You can buy the MRT's own card, the MRT EMV Visa card, at the ticket office of any MRT Blue Line station in Bangkok. For most visitors, though, there is no need to buy a card at all: the MRT Blue and Purple lines accept contactless Visa and Mastercard credit cards at the gates, and single-journey tokens are sold from machines in every station.
The older MRT and MRT Plus stored-value cards are gone. The operator, Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM), stopped topping them up on April 1, 2026 and ended their use at the gates on June 1, 2026. This guide explains what replaced them and which option suits a short visit.
Your three ways to pay on the MRT
| Option | Where to get it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Contactless credit card (Visa or Mastercard) | Your own bank card; nothing to buy | Most international visitors |
| Single-journey token | Ticket vending machines or the ticket office in any station | Occasional rides, cash payers |
| MRT EMV Visa card | Ticket office at any Blue Line station | Long stays and residents with a Thai phone number |
Option 1: Tap your own contactless card
BEM accepts EMV contactless cards at the fare gates of the MRT Blue Line and Purple Line. Look for the contactless symbol above the automatic gate, tap one card to enter, and tap the same card to exit. The fare is charged to your card by distance traveled.
The rules on which cards work are specific, so check yours before you rely on it:
- Credit cards: Visa and Mastercard contactless credit cards from any Thai or international bank are accepted, along with a list of named UnionPay cards.
- Debit cards: BEM lists debit cards from Thai banks only (Krungthai, Krungsri, Kasikornbank, SCB and UOB). A debit card issued abroad is not on the list.
- One card per person: each traveler needs their own card; you cannot tap once for a group.
You can check your journeys and charges afterwards on BEM's EMV Contactless page or at mangmoomemv.com. Your own bank may add foreign transaction fees, which is between you and your card issuer.
Option 2: Buy a single-journey token
If you prefer cash, or your card is not accepted, buy a round plastic token for each trip. Ticket vending machines in every station sell adult single-journey tokens: choose your destination, pay, and take the token. The machines take coins and small banknotes and give change in coins only. The ticket office near the fare gates also sells tokens, which helps if you need a child or senior fare.
Touch the token on the reader on top of the entry gate. At your destination, drop it into the slot at the exit gate, which keeps it.
Option 3: Buy the MRT EMV Visa card
The MRT EMV Visa card is BEM's replacement for the old MRT card. It is a prepaid Visa card with a contactless chip, sold at the ticket office of every Blue Line station in adult, student and senior versions. Once activated, it can be topped up through the Bangkok MRT app and, according to BEM, also used on the Yellow, Pink and Red lines and wherever Visa is accepted.
It is designed for residents rather than short-stay visitors. To activate it, you must complete an identity check (eKYC) in the Bangkok MRT app on the day the card is issued, using a Thai ID card or, for foreigners, a passport. The phone number you register must be a Thai number. Without that step, the card works only on the Blue and Purple lines, up to the starting balance loaded at purchase. There is also a monthly dormancy fee after 180 days without use, which matters if you leave Bangkok with money on it.
Which should you choose?
- A few days in Bangkok with a foreign credit card: tap your credit card. No purchase, no queue.
- Traveling with only a foreign debit card or cash: use single-journey tokens.
- Staying for months, with a Thai SIM card: the MRT EMV Visa card is worth the setup.
The BTS Skytrain is separate
The MRT and the BTS Skytrain are run by different operators with different tickets. Tokens bought for the MRT do not open BTS gates, so check the BTS operator's own ticket options if your route includes the Skytrain.
Places you can reach by MRT
The Blue Line reaches several of the city's main sights. Sanam Chai station, decorated in early Rattanakosin style, serves Wat Pho and Museum Siam. Wat Mangkon station, designed to reflect its Chinatown setting, and Hua Lamphong station are the stops for Yaowarat and Wat Traimit and the Golden Buddha. Further north, Chatuchak Park and Kamphaeng Phet stations serve Chatuchak Weekend Market, while Lumphini and Silom stations sit beside Lumphini Park. For more ideas, browse our Bangkok attractions.
Sources: BEM, EMV Contactless, BEM, MRT EMV Visa card FAQs, BEM, discontinuation of MRT and MRT Plus cards, BEM, issuing tickets, BEM, ticket types, BEM, station attractions. Checked September 26, 2026.
The MRT EMV Visa card is sold at the ticket office of every MRT Blue Line station. Single-journey tokens are sold from ticket vending machines and ticket offices in every station. The old MRT and MRT Plus cards are no longer sold.
According to BEM, the first purchase costs 250 baht: a 150 baht issuing fee plus 100 baht of stored value. Checked September 26, 2026.
Yes, but activation needs an identity check in the Bangkok MRT app using a passport, and the phone number you register must be a Thai number. Without the check, the card can only be used on the Blue and Purple lines with the initial 100 baht balance.
Yes. BEM accepts contactless Visa and Mastercard credit cards from any Thai or international bank at the Blue Line and Purple Line gates. Its list of accepted debit cards covers Thai banks only.
Yes. BEM says the vending machines accept 1, 5 and 10 baht coins and 20, 50 and 100 baht notes, and give change in coins only. The machines sell adult single-journey tokens; other fare types are sold at the ticket office.
Top-ups ended on April 1, 2026 and the cards stopped working at the gates on June 1, 2026. BEM says remaining balances and deposits can be refunded in cash at MRT Blue Line or Purple Line ticket offices until December 31, 2027, on showing ID.
Through the Bangkok MRT app, from 1 baht. Paying by Thai QR code is free; BEM says other channels such as linked bank accounts, bank counters and retail shops charge a fee.
Yes. BEM charges 20 baht a month once the card has had no activity for 180 consecutive days, and withdrawing a remaining balance to your bank account costs 15 baht per transfer.
