MRT is doing away with the old stored value cards and transitioning to VISA/Mastercard EMV cards. Thai citizens can get a new EMV card specific to the MRT system ("Mangmoom EMV"), but apparently foreigners are not eligible for now. Will we ever be?

Why would you need it to begin with as it now allows Visa and Mastercard....... That's the entire point here....

5 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

Why would you need it to begin with as it now allows Visa and Mastercard....... That's the entire point here....

The entire point is I don't want bank credit or debit card accounts littered with scores of sub-$1 charges, just as Thais who choose the new cards available to them don't. But hey, thanks for the snarky input that doesn't answer the question.

Jumping in here - some comments / questions (for clarification / correction / answering)

a) I assume any Bank Card with the 'wave' symbol works (for MRT only) ? (i.e. as below)

b) This looks like MRT only ? (on certain lines)

- Blue Line (The main loop: Sukhumvit, Silom, Hua Lamphong).

- Purple Line (To Nonthaburi).

- Yellow Line (Lat Phrao to Samut Prakan).

- Pink Line (Khae Rai to Min Buri).

- SRT Red Line (To Don Mueang Airport).

- Airport Rail Link (To Suvarnabhumi).

c) This and Bank Cars with the 'wave' symbol wont work on the BTS which still requires a rabbit card or at machine QR payment.

d) Apple Pay and Google Wallet still not work on the BTS and MRT.

From a passenger perspective, this is still fragmented and backwards.

In many other cities - London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney - you can simply double-tap your phone or contactless card and pass straight through the gate using NFC.

Bangkok’s MRT / BTS network is excellent in terms of coverage and expansion, but the payment ecosystem remains fragmented, largely due to the multiple operators and ticketing systems involved. A unified system would significantly improve convenience, passenger flow, and overall user experience across the city’s public transport network - it needs sorting out.

The Mangmoom initiative attempted to fully integrated solution - but the parties involved always seem to come to an impasse.

@JTXR if you are a regular MRT user and don't want your existing account littered with scores of sub $1 transactions - could you obtain a 'separate' account used solely for the BTS ?

I think part of the limitation of the Mangmoom EMV - is that it requires the 13 digit Thai ID number for registration - With a Yellow House Book / Pink ID card (and 13 digit number) I think non-Thai's can obtain the card under the Pao Tang Pay (digital wallet) system - but it looks like a bit of a faff (setting up a separate Bank account - might actually be simpler !).

3 hours ago, JTXR said:

MRT is doing away with the old stored value cards and transitioning to VISA/Mastercard EMV cards. Thai citizens can get a new EMV card specific to the MRT system ("Mangmoom EMV"), but apparently foreigners are not eligible for now. Will we ever be?

I got a prepaid Visa card directly from MRT which is connected to the app and can be topped up by barcode scanning within the app. Alternatively you might consider another prepaid Visa card, Siam Commercial Bank, Krungthai Bank and Bangkok Bank do offer those.

3 hours ago, JTXR said:

MRT is doing away with the old stored value cards and transitioning to VISA/Mastercard EMV cards. Thai citizens can get a new EMV card specific to the MRT system ("Mangmoom EMV"), but apparently foreigners are not eligible for now. Will we ever be?

I got a prepaid Visa card directly from MRT which is connected to the app and can be topped up by barcode scanning within the app. I remember it was quite challenging to register it within the app last year. Alternatively you might consider another prepaid Visa card, Siam Commercial Bank, Krungthai Bank and Bangkok Bank do offer those.

6 hours ago, msbkk said:

10 hours ago, JTXR said:

MRT is doing away with the old stored value cards and transitioning to VISA/Mastercard EMV cards. Thai citizens can get a new EMV card specific to the MRT system ("Mangmoom EMV"), but apparently foreigners are not eligible for now. Will we ever be?

I got a prepaid Visa card directly from MRT which is connected to the app and can be topped up by barcode scanning within the app. Alternatively you might consider another prepaid Visa card, Siam Commercial Bank, Krungthai Bank and Bangkok Bank do offer those.

10 hours ago, JTXR said:

MRT is doing away with the old stored value cards and transitioning to VISA/Mastercard EMV cards. Thai citizens can get a new EMV card specific to the MRT system ("Mangmoom EMV"), but apparently foreigners are not eligible for now. Will we ever be?

I got a prepaid Visa card directly from MRT which is connected to the app and can be topped up by barcode scanning within the app. I remember it was quite challenging to register it within the app last year. Alternatively you might consider another prepaid Visa card, Siam Commercial Bank, Krungthai Bank and Bangkok Bank do offer those.

Have you considered giving JTXR the extra one ? 🫣

On 3/15/2026 at 12:52 PM, JTXR said:

The entire point is I don't want bank credit or debit card accounts littered with scores of sub-$1 charges, just as Thais who choose the new cards available to them don't. But hey, thanks for the snarky input that doesn't answer the question.

The answer didn't sound snarky to me. I'm pretty sure the Mangmoom EMV isn't intended to avoid "littering" accounts with small charges - it's for people who don't actually have another credit or debit card, or who have a concessionary fare such as student or elderly (for which foreigners are no longer eligible).

I personally don't understand why a special EMV card is necessary for this project - they say they're going all-contactless, but the current MRT cards are already contactless - but I suppose there was some technical or policy reason for the change. It's annoying to me because I'll lose my Elder discount, but otherwise it doesn't bother me.

One thing's for sure... the senior, Green MRT card is history.

There will be no more 50% discount for senior falangs with the new

card. I talked to an official in an MRT station booth and got

the word. Only Thai seniors will get the discount.

I think the last day to top up the green, senior card is March 31

and the last day to use it is May 1st. Something like that.

2 hours ago, LALes said:

One thing's for sure... the senior, Green MRT card is history.

There will be no more 50% discount for senior falangs with the new

card. I talked to an official in an MRT station booth and got

the word. Only Thai seniors will get the discount.

I think the last day to top up the green, senior card is March 31

and the last day to use it is May 1st. Something like that.

Yes no more, there must be many senior people unhappy that we wil lose the discount.
Another case equivalent to the Thai dual pricing discriminating against foreigners?
God forbid that they dont stop senior foreigners using the seniors lane at airport immigration.

On 3/15/2026 at 12:38 PM, BuffaloRider said:

Why would you need it to begin with as it now allows Visa and Mastercard....... That's the entire point here....

The old cards allowed a discount for seniors. The credit card system does not make that distinction. What I understood is that only Thai citizens can get a card including the discount, for foreigners it's "game over".

1 hour ago, Dirk Z said:

The old cards allowed a discount for seniors. The credit card system does not make that distinction. What I understood is that only Thai citizens can get a card including the discount, for foreigners it's "game over".

Same as on the BTS then.

14 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Same as on the BTS then.

Yes indeed. I did ask, had to get rid of my Senior card I used for 3 years. Not sure how will work for tourists expecially the ones with a family - kids / teenagers will pay but do not possess credit cards

If you are an older tourist and don't have access to a local bank account then not only will you lose your 50% discount but you might also be hot with your bank's foreign transaction fees. With my bank it seems to be a percentage but I don't know if they have a minimum fee for low value transactions.

On 3/15/2026 at 12:52 PM, JTXR said:

The entire point is I don't want bank credit or debit card accounts littered with scores of sub-$1 charges, just as Thais who choose the new cards available to them don't. But hey, thanks for the snarky input that doesn't answer the question.

In what age do you live, that is all separated since ages on specific assigned ones. I even pay directly from a pre-existing THB balance while I can swap it when rates are good at zero fees.

11 hours ago, Dexxter said:

If you are an older tourist and don't have access to a local bank account then not only will you lose your 50% discount but you might also be hot with your bank's foreign transaction fees. With my bank it seems to be a percentage but I don't know if they have a minimum fee for low value transactions.

Nonsense, I pay at 7/11 etc etc always by foreign card and even collect airmiles per 1 euro spent, there is zero additional charges. I also pay 5-6 euro a month for unlimited international transfer, realtime to Thai, cheaper than Wise, not even use Thai banks anymore.

I stopped using Thai banks, stopped using Thai sim cards, and so many other things. That's the result of them playing games.

57 minutes ago, BuffaloRider said:

Nonsense, I pay at 7/11 etc etc always by foreign card and even collect airmiles per 1 euro spent, there is zero additional charges.

There are many international Visa cards that add a 3% foreign exchange fee on all usage outside the home country.

In Australia, ING and Macquarie Bank rebate this fee, but the big four Australian banks will happily slug you 3% on most of their credit cards when used overseas. If you travel often, you know this and get yourself a fee-free card, but plenty of once-a-year holidaymakers never do.

On 3/17/2026 at 8:40 AM, LALes said:

I think the last day to top up the green, senior card is March 31

and the last day to use it is May 1st.

The last day to top up is March 31, and the last day the card can be used is May 31.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/policy/40063062

Will MRT issue a refund for unused portion of a farangs senior card (bought before it was disallowed to farangs)?

Despicable discrimination against foreigners who are not entitled the 50% discount. Western nations should start doing the same tricks with the Thais who are in America, UK or Europe and refuse to grant them any social security benefits. Only fair.

19 hours ago, OneZero said:

Will MRT issue a refund for unused portion of a farangs senior card (bought before it was disallowed to farangs)?

They have announced that unused balances from MRT cards can be refunded at any station from 1 March 2026 to 31 December 2027.

Khunjeff, Thank you.

On 3/15/2026 at 12:38 PM, BuffaloRider said:

Why would you need it to begin with as it now allows Visa and Mastercard....... That's the entire point here....

In addition I often see riders walking away from the turnstiles that are dedicated to MC/VISA and going to the ticket window, apparently due to some problem with access.

I rarely see this at the other turnstiles.

On 3/17/2026 at 12:03 PM, Dirk Z said:

The old cards allowed a discount for seniors. The credit card system does not make that distinction. What I understood is that only Thai citizens can get a card including the discount, for foreigners it's "game over".

The discount was significant, I think 50% on some routes.

Sad to see it go.

I will say from the Thai point of view Thai seniors are more likely to be in need of it than foreigners.

As my Thai cleaning lady pointed out to me, the Thai monthly pension would last me about 1 day.

On 3/18/2026 at 6:24 AM, BuffaloRider said:

In what age do you live, that is all separated since ages on specific assigned ones. I even pay directly from a pre-existing THB balance while I can swap it when rates are good at zero fees.

Glad to hear things are working out so well for you.

Can you still go a station and order a one way ticket ?

The problem with this system, and many others around the world who have adopted this approach with credit card use is that it penalises large families who will not be able to have a credit card for each family member.

Furthermore, when i use credit cards on the underground in London it really does annoy me, as they can add massive charges claiming you never checked out. That sort of thing is rife in London.

I'm not seeing the new bottom line...

If a tourist (who doesn't have and can't get a Thai bank account) or a qualifying "back home" Visa/MC card shows up at an MRT station, will they be able to buy a stored value card of some description?

Or will they be fated to spend an hour in the queue each time they want to take a ride on the MRT?

Nope, apparently only Thais can get a stored value card.

So if people don't have a credit/debit card which works for the MRT (and you're also screwed if you don't have the physical card with you, because you can usually always pay with the card via your phone...), it's into the queue every time you want to ride the MRT.

People who say "just get a debit/credit card" apparently don't have children who can't get a card yet. Really "funny" for families :(

So is my Blue MRT card no good anymore?

14 hours ago, Yagoda said:

So is my Blue MRT card no good anymore?

Last day to use it, 31 May.

8 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Last day to use it, 31 May.

Oh how sad. Guess it goes with my old passports as a memory for my kid to toss after I kick. Guess I got to shell out for a new card.

I only note this FWIW. The ONLY time I have ever used a CC on a transit line was a few months ago at the Air Train from JFK. I then, luckily for me, locked the card. I then started getting attempts to charge my account from Netflix and of course I dont have an account. So I had to get a new card.