I am wondering if Thai citizens need to show their ID and have it registered simply in order to top up their BTS / Rabbit Card.

It’s a minor annoyance because I don’t usually carry my passport around.

7 minutes ago, Front Row said:

I am wondering if Thai citizens need to show their ID and have it registered simply in order to top up their BTS / Rabbit Card.

It’s a minor annoyance because I don’t usually carry my passport around.

I think you'll only need to do it once.

7 minutes ago, Front Row said:

I am wondering if Thai citizens need to show their ID and have it registered simply in order to top up their BTS / Rabbit Card.

It’s a minor annoyance because I don’t usually carry my passport around.

It is recommended to have a copy of passport with you at all times. And/or a photo in your mobile phone. A copy is usually accepted for most cases of identity check.

5 minutes ago, msbkk said:

It is recommended to have a copy of passport with you at all times. And/or a photo in your mobile phone. A copy is usually accepted for most cases of identity check.

I have a credit card sized photocopy of my PP that is always in my wallet. Just in case. Never needed it.

7 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

I think you'll only need to do it once.

Not true. I had already registered my rabbit card. This is some new campaign and I’m not sure why. They did this before and then put a stop to it. I’ve no idea why the campaign has been reactivated.

30 minutes ago, Front Row said:

Not true. I had already registered my rabbit card. This is some new campaign and I’m not sure why. They did this before and then put a stop to it. I’ve no idea why the campaign has been reactivated.

Alright then, twice. Point is it is a one off re-registration process that is ongoing now as discussed in that thread.

4 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Alright then, twice. Point is it is a one off re-registration process that is ongoing now as discussed in that thread.

You are correct. Had to go out today so I took my passport. I tried to top up my rabid card at Surasak BTS. (As I said, I had already provided the BTS with my PP number just a few months ago when I had to get a replacement card issued.) I had a lovely conversation with the Surasak staff (not exactly but she was very nice). She seemed to be saying there was a new system or a system upgrade or something of that nature. Whatever. My PP number is not showing up now. She assured me that this would be a one time thing, not every time you want to add value to the rabid card.

She tried to register me on two different machines. Took a very long time. No luck. Instructed me to go to the Phaya Thai station. (Same advice as some reported in the other thread.)

All of this for a stored value card. So, getting back to my original question - Do Thai citizens also have to go through this nonsense? I doubt it or the lines at the ticket windows woud be extremely long.

14 hours ago, Front Row said:

All of this for a stored value card. So, getting back to my original question - Do Thai citizens also have to go through this nonsense? I doubt it or the lines at the ticket windows woud be extremely long.

No, Thai citizens do not have to show ID card to top up the BTS Rabbit Card

I haven't used it for two years. It's expired. I tried to renew it at BTS and transfer the credit. They won't do it because I renewed my passport in the meantime and the numbers don't match (strange 😂)

Result: I lost all the money I had on the card and paid for a new one.

Thai style...pay farang, pay

3 hours ago, mauroest said:

I haven't used it for two years. It's expired. I tried to renew it at BTS and transfer the credit. They won't do it because I renewed my passport in the meantime and the numbers don't match (strange 😂)

Result: I lost all the money I had on the card and paid for a new one.

Thai style...pay farang, pay

If you can show a photo of the old passport the money can be transferred and is not lost. This happened to me previously.

On 1/15/2026 at 11:27 AM, Upnotover said:

I think you'll only need to do it once.

"I think you'll only need to do it once."

That's my experience.

I topped it up a few weeks ago and was asked for passport, seemed like they were starting a new procedure in general as it took a village with everyone in the office helping. But just maybe 10 minutes or so.

Next time I topped up I offered my passport and the lady said "you already did it" so I guess only need to do once.

19 hours ago, mauroest said:

I haven't used it for two years. It's expired. I tried to renew it at BTS and transfer the credit. They won't do it because I renewed my passport in the meantime and the numbers don't match (strange 😂)

Result: I lost all the money I had on the card and paid for a new one.

Thai style...pay farang, pay

Ya probably lost $5. Do a Go Fund Me

It's probably just a way of updating things. Many passports have likely expired since the necessity of using one to top up was introduced, and they can't sell outdated information to data brokers.

I was still using my pre-passport Rabbit card until last year when it finally expired. I only use it whenever I go to BKK.

Had to finally get a new one, with my Passport. To be honest, I think it's more about data collection than any anti-money laundering bulls**t excuse.

Read the Terms and Conditions. Very intrusive.

Thailand seem to want passport for everything, even private person and small private business. This is bit concerning, as data protection not exactly amazing here, and passport very important document. Feels like to buy 711 soda I may have to give me passport copy to, essentially, Chinese hacker who will sell it to Russian and Emirati scammer who...

37 minutes ago, klaikangwon said:

Thailand seem to want passport for everything, even private person and small private business. This is bit concerning, as data protection not exactly amazing here, and passport very important document. Feels like to buy 711 soda I may have to give me passport copy to, essentially, Chinese hacker who will sell it to Russian and Emirati scammer who...

I've had to show my passport to get veterinary care for my cat. For a while I needed it to buy cannabis!

I'm actually mildly concerned because I need to renew my passport and so won't have one for a couple of months.

8 hours ago, klaikangwon said:

Thailand seem to want passport for everything, even private person and small private business. This is bit concerning, as data protection not exactly amazing here, and passport very important document. Feels like to buy 711 soda I may have to give me passport copy to, essentially, Chinese hacker who will sell it to Russian and Emirati scammer who...

Last month I needed to show my passport before I could buy a ticket on the bus from Suv. airport to Jomtien. The number was added to a list of others on a sheet of paper. Didn’t need it to top up my Rabbit card last week though.