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Can you open a bank account in Thailand on a tourist visa?

May 29, 2025
a day ago
Andrew ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I went to 3 banks and asked. Bangkok, K and TSB. Here is what I was told.

1) You can't get a new bank account on a tourist Visa, unless you have property here (and/or a Pink Card), or are married to a Thai

2) Any Bank accounts already open, will not be closed just because you change to a tourist Visa (my situation)

3) No effort is being made to investigate and close any accounts that do not look suspicious (many multi millions of baht transactions)

Hope that helps
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TLDR : Answer Summary
In Thailand, opening a bank account on a tourist visa is generally not permitted unless you have property ownership or hold a Pink Card. Existing accounts can remain active even if your visa status changes to a tourist visa. However, different banks may have varying policies, and customers report receiving inconsistent information from bank branches. Many expats suggest utilizing banks from their home country to avoid complications and fees associated with Thai banks.
Snowing ******
When I opened an account with a tourist visa in 2017, kasikorn bank staff did ask for property title deed before they proceeded. Not sure if I need to verify anything with them to make sure things are ok.
Lee **********
Wow thay keep changing the rules makes me nervous about planning a stay there mutch less buying a house..
Brandon ************
@Lee *********
Well since foreigners can't own land, not much reason to spend time looking at buying a house.
Greg ********
To be fair the staff you are speaking to at a local branch are pretty far down the food chain. They can tell you only what they know today and how the current situation stands.
Anonymous ******************
Goverment's Thailand did'nt frendly with aillen, I think we will move to Vietnam more friendly than.
Thai *********
İsimsiz katılımcı 817 dont come back soi buakhao 6 again😀😀😀
Roger ***********
Anonymous participant 817 they don t like anonymous people for sure, bye bye. Just follow the rules and get the right visa…..
Dom ********
Thanks Andrew 👍
Jari **********
******************************************
Dany ********
just use your home country’s bank. easy solution and usualy not much more expensive. less headache and money in a safe space
Julien ****
Just get married. 2min done deal.
George *******
@Julien ***
Arai na? Just getting married takes two minutes?, or opening a bank account once married?
John *********
@Julien ***
incl or excl ladyboys 🤔
Anonymous ******************
So no property but pink card can?
Chris ****
Anonymous participant 260 I’ve a pink card. Doesn’t always work.
Anonymous ******************
@Chris ***
I got my pink card on DTV, but I haven’t tried to use it for anything like that
Kay ************
Even if you have a property here, they don’t let you open an account though. Went to a bank and got laughed at in my face for asking if a property owner can open a bank account lol
Vitaly ********
@Kay ***********
depends on the bank / branch / today's mood of the branch manager really. I was able to open an account at Krungsri aka Ayutthaya aka Yellow Bank with a chanote for a condo, while at other banks it was like "Where's your WP?" "Don't have? Mai dai, mai dai"
Brandon ************
@Kay ***********
Owning property does not confer any right to stay in Thailand. The banks care about your visa and your permission to be in Thailand, not about your property.
Bouros *******
@Kay ***********
you can buy a property without a bank account in thailand.Actually the property agencies use it as a commercial argument to sell the property and help you open bank account
Kay ************
@Bouros ******
yep actually property is already bought. Just went and asked if a house owner can open an account. It’s just a weird period for banking industry now due to the scam
Maksym ***********
And friends received call from Bangkok Bank today, with question what are their visa now, and they were invited to the branch with passport.

Account were open on guardian visa, now on dtv. But they have house bought.
Tim ***********
@Maksym **********
What nationality are your friends?
Kelly ********
They just closed my account😩
Anonymous ******************
@Kelly *******
May I know what bank and why did they close your account? (Like not using for ages or didn’t pay yearly fees?)
John *********
@Kelly *******
..expand, you got the balance back, what visa are you on, nationality?
Kelly ********
@John ********
Tomorrow I’m going to the bank to close the account and withdraw the money. DTV visa brazilian
John *********
@Kelly *******
well at least you aren’t losing for money
Eamonn *******
Why even waste time opening a bank account, use your home country ATM where they don't charge fee's, and reimburse you for the ATM fee's the international bank charge's
Anonymous ******************
@Eamonn ******
very few banks do that, in most countrys none
Dany ********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 953 220 baht vs. wise fee… it is such a small difference that it is not really worth having the local bank account
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 953 Australia does, most banks have free international transaction fees or reimburse them
Todd *********
Anonymous participant 449 Australia has about 18M people lol. It’s smaller than Tokyo. Not relevant at all
Sophie *********
Anonymous participant 449 HSBC will only do that once.
Dany ********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 449 transaction fee and atm fee are two different things
Anonymous ******************
@Dany *******
Right, it is free of transaction transfers to Thai atm but still have to pay when withdrawing. Unless he means there’s an atm machine or bank that won’t charge for withdrawal fees?
Dany ********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 750 every atm charges the fee. majority 220 baht. i think Aoen is only 150 but super rare.

the only option you have is going with a bank that reimburses you the atm fee. for example Charles Schwab for our american friends :)
Mark *******
@Dany *******
correct. Schwab, Fidelity, WellsFargo (Premier Account) etc etc
Anonymous ******************
That is why people should stay in retirement visa too
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 761 I switched to DTV, but I'm ok. They won't close my account
Dany ********
Anonymer Teilnehmer 984 famous last words 🤣🤣
Anonymous ******************
@Dany *******
Already confirmed by Bangkok Bank. My account is safe 👍👍👍😆😆😆
Jack ********
Likely to get a different answer from each branch. Don’t kick a sleeping dog
Wannikea *********
There's definitely been a lot of overreaction and embellished news.
Sam *****
I asked my branch where I opened my account 3 years ago on a tourist visa and checked if everything was ok. They looked at my account and said no problems at all, I don't need to worry. All I have ever done is load my account monthly with WISE, and pay my rent, bills, and scan for purchases.
Snowing ******
@Sam ****
bangkok bank?
Sam *****
Yes
Niall ***************
@Sam ****
which bank?
Anonymous ******************
So if I had bank account opened when I had work visa, it should be fine if I'm now on tourist visa?
Marianna ********
Anonymous participant 511 yes it's fine. I have the same situation. Although you are tax resident if you have been on NOn B so you pay attention how you move money on it.
Wannikea *********
Anonymous participant 511 see #2
Sjef ***************
THat helps I was stressing out