Answered10 months ago
Why do some people need to show their passport to top up a Rabbit card in Bangkok?
Yesterday, as I went to top off my Rabbit card - the attendant asked to see my passport. Told them I don’t carry it with me but, I had a photo of it on my phone. They went to scan it but, their reader didn’t work for some reason. No top-off for me! 😕
Answer summary
Users have reported varying experiences when trying to top up their Rabbit cards, with some being asked for their passports while others were not. Many believe that this inconsistency is linked to past money laundering regulations, which had passport verification as a requirement. Recent discussions indicate that some newer passport materials might interfere with scanners, leading to issues during the topping-up process. Alternatives, like the My Rabbit app, exist for topping up, yet frustrations persist about the random checks being enforced across different BTS stations.
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Charmae *******
Never had an issue
I do know a few yrs ago I had to renew mine as they apparently have a life span of 5 or 7 yrs
I do know a few yrs ago I had to renew mine as they apparently have a life span of 5 or 7 yrs
Armando **********
What the hell is a rabbit card?
James *********
OP@Armando *********
It’s a BTS debit card
Peter ********
Do Thai people have to show their ID cards when topping up.
James *********
OPSo I went to Phaya Thai Station and they told me they “confirm” their cards once a year. They had to enter my relevant passport info, plus my address and phone number into a database manually - then I was good to go.
It seemed as if the ten other foreigners in the office were there to do the same thing.
It seemed as if the ten other foreigners in the office were there to do the same thing.
David ******
You can top it up at the machines. No ID of any kind needed.
Shane ************
Same. Had to go to PhayaThai station Rabbit office. It’s a big brother BS issue the government makes them do to keep tabs on us beyond the TDAC bullshit
Lynette ***********
Yep. Tried to top off last week and the scanner couldn’t scan my passport for some reason. Not only that, but they’ve only been letting me top off like ฿100 at a time. I tried to do 200 and they were visibly alarmed.
So I’m just getting tickets at the moment. Once my visa is finalized, I’ll try to get another rabbit card.
So I’m just getting tickets at the moment. Once my visa is finalized, I’ll try to get another rabbit card.
Mark *********
It all rather escalated today, as in queues at BTS stations. It is indeed to do with money laundering legislation dating back to 2019, but why not a warning of current action by text message to our phone. Also station staff should have been properly primed. They were not distinguishing between the card working and the account, as in top-up process being blocked. Passengers were left unsure whether they could use the card using top-up already on it. The answer (I got feedback from management) is you can but top-up will require re-processing of the account and taking a passport to any BTS station or the Phaya Thai Office ( I later had a Thai journalist friend check it all out).
Steve ********
I had it happen once when I was in BKK recently. The girl behind the counter had a lousy attitude, so I reckon that was the reason. No-one else asked for it when I topped up other times.
Darren *****
So 7-11 are qualified immigration agents now
Bennett ********
Yes, this happened to me as well. Also to my husband. I’ve had the same Rabbit card for 4 years. No idea why they asked for passport.
Tez ******
What's a Rabbit card?
Petro ************
Sometimes the readers like in a Krungsri Bank branch, cannot scan real passports.
Mahesh *********
I tried to top up my Rabbit card using the My Rabbit app yesterday, and it didn't work. It threw some kind of error. I could do this without any issues just a few months ago. Not sure what happened.
Lance *****
Yes, I wasn’t allowed to top off my card either as the station agent said I needed to update my account with my passport, which I did not have with me. Yet I had no problem topping it off at another station later. Go figure. I guess it depends on the individual station agent.
Chris *********
I recently had a fail to top up because their system wouldn't scan my passport. Then I realized the card was originally obtained before I renewed the passport. I will try to just start fresh next.
Marty *********
I posted about this about 2 weeks ago. In my case my passport was out of date so I had them update my account. It used to be that you didn't need a passport to buy a Rabbit card. Then they added the passport requirement and at the time I heard it had something to do with deterring money laundering. With all the concern with bank accounts these days it may be an issue with Rabbit as well. The BTS operators couldn't update my passport so I went to the Rabbit Card Service Center at the Phaya Thai BTS station.
Michael ****************
Same thing happened to me on my last trip to Bangkok in November 2025 at Nopparat BTS station when I tried to top up my Rabbit card. They also had a hard time reading my USA passport, but got it working. I needed to give them my Thai wife’s address and phone number because they wanted a Thai address and phone number. It seems like they are doing random checks when a top up is asked for.
Martin ********
It was probably during Covid time that I was asked to show my passport. It was about registering my card. I offered my pink card and they said no. My Thai friend has a friend who works for BTS so he called him and the pink card CAN be used, the guy contacted his staff at the station to process the registration. Thai people also have to register their cards. I haven’t been on the BTS recently so I don’t know if I’ll be asked to reregister.
John *********
The machines have been working fine for me to top off
Jennifer ******
Use the Rabbit app and top up if your phone has NFC function.
Florenz ********
I ran into this problem also initially setting up my Rabbit card. I went to 3 different stations and found out that the newer USA passports have a thicker plastic bio page. The scanners can’t read it as it reflects the signal back from their scanner. You have to go to a station that has tourist office and have them manually enter your passport information to set up your rabbit card. Then I use my K Bank to top it off when I need to.
JC *****
It has been going on lately. And it’s a little bit annoying to be honest.
จิมมี่ *************
Bought my card few years ago. Didn't we need show passport to buy card then ?
Brandon ************
@จิมมี่ ************
yes but they're reverifying older cards to make sure the person who bought it is still the person using it.จิมมี่ *************
@Brandon ***********
OK understand. Handy knowing need passport as I need top up 🙏👍Brandon ************
99% of people won't need it. But eventually they'll want to verify it. Then it's just a one time thing and then back to normal.
Carlos *********
Moscow rules:
Technology will always let you down
Technology will always let you down
Brandon ************
@Carlos ********
Nothing to do with technology. They are just verifying that people who have rabbit cards are actually the ones who bought them.Bennett ********
@Brandon ***********
interesting. I have a couple of extra rabbit cards that I bought for visiting friends to use while in town. I guess I’ll have to do this whenever I use those again in future.Brandon ************
@Bennett *******
just give them a top up before your friends arrive and you'll find out if they're okay or notCarlos *********
@Brandon ***********
I NEVER had a problem with cash??Rabbit pay is a technological service, in my opinion
Carlos *********
@Brandon ***********
coins are great for gas kiosks, BTS tickets, laundry, etc. I dont mind a few coins, I know the cool people need those cards, though.Brandon ************
@Carlos ********
I prefer to avoid a pocket full of coins which is what happens if you try paying for things with cash
Michael ********
Jesper *******
Usually don't need any verification for top up but you can use the rabbit app to top up if it's easier for you
Charly ***************
I didn't need my passport to too up
John ********
I started using my Visa card on the MRT, works good, I never get debited, free travel can’t complain about that 😁
Brandon ************
@John *******
This is about Rabbit, not MRT.
Albert *******
That’s very weird. They usually don’t ask for any identification to top off a rabbit card. Can I ask, were you paying with cash or some kind of card ?
Greg *********
Seriously?
Tom ******
Exact same thing happened to me a couple of days ago. I had to go to a small office at Phaya Thai BTS station to manually enter passport info, phone and address. I think plastic USA is using on passports now blocks scanning.
Patrick ******
Same with me yesterday, my family did the whole process. They couldn’t scan the new hard and clear passport page.
GiftedF*******
@Tom *****
the new Aussie passport do the same. I had to use my Uk passport instead.Guy *********
You can try to top up on your own with the My Rabbit app.
Nick ************
@Guy ********
it doesn't work for foreignersGuy *********
@Nick ***********
works fine for me. You do need a local Thai phone number and bank though.
Emmit *******
@Nick ***********
As of last year, a new Thai policy was enacted in compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. Although this policy is mandatory, some stations are experiencing hardware and staffing issues, which may lead to potential problems when topping up Rabbit Cards.The new policy requires both foreign nationals and Thai citizens to register or re-register their Rabbit Cards directly at any BTS Station Ticket Office. Most users will only discover this requirement when they attempt to top up their card. Thai citizens need to provide their ID card numbers, email addresses, and contact numbers, while foreigners must physically present their passports to link their card data with their personal ID or passport. This process is designed to enhance security and prevent misuse.
Once your card is registered, you can top it up at the BTS Ticket Office. If you have a Thai cellphone number, you can also top up using the My Rabbit Card app.
I registered my card last year and regularly use the app to top it up. Additionally, the Rabbit Card can be used to ride the BRT Bus, and many Thai food courts accept it as well, sometimes offering discounts for cardholders.
Hope this helps.
Nick ************
@Guy ********
I have androidGuy *********
@Nick ***********
that’s odd, I never had to scan a Thai ID (on the iOS app)Nick ************
@Guy ********
it will not read my card until I do something that requires a scan of Thai ID card. The option for foreigner is unavailable.
Jeremy ********
Back in the ancient times of 2013-2019 you had to show your passport to top up your rabbit card and mrt card
It was because of money laundering…you can only put I believe ฿3,000 limit on it
So if you count that by 1,000 or so cards it’s a huge haul
After 2019 or earlier or later I can’t remember they stopped enforcing it and now they went back to the ancient time rules
It was because of money laundering…you can only put I believe ฿3,000 limit on it
So if you count that by 1,000 or so cards it’s a huge haul
After 2019 or earlier or later I can’t remember they stopped enforcing it and now they went back to the ancient time rules
GiftedF*******
I managed to get mine topped up without them needing my passport. I wonder why some do and some don’t.
Ron ******
GiftedFish5406 That question applies to many things here!
Brandon ************
GiftedFish5406 They are verifying cards vs passports. It's only going to be for cards that are older than a year, but how old isn't actually known.
Tony ********
@Brandon ***********
my rabbit card was purchased in 2019 and I’ve never been asked to see my passport for a top up.
Nigel **************
Because TIT 😉😉
Brandon ************
I've seen many reports of this popping up as far back as a few months ago.
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