Revolut for Expats in Thailand (2025): What You Need to Know

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Can Revolut Make Your Life in Thailand Easier?

If you’ve spent any time around digital nomads or long-term travelers, you’ve probably heard someone mention Revolut. It’s a sleek, app-based financial tool that promises low-fee currency exchange, travel-friendly spending, and modern banking features—all from your smartphone.

Sounds ideal, right?

But here’s the catch: Revolut wasn’t built for Thailand. While it works here, it comes with a few limitations you’ll want to know about before relying on it as your main financial tool.

In this review, I’ll break down exactly how Revolut works for expats in Thailand, where it shines, where it falls short, and how it fits into a smart money setup if you’re living in or regularly traveling around Southeast Asia.

Let’s take a closer look.

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What Is Revolut? A Quick Overview

Revolut is a fintech company launched in the UK in 2015 with a simple goal: to make global banking cheaper, faster, and fully digital. Instead of dealing with traditional banks and their fees, you manage everything through the Revolut app—from spending and saving to currency exchange and international transfers.

Today, Revolut has over 40 million users across more than 150 countries. It offers both free and paid plans, and includes features like:

• Multi-currency wallets
• Debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Currency exchange at competitive rates
• ATM withdrawals abroad
• Travel insurance (on certain plans)
• Budgeting tools
• Crypto and stock trading (in select countries)

While Revolut is not a licensed bank in Thailand, it is regulated in the UK and Europe (with an EU banking license via Lithuania). That means your funds are held under strict financial safeguards, but it doesn’t offer local Thai banking features like PromptPay, THB account numbers, or bill payments.

Revolut at a Glance

Feature	Details
Founded	2015 (UK)
Available In	150+ countries
Supported Currencies	25+ (but not THB)
Card Type	Visa or Mastercard (physical & virtual)
Licensing	E-money license (UK), EU bank license
THB Support	❌ No local wallet or transfers in THB

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How Revolut Works – Step by Step (For New Users)

If you’ve never used a digital banking app before, Revolut might sound complicated. But in practice, it’s designed to be simple—even if you’re not especially tech-savvy. Here’s how the process looks from start to finish:

1. Download the App

Revolut is available on both iOS and Android. Just search “Revolut” in your app store and install it.

2. Sign Up and Verify Your Identity

Creating an account takes just a few minutes. You’ll enter your personal details, take a selfie, and upload a photo of your passport or ID to verify your identity. This is required for all account tiers.

3. Choose a Plan

You can start with a free Standard account or upgrade to a paid plan (Plus, Premium, or Metal) if you want more benefits like higher ATM limits, travel insurance, or lounge access. Upgrading can be done anytime from within the app.

4. Add Money to Your Revolut Account

Top up your account by linking a credit/debit card or sending money from another account (e.g., Wise or your home bank). Funds are usually available instantly.

5. Order a Physical Card (Optional)

You can request a physical debit card to use at shops and ATMs. Shipping fees may apply depending on your plan. A virtual card is available immediately for online purchases.

6. Use Revolut to Spend, Exchange, or Withdraw

Once your account is funded, you can:

• Spend in any supported currency
• Exchange money at near interbank rates
• Withdraw cash at ATMs (limits apply)
• Track all transactions instantly in-app

7. Monitor & Control Everything in Real-Time

Freeze your card, set spending limits, categorize expenses, and receive instant notifications—all directly from the app.

✅ You don’t need to switch banks—Revolut works alongside your existing accounts and can act as your secondary wallet for travel and spending.

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Key Features of Revolut (2025)

Here’s a closer look at what Revolut offers and how those features can benefit expats in Thailand—or fall short, depending on your needs.

Multi-Currency Wallet

You can hold, send, and receive over 25 currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and SGD. THB (Thai Baht) is not supported as a wallet currency—you can’t receive or store baht, but you can spend in THB when using your Revolut card in Thailand.

Currency Exchange

Revolut offers competitive exchange rates that match the interbank rate on weekdays. On weekends, a small markup (typically 0.5–1%) is applied. Currency exchanges are instant and done entirely within the app.

Virtual and Physical Cards

You get an instant virtual card upon signup, and you can order a physical debit card for use at shops and ATMs worldwide. Cards are either Visa or Mastercard and work anywhere those networks are accepted.

Global ATM Withdrawals

Withdraw money abroad with no Revolut fee up to your monthly limit (e.g., ฿7,000–10,000 depending on your plan). After that, a 2% fee applies. Thai ATM operators still charge a ฿220–250 fee per withdrawal, regardless of which card you use.

Spending Insights & Budgeting

Every transaction is categorized automatically (e.g., food, transport, travel), helping you monitor where your money goes. You can set monthly budgets and get alerts if you go over.

Security Tools

• Instantly freeze or unfreeze your card
• Create disposable virtual cards for one-time online purchases
• Get location-based protection and two-factor authentication for added peace of mind

Travel Extras (Paid Plans Only)

Premium and Metal plans include:

• Overseas medical insurance
• Delayed flight coverage
• Free lounge access (if your flight is delayed)
• Cashback on hotels booked through the app

Investment Options (Not Available in Thailand)

Revolut offers stock trading, crypto, and commodities in some countries. These features are not accessible if your account is registered in Thailand, but may still be usable for users with residency in supported regions.

Revolut Key Features at a Glance

Feature	What It Does
Multi-Currency Wallet	Hold and convert 25+ currencies (not including THB)
Currency Exchange	Interbank rates on weekdays; small markup on weekends
Debit Cards	Use physical or virtual cards worldwide (Visa/Mastercard)
ATM Withdrawals	Free up to monthly limit; 2% fee above; Thai ATMs charge ฿220–250
Spending Analytics	Tracks expenses by category with instant notifications
Security Controls	Freeze card, create virtual cards, enable location-based protection
Travel Perks	Paid plans include insurance, airport lounge access, hotel cashback
Investments	Stocks, crypto, and commodities (not available to Thai-based users)

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How Revolut Works in Thailand: Pros & Cons

Revolut is a strong contender for expats and travelers looking to manage money across borders—but it’s not a perfect fit for long-term living in Thailand. Here’s a breakdown of where it works well and where it falls short:

✅ Pros

• Excellent for Travel in Southeast Asia
  Use your Revolut card throughout the region—Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia—with no need to carry large amounts of cash or visit exchange booths.

• Real-Time Currency Conversion
  Convert currencies instantly in the app at competitive weekday rates. Great if you’re spending in multiple currencies or managing income from abroad.

• No Foreign Transaction Fees
  Spend in other currencies (USD, EUR, etc.) without the 2–3% markup many banks add.

• Free International ATM Withdrawals
  Withdraw cash abroad (including in Thailand) with no Revolut fee up to your monthly limit.

• Advanced Security Features
  Freeze your card, generate one-time-use virtual cards, and get spending alerts—handy when traveling or using unfamiliar ATMs.

• Ideal as a Secondary Wallet
  Use Revolut alongside Wise and a Thai bank to cover different needs (e.g., travel, daily spending, bill payments).

❌ Cons

• No Thai Baht Wallet
  You can’t store or receive THB in your Revolut account. This limits its use for getting paid in Thailand or holding local currency.

• Not Suitable for Local Payments
  No support for PromptPay, Thai QR code scanning, or bill payments. You’ll need a Thai bank account for that.

• Thai ATM Fees Still Apply
  While Revolut doesn’t charge you, local Thai banks do—typically ฿220–฿250 per withdrawal.

• No Salary or Remittance Support
  Employers in Thailand can’t pay into your Revolut account. It’s not a replacement for a local bank or Wise account.

• Weekend Exchange Markup
  Currency conversions on weekends incur a markup (0.5–1%), which can add up if you’re not careful.

• Some Features Unavailable in Thailand
  Crypto, stocks, and commodity trading are restricted if your account is tied to a Thai residency address.

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Best Use Cases for Expats in Thailand

Revolut isn’t a full banking solution for expats living in Thailand, but that doesn’t mean it’s useless. In fact, it shines in specific situations—especially for those who travel often, earn money abroad, or want an extra layer of flexibility when managing their finances.

For many expats, Revolut works best as a secondary wallet—something you use in addition to a Thai bank account or a service like Wise. It’s not designed to handle your rent, pay school fees, or receive a salary in baht. But it does make everyday spending easier when you’re moving between currencies or hopping across borders in Southeast Asia.

Here are a few examples where Revolut can be a smart choice:

✅ Ideal Situations

• You travel often around Southeast Asia and want a secure, app-based way to pay without juggling cash or worrying about card fees.

• You earn or hold foreign currency (like USD, EUR, GBP) and want to convert and spend it flexibly while living in Thailand.

• You prefer digital tools that offer instant notifications, spending analytics, and modern security features like freezing your card with a tap.

• You need a backup payment method in case your local card is declined or compromised abroad.

• You want to avoid your home country bank’s 2–3% foreign transaction fees when spending in Thailand or elsewhere.

❌ Less Suitable For

• Receiving a Thai salary—Revolut doesn’t support Thai bank transfers or THB wallet balances, so employers can’t pay you into this account.

• Paying rent or local bills—There’s no PromptPay, no Thai QR scanning, and no support for paying local utility or phone bills.

• Long-term Thai baht storage—You can spend in THB using your Revolut card, but you can’t hold baht or receive transfers in it.

• Living full-time in Thailand without traveling—If you rarely leave the country and already use a Thai bank and Wise, Revolut may not add much value.

• Using all of Revolut’s investment or trading features—These are disabled if your account is linked to a Thai address or residency.

📌 Bottom line: Revolut isn’t designed to replace your Thai bank or Wise account—it’s designed to complement them. For everyday expat life, you’ll still need local solutions. But when you want to spend flexibly, travel freely, and manage your foreign currency without headaches, Revolut is a tool worth considering.

How Useful Is Revolut? Common Expat Scenarios

Use Case	Is Revolut Useful?	Notes
Weekend trip to Vietnam or Laos	✅ Yes	Avoid exchange booths and foreign card fees
Receiving salary in Thailand	❌ No	No THB wallet or local bank details
Spending foreign income in Thailand	✅ Yes	Top up with foreign currency and spend in THB
Withdrawing Thai baht from ATMs	✅ Limited	Free within Revolut limits, but Thai ATM fee applies
Paying bills or rent in Thailand	❌ No	No PromptPay or Thai bank transfer support

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Revolut Pricing & Account Tiers

Revolut offers four main account tiers: Standard, Plus, Premium, and Metal. Each tier comes with its own set of features, limits, and monthly fees. Whether you just need basic spending tools or want travel perks like insurance and lounge access, there’s a plan for every type of user. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription anytime directly through the app.

Here’s a closer look at each plan and how it fits different expat needs in Thailand.

Standard (Free)

If you’re curious about Revolut but not ready to commit, the Standard plan is a solid way to get started. It includes all the essential features like a multi-currency wallet, a virtual card, and access to Revolut’s competitive exchange rates (with limits). You won’t get any premium perks, but for casual use or as a backup travel card, it does the job.

• No monthly fee
• Hold and exchange 25+ currencies
• Free virtual card; physical card available (delivery fee may apply)
• Currency exchange at interbank rates (up to approx. ฿28,000/month; markup applies beyond)
• Free ATM withdrawals up to ~฿7,000/month
• Weekend exchange markup of 0.5%–1%
• No travel insurance or premium support

✅ Best for: New users, occasional travelers, or those using Revolut as a secondary wallet.

Plus (~฿160/month)

The Plus plan adds a few layers of protection without the full cost of Premium. You still don’t get travel insurance or higher ATM limits, but you do get extended return coverage, some purchase protection, and priority support. If you shop online often or want peace of mind for local purchases, it may be worth the small fee.

• All Standard features
• Extended return protection (up to 90 days)
• Refund coverage for event tickets or damaged items
• Priority in-app customer support
• Slightly higher currency exchange and ATM withdrawal limits
• No travel perks or lounge access

✅ Best for: Expats who don’t travel much but want a little extra security when spending.

Premium (~฿320/month)

Premium is where Revolut starts to shine for regional travelers. It removes weekday currency exchange limits and bumps up your free ATM withdrawal cap, which can be a real advantage if you’re frequently pulling cash in countries like Laos or Cambodia. You also get medical travel insurance, lost baggage coverage, and disposable virtual cards for secure online purchases.

• Unlimited weekday currency exchange
• Higher ATM withdrawal limit (~฿14,000/month)
• Overseas medical and emergency insurance
• Trip delay and lost baggage insurance
• Disposable virtual cards for extra online security
• Free express card delivery
• Lounge access if your flight is delayed
• Priority customer service

✅ Best for: Digital nomads and regular SEA travelers who want more convenience and protection.

Metal (~฿520/month)

Revolut’s top-tier plan is packed with features—but most expats won’t need everything it offers. It’s designed for high spenders and frequent flyers who want concierge access, cashback on spending, and even higher ATM limits. If you live a travel-heavy lifestyle or spend a lot in foreign currencies, it could pay off. Otherwise, Premium is more cost-effective.

• All Premium features included
• Even higher ATM withdrawal limit (~฿35,000/month)
• 0.1–1% cashback on card purchases (depending on location)
• Concierge service for bookings and reservations
• Unlimited foreign currency exchange (markup still applies on weekends)
• Free lounge access (limited passes per year)
• Priority premium support

✅ Best for: High spenders, frequent international travelers, and expats who want premium service with extra perks.

Compare Revolut Plans at a Glance

Plan	Monthly Fee (approx.)	ATM Limit	Key Features
Standard	Free	~฿7,000/month	Multi-currency wallet, virtual card, basic analytics, weekday FX limit
Plus	~฿160	Slightly higher	All Standard features, purchase protection, ticket refund cover, priority support
Premium	~฿320	~฿14,000/month	Unlimited weekday FX, travel insurance, disposable cards, delayed flight lounge access
Metal	~฿520	~฿35,000/month	All Premium features, cashback, concierge, higher limits, priority premium support

✅ You can explore the plans and sign up for free at revolut.com

Which Plan Should You Choose?

For most expats living in Thailand, Standard will be enough—especially if you’re using Revolut for occasional travel or as a backup to Wise or a Thai bank. But if you travel regularly in the region and want medical insurance, higher ATM limits, and lounge access, Premium is the sweet spot.

Unless you’ll truly use concierge services, lounge passes, and cashback, the Metal plan is probably more than you need.

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Is Revolut Safe and Legit?

When it comes to managing money abroad, safety and reliability are non-negotiable, especially if you’re living far from your home country and relying on digital tools to access your funds.

Revolut isn’t a traditional bank, but it operates under strict financial regulations and offers multiple layers of protection for your money.

Revolut holds an e-money license in the UK and a full banking license in the EU, issued via Lithuania. This means customer funds are kept in segregated accounts and aren’t used for lending or business operations. While it doesn’t offer deposit protection like a Thai or European bank might, your balance is still safeguarded under regulated standards.

On the security front, Revolut is well-regarded for its digital controls:

• You can freeze and unfreeze your card instantly in the app
• Create disposable virtual cards to reduce online fraud risk
• Enable location-based security, where the app can block card usage if it’s being used in a different location from your phone
• Receive real-time notifications for every transaction
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) for account login and sensitive actions

For expats, one of the key concerns is customer support in case something goes wrong. Revolut offers in-app chat support, but response times vary by tier. Free users may wait several hours; Premium and Metal users receive priority access.

⚠️ Important note: Revolut has been known to temporarily freeze accounts if activity triggers a compliance review (such as large or unusual transfers). While this is a standard security procedure, it can be frustrating if you’re relying solely on Revolut for daily access to funds.

That’s one reason why it’s best used alongside a local Thai bank account or a service like Wise, rather than relying on it as your only financial tool.

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Alternatives and When Revolut Might Not Be Enough

While Revolut offers a slick interface and useful features for travel and multi-currency spending, it has clear limitations for expats living in Thailand full-time. The most important gaps are its lack of Thai baht (THB) wallet support, inability to receive Thai salaries, and no access to PromptPay or local bank transfers. For these reasons, it shouldn’t be your only financial solution.

Here are two key alternatives that complement Revolut and fill those gaps:

Wise (formerly TransferWise)

Wise is one of the most trusted tools among expats in Thailand for handling international money transfers. Unlike Revolut, Wise lets you hold and receive THB, and provides local bank account details in multiple currencies—including Thai baht, USD, EUR, GBP, and more.

With Wise, you can:

• Receive payments from abroad or local employers
• Send money to Thai bank accounts with low, transparent fees
• Hold and convert over 50 currencies
• Use a Wise debit card (in supported countries)
• Get mid-market exchange rates with no weekend markup

✅ Best for: Getting paid in Thailand, transferring money internationally, or managing finances across multiple countries with full THB support.

Thai Bank Account

No matter how advanced your international tools are, a local Thai bank account is essential if you plan to live in Thailand long-term. It allows you to:

• Get paid by a Thai employer
• Pay bills via PromptPay and QR code
• Avoid ATM withdrawal fees from foreign cards
• Build credit or set up recurring payments
• Link to services like LINE Pay or mobile banking apps

Most expats open an account with banks like Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank (KBank), or SCB. Requirements vary, but it’s generally straightforward with a long-stay visa and proof of address.

✅ Best for: Paying rent, utilities, and handling day-to-day financial life in Thailand.

Combine for Flexibility

Revolut works best when it’s part of a multi-tool setup:

• Wise for receiving and sending money in baht
• Revolut for spending and withdrawing money while traveling
• Thai bank for local integration and payments

📌 Using all three gives you full coverage—global flexibility with local functionality.

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Final Verdict: Is Revolut a Good Choice for Expats in Thailand?

Revolut is a sleek, modern tool with solid international features—but it isn’t designed with Thailand in mind. For expats who regularly travel across Southeast Asia, earn money abroad, or want a flexible backup card, Revolut can be a great addition to your financial setup. It’s especially useful for managing multiple currencies, spending overseas, and avoiding foreign transaction fees.

However, it falls short as a standalone solution for expat life in Thailand. Without THB wallet support, local transfers, or PromptPay integration, Revolut can’t handle your daily financial needs the way a Thai bank or Wise account can.

If you’re living in Thailand long-term, the most effective approach is to combine tools:

• Use Wise for receiving income and converting money into baht
• Use a Thai bank for local transactions, bill payments, and QR code scanning
• Use Revolut for travel, online shopping, and secure multi-currency spending

📌 For what it offers, Revolut is absolutely worth trying—especially the free Standard account. But treat it as a complement to your existing financial toolkit, not a complete replacement.

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Common Questions About Using Revolut in Thailand

Still have a few questions? Here are some practical answers to common concerns expats and travelers often have when using Revolut in Thailand.

Can I use Revolut to pay in shops or restaurants in Thailand?

Yes. As long as your card is topped up and activated, you can use Revolut just like any Visa or Mastercard for in-person payments—just be aware that some small vendors may only accept PromptPay or cash.

What happens if my Revolut account is frozen during travel?

Revolut sometimes freezes accounts during compliance checks, especially if there’s unusual activity. If this happens, you’ll need to verify your identity or explain the transaction. It’s a good idea to have a backup payment method while traveling.

Can I use Revolut in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia?

Yes. Revolut works well in most Southeast Asian countries where Mastercard or Visa is accepted. It’s a great tool for regional travel—but always carry some local cash in more rural areas.

Is Revolut accepted on Thai e-commerce websites?

It depends. Larger platforms like Lazada, Agoda, and Shopee may accept foreign cards like Revolut. Smaller local websites and apps often require a Thai debit card or PromptPay.

Can I top up Revolut with a Thai bank card?

Not directly. Revolut doesn’t support local top-ups in Thailand. You’ll need to fund your account via an international debit card or a service like Wise or a home country bank transfer.

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