Tourist package prices come from the operators’ official websites, checked on 17 October 2026; the “7-Eleven SIM” terms were checked on 18 October. Operators change packages several times a year, so we recheck this page every 30 days.
Which operators there are
Two companies sell mobile service in Thailand: AIS and True Corporation. True and DTAC merged on 1 March 2023, but both brands live on: TrueMove H and dtac are sold on the same page, in the same shops, at the same prices.
The two are close in size: AIS has 47.1 million mobile subscribers, True Corporation 48.6 million at the end of Q2 2026. Tourist package prices are nearly identical, so choose by coverage where you will be staying.
Where to buy
| Where | AIS | True and dtac |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | 7 airports; in Phuket, 1st floor, International Hall, baggage claim B1 | airport counters, 24/7 (the operator does not say which airports) |
| Shop in town | AIS Shop and Telewiz nationwide | True and dtac shops nationwide |
| Online | eSIM store on ais.th | True/dtac Online Store, eSIM |
| 7-Eleven till | not named in the list of tourist SIM outlets | separate “7-Eleven SIM” packages, see below |
Can I buy a SIM card at 7-Eleven
Yes, 7-Eleven sells SIMs at the till. True and dtac run separate “7-Eleven SIM” packages for the chain, and their terms are on true.th. The lists of tourist SIM outlets from AIS and True do not name 7-Eleven (True mentions it only as a top-up point). That does not mean there are no SIMs there: these are separate packages, not the tourist ones.
| Package | What is included | Who it suits | How we know |
|---|---|---|---|
| THB 1,199 for 30 days | Unlimited data for 30 days. On True and dtac 30-day unlimited, calls within Thailand of up to 15 minutes per call and a credit for international calls | A month or longer, when you want unlimited data and no counting of gigabytes | Price and terms of the 30-day unlimited: operator websites. That 7-Eleven sells it at the till: in our experience on 18 October 2026 |
| THB 199 for 30 days (about THB 200 quoted at the till) | True or dtac “7-Eleven SIM”: 30 GB at up to 15 Mbps, then up to 384 kbps; calls to all networks up to 15 minutes per call; social apps up to 4 Mbps with no data count; 2 GB in the 7-Eleven app; renews automatically up to 12 times | Those who are fine with 30 GB: a second SIM for calls, living locally, a backup if the first one fails | Price and terms: True and dtac pages, offer from 24 Sep to 31 Dec 2026 or until the terms change. The THB 200 quoted at the till: in our experience on 18 October 2026 |
The operators’ pages give no separate price for the starter SIM: THB 199 is paid once at activation and goes towards the package. Confirm the total at the till in each shop, because dealer prices can differ.
How to ask for a second SIM
Under True’s terms a foreigner can register up to 3 SIMs per brand, so a second SIM on your passport is allowed. True and dtac are now one company, and their pages do not say whether the limit is shared: ask when you buy. But the cashier decides on the spot, and in our experience on 18 October 2026 they may politely refuse to sell a second one. Do not argue; move on to another 7-Eleven, an operator shop (True, dtac, AIS Shop) or the airport.
Phrases that help. A man ends them with “khrap”, a woman with “kha”; in a question a woman says “ka”.
| What to say | In Thai | How it sounds | In English |
|---|---|---|---|
| May I have one more SIM | ขอซิมอีกหนึ่งซิมได้ไหมครับ | kho sim iik nueng sim dai mai khrap | Could I have one more SIM, please |
| I want to register it with my passport | ขอลงทะเบียนด้วยพาสปอร์ตครับ | kho long-tha-bian duai phat-sa-pot khrap | I would like to register it with my passport |
| If they refuse | ถ้าไม่ได้ ไม่เป็นไรครับ ขอบคุณครับ | tha mai dai, mai pen rai khrap, khop khun khrap | No problem, thank you |
| To check | ซิมนี้ลงทะเบียนแล้วใช่ไหมครับ | sim ni long-tha-bian laeo chai mai khrap | Is this SIM registered now |
What to check after you buy
- Registration. Stay at the till until the cashier has finished registering the SIM against your passport and scanned your face. Ask: “Is this SIM registered now?” The operator may suspend an unregistered number.
- Package and balance. Make sure the package you paid for is active and look at the balance. If the package is not on, ask for it to be switched on right away.
- Dates. Ask for the end date and about auto-renewal: the THB 199 package renews itself up to 12 times. If you are leaving, ask how to turn it off.
- Phone only. True’s terms forbid using a tourist SIM in a router or modem.
Tourist SIM prices as of October 2026
| Length | AIS | TrueMove H | dtac |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | THB 49, 1 GB | none | none |
| 5 days | THB 399, unlimited | none | none |
| 8 days | THB 499, unlimited | THB 499, unlimited | THB 499, unlimited |
| 10 days | none | THB 349, data only | THB 349, data only |
| 15 days | THB 699, unlimited | THB 699, unlimited | THB 699, unlimited |
| 30 days | THB 1,199, unlimited | THB 1,199, unlimited | THB 1,199, unlimited |
| 60 days | THB 1,599, unlimited | none | none |
What is included. AIS packages from 5 days include free calls within the AIS network and THB 100 of credit for calls to other networks and abroad. TrueMove H Infinite packages include free calls within Thailand of up to 15 minutes per call and THB 100 for international calls. dtac swaps the THB 100 for 30 minutes of calls to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, India, South Korea and Vietnam. The 10-day SIM has no calls. True and dtac prices include VAT; AIS package cards do not say.
What you need to buy one
- Your passport. The SIM is registered in your name against your passport.
- In-person registration and a face check. Under measures from the regulator NBTC, anyone buying a new SIM goes through a biometric check (Liveness Detection) that matches your face to your passport, as True describes the process. Since 16 May 2026 NBTC Notification No. 2 on measures against technology crime has been in force: registration only in person, at an operator branch or authorised dealer. We know this from a summary by the law firm Tilleke & Gibbins; we have not yet checked the notification’s text in the Royal Gazette, so treat this detail as pending confirmation.
- No more than 3 numbers. A foreigner can register no more than 3 SIMs per operator brand; True and dtac are one company, and their pages do not say whether the limit is shared. True’s identity check page gives this limit from 18 August 2025, True’s tourist SIM terms say “no more than three SIMs per person per brand”, and the Tilleke & Gibbins summary states the same rule.
- An unlocked phone. A tourist SIM works only in a phone; using it in routers and modems is prohibited (True’s terms).
How to get a SIM on arrival: step by step
- Before you fly, check that your phone is unlocked and, if you want an eSIM, that it supports one
- At the airport, find an operator counter: in Phuket the AIS counter is on the 1st floor of the international terminal, in baggage claim B1 (more in our Phuket Airport guide)
- Show your passport and complete the face check
- Pick a package for the length of your trip and check the data works before you leave the counter
A tourist SIM ends after 60 days. If you stay longer, you can keep an AIS number by confirming your identity again: text your passport number to 4 444 161 or visit an AIS Shop. For living in Thailand, a regular prepaid or postpaid plan is more convenient; ask about the terms at an operator shop.
FAQ
How much is a SIM card in Thailand for tourists?
Operators publish one official price for the whole country, though dealers may charge differently. AIS as of October 2026: THB 399 for 5 days, 499 for 8 days, 699 for 15 days, 1,199 for 30 days, all with unlimited data. True and dtac: THB 349 for 10 days of data only, and 499, 699 and 1,199 for 8, 15 and 30 days.
Can I buy a SIM card at 7-Eleven?
Yes, they sell SIMs at the till. Bring your passport: the SIM is registered in your name, in person since 16 May 2026. In our experience on 18 October 2026, 7-Eleven has a THB 1,199 package for 30 days and one for about THB 200 for 30 days; True and dtac describe the second on their sites as a "7-Eleven SIM" at THB 199 with 30 GB at up to 15 Mbps. Under True's terms a foreigner may hold up to 3 SIMs per brand, but the cashier can politely refuse a second one: then try another 7-Eleven, an operator shop or the airport.
Where can I buy an eSIM for Thailand?
AIS runs a dedicated tourist eSIM store on ais.th with prices in US dollars; we do not publish them until we have rechecked them. On True and dtac's tourist SIM page every package has an eSIM option at the same price as the physical SIM. Your phone must support eSIM, and the operators' tourist SIM pages do not say whether an eSIM needs in-person registration like a physical SIM: follow the operator's identity check instructions when you buy.
Which SIM card is best for tourists in Thailand, AIS or True?
On tourist packages there is little difference: THB 499 for 8 days and THB 1,199 for 30 days with both. Subscriber numbers are close too: 47.1 million mobile subscribers for AIS and 48.6 million for True Corporation at the end of Q2 2026. Check coverage where you will stay, or take a SIM from one operator and an eSIM from the other.
Does a Thai eSIM come with a phone number?
Operator tourist eSIMs are regular Thai numbers with the same packages: True and dtac eSIMs cost the same as the physical card, and most packages include calls. Third-party eSIMs can be data only, so check the description for a Thai number before you pay. If you need a number to sign up for local apps, an operator SIM or eSIM is the safer choice.
What happens if I stay in Thailand longer than 60 days?
A tourist SIM is valid for no more than 60 days. To keep using an AIS number, you have to confirm your identity again: text your passport number to 4 444 161 or visit an AIS Shop. With True and dtac, topping up after expiry does not extend it; you need to verify your identity with your passport at a shop.
Sources
- AIS. Tourist SIM packages and prices
- AIS. Where to buy a tourist SIM
- True. 7-Eleven SIM, 30 days, THB 199: offer terms
- True. dtac SIM at 7-Eleven: THB 49 and THB 199 packages
- True. 7-Eleven SIM and ALL Member coupons
- AIS. Update SIM registration
- AIS. Investor relations: subscriber numbers
- True-dtac. Tourist SIM and eSIM
- True-dtac. Tourist Infinite SIM terms
- True-dtac. Face check when buying a SIM (Liveness Detection)
- Tilleke & Gibbins. Thailand Tightens Telecom Registration, Data, and IP Address Rules (19 May 2026), law firm summary
- True Corporation. Q2 2026 results (4 August 2026)
- True Corporation. Amalgamation of dtac and True
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.