Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a tourist visa?

Hi There

I've read many posts on this page about opening a bank account. I wrote to the Bangkok Bank seeking advice on opening an account on a tourist visa when arrive in Bangkok this Saturday.

Below is their response, which includes my original question. I will test this next Monday. I will be using my passport, birth certificate, drivers license, and a TM30.

I will report the outcome.

Cheers

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Dear George Grisancich,

Thank you for contacting Bangkok Bank.

In response to your inquiry, please be informed that foreign individuals can open a savings account at any Bangkok Bank branch in Thailand without the necessity of scheduling an appointment prior to arrival. Our main branches operate from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The minimum deposit required is 500 Baht. The documents required for account opening may vary depending on the type of customer and the intended purpose of the account. However, the general conditions for account opening are as follows:

1. Foreigners who are working in Thailand

1.1 Identification documents: Choose one of the following documents as below:

* Passport

* Travel Document for Aliens (T.D.)

* Certificated of Identity (CI)

* Temporary Passport

1.2 Additional identification documents: Choose one of the following documents as below:

* Non-Immigrant Visa or Smart Visa

* Work Permit issued by Thai government

* Thailand house registration book (Yellow Tabien Baan) specified 13-digit ID number

* Long-Term Resident Visa: LTR Visa

* Certified consideration certificate for foreigner who are on Long-Term Resident Visa: LTR Visa issued by The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI)

* Identification document issued by Thai government or government in your country

1.3 Credible documents:

* A reference letter issued via SWIFT authenticate or Notary Public

2. Foreigners who are planning for retirement in Thailand

2.1 Identification documents: Choose one of the following documents as below:

* Passport

* Travel Document for Aliens (T.D.)

* Certificated of Identity (CI)

* Temporary Passport

2.2 Additional identification documents: Choose one of the following documents as below:

* Non-Immigrant Visa (O-X / O-A) or Visa for retirement in Thailand

* Non-Immigrant or Long Stay Visa along with reference letter issued by Embassy

* Long-Term Resident Visa: LTR Visa

* Certified consideration certificate for foreigner who are on Long-Term Resident Visa: LTR Visa issued by The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI)

* Identification document issued by Thai government or government in your country

2.3 Credible documents: Choose one of the following documents as below:

* Documents showing residential address in Thailand

* A reference letter issued via SWIFT authenticate or Notary Public

* A reference letter issued by Embassy

* A reference letter for the membership of Thai Long Stay Co., Ltd.

In the event that your held visa type does not fall into the previously mentioned categories, we kindly request you to visit any Bangkok Bank branch nationwide for a consultation on the qualifications and required documents to open an account with Bangkok Bank. The decision and approval to open an account will be at the discretion of the branch manager. We advise you to visit our branch and discuss your situation with them directly, as we are unable to review or pre-approve any document via this email channel due to security measures. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

To open a savings account at Bangkok Bank, the following documents are required:

1) Identity documents and two additional supporting identity documents, totaling three documents, OR

2) Identity documents and one additional supporting identity document, along with one additional trustworthy document, totaling three documents.

In all cases, the documents provided should align with the intended purpose for opening the account with the Bank accordingly. Kindly note that a tourist visa (TR) stamp to Thailand is not considered as a valid document for opening an account.

Note:

* If you have 2 additional identification documents out of the list, credible documents will not be required.

* The branch manager might review your documents again as a special circumstance if needed.

Should you require any further assistance, please let us know. You can also contact our phone banking center at 1333 (for domestic) or (66)26455555 (for overseas) during all hours to acquire more information

Faithfully yours,

Bualuang Phone

Bangkok Bank Public Company limited



Be on the lookout for forged email messages that claim to be sent from Bangkok Bank. We will never send you an email with an attached file. We will also never ask you details about your account by an email message or a pop-up window.



The fast-convenient way to transfer funds, pay your bills and receive an account balance is using Bualuang Phone. Just dial 1333 and you can also change the daily maximum withdrawal or transfer limit on your ATM card.

For security reasons always keep your ATM and credit card PIN numbers confidential



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จาก: me@kgb105.com <me@kgb105.com>

ส่ง: 31 ตุลาคม 2567 5:15

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ชื่อเรื่อง: Website : Inquiry - Branch Services

รายละเอียดข้อความจากลูกค้า ชื่อ George นามสกุล Grisancich หมายเลขโทรศัพท์ติดต่อกลับ xxxxxxxxx อีเมล xxxxxxx ประเภทเรื่องที่ต้องการติดต่อ Inquiry ผลิตภัณฑ์และบริการ Branch Services เรื่องที่ต้องการร้องเรียน - ช่องทางที่ทำรายการ - สาขาที่ใช้บริการ - หน่วยงาน - เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้ให้บริการ - วันและเวลาที่ใช้บริการ - รายละเอียด Hello My name is George Grisancich. I am Australian retiree travelling to Bangkok on 9 November with the goal of obtaining a non-o retirement visa. As you may already know, one of the requirements is that applicants have 800,000 THB deposited in a Thai Bank from a foreign bank. I am seeking your assistance with opening a bank account. I have booked accomodation at Rama 9, and my landlord will provide me with a TM30. Please advise if you are able to assist me and which branch I should attend. Best regards George Grisancich