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What options do I have for obtaining a UK SIM while in Thailand?
UK SIM cardThailandExpatsMobile ServicesSIM activationBank account accessLycamobileGiffGaffeSIMThai SIM cards
Sep 20, 2025
7 months ago
Ishbel ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi, not visa related but I will give it a go. So need to get a new UK sim but am in Thailand atm. Current sim will apparently not work after 3 months (told by EE day before i flew here). What I thought was to ask friends in UK to send Lyca mobile sim here but just googled and must activate in UK first. Any idea's what I can do. I only need sim for accessing some bank accounts. Thanks.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks advice on how to acquire a UK SIM card while in Thailand, noting that their current SIM will stop working after 3 months. Suggestions from the community include asking a friend to activate a SIM in the UK before sending it, using services like GiffGaff that can send an eSIM or free PAYG SIM to Thailand, buying a Thai SIM to access UK banking, and various UK mobile services that might help maintain connectivity.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
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Phil ********
Get Swytch App.
£6 a month for a UK number and can call any number included.
£6 a month for a UK number and can call any number included.
Kit **********
You get disconnected when you haven't used the UK payg sim card for 6 months. You can keep it going by topping up, sending a text, calling or using data, at least once every 180 days.
Barney ********
Smarty, one month roll on, no contract, 20 quid a month, unlimited everything, speeds ok now, i get mine delivered to home then install and find a bit of wifi (or hotspot someone) bobs your uncle, cancel anytime
Ishbel ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Barney *******
do do you get it sent from UK to here in Thailand? And can activate it here?Barney ********
@Ishbel **********
nope, send to an address in uk, pick it up once you land, activate with wifi, its easy, spesh if you have no immediate use for it. Have you not got a thai sim in at present?Ishbel ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Barney *******
the problem is I will not be going to UK probably till December or after and need new sim from late NovemberBarney ********
@Ishbel **********
get a thai sim to carry you over, my thai sim costs me c.£70 a year unlimited data. Using a uk sim abroad is short term thinking, novice level )Reply to
Barney ********
Reply
Luke *******
Check out ‘devyce’ you can keep a Uk number or setup a new one indefinitely, works on a separate app on your phone, then you can put a local sim or e-sim in you phone for calls data etc… been using without any issues for years without going back to the Uk.
Nick *******
@Luke ******
I also use Devyce. It works wellReply to
Nick *******
Reply
Craig *******
I just use my ais sim to call UK banks as it’s not very often that needs doing so it’s a 1 off cost
Rok ********
and the UK bank never tried to close the bank account without UK mobile number? Barclays is fine as using the app for all verification.
Craig *******
@Rok *******
I use NatWest with Thai number and no issues . They also have my Thai address and receive letters here from them. The only issue was premium bonds as I changed number but the foreign connection to send texts don’t work so I called them and gave a family UK number to receive log in text which only needed once so they sent me code and sortedRok ********
@Craig ******
great to know. Barclays closed all such accounts. Is it a proper Expat Bank Ac?Craig *******
@Rok *******
yes I heard Barclays doing that. My NatWest was a standard current account and staff was great on the phone. It’s just you can’t open a account unless you live in the UK first with a UK addressReply to
Craig *******
Reply
Ishbel ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Craig ******
hi thanks but I need a I’m number fir when I log into banks need the text sentCraig *******
@Ishbel **********
also for that I gave a families number in the UK who I message to say send me code as I log in and that worksAndreas ***********
@Craig ******
good idea that 👌🙏Reply to
Andreas ***********
Reply
Mark *******
Buy a Thai SIM from 7-11 to access your UK bank account.
Ishbel ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mark ******
hi thanks but I need UK number so I can get sent the code via textJohn *******
@Ishbel **********
ask for code via emailIshbel ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ******
I will check it out but don’t think that was an option.Reply to
Ishbel ***********
Reply
Jesper *******
Can't u buy a UK esim online? Let your fren activate and send your the link of the esim to u to have it installed to your phone if that make sence
Ishbel ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jesper ******
thanks yeah I wasn’t sure if someone else can activate for me or notJesper *******
@Ishbel **********
I think your fren can try downloading the esim activate it and erased the esim from his phone after sending u the link and after u installed into your phoneReply to
Jesper *******
Reply
Sean ********
Try GiffGaff, they will send a free PAYG SIM to Thailand.
Or you can activate a free e-sim via their app.
Top up as needed and just use every month or 2 to keep it active.
Or you can activate a free e-sim via their app.
****************************************************
Top up as needed and just use every month or 2 to keep it active.
Paulette ******
@Sean *******
I'm with giff gaff.it doesn't work in ThailandSean ********
@Paulette *****
works fine for me for calls and SMSPaulette ******
@Sean *******
are you on a plan or do you top up credit?Sean ********
Reply to
Sean ********
Reply
John *******
I've got a pay as you go EE sim, I go home every 6 months min and it still active and works once topped up
Stuart *********
Send to a friend. Have them activate it there then send on to you.
Ishbel ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stuart ********
hi yes I think that’s what I will do just I wasn’t sure how that worked. Not so technical 🤦♀️Reply to
Ishbel ***********
Reply
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