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What do I need to do to use my phone in Thailand as an expat from Texas?

SIM Card Thailand Mobile Phone Usage eSIM International Roaming Communication Expats in Thailand

Jun 1, 2025

25 days ago

Royce *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Okay, not too savvy about how I will be able to use my phone in Thailand. Traveling from Texas. What do I need to do so I can use my phone?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

To use your phone in Thailand after traveling from Texas, make sure your phone is unlocked from your carrier. You can buy a local SIM card at the airport from providers like AIS, True, or DTAC, or opt for an eSIM if your phone supports it. Alternatively, you can check with your carrier for an international plan or use Wi-Fi in various locations. Make sure to have necessary documents like your passport when purchasing a SIM.

Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)

View the most updated information about the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) to understand the latest requirements and eligibility criteria.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

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.agents.co.th)

Michael **********

The advice everyone has said all have some merit. BUT….

First, see what your local provider has in the way of international coverage. You may not need to do anything, depending on how long you will be traveling.

Second, see if your phone supports two eSIM. If so, you can purchase one at the airport or wait till you are settled. If I’m not mistaken, there are three providers in Thailand. AIS, DTAC and TRUE. I, am personally, a data hog. So I chose an unlimited plan by AIS. I also plan on returning to Thailand multiple times per year. So I can keep my Thai number active for a small monthly fee (40 baht).

There are a number of YouTube videos that talk about this and other things you may want to know before you go. Certain apps to have on your phone as well. Depending upon which airport you are arriving in, you will ant to know where to exchange currency. DON’T go to first kiosk you see. There is one video that tells you where to go in BKK airport for money exchange, eSIM and ride-share to save you money.

Be smart. Do a little research and most of all have fun. Don’t stress.