Using Foreign Bank Cards in Thailand: ATM Fees and UnionPay

Cards issued outside Thailand work at most Thai ATMs and in card terminals at malls, hotels and chain stores. The catch is the fee: every withdrawal on a foreign card costs a flat amount set by the Thai bank. Fees below come from bank websites checked on 17 October 2026.

How much Thai ATMs charge foreign cards

Kasikornbank (KBank) publishes its fee for cash withdrawals at its ATMs on cards from international networks. Schedule effective 20 May 2026:

The THB 220 figure still found in many guides is out of date, at least for KBank. We did not confirm Bangkok Bank or Krungsri fees from the banks themselves. Whatever the bank, the ATM shows the fee before you confirm, and you can cancel.

Because the fee is flat, fewer and larger withdrawals cost less. Taking out THB 10,000 once costs THB 250 on a Visa card at KBank; taking out THB 2,000 five times costs THB 1,250.

Pay in baht, not in your home currency

Some ATMs and card terminals offer to charge you in your home currency. This is dynamic currency conversion (DCC): the exchange rate is set by the terminal owner rather than your card issuer, and you cannot compare it at the counter. Pick baht on the ATM screen, or ask the cashier to run the payment in baht.

UnionPay in Thailand

UnionPay International lists Thailand among the 183 countries and regions where its cards work for cash and payments. At KBank ATMs a UnionPay withdrawal costs the same THB 250 as Visa. Two practical points:

• Six-digit PIN. Some issuers advise adding two zeros to a four-digit PIN where an ATM asks for six digits (Rosselkhozbank gives the example 999 900). Ask your own bank before you travel
• Money changers. SuperRich 1965 accepts credit cards for currency purchases at its Bangkok branches, but not UnionPay credit cards, AMEX or any debit cards, according to its FAQ

Cards issued by Russian banks

Visa announced on 5 March 2022 that cards issued in Russia would stop working outside the country, and the Bank of Russia confirmed the next day that cross-border Visa and Mastercard transactions were unavailable. Mir cards are not accepted in Thailand. UnionPay cards issued by Russian banks do work here: Thailand is not on Rosselkhozbank’s list of countries that restrict them. Since 21 December 2022 they carry an ATM limit abroad of CNY 50,000 a day and CNY 500,000 a year.

Russian bank apps can pay Thai QR codes with the money taken in roubles: MTS from 31 October 2025, Sber from 22 April 2026 and VTB from 19 August 2026 (up to RUB 113,000 per payment, no fee). Sber cards themselves still do not work in Thailand. Since September 2026 tourists report that these QR payments often fail or shops refuse them (Profi.Travel, 17.09.2026, and Tourdom, 02.10.2026, both quoting tourists; similar complaints appeared in April, right after the launch). Sber explained to RIA Novosti on 21.05.2026 that if its Thai partner does not confirm a payment, the money goes back to the customer and the shop receives nothing. Wait for the seller to confirm receipt and carry cash as a backup.

Other ways to pay

• Cash. US dollars in large notes get the best rate, see which dollars to bring
• QR payments. How visitors pay by Thai QR without a local account is covered in our QR payments guide
• Carrying cash in. Foreign banknotes over USD 15,000 (Bank of Thailand rule) must be declared to Thai Customs, see the Thailand customs guide

Strangers in chat groups offering a “better than bank” exchange rate are a common scam, covered in our guide to scams in Thailand.

Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.