TagThai Easy Pay: First-Weeks PromptPay Before You Have a Bank Account
Airport FX Booth. Link the App.
Keep Cash for the Stall
I've lived in Thailand for 20 years, and from our office in Ban Lum I see new teachers hit the same question in week one: how do I pay for things? TagThai Easy Pay can help in the first weeks. Rules change, so check the KBank booth.
01: What Is TagThai Easy Pay?
A helper for arrival week. Not a bank account.
"Week one is when new teachers ask me about money. PromptPay QR codes sit on shop counters everywhere now. Easy Pay can help you scan and pay while your Thai bank account is still weeks away. Keep cash for the stall, and check the KBank booth, because rules change."Matthew John : Co-Founder & Operations Manager, KET
Everyday QR Payments 📲
Scan a Thai PromptPay QR code at shops, supermarkets and restaurants that show one, using the TagThai app.
Set Up at a KBank Booth 💳
You sign up in person with your passport and foreign cash at a KBank Foreign Exchange booth, then link the wallet in the app. Booth staff will tell you the current steps.
Cash From an ATM? 🏧
This may be possible at some KBank ATMs, but ATM rules and limits change. Please confirm at the counter.
This is not banking advice. Fees, limits, booths and sign-up steps can change. Check the KBank booth or the TagThai app before you rely on anything here.
02: PromptPay QR and Cash
Use both. Keep cash for the stall.
Where QR Works
Department stores, convenience shops, chain cafés and many restaurants and food courts show a Thai QR code. Look for the logo at the till.
Where Cash Wins
Street carts, songthaews, ferry piers and village markets often want cash. Keep some notes in your pocket.
Exchange and Leftovers
Foreign cash is exchanged at the booth's own rate. Refunds and buy-back terms can change, so ask the counter staff before you top up.
03: Set It Up in 4 Steps
From the booth to your first QR scan. Rules change, so check the KBank booth.
🛠️ How to Set Up TagThai Easy Pay
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Go to a KBank FX Booth With Your Passport
Take your passport and foreign cash to a KBank Foreign Exchange booth, for example at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airport. Rules change, so check the KBank booth.
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Register and Choose a PIN
The booth staff register you and exchange your foreign cash into Thai baht. Choose a PIN if they ask for one, and keep your slip and reference safe.
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Link the Wallet in the TagThai App
Install the TagThai app, tap Easy Pay, and enter your passport number, your reference and your PIN if it asks for them.
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Scan PromptPay QR in Person
Tap Scan & Pay at shops that show a Thai QR code. It is for in-person payments, not Grab. Keep some cash for stalls.
Take a photo of your booth slip. Keep your PIN private and never write it on anything you carry. TagThai says a simpler sign-up with no physical card is coming, so ask which steps apply to you.
04: What It Can't Do, and What Comes Next
In-person QR only. A real bank comes later.
⚠️ Not for Grab or Online
It is for in-person QR payments. Don't expect it to work for Grab, delivery apps or online checkouts. Limits and top-up rules can change, so confirm at the counter.
In-person QR only🏦 A Real Bank After Non-B
Easy Pay is for your first weeks only. Once your Non-B visa and work permit are done, your school can usually help you open a normal Thai bank account for your salary. Read our Non-B visa guide and work permit guide.
Bank account: after Non-B and work permitTwo More Apps You'll Use
For school messages and getting around. More in our Thailand apps guide.
Easy Pay Questions
What is TagThai Easy Pay?
TagThai Easy Pay is a tourist e-wallet inside the TagThai app. It is built with KBank and supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. You top it up with foreign currency and scan Thai PromptPay QR codes in shops. It is not a Thai bank account.
How do I get TagThai Easy Pay?
You sign up in person at a KBank Foreign Exchange booth, for example at the airports. Take your passport and foreign cash, then link the wallet in the TagThai app. TagThai has announced a simpler sign-up with no physical card, so the steps can differ. Rules change, so check the KBank booth.
Can I use TagThai Easy Pay for Grab or online shopping?
No. It is for in-person QR payments in shops. Do not expect it to work for Grab, delivery apps or online checkouts.
Can I take cash out of an ATM with TagThai Easy Pay?
It may be possible at some KBank ATMs, but ATM rules and limits change. Please confirm at the counter.
Do I still need cash in Thailand?
Yes. Street stalls, songthaews, ferry piers and village markets often want cash. Keep some notes in your pocket.
Is TagThai Easy Pay right for teachers long-term?
No. It is a helper for your first weeks. After your Non-B visa and work permit are done, your school can usually help you open a real Thai bank account.
Is KET the same as KBank?
No. KET is not KBank, and this is not banking advice. Check the KBank booth or the TagThai app for the current rules.
Matthew John
Co-Founder & Operations ManagerI'm Matthew, co-founder of Kids English Thailand. I've lived in Thailand for 20 years and work from our office in Ban Lum, Sukhothai. Since 2009 we have placed over 1,500 teachers in Thai schools, and money questions are always in the first week's list.
