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Can I open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa before applying for a retirement visa?

Thai visa rulesbank account openingtourist visaretirement visaexpat adviceVisa agents
May 14, 2025
2 days ago
Chris **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
How to open a Thai Bank Account before applying for a retirement visa when on a tourist visa.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Opening a Thai bank account while on a tourist visa can be challenging, yet some individuals have successfully done it with the help of immigration letters or through agencies. Opinions vary significantly: some assert that it's impossible under a tourist visa without a qualifying visa in hand, while others have found ways to navigate the process. It often requires demonstrating the necessity of the account for future visa applications.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement 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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Sharon ***********
I’m going through an agent who is brilliant she has applied for a student Visa for me once that comes through we can open a bank account and then apply for the retirement Visa so now I won’t leave the country until it all comes through in August. I was on a tourist Visa.
a day ago
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Dieter *********
At Bangkok Bank it's easy. I got my Account with Tourist Visa (in year 2000)
a day ago
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Yvan **********
I was on a tourist visa and I opened a BKK bank account in April 2024
2 days ago
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Yvan **********
No agency, it cost 200 baht, first deposit and 500 baht for a letter from immigration. I wonder how much the agencies are charging
2 days ago
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Michael **********
@Yvan *********
 did the same thing Jan. of this year with agency in Bangkok. Took about 30- 40 minutes and fone. Didn't have to buy insurance either.
2 days ago
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Michael **********
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Carl *********
Dang the advice given here is nearly incomprehensible because your English is 3rd grade level or even worse.
2 days ago
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Lion *****************************
@Carl ********
 incomprehensible most of it....🙄 abd a lot of the rest is just BS👍
a day ago
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Lion *****************************
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John ********
Make sure you have proof that your phone number is registered to your name, passport, and Telco company have taken your photo.... it's all about the fear of money laundering. I've got my atm card, but am still waiting to be able to use the banking app, as they are checking my validity....
2 days ago
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Michael ******
I went to Laos and got a three month non-O visa...then you can open an account right away. You have to deposit the required amount of money and have it in there for 2 months before applying. So a small window...
2 days ago
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Rhonda ********
@Bell *****
2 days ago
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Rhonda ********
F!!!
2 days ago
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Johan ******************
What agency ?please dm me
2 days ago
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Tony *********
Opened account today in Bangkok at Krungthai,, used an agent, 8,000 baht 👀
2 days ago
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Johan ******************
what agency please let me knopw
2 days ago
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Tony *********
@Johan *****************
 👆
2 days ago
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Tony *********
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Mark ********
@Tony ********
 which agent pal
2 days ago
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Mark ********
@Tony ********
 thank you pal
2 days ago
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Tony *********
@Mark *******
2 days ago
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Tony *********
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Kris *********
As for a letter of recommendation of immigration (not a residence certificate).
2 days ago
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Pertti *************
Pattaya 10k fee including credit+debit and online banking👌
2 days ago
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TN ********
@Pertti ************
 can you tell about agency ?
2 days ago
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Denny *******
@TN *******
 I’ll PM u
2 days ago
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TN ********
@Denny ******
 THX 😊
2 days ago
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TN ********
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Gústaf *********
And make a note that visa agencies are not legal. They pay their way under the table. This is expensive and illegal.
2 days ago
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Mark *******
But it happens with the compliance of the authorities! It is Thailand after all,and money talks...More so than a lot of countries worldwide...
2 days ago
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Mark *******
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Peter *****************
Just married a Thai.You can find in Nana and cowboy.Plenty dude with special discount.
2 days ago
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Bobb *********
@Peter ****************
2 days ago
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Bobb *********
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Rob **********
Extremely difficult
2 days ago
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Gústaf *********
Very simple. Simply go to the bank as long as you have a NON O visa. You need that visa anyway to apply for the visa. But you can not apply for the visa unless you have less than 30 days left of the 90 day visa.
2 days ago
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Nine ******
@Gústaf ********
 he said on tourist visa not non o visa
2 days ago
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Nine ******
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Wayne ********
Is that a question or are you going to tell us 🤷‍♂️
2 days ago
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Luebbener ********
I’ve tried many banks, even had a letter of recommendation from immigration but there was no way, so I ended up using a visa agency.
2 days ago
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Carlos *********
@Luebbener *******
 Do you mind sharing the cost for that service and agency name?
2 days ago
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Luebbener ********
@Carlos ********
 I think it was something around 40.000 for opening a bank account ( had to buy an insurance from the bank which was included in the hole price, retirement visa, visa extension and multiple entry.

TMT visa service in Patong
2 days ago
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Luebbener ********
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เต๋อ *****
@Luebbener *******
 not recommend, authorizes
2 days ago
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เต๋อ *****
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Rafal *************
I have a problem opening a bank account for a company that I founded with a Thai partner. Bangkok Bank refused due to the fact that the shareholders are also foreigners. Kasikorn did not even want to talk when seeing foreigners. Krung bank refused saying that if it is to open a company account, the foreign partners should have business visas.
2 days ago
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Frank **********
Yes NaN services Pattaya

30 minutes
2 days ago
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Anita *****************
90day non-o e-visa ( >50 age) plus adress in Thailand worked in Kasikorn bank 👍
2 days ago
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Adrien ****
@Anita ****************
 what branch was it?
2 days ago
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Anita *****************
@Adrien ***
 bluport ... best service, friendly, fast and high knowledge
2 days ago
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Anita *****************
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Mark **********
I got a letter from immigration that I took to the bank
2 days ago
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Simon *******
@Mark *********
 the letter is called a certificate of residence you need it to register a car ,to get a driving license or open a bank account .

I got one and the bank still refused me ,got an agent to sort it in the end
2 days ago
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Carlos *********
@Mark *********
 What immigration office did you get the letter from? Also, were you on a tourist visa when you asked for letter?
2 days ago
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Mark **********
@Carlos ********
 surat thani and no I was opening the account to to a non o visa, I was visa exempt.
2 days ago
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Mark **********
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Mark *********
Go to a visa agent near where you are, they have bkk cnx huahin Samui Phuket they can help at a price
2 days ago
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Chris **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark ********
 back door way too expensive
2 days ago
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Chris **********
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Brad **********
I’d try walking into your preferred bank at ask!

No luck, move onto the next one! Still no luck, try each bank in another town or city!

Best of luck 👍
2 days ago
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John **********
@Brad *********
 not just each bank but each branch of each bank
2 days ago
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John **********
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เต๋อ *****
Just act you are applying for a class of visa that require a balance in bank in Thailand, and ask immigration for a letter of authorizes to open bank account, then head to Bangkok Bank.
2 days ago
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Chris **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@เต๋อ ****
 oh so just go to immigration Changwathana and ask for a letter right ?
2 days ago
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เต๋อ *****
@Chris *********
 tell them you want to apply for a visa, wich requires account balance, so, you need to open an account to show you have money.
2 days ago
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Graham ******
@Chris *********
 a residence certificate
2 days ago
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Chris **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 got that one. Is enough for the bank account?
2 days ago
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Graham ******
@Chris *********
 That will be up to the branch you use but yes, it is normally accepted if it's less than 30 days old
2 days ago
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Graham ******
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Ryan **********
@เต๋อ ****
 which type other than retirement requires it?
2 days ago
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Ryan **********
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Daniel ********
Tourist visa? Your easiest path is an agency and even that doesn’t guarantee anything.
2 days ago
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Hans *********
If you're in Pattaya j&e concierge,I just did it most said not possible.it is.
2 days ago
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Bulent ********
@Hans ********
 how much price this service, thnx
2 days ago
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Hans *********
@Bulent *******
 I did 2 drivers licenses, wasn't cheap , but I talked to 10 different visa services , they were the only one to actually get it done, get in touch with them, they did a residency card as well .
a day ago
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Bulent ********
@Hans ********
 thanks
a day ago
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Hans *********
And s bank account. With krungsri bank
a day ago
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Hans *********
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Hans *********
Great service
2 days ago
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Hans *********
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Frangipani *******
Cannot!
2 days ago
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Thomas *******
@Frangipani ******
 of course you can , i just did it even with 60 days at arrival!
2 days ago
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Robin *******
@Frangipani ******
 I did, but my wife helped me
2 days ago
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Nine ******
@Frangipani ******
 can you just don't know right people
2 days ago
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Todd *********
@Frangipani ******
 you definitely can. But not always easy for some
2 days ago
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Todd *********
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Andrew ********
I asked my agent for tourist visa and they said at no point they will visa has to be in hand that qualifies but may get lucky
2 days ago
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Carl *********
@Andrew *******
 can you correct your sentence , please. "they will visa has to be" is not comprehensible...
2 days ago
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Bunga *******
@Carl ********
 Yes, I thought so too, not comprehensible. He's too lazy to use punctuation, which makes it a riddle. I don't read comments like this any more, I don't take the effort to decipher.
a day ago
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Bunga *******
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