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Can someone apply for a 90-day Non-O visa without a Thai bank account upon entering Thailand on a visa waiver?

Oct 24, 2025
6 months ago
Lisa ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can someone who arrives on a visa waiver, apply for the initial 90 day Non-O visa without a Thai bank account l, and then once received, open an account and season the 800,000 bht during the 90 days before applying for one year extension?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
It is not possible to apply for a 90-day Non-O visa in Thailand without a Thai bank account if you originally entered on a visa waiver. To qualify for the initial Non-O visa, you must have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account, or an affidavit of income from your embassy. Those entering on a visa waiver should consider applying for a retirement e-visa from outside Thailand, allowing them to set up a bank account and fund it immediately upon arrival.
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Andrew *********
No. You have to leave the country have it in your home bank account and get the 90 day. Come to Thailand open a bank account transfer the money marked as an international transfer then apply for the year extension.
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Ellie *******
@Andrew ********
, funds don’t have to be internationally transferred for yearly extension application based on retirement.
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Jim *******
@Ellie ******
Really? Is that true?
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Brandon ************
@Jim ******
the only time it needs to show as international transfer is when you're trying to convert from tourist to non-O visa based on retirement inside of Thailand. The one year extension doesn't have that requirement.
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Jim *******
@Brandon ***********
I am already on 1 year non-O visa. Does it mean, for extension (July 2026) I can bring in 800K THB into my Thai bank account from anywhere, even locallly, from a Thai source or cash in a briefcase?
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Ellie *******
@Jim ******
, that's correct.
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Ellie *******
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Rob *******
The best option is to apply for a 3 month retirement e-visa from outside Thailand and use funds in a bank outside of Thailand. Then arrive and first job open a bank account and then deposit 800,000 wait 2 months and apply for 12 month extension
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Chuck ********
@Rob ******
that worked for me!
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Chuck ********
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Ellie *******
No, if you enter Thailand on a visa-exempt for 60 days, you cannot apply for an in-country initial non-O visa based on being over 50/ retirement without a bank account in Thailand unless your embassy in Thailand issues an affidavit of income. You need 800K baht in a Thai bank account OR an embassy affidavit for an initial visa application at the local immigration office.

If you want to open a bank account for an extension, you need to enter on Non-O retirement issued from the Thai embassy/consulate outside Thailand.
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Ellie *******
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