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Can you open a Thai bank account without a work permit?

Thai bank account expat banking visa requirements opening bank account Thailand immigration non-O visa tourist visa Kasikorn Bank Bangkok Bank Krungsri Bank

Sep 12, 2020

4 years ago

Andrew *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Has anybody open a thai bank account without a work permit.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Yes, it is possible to open a Thai bank account without a work permit. Many expats have successfully opened accounts using tourist visas, marriage certificates, or proof of residence. Different banks have varying requirements; for example, Bangkok Bank may require a residence certificate, while Kasikorn Bank may be more flexible. It is advisable to try different branches and be prepared with the necessary documentation such as your passport and rental agreement. Overall, the experience may differ based on the bank branch and individual staff.

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David *******

Just need proof of residency certificate from immigration

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Stan *******

Oh look, the 1000th time this has been asked this month! :-(

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Sultan ******

Yes I did in 2001 in bank of Asia at second road

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Marc *********

No problem in 2008

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Patrick ************

Who told u that u need workpermit to open bankacount?????? U need legal visa

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David ********

Thats the one. Had a mental block at the time of writing, checked the card later, yes Kasikorn. I used the branch in Market Village. Had to take my passport and blue book.

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David ********

I opened an account at the green bank with my tourist visa (one month), took about 20 minutes, atm card issued immediately, after depositing funds.

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Stan *******

green bank? You mean Kasikorn, green and red?

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Stan *******

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Steve *******

@Patrick ***********

No problem with a Tourist visa or visa exemption also.

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Steve *******

@Patrick ***********

Not even a visa. Open a bank account on a visa exemption stamp.

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Patrick ************

a visa exemption stamp is mostly for toerist use , than not can do, but non o and non b year visa , retirement, marriage etc is al no problem

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Patrick ************

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Anouch ***********

Yes I did if u have thai friends with good salary that trust u

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Glosille ************

I did with Bangkok Bank before.

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Erik **********

Yes easy, SCB patong but 10 years ago...

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Paul ********

Yes Bangkok bank

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Steven ********

Bangkok Bank will let u

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Shay ********

If the visa is valid, Krungsri for amnesty

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Jerry **********

Opened mine with a tourist Visa at Bangkok bank at airport central

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Alain ***************

I opened mine in 2018 at Bangkok bank outside of the tourist hotspots. I had a tourist visa only. Just try different branches. The 3rd one said yes. Getting mobile banking working was another story..

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Kd *********

Depends on the branch. Bank branches have targets for new bank accounts and to meet them they can open an account with a tourist visa.

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Stu **********

Krungsri Asset Management

898 Ploenchit Tower Ploenchit Road access PL@CE 1-2 floor Zone A Office 12 Floor, Lumphini, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok

*****

02 657 5757

*****************************************

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Stu **********

Yeah

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Tony **********

Yes last week scb tuk com

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Dimitri ************

Yes. Just with passport and tourist visa but was 6 years ago

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Raymond **********

Yes, with passport, visa, yellow book, Thai pink ID card

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Andrew *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for the info!

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Thomas *********

Yes I opened one with SCB. Free

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Brian ********

Yes easy

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Otto *********

Andrew, that "conditions" to open a bank account vary from branch to branch. Best chances though in an area with many foreigners living.

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Becky **********

If you are married it’s very easy at any bank if you are opening a joint acct. take your marriage cert.

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David *******

Yes Krungsri Bank Central Plaza Pattaya 4th Floor

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Eddie *******

Bangkok bank in cnx.

Tourist visa. Passport. Residence certificate. 15 min.

Finished.

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Nick ********

uob all u neeed if 50,000

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Nick ********

well how come u did it then ?

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John-Paul ******

no you dont!

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Nick ********

@John-Paul *****

ok well i will be sitting over here with my uob bank card

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John-Paul ******

UOB.... well... Sorry but BKK Bank needed no such deposit ... WP... or asked about monthly transfers from overseas. Just my passport with visa page address report. Done.... 20 mins. Took me an hour in US at Chase.

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John-Paul ******

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Brian ********

Yes I did with a tourist visa Bangkok Bank

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Janin ******

Yes, Kasikorn bank. Ask your landlord to make a paper that you live or stay there.

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Wayne **********

Yeap, I have SCB. I did take my real estate agent with me to do it though. That definitely helped

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Terary **********

Can be done. May need to shop around different banks, different branches. Probably someone here can give you suggestion of which bank/branch. You may want to list your location in your post (Chaing Mai, BKK, etc...)

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Dave *********

No problem, retirement visa and home address

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Laar *********

Yes no problem

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Paul *******

Yes, very easy. Depends on the bank and branch though. Best to go to head office. Bangkok Bank is best.

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Darren *********

Varies from bank to bank, person to person. Pot luck, dress well, smile and take loads of unnecessary yet official looking paperwork (combined with some useful stuff) lucky charm, a hand drawn map of Venezuela, oh, and some money. Don’t forget to photocopy everything seven times as well and sign them all in triplicate with both of your grandparents present.

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Dave *********

Yes ..I did ..it can be done..Kasikorn

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John-Paul ******

BKK Bank. Easy. Dress nice. And smile.

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Paul ********

@John-Paul *****

worked for me

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John-Paul ******

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John-Paul ******

just DON'T get an ATM card with Union Pay logo. Worthless outside China or just a few places in ASEAN. Get Master Card. They used to do VISA but seems not anymore.

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John-Paul ******

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Steve *******

Yep. You dont need a work permit to open a bank account with any Thai bank

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Kathy ***********************

Krungsri (yellow one) is the easiest bank for those without work permit - you just need to bring original passport + property rental agreement (go to Siam Paragon or Sukhumvit 33 branch).

Can do with Bangkok bank as well but they require a certificate of residence from your embassy (aka Statutory Declaration for Aussies, etc) instead of rental agreement.

Edit: Make sure to call and confirm with the bank first before you go.

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Steve *******

@Kathy **********************

Can open a bank account with Bangkok bank WITHOUT a work permit or cert of resisdence.

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Kathy ***********************

Good to know. Which branch? So only passport required?

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Steve *******

@Kathy **********************

I opened mine at Tesco Lotus branch, Khu Khan. Passport and a Thai citizen to guarantee you.

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Steve *******

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Ulrik *************

Yes. I only had to show visa and an adress (rental contract) at Immigration, then I got a paper I brought to the bank.

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John ********

BKK bank the best

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Stan *******

I found them absolute rubbish. They wouldn't even issue me with a new ATM card when I inadvertently left mine in the machine unless I went 25 kms to the original bank.

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Stan *******

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Lucian *********

U can try at Krungsri and open a NRBA bank account only with your passport. Has a bit limited functionalities but comes with a card that works globally. Worked 2 months ago at the Branch in Sukhumvit, next to T21.

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Andy ************

Yes Bangkok Bank Lat Krabang Branch near the airport/ paseo mall on a multiple entry tourist visa. Put a shirt shoes and trousers on and told them I was buying a condo. Smiley helpful lady sorted all the forms, couple of quick squiggles - walked out with a card and passbook .

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Siddhartha *********

Yes on tourist visa = UOB bank + debit card+ application all on spot!

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Ferran **********

I opened an account at the bank with no problem with the rental agreement.

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Chris *******

Yes Krungsri , on tourists visa. Needed a rental contract, used a Thai consultant/lawyer who was handling a real estate deal for us. In and out in 30 mins. This was Feb of 2020.

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Sean ******

U can with a lease agreement

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Marc *********

Yes, but not easy

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Paul *******

Yes

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John *********

Of course.

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Vesa *****************

Yesterday SCB didn't accept my education visa. Kasikorn accepted but asked me to bring the letter from the school. I had also the document of my address from immigration, and with those documents they opened an account. This was in Hua Hin.

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Marc *********

@Vesa ****************

nightmare opening a bank account..... Try another branch...

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Vesa *****************

No problem, with Kasikorn it went well when I got the documents.

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Vesa *****************

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Caty *****

Many times but not in years. Bkk was always super easy!

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Andy **********

Yea its a pain in the ass

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Karel *****

nonsens a easy as possible KTB 20 minutes no problem at all !!!

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Andy **********

up to you.

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Andy **********

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Steve *******

Go to different Bangkok bank branches until someone says yes. They don't require a work permit.

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Marc *********

Spot on

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Marc *********

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

You don't need a work permit to open a Thai bank account

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

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Marc *********

@David **********

depends on the bank and the person

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

I have two Bank accounts in Thailand and all I did was take my wife passport and marriage certificate with me and no problems at all (Kalasin)

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Marc *********

@David **********

I have same documents... But still have been refused.. 2 mins down the road no problem.. K Bank, Thanyaburi

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Marc *********

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Bob **********

A few of them

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Tomnoi *********

yes, not hard when you know how, any government worker can help.

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Kimberly ************

Yup, bangkok bank

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Andy ********

Bangkok Bank. Just go along with a resident certificate and your passport.

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Paul ********

Yes Bangkok bank got wife’s friend from government office he went in said something and I was able to open had for about 7 yrs now .

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Patrick ************

I opened one as a tourist with letter from us embassy

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Michael ***************

Yes, just needed proof of residency and the appropriate visa, in my case type O

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John *********

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John *********

Yep, KTB and BBK.

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Margot ********

Yes ... for me krung thaï

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Cliff *********

Yes...for me Bangkok bank

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Lars **********

Yes

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Trevor *************

Yes kasikorn i opened one on a tourist visa.just walked and asked and it was no.problem.very easy process

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Steve *********

Yes. I have opened 2 on 30 day visa exemptions ... BUT always take a Thai person with you. Most recent was Bangkok Bank in Central Khon Kaen.

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Robert ********

Bangkok Bank. Just showed them my passport, got it!

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Martin ***********

Go to bangkok bank,but then u ewll need a paper from immigration b4 they will give you the account

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Raúl *******

You can use an agency to do it, paying them a fee. It is not cheap but quick and simple

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Cliff ********

They only asked for my visa at Krungsri.

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Liv ****

I opened mine with Krungsi bank at Interchange Tower branch near BTS Asok. Besides the normal documents, a 1 year accomodation contract was needed.

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David *********

Yes without a problem , Bangkok Bank

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Makee *********

What are the requirements to open a bank account in Bangkok Bank? Any branch, right? Thanks 🙏

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Harry *********

yes same

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Simon *******

@David ********

yes same same

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Simon *******

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Greg ********

Yes on tourist visa. In Pattaya Bangkok Bank on Pattaya Klang. Possible elsewhere but you need to know the branch. If you need Bangkok ask for specifics

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Subic ********

BKK allows it.

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Marco *******

Yes.

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Dave ***********

Take a couple of million baht to deposit and I cant a bank manager refusing it if you have an "non O"visa

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Hector *******

I did with tourist visa with letter from immigration. Not the easiest procedure

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Hector *******

Blue house book helped in my case.

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Hector *******

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Dean *********

UOB Bank with a 1 year rental contract

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Robert ********

Yes Bangkok Bank. Go to a main branch where the manager works. Anywhere else the staff will hide behind their lack of knowledge by claiming it can’t be done. You do not need a work permit.

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Kavintra ******

Changpuek branch

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Jai ********

@Robert *******

This is the best advice I've heard yet. I've been trying different branches of different banks for the past year. I'll try this next week. Hopefully this time it will work.

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Jai ********

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Stéfan ********

Each branch has their own policy

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Asokā **********

Yrs Kasikorn

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Nhatz ********

Get a resident certificate in your embassy, your address in Thailand and show it to the bank of your choice together with your passport.

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Shelley ********

I had a letter from immigration confirming my address, tried a few banks but the only one that would accept was Bangkok bank 🤞

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Jason ********

Siam legal

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Sasimapon ************

Yes Bangkok Bank Soi Buakoh

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Shelley ********

Yes with great difficulty.

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Max ********

Bangkok bank, easy as

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Eric *********

Yes

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Peter *********

I got one on a tourist visa kasikorn

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Andrew *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Peter ********

could you tell me branch and soi and how much need to deposit as i am married to thai and have rental in my name but every where says i need work permit.

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Peter *********

Jomtien immigration touts at the side . Bank beach rd

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Peter *********

@Andrew ********

to be honest I had one of those immigration touts with me . So commission for him . He put 800.000 in and back out book stamped In 1 second .

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Peter *********

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Martin *********

Ofcourse ! ... try Bangkok bank .. easy .

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Antonio ***********

Yes easy

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Alice ********

Yes. Krungthai

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David *******

Yes - and know many others that have also done it.

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Anton **************

Many years ago I opened Kasikorn without any visa 😀

Not sure about K now, but my friend with ED got one @ Bangkok bank just recently

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Mally *******

Bangkok bank,easy if your married to thai,just passport needed

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Terry ********

One year visa should be good. Bangkok Bank gave me one in 30 minutes.

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Johan ********

Yes, got an account with Kasikorn with just ED-visa.

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Matthew ********

yes but years ago

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Antonio ********

Yes with a year long rental contract

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Antonio ********

400 for bank card and 1,000b deposit

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Andrew *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Antonio *******

could you tell me branch name and soi and how much do i need to deposit i have been to many and they tell me work permit even though i am married to a thai and have a rental in my name for over a year.

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Antonio ********

Andrew Bangkok Bank in Pattaya around the corner from imagination office

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Antonio ********

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Gareth *******

Pink card no problem.

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Stan *******

Yes, two with Kasikorn

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Andrew *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

could you give me the branch name and soi and how much i need to deposit as every where i go even though i am married to a thai and have a rental in my name they ask for work permit.

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Stan *******

@Andrew ********

Each branch makes its own rules. Just keep trying until you find one. I got my first account at the large Siam Square branch, so maybe try there first.

The second one I got in Nonthaburi.

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Stan *******

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Kraig *******

Yes at Bangkok Bank, needed an attested copy of my passport but took 15 mins and received book and card on Soi 4.

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Andrew *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

please could you give me the branch name as i would like to go and open and account as every bank including bangkok bank where i go they say i need a work permit even though i am married to a thai and how much do i need to deposit please.

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Kraig *******

@Andrew ********

Bangkok Bank, Nana Branch

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Kraig *******

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Nathan ***************

Yes but that was with my wife.

Next time I go chiang Rai to stay I will open my solo account

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Antonino *******

Yes; the Bank only asked me for a letter by the Embassy to certify the authenticity of my passport.

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Antonino *******

David Broadfoot, in almost 40 years I have been in all 5 continents with my job, I have seen things that are absurd for me and received strange requests; book an appointment with the Embassy online and take a walk with my wife, I live 50 km from Bangkok, I didn't find it challenging and, being a retired, I have a lot of time. 🤣🤣🤣

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Thomas ********************

Did exactly the same. On a tourist visa at the time.

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Antonino *******

@Thomas *******************

, right; I didn't care if it's a funny request or not, and I din't ask them for the reasons why, thinking I am a foreigner, it seems to me a very simple procedure.

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Antonino *******

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Antonino *******

Maybe, but this is required by the Bangkok Bank.

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John ********

@Antonino ******

That’s really funny, as if an embassy letter could be harder to forge than a passport.

In the real world, passports usually have pretty high validity, especially with the electronic data that’s now inserted into them.

A letter to verify a passport. It’s laughable. 😂

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John ********

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Lauren **********

For Bangkok Bank

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Kim ******

Yes easy . Letter of residence from immigration is all Bangkok bank required

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Andrew *********

A one year visa is usual requirement, but individual banks do their own thing.

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Garrett ***********

No

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Andrew *********

I opened mine with just a tourist visa, if they want your money they will bend the rules...Thailand !

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Andrew *********

@Garrett **********

No ?

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Andrew *********

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John ********

Yes. Over the years, I’ve opened four accounts without a work permit. Three banks. The latest in 2018. If the original poster wants the names of the banks, send me a private message.

Even with that kind of history, I did get rejected from one bank in 2018, but not because I didn’t have a work permit. Reason: “Foreigners cannot open an account here.”

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Garrett ***********

What was the bank that refused you?

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John ********

@Garrett **********

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John ********

Government Savings Bank

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John ********

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Bao *****

@John *************

kindly pm, thank you so much ☺️

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John ********

Sorry. Please re-read my offer.

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John ********

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Willie *********

Yes, Bangkok Bank and Krungthai.

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Canice ******

Yes. K bank

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Michael ***********

Yes, you dont need a work permit

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Garrett ***********

You don't need a work permit to open a bank account.

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Bim *******

@Garrett **********

absolutely no you don't. Depends on the bank. Some do some don't.

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Bim *******

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