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Can I open a bank account with a DTV visa in Bangkok?
DTV visaThailand bank accountsexpat bankingvisa restrictionsmoney transfer optionsThai banking regulations
Apr 27, 2026
3 days ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERCan i open a bank account with DTV visa in bangkok? I need to pay the rent, but international app's commission is too expensive. 😅
TLDR : Answer Summary
The consensus seems to be that opening a Thai bank account with a DTV visa is generally not possible, as banks often require a non-O visa or work permit. While there are reports of some individuals managing to open accounts, this may not be reliable due to recent banking regulations designed to prevent scams and money laundering. Many users recommend using online services like Wise or Revolut for money transfers instead of pursuing a Thai bank account.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
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Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
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OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Articulate**********
I can help but not free sorry
Nick *********
try this
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Nick *********
short answer...no. However some banks like kasikorn offer payasugo toruist debit cards you can put your money on and use at ATMs in thailand for free or even pay for things with the mobile app qr code scan like many do often with proper thai banks. Have a google...the airport gave me one on my way back in last time i left the country so you can get cards there also. The only catch is you cant receive thai baht on the card, you have to put other currencies on it (like your normal currency/gbp/usd etc) and it converts it into baht whenever you spend or withdraw.
Nick *********
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Reply to
Nick *********
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Bryson ******
You can use a crypto bank to send SWIFT payments too
LongTimeLivi************
It's possible. Read this article
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Andrew ********
Wise is the best app on rates fee varies on how much you send but thats any app
Dermot ***********
No
LongTimeLivi************
Dermot ***********
LongTimeLivingInThailand I had to close mine.
Reply to
Dermot ***********
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Dany ********
just transfer via Revolut… or maybe Wise
Su ******
revolut is pretty good can be tranfered directly to thai bank account and immediately
Alain ***************
Wise. I told my landlord that if i am unlucky and lose my thai account, i have another option with wise, where i just can’t send the exact same proof of payment like from thai transfer. He is ok with that as most landlords know that rules change often
Dany ********
@Alain **************
i pay my rent for years with Revolut. Easy, very cheap and fastReply to
Dany ********
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Oliver **********
No
LongTimeLivi************
Reply to
LongTimeLivi************
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GrayWal********
No, you cannot
LongTimeLivi************
GrayWallaby8130 Yes you can
GrayWal********
LongTimeLivingInThailand no
Reply to
GrayWal********
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Anonymous ******************
If you wanna be happy and good with DTV long term in Thailand, the 10k iq move is to not have a Thai bank
Min *******
Just use Wise
Oleg ***********
No
LongTimeLivi************
@Oleg **********
YesReply to
LongTimeLivi************
Reply
Anonymous ******************
Or you go
****
with their acc numberReed **********
Anonymous participant 274 does this work for all banks in Thailand.
Anonymous ******************
@Reed *********
Idk. Try and you will find out. I've think i've done it with krung and bkk bank. Krung for sure.Reply to
Anonymous ******************
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Christopher ***********
How could anyone with a DTV not know about the problem of opening a Thai bank account?
Dave *********
@Christopher **********
because it changes like all things thaiChristopher ***********
@Dave ********
Thanks for joining the group today to inform me of this.Dave *********
@Christopher **********
no problemReply to
Dave *********
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EfficientD**********
Ed visa ka
Andrew ********
EfficientDolphin9930 you cant get a bank account on ed visa at this moment havent been able to since june 2025 when they kicked DTV as well - unless you are in a degree program
EfficientD**********
@Andrew *******
marry visaAndrew ********
EfficientDolphin9930 yes non-o visa will get you a bank account
Reply to
Andrew ********
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Dany ********
EfficientDolphin9930 not really
Reply to
Dany ********
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Anonymous ******************
Remitly charges 70 baht or something.
Gianluca ******
Use Wise
Michael **********
Just pay
****
months upfront. That's what I've done and I could also negotiate a month for free.John **********
Yes ask a agency. It’s 27k bath but if you really need it you can pay it
Robert ***********
@John *********
Do you get your 27k baht back if they cancel your account 6 months later?John **********
@Robert **********
why do you assume they cancel your account after 6 months. It’s a grey area yes but no reports of closure yet for these kind of accountsRobert ***********
@John *********
Because that is what happened to alot of people this past year who went to an agent and got a bank account when the bank would not give it to them. And you can easily search this site and it will show people who have had their accounts frozen and then cancelled.John **********
@Robert **********
based on the information I have , opening accounts with agency was not able end of 2023 up to end of 2025. I’ve seen articles from people getting their accounts closed when they opened during this time only when they paid much less. I’ve never seen someone post about the 27k account getting closed. I think you need to differentiate here. 2 visa agency told me this is a new possibility started less than 6 months agoReply to
John **********
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Roberto ****
Nope. Just use True Money
Jari **********
Dtv is not for " Cheap Charlies" 😉
Blade ********
@Jari *********
lol it's literally the cheap Charlie version of the "elite visa". 😂Jordan ********
@Blade *******
Not really, the Elite visa is in its own league, for the rich and wealthy and older folk. The DTV is a high-value, "no-frills" visa for remote workers, while the Elite Visa is a premium, "VIP-service" residency program.Reply to
Jordan ********
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Thibaud **********
Wise after middle of May
Dany ********
@Thibaud *********
you can just use Revolut or maybe Wise to do a swift transfer right now. easy and cheapRay *****
@Thibaud *********
I understand that DTV will not be acceptable to verify Thai Wise accounts. I believe they need non O or work permit. I am waiting to see how it works as I've had a wise account registered in thailand for 8 years. I'm not hopeful but we will seeThibaud **********
@Ray ****
it's not what I've read but we will see... For me I've read that if you transfer money on a Thai wise account, after it's only in thb but they don't talk about the visa you have... I've seen that you can pay with qr code and make transfer without fees on Thai bank account. Possible I said wrongReply to
Thibaud **********
Reply
Eric ********
I paid my rent by walking into the bank with cash and depositing it into the owner’s account.
Michael ******
@Eric *******
okey but you still need to withdraw the cash from somewhere. Which cost money and he wants to avoid that in the first place.Luit *****************
@Michael *****
Exchanging and transferring money will cost money, also with a Thai bank account, so why the Thai bank account?What is the difference between transferring money from your hame bank account to your own Thai bank account and a transfer from your home bank account to the Thai bank account of your landlord?
Using a service as Wise or Revolut might be the cheapest options in both cases, so why does somebody need a Thai bank account?
Eric ********
No bank account doesn’t leave many options to avoid fees. Withdrawal fees or app transfer fees are the tax of the DTV.
Dany ********
@Eric *******
solution is to use a swift transfer. via Revolut forexample. thats even cheaper than using a thai bank account and transferring with wise ;)
Reply to
Dany ********
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Daria *******
Use Wise wallet, its good exchange rate, low transfer fee
Ben ********
yes it is possible, find a good agent. Most people in this forum will automatically tell you that it is impossible, probably because they have heard it said from so many other people, but I know people who have done it with Krungthai bank
William ********
@Ben *******
yes indeed. It’s possible but not easy. The reason is that they want to crack down on scams & money laundering.I’ve been able to open it on DTV without an agent. I went to many branches and at Bangkok bank I was able to open it. I explained them what I’ll be using it for (taxes, rent, day to day expenses) and how much money will come in monthly.
They want stable traceable customers. Not short term visitors that will leave the bank account empty. I have had no problems for 2 years now.
Tm30, drivers license, rental contract, income statements, tax statements, DTV visa print out, it all helps to show you’re stable here.
DTV ******
@Ben *******
you are 100% wrong and even if you know people their account will be terminated eventually.A. ************
And when your account gets frozen and you can't access your money for a couple of weeks, come back here and blame
@Ben *******
for the bad advice!Greg ******
@Ben *******
And do the "good agents" help keep you from getting into trouble the day headquarters discovers it? Temporary luck may work until it doesn’t.ข้าว ********
@Greg *****
its not illegal to have a bank account. Theres nothing to be in troube for.Greg ******
@ข้าว *******
Wrong. Banks aren’t making special exemptions for people using agents. The method and process used to open such accounts go against the bank’s regulations. It’s not about government law. It’s about the bank’s directives. You could definitely get your account blocked at the very least.Reply to
Greg ******
Reply
James ********
@Ben *******
and we keep hearing that BUT nobody has reported success in opening up a Thai bank account with K BankReply to
James ********
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Deslea ********
No. Before I had my bank account (not on DTV) I was paying maybe an extra $20 a month to transfer my rent. While not denying that is a bit steep, realistically you probably can’t afford to live here if your budget is too tight for that.
Reply to
Deslea ********
Reply
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