Can I use my Starling card in Thailand?

Planning your dream holiday to Thailand? Whether you’re there for a week-long beach break or a three-month backpacking adventure, you’ll need to get your spending money sorted.

If you bank with Starling Bank in the UK, you might be interested to know whether you can use your UK-issued debit card for your Thailand trip.

In this handy guide, we’ll run through everything you need to know about using your Starling card abroad. This includes if it’s possible, how to use your card and whether there are any fees.

We’ll also quickly show you an alternative for holiday spending from the money services provider Wise - the Wise international debit card.

Learn more about Wise 💳

Do Starling debit cards work in Thailand?

Yes, Starling Bank cards are designed for use overseas, as well as for everyday spending in the UK.

This means you can use it for spending in Thailand, wherever you see the Mastercard logo.

You’ll use your card just like at home. Simply tap to spend (where contactless is available) or use Chip & PIN in shops, restaurants, hotels and travel hubs. You can also use your card to withdraw cash from ATMs in Thailand.

Are Thai baht supported for spending?

You can spend in a wide range of currencies with the Starling debit card. Just make sure you choose to pay in the local currency (Thai baht) when asked, rather than in your home currency (British pound sterling).

This will mean that the currency is converted by Mastercard when you spend, which generally offers the mid-market exchange rate or very close to it for many currency pairs.¹

You can check the Mastercard exchange rate at any time here.

Are there any limits?

It’s important to note that there are some limits for spending and cash withdrawals when using your Starling debit card overseas:²

Transaction type	Limit
Spending on your card	Up to £10,000 per day
Contactless payments	Limit varies by country, if available
ATM withdrawals	Up to £300 per day, 6 withdrawals maximum

Do you need to tell Starling Bank that you’re going abroad?

It’s not necessary to tell Starling Bank in advance that you’ll be using your card in another country.¹ You can just hop on the plane to Thailand and start spending.

How much does it cost to use a Starling card in Thailand?

The good news is that Starling Bank doesn’t charge any fees for using your debit card abroad.¹

This includes both spending and cash withdrawals. But you’ll just need to watch out that ATM operators don’t charge their own fees.

A great alternative for low-cost spending in Thailand - the Wise card

Starling Bank isn’t the only game in town when it comes to travel spending, and it’s always worth comparing all options.

Open a Wise account online and you can get a Wise international debit card for a one-time fee of just £7. This can be used for spending and ATM withdrawals in 150+ countries, including Thailand.

The Wise international debit card automatically converts your pounds to Thai baht when you spend. But unlike some other providers, it does the conversion at the mid-market exchange rate.

There’s just a small fee to carry out the conversion. Or if you already have THB in your account, it’s fee-free.

Need cash? You can even use your Wise card to withdraw up to £200 a month (up to 2 transactions) from ATMs in Thailand for free (although again, remember that some ATM providers may charge their own fees).

Sign up with Wise today 💰

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After reading this, you should be all set to use your Starling card in Thailand with confidence. As long as you choose to pay in the local currency and steer clear of fee-charging ATMs, it’s a good option for holiday spending.

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Sources used for this article:

1. Starling Bank - Travel
2. Starling Bank - What limits does my card have?

Sources checked on 22-04-2024.