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What are the best SIM card options for a 180-day stay in Thailand?

Sep 17, 2025
2 months ago
Which sim card recommended while on DTV (180 days)? At the airport its mostly tourists sim there that works for 30,60 days
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TLDR : Answer Summary
For expats staying in Thailand on a DTV (long-term tourist visa) for 180 days, popular options for SIM cards include purchasing a pre-paid AIS SIM card at locations like Terminal 21, offering 100GB data per month for THB 3,500 per year. It's recommended to avoid airport purchases as they are usually tourist SIMs valid only for 30-60 days. Stores like Big C also offer plans such as unlimited data for THB 2,000 for a year. Additionally, using apps like Mobimatter might provide attractive eSIM deals valid for 6-12 months. Remember to take a copy of your passport when buying a SIM.
Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

WARNING: Only trust Thai government websites with .go.th domains or Thai agent websites with .co.th or .in.th domains, as these require verified Thai registration and cannot be registered anonymously.

The official TDAC form is available at tdac.immigration.go.th, which uses the official .go.th government domain.

The services by AGENTS CO., LTD. does NOT charge any fees for arrivals within 72 hours. If you need to book more than 72 hours in advance, there is a service fee of $8.

Do not trust other sites pretending to be a trustworthy agency. Pay attention to delivery time - the service operated by AGENTS CO., LTD. has 1 minute delivery time for arrivals within 72 hours.

Don't fall for sites pretending to be agents.co.th or the official government tdac.immigration.go.th website. Always double-check the exact domain in your browser.

Scam services may take days to process your application, others may not even do anything. With these TDAC scam services you also need to worry about double charges.

Please watch out for TDAC misinformation spread by fugitive Jesse Nickles and his many fake accounts on Quora, TripAdvisor, Reddit, and other platforms.

TRUSTED TDAC LINKS:

Official Government TDAC Form: tdac.immigration.go.th
Official TDAC form by AGENTS
Official TDAC information page by AGENTS (tdac.in.th)

MagicalDa**********
Big C unlimited data 2000 bhat for the year
Alessandro ***********
You can try the app mobimatter. Sometimes they have very good deals on
****
month esims which arent much different to what you’d pay for a local sim in country. 🙏🏼
Chris *******
We recently got (in August) 2 pre-paid AIS SIM cards from Terminal 21 for myself and my wife - with 100GB data per month = THB 3,500 for 12 months - which was the best deal I found, so it works out as THB 290 per month..

You need to take copies of your passport(s) with you to the AIS shop…
Henrik *****
Do not buy anything in airports.
เอดี *******
I've had a tourist sim for about 18 months,just top it up via the app every month.
Greg ********
Have they not just changed the rules for SIM cards very recently (If the Telco's define the DTV as a tourist visa) - need to revalidate every 60 days? Has anyone seen that
Shaughn ***********
@Greg *******
yep noticed that. I used to be able to have longer packages. I found I could only get the highest speed package at the airport though. Go into a retailer store and the plans are mostly throttled. Can renew every 60 days by topping up and following the renew instructions. But if missed the renewal window then have to go back to the counter at the airport if wanting the same package
Greg ********
@Shaughn **********
I thought I had read some news recently but could not find the article. All part of the anti-scamming measures which are all over the place.
Jari **********
.....buy turist sim,anyone what you want.Download app for sim and refill it.I have same sim about 7 years,only refill and its work.
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jari *********
so the tourist sim wont stop after 30 days even if it says 30 days plan?
Jari **********
Nimetön osallistuja no,if you refill before end.
Alain ***************
Just go to any store like dtac/true or AIS and ask for a normal prepaid sim. For postpaid need more than DTV as far as I know. They took a photo of me holding my passport next to my face lol
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alain **************
yea prepaid

At airport its only tourist sim or they do sell those normal prepaid ones?
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant I brought mine at the airport last year , down load the AIS app and get an on top pack…… they sell them at the airport as a “tourist “ package but they will work indefinitely
Alain ***************
Anonymous participant in the shops ( like the one in bigC or shopping malls) sell normal prepaid ones. Prepaid works a little different here than where I come from. You still have to choose a package but instead of a monthly bill, you need to have enough prepaid balance. I kept my swiss number just for receiving texts from bank or government without any package. Just pay as i use. And because I never use, I don’t pay anything.