🌏 For Tourists & Expats

How Foreigners Register a Grab Account

No local SIM? No problem. Your home phone number works — here is the complete, step-by-step guide to signing up for Grab across Southeast Asia.

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8Countries
1Account
~2 minSign-up time
✅

The short answer

You do not need a local phone number to register for Grab. Any active mobile number that can receive an SMS verification code works — including numbers from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, and beyond [1]. Your account then generally works across all eight Grab countries.

Preparation

What you need before you start

Gather these four things and registration takes just a couple of minutes.

1

A phone number that receives SMS

Your home-country number is fine. Make sure roaming is on, or keep your SIM in a second phone.

2

The Grab app

Download from the App Store or Google Play. Google Play → · App Store →

3

A payment method (optional but recommended)

A credit or debit card, or plan to pay cash where available.

4

An email address

Used as a backup contact and for account recovery.

Registration

Step-by-step sign-up

Follow these steps in order. You can do this before you fly or after you land.

1

Download the Grab app

Search for “Grab: Food, Delivery & Transport” in your app store, or use the direct links: Google Play → · App Store →

2

Open the app and enter your phone number

Select your country code from the dropdown, then type your mobile number without the leading zero. For example, a UK number +44 7911 123456 becomes “7911123456” after selecting +44.

💡 Pro tip: Register before your trip while you are still in your home country. This avoids roaming delays and ensures your number can receive the SMS.
3

Enter the OTP verification code

Grab sends a 6-digit one-time password (OTP) by SMS. Enter it in the app. Codes can take up to a minute to arrive.

⚠️ If the code does not arrive, see the OTP troubleshooting section below. Do not tap “Resend” repeatedly — this can lock you out temporarily.
4

Complete your profile

Enter your name and email address. Some regions or services may ask for additional profile details.

5

Add a payment method (or choose cash)

You can link a credit or debit card, or select cash as your payment method. You can switch per ride later.

6

You are ready to book

Your account is active. Set your pickup pin, enter your destination, choose a service, and confirm. Check the driver’s plate before getting in.

Money

Payment methods for foreigners

You have several options. Choose what works best for your trip length and budget.

💳

Foreign credit / debit card

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. Link your card in the app.

3–4% foreign card fee
💵

Cash

Available for rides in most markets. Pay the driver directly at the end of the trip.

No extra fee
📱

GrabPay Wallet

Top up the in-app wallet with a card or online banking. Useful for long stays.

Top-up fees may apply
🅰️

Alipay (selected countries)

Supported in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. Not yet available in Indonesia.

Check in-app

💡 Understanding the foreign card fee

  • Malaysia / Thailand / Singapore: Foreign-issued cards typically incur a 3% processing fee on the transaction amount [2].
  • Vietnam: The foreign card fee is 4% (VAT included) on the final payment amount [3].
  • Workaround: Pay cash where available, or top up GrabPay Wallet with a foreign Mastercard debit card (often 0% top-up fee in Malaysia) and pay from the wallet [4].
Troubleshooting

The OTP code is not arriving — what to do

This is the most common registration hurdle for foreigners. Work through these fixes in order.

✓

Check your country code and number format

The most common mistake is a mismatched country code or an extra leading zero. Select the correct country code and enter the number without the first “0”.

✓

Confirm your SIM can receive SMS abroad

Enable roaming, or keep your home SIM in a second phone. If other SMS messages are also not arriving, the issue is with your line, not Grab.

✓

Wait before resending

Tapping “Resend” repeatedly can trigger an attempt limit. Wait at least 60 seconds between attempts. If it still fails, try again the next day.

✓

Check WhatsApp

In some regions, Grab may send the code via WhatsApp instead of SMS. Check your WhatsApp messages for the 6-digit code.

🔄 If none of the above works

  • Try a different number: If you have a second phone number (e.g., a work number or a local SIM), try registering with that.
  • Register after landing: Some travellers report that sign-up only completes once they are physically in a Grab market. If you are still abroad, try again after you arrive [5].
  • Contact Grab Support: Use the in-app help centre or the Grab website for your destination country.
Long stays & expats

GrabPay verification with a passport

If you plan to use GrabPay Wallet (not just ride-hailing), you may need to complete identity verification (KYC).

1

Activate GrabPay Wallet

In the app, go to Finance → Activate GrabPay Wallet and follow the prompts.

2

Choose “Passport” as your ID type

When asked for identification, select Passport instead of a local ID card. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport.

3

Take a photo of your passport and a selfie

Follow the in-app camera instructions to capture a clear photo of your passport information page and a live selfie. The review usually completes within 24 hours [6].

4

Upgrade to Premium Wallet (optional)

Basic Wallet has a lower balance limit (e.g., RM500 in Malaysia). With completed KYC, you can upgrade to Premium Wallet for a higher limit (e.g., RM10,000) and transfer features [7].

💡 Note: Ride-hailing and food delivery do not always require full KYC. You can often use Grab with just a phone number and a linked card. KYC is mainly needed for wallet top-ups and higher-value transactions.
Save money

Grab Tourist Packs & Travel Passes

If you are visiting for a week or more, a Tourist Pack bundles ride and food vouchers at a discount.

🎫

What it is

A package of vouchers for rides, food delivery, and more. Available in six Southeast Asian countries.

📅

Validity

Vouchers are valid for 4 weeks from the date of purchase. Each pack works only in the country where you bought it [8].

🛒

How to buy

In the app: Account → Subscription → Tourist Pack → Get This Package. Pay with a card or wallet.

ℹ️

Good to know

Tourist Packs are for international travellers only. You cannot use them in your home country. They are non-transferable and non-refundable.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my home phone number to register?
Yes. Grab accepts international phone numbers. As long as your number can receive an SMS verification code while roaming (or before you leave home), you can register with it. Your account generally works across all eight Grab countries [9].
Do I need a local SIM card to use Grab?
No. You need a data connection to use the app, but you do not need a local phone number. A travel eSIM or airport Wi-Fi is enough for data. Your home number handles the SMS verification [10].
Will my Grab account work in multiple countries?
Yes. One Grab account generally works across Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. You do not need to create a new account for each trip [11].
Can I pay with cash instead of a card?
Yes. Cash payment is available for rides in most Grab markets. You can choose cash as your payment method per ride. This also avoids the 3–4% foreign card fee.
Is it better to register before or after I arrive?
Registering before you fly is often smoother: your home SIM is active, roaming is under your control, and you avoid airport Wi-Fi congestion. However, a small number of users report needing to be in a Grab country to complete sign-up. If that happens, simply try again after you land [5].
Why is there an extra fee on my card?
Grab charges a processing fee for foreign-issued cards to cover cross-border payment costs. It is typically 3% in Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, and 4% in Vietnam. Your own bank may also charge a separate foreign transaction fee. Paying cash or using a locally issued card avoids the Grab fee.