@Eric ******
Sorry. Worked for meKenneth ***********
@Eric ******
follow the rules dude...if they're telling you the process, follow it.
Turquois*********
I have a tourist sim and have accounts with Big C, Lottus, etc
chupach********
If you have a good lawyer I recommend doing Thai Pink ID card. Was like 10k and makes life so much easier.
CLIBBINS_HA************
I have a tourist Sim and I just changed it to the fastest plan that they have through the app. But that was almost two and a half years ago.
Deslea ********
I mean, there is no such thing as a “permanent” number anywhere in the world if you don’t keep paying into it. They all lapse eventually. Why is it such a big deal to put ten bucks on it every now and then?
Ron ******
Go into a main AIS shop, with a DTV and passport you can get postpaid. Ask manager for any.promo
Paul **********
They won't give you a post pay unless you have a work permit ot non O visa, that might be the confusion, a normal pre paid siimm anyone can get, you register it with your passport.
Don *******
Paul **********
@Don ******
OK, so what visa?Don *******
@Paul *********
DTVKnowledgeabl************
Yeah I’m literally the opposite to you ,
Ais post paid sim ,
True post paid wifi
Ais post paid sim ,
True post paid wifi
Paul **********
KnowledgeableRaccoon5198 how long did you have the sim and what visa are you on?
Knowledgeabl************
This is not correct …..
Dave *********
Any number you get will get turned off if you dont pay them on a monthly basis
Ivan ************
@Da**
you get a month of added "validity" with each topup (min 10-20B depending on method). You can top up 12 times to get a year validity. True and DTAC also have a method where you can just buy the validity outright for 2B/month, so you can add a year to it for 24B. AIS you have to add credit but you can add a year for 120B in 12 top-ups (and have 120B credit).
Magenta********
@Dave ********
well not completely true I mean it's in the app it tells you how long it's active each time you charge up money it gets extended a number of months and the larger amount the larger extension time you get off the sim card but it's valid even if you're not paying a plan...Dave *********
MagentaYuzu5267 until the time runs out
Kurt *************
Same tourist number and gave big c account etc
Cy **************
I just walked in and got one with my passport and my DTV. 🤷♂️
Eric *******
OP@Cy *************
where atCy **************
@Eric ******
Siam Center, BKK
ED *****
I got mine at central bangna AIS store. Mine was a ED visa
Wes *********
Ours came with our internet package. We just had to go in with a passport to set it up.
IndigoG********
13 years with same tourist number
Marianne ********
I have my tourist SIM since 2021 and it functions like a normal number.
There is no difference outside of the price paid when you bought it.
There is no difference outside of the price paid when you bought it.
Chris **********
@Marianne *******
exactly this
Aaron *****
Go to a legit AIS store with your passport. I got mine no problem about a year ago
Pui *****
There is no difference between a tourist SIM and a regular prepaid SIM except the initial package included. All SIMs from AIS or True/dtac comes with a Thai phone number. Once the get the SIM, download the carrier's app, sign in with your phone number, and manage your package, buy new packages (what are called plans in other countries) and top up funds, manage remaining data and voice minutes , etc. in the app. You can keep a tourist SIM alive for decades doing that. I'm still using the same tourist SIM card I got from Dtac in 2014 and I live here full time. Currently on an auto renewing 10 GB per month package for 99 baht a month but there are plenty of other choices in the app.
Eric *******
OP@Pui ****
I need to keep the number forever. also I have a usa iPhone 17 air with no SIM card slot so I'm not sure if thats part of the issue or not since I need esim only
Tasha *****
@Eric ******
I have esim and I just went in person to a location to register it to myself. Bring your passport. You'll have to renew it in a year but as long as you do that you can keep your number.Pui *****
@Eric ******
as long as you keep an active package (plan) on the number and a balance, the number doesn't time out that way. Each top up of any amount adds another 1 month validity to the SIM, and you can check this validity in the carrier's app. Top up 20 baht 12 times in a row, and your SIM validity is extended by a year. The top up funds are what you then use to pay for your package you select in the app to subscribe to.Eric *******
OP@Tasha ****
for a tourist number? It is my understanding many times those numbers you can keep active for months and then suddenly someone else buys the number etc and you can't renew it again etc
Elías ********
@Pui ****
some "tourist" sims do expire after a certain period and you CAN'T keep the number even if you wanted to
Nelson ******
@Elías *******
this is true
Lea *****
@Elías *******
I got notified and all i had to do was call them back and confirm I wanted to keep my number and make it a permanent oneElías ********
@Lea ****
Yes, I didn't say it is impossible, but it depends on the sim/company, so better check.
ChiangMaiR***********
You can renew your tourist sim one year at a time. I've had my number for 3 years
Kim *********
I got mine when I signed up for my internet with ais. You have to have your lease agreement. They didn't ask for my visa. I was on a 60 day tourist visa. I wanted the bundle but I couldn't cause it was a 2 year bundle and my lease is for 1 year.
Nought*******
DTAC esim.
Elías ********
I got one with ease, at the official DTAC store at a shopping mall in Hua Hin. Did you take your passport with you? I got this number more than 2 years ago using my DTV, and I'm still using it, zero issues.
MagicalDa**********
Went in big C and they sorted it just showed passport
Eric *******
OPMagicalDachshund622 you got a real Thai number not just a data plan?
Ivan ************
@Er**
a SIM with a data plan has a number as well. You can top them up and make and receive calls with them.Knowledgeabl************
I got mine from ais post paid
Did you go to a proper big AIS shop ?
Did you go to a proper big AIS shop ?
Eric *******
OPKnowledgeableRaccoon5198 I went to central pattaya store inside.
Knowledgeabl************
Do you have a condo lease ?
Eric *******
OPKnowledgeableRaccoon5198 yes. Nobody asked, said you need Thai national id number which I never learned about
Knowledgeabl************
Man that sucks , I got mine in Hua hin
MagicalDa**********
I pay with AIS 3600 for a year SIM card
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