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Can I open a Thai bank account with a 3-month Non-Immigrant M Visa and Work Permit?

Bank Accounts Thailand Banking Non-Immigrant Visa Work Permit Expats in Thailand Thai Banking Rules

Manu ********

OP

asked Aug 22, 2026

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Hi everyone! Quick question about opening a Thai bank account as a foreigner 🇹🇭

I’m currently in Thailand on a 3-month Non-Immigrant M Visa and I also have a valid Thai Work Permit.

My company wants to pay my salary directly into a Thai bank account, so I need to open one. I can provide:

• Passport + valid Non-Immigrant M Visa

• Work Permit

• Sponsor / employment letter from my Thai company

• Thai address and phone number

• Any additional company documents if required

I already tried Bangkok Bank, but the branch I went to told me they would only open an account for me with a 1-year Non-Immigrant Visa, which I don’t have yet.

Has anyone recently managed to open an account with Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya) or another Thai bank with a 3-month Non-Immigrant Visa + Work Permit?

Even better: Can anyone recommend a specific branch in Bangkok that has experience with this situation?

I’m not looking for tourist-visa options — I’m legally working in Thailand and the account is specifically needed for my salary/payroll.

Thanks a lot! 🙏🇹🇭

Answer summary

The post discusses the difficulties faced by a foreigner in Thailand trying to open a bank account with a 3-month Non-Immigrant M Visa and a Work Permit. The user has been advised to gather various documents, including a residence certificate, and to seek assistance from their employer. Numerous commenters recommend avoiding Bangkok Bank due to reported challenges and suggest alternative banks such as Kasikorn (KBank) and SCB, noting that every bank and branch may have different requirements. Overall, the most effective approach appears to be visiting multiple branches and possibly obtaining a letter from the employer.

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James *******

James *******

Last year no bank opened an account for me with my LTR-W, worst was the Kasikorn

0

Trevor *******

Trevor *******

What's a 'M' visa?

0

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Trevor Moore Visa for Media People and Film Production

0

David *******************

David *******************

Try Kasikorn Bank normally amenable and professional

0

Paul ********************

Paul ********************

Your company should be able to facilitate this via the branch were the company holds its corporate accounts

0

Dave ********

Dave ********

You will need a certificate of residence

2

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Dave Nichol I have that

1

Tomas *******

Tomas *******

Just visit branch by branch, even same banks have different rules. Maybe your company can help

1

Denny *******

Denny *******

Stay away from Bangkok bank many people have had problems with them myself included I still have a frozen account with them

Kasikorn is a good shout my banking is now with them I know lots of others have jumped from BB to the Kasikorn

2

Por *************

Por *************

Denny Moore Agree. BBL set up its own criteria which makes it really difficult to have an account with them.

1

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Denny Moore Thanks krup

1

Lila ***************

Lila ***************

Please change to other bank

1

Jesper *******

Jesper *******

Work permit shd be able to open a bank acct....try more bank branches ...kasikorn and SCB will be better choice

1

Jeff *************

Jeff *************

Have your company open it with you

2

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Jeff Hoffmeister They gave me a sponsor letter and in case the bank doesn't like, they said they or I should call them

0

Yo***

Yo***

The best answer or practical answer would be to give you of which bank and which branch can open bank account for someone like you by someone who already did. But as always, no right answers can be expected here on facebook or online. Just ignore anything here and just go to other banks and try to open. One of them can open an account for you. PS) Certificate of residence? phone number certificate? or TM30? or any kind of company letter? non o visa? even 1 year permit? Driving license? forget this all. some Thai banks, branches just do not want foreigners to open an account. Some do not care about all documents. Just your passport is enough. some banks care of your 10 years tax return files. some banks need your passport certified by your embassy. some needs nothing. some needs only resident certificate and visa... and so on and on.. Again, no one knows. Just try all you can.

2

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Young Thanks krup, will have a little Mall Walk tomorrow and if that doesn't work, I will try my best on Monday with other banks... Yeah have TM 30, Residence Certificate, 3 Month Work Permit, Non Immigrant M Visa 3 Month, Thai Driving License, Sponsor Letter from Company, my own National ID Card with registered address, Passport, Thai Phone Number, registered..

0

Yo***

Yo***

Manu Tschau dont forget your death certificate! 😅😅

0

Peter ******************

Peter ******************

As far I know reading forums, avoid Bangkok Bank !

try SCB or Kasikorn

6

Angelo ***********

Angelo ***********

Peter Benjamin Parker Bangkok Bank is perfectly fine. Only plenty of branches of them do not like to deal with foreigners - lack of english speaking staff, or what ever.

0

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Peter Benjamin Parker Thanks krup

0

Ken ************

Ken ************

Try Kasikorn

1

Chris *******

Chris *******

Maybe the company you work for could give you a letter of introduction confirming your employment and requesting the bank to assist you with opening an account. Perhaps they could address it to the same bank and branch as they use themselves.

2

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Chris Blunt yeah, I already have such document. Thank you krup

1

Brook ********

Brook ********

Goes to the worst bank instead of the best bank. Doesn’t even consider the best bank in his post.

0

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Brook Powers Ah, the mysterious “best bank” 😂 Thanks for keeping it a secret, that definitely helps. 555

0

Phil ******

Phil ******

Manu Tschau try K bank. Do you get an extension with the media visa.??

2

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Phil Beer I probably will get extension, yes

0

Amanda ******

Amanda ******

I would just try another branch or bank. Every branch has their own rules. It can be frustrating

3

Dante **

Dante **

Those bank employees were stupid. The work permit is the golden ticket to open an account.

I would take your work permit and passport to another branch that is at a location convenient to you and open an account. You shouldn’t need a residency certificate since the work permit can be used for that.

3

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Dante thank you, I will try my best 555

1

Graeme *******

Graeme *******

Go to imigration and ask for a letter/,cert . Have you got a letter saying the Thai com0any wants to pay you into a Thai bank

1

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Graeme Drake Thank you, I already have...

0

Loy *******

Loy *******

Did you complete a TM30 and go to Immigration to get your Residency Certificate (or called the “Cert of Residence”) before going to the Bank?

1

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Loy Spark Yeah all done, thank you

2

Dimitri ********

Dimitri ********

Try Kasikorn, the only thing missing in your list is a second id with photo from your home country like a driving license. You can also try Krungsri. Or another branch of BKK bank, although probably you can better have kasikorn or krungsri.

1

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Dimitri Visser Okay, thank you, I have my own personal National ID card with my registered address on it.

0

John **********

John **********

Go to the immigration office where your landlord has registered you as staying via the TM30 system and apply for a residence certificate, then go to a phone shop and get a Thai SIM registered against your passport, then visit a different bank branch and ask them to open an account. Note that every branch has different rules in Thailand, not just different banks

4

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

@John *********

I have all, TM30, residence certificate, Sponsor Letter, Thai Driving license, Non Immigrant M Visa, Work Permit, my own National ID card, Passport

0

John **********

John **********

then it's just a question of trying different branches until you find one that says yes

1

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

Nongnuch Kamdee Thank you krup and Okay, I will try some Mall Branches tomorrow first and see how it turns out

0

Nongnuch ********

Nongnuch ********

Manu Tschau avoid Bangkok Bank like a pleague. But please note: The "certificate of residence" from Immigration should be adressed to a specific bank branch, it can't say "to whom it concerns". It must directly adress the bank branch and ask them to open a bank account for you. So you need to ask the bank if they are willing, if they are, then return to Immigration and get another CoR that is correctly adressed to them

1

Manu ********

Manu ********

OP

@John *********

Krup 555, looks like I’ll have a fun Sunday mall-hopping bank-finding marathon tomorrow until one branch finally says yes

1

Paul ************

Paul ************

Go to Kasikorn Bank, best bank in Thailand, when I came 5 years ago, in Thailand 1 week (retirement visa) every bank told me they would not open an account until I was in country 1 year, except KBank they opened one immediately

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