Can expats open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa while buying property?

Why would you buy property in Thailand with all the risks, rent its a lot easier and if you don't like where you are move on. No Thai lawyers, no exchange rate issues, no waiting months or years to sell it.

You can open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa but it takes a bit. I would recommend an agent.

Banks are bit different here (compared to the US). When you open an account at a branch, it becomes your "home branch" and you will need to get all your special paperwork from that branch, you may be able to use the main branch ( I have never done this but I have been told its possible). The issue is when you open an account in one location (Bangkok) and decide to live in another location (Krabi, as an example). You will need to get paperwork from the bank and only your home branch can provide that paperwork (Bangkok). The same is true for immigration. You will need bank statements for some visas.

I would encourage you to open an account near where you plan to live.

Some people have found ways around this, but do you really want the hassle?

What part of Bangkok? I can tell you some really good areas if you’d like in the middle of the city or are you gonna live outside the city?

Yes a savings account each bank is different try BKK bank. They seem to be the easiest they do have requirements. I suggest you take a friend who speaks Thai with you it’ll help you a lot.

Before buying, be sure to visit the area the condo is in at 10 pm, midnight and 4 am and see how noisy it is. Karaoke, roosters, dogs, airplane noise, etc can ruin your sleep every night in the wrong area

Not easy but if you go from branch to branch you might get lucky maybe asked to buy accident insurance but it’s not a bad thing if not an agent charges about 5000 baht to open for you,and I would take your condo money and invest it at home and use that to pay rent which allows you to walk away anytime things change quickly over here and there not easy to sell or rent good luck

I tried this week at the bangkok bank hua hin, they gave me a form and told me to take that to the main immigration office.

I did ghat and basically they said once you have permanent residents and can prove it then they will sign the form for me to return to the bank.

A little awkward if applying for a retirement visa and needing to have the account to deposit the money into to get the visa.

What I deduce from it is 1.get residency

2.get the permission

3. Open the account

4. Deposit the money

5. Get the retirement visa

Here are the documents required for opening account at the Bangkok Bank. See the section on buying condo. It shouldn’t be difficult for your situation compared to a regular tourist coming off the street.

dont forget the the 35 percent premium you will have to pay for taxes = NO THANK YOU

Most agents will help you open a Thai bank account

Pattaya centraal floor 4

Show they a sales agreement it should help

The banking rules were changed at the turn of the year. Now it's really hard to open account in 30 days extemtion

Have you stayed in the area for a while ?

Or you may be in for a surprise, when everyday kicks in.

PS. Destination could have given more accurate answers.

Tell the bank you want to deposit several million baht , they will gladly open an account

Agent will open in a couple of hours …. Otherwise next to impossible now with tourist visa exemption.

It's possible but it's extremely tedious, I would highly suggest using an agent, if you don't want to use an agent you will spend days looking for a branch that will accept as each branch is governed by its own rules and with recent changes it's much harder. If you use an agent it will cost between 6-10k depending on where you are and save you a lot of time and hassle.

You need an address or letter from the landlord. Also go to a bank and get a letter from them to take to immigration in North Huahin, not Bluport. They gave me permission letter I took to Bangkok Bank and got account in half an hour. Also got Thai car driver licence same way and bought insurance from bank at the same time. My Thai partner certainly helped with dealing with the immigration clerks, who are very nice at that location. Took Grab taxi both ways for small fare.

I opened one of mine on a tourist visa, but that was a while ago.

I believe it's really up to the branch individual you're dealing with.

Some want you to buy insur ( as they're comm'd )

Go to bank, if they say no, go across street.

Buying a property in Thailand comes with risk. i hope you have done your due diligence

TTB in a tourist area....I had no problem.

Possible and not difficult once you have your apartment. Get a lawer to lead tou thru the process and they will also help with the account. To but the property in Thailand as expact you founds must come from the abroad account with your name.

It's possible but very difficult. Much easier to use an agent to open for you.