Answered3 months ago
Do you need a long-term lease to open a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O visa?
Do you need a long-term lease to open a bank account? Can you do it with a hotel reservation or an Air BnB?
Planning to do the Non-O retirement visa. Would get the initial 90-day visa before flying into BKK.
I'd like to spend a month or two in Bangkok before traveling to my final destination and finding a condo. But I understand the bank account must be opened almost immediately so that the funds can be seasoned for 2 months before applying for the extension.
Planning to do the Non-O retirement visa. Would get the initial 90-day visa before flying into BKK.
I'd like to spend a month or two in Bangkok before traveling to my final destination and finding a condo. But I understand the bank account must be opened almost immediately so that the funds can be seasoned for 2 months before applying for the extension.
Answer summary
You do not necessarily need a long-term lease to open a bank account in Thailand if you are on a NON-O visa. The key requirement is obtaining a residence certificate, which can be secured with a TM30 registration from a hotel after just one night. Different banks may have varying requirements; some may ask for additional documentation, while others may require a longer lease. It's advisable to try multiple banks or branches if one denies your application.
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Wim ********
No, you need a longterm visa, i have a account wich i openend on a tourist visa ages ago, but now i can use it only for two more years until my current passport runs out, after that they wont update my account anymore.But rules change all the time, if you have a fixed deposit account, as for now, thats still ok, they will let you use it, even without a longterm visa.
Greg ***********
You normally need the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, a "certificate of residency" from Immigration (in order to obtain it you need to be TM30 registered in an accomodation) and a Thai mobile SIM card registered to your name and passport number, to get a Thai bank account opened for you. These are the minimal requirements to get a bank account opened. Some banks want a secondary piece of idendification next to the passport, like your national driver's license
GreyEle*******
Wim Viaene they have the non O 90 day visa. They can open a bank account on that visa.
Wim ********
GreyElephant🐘 i think you need to get the 1year extension on that later, if you dont they will close the account
Greg ***********
Wim Viaene You don't need the 12-months extension. You just need the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, a "certificate of residency" from Immigration and a Thai mobile SIM card registered to your name and passport number, to get a Thai bank account opened for you. These are the minimal requirements to get a bank account opened. Some banks want a secondary piece of idendification next to the passport, like your national driver's license
Greg ***********
visit an agent in Pattaya. They will get a bank account opened for you if you have entered on a Non-Imm-visa type, within 2 days. The price should be 5000 Baht
Peter *****
OPAny particular reason to go to Pattaya? Couldn't an agent in Bangkok do the same thing? No problem with Pattaya, just would prefer to avoid unnecessary travel/delays/costs.
Brandon ************
@Peter ****
prices are much higher in Bangkok (20,000), and the agents in Bangkok will generally only help with a bank account if it's part of a larger package of services.
Yo***
No one can answer your question. Some bank branches need it, some not. And the same bank, but different branches have different rules. Same bank, same branch, but different banker, they have different rules. Today yes, tomorrow no. maybe, if you are lucky, you can get it easy. but no one knows that before you try all your best.
Kool *******
Keep in mind lots of foreigners live long term in hotels. The Nana hotel is a good example.
David ******
NO!!! Just residence certificate. You can get that with a TM30 from a hotel after one night.
Dustin **************
David Earl I want to open a bank account as well since in here often and live in China. If I’m staying at the same hotel for more than a month can I get this TM30 and try to open an account? I don’t have a visa. Just a stamp on arrival.
David ******
Dustin Wyatt Doyle you need to have a Non Immigrant Visa. Not tourist. I arrived with a Non-O. But same , just wanted a Thai Bank account as I am a frequent visitor, planning to move when I actually fully retire.
Brandon ************
@Dustin *************
Tourists are not eligible to open a bank account in Thailand. You need a long term visa.Peter *****
OPDavid Earl Thanks. Google AI says that most banks want to see a 6-month lease or longer. A TM30 from a hotel should be easy to secure if that's all that's required.
David ******
Peter Lam to be honest, I was in the hotel for 2 nights, went to immigration got Residency Certificate and then went to bank and account was opened. That's it. Had a tourist sim card to set up online banking. I did not have a long stay.
Graham ******
Peter Lam AI farms information from the internet so very often includes misinformation when giving an answer
Brandon ************
A lease isn't a regular requirement for a bank account, but you'll need a residence certificate from immigration. That means you need to make sure wherever you are staying will do a TM30 for you and give you a copy, since you need that to get a residence certificate.
As far as banks go, each individual bank branch manager sets the requirements for their bank branch, so if one doesn't want to let you open an account, move on to the next one.
As far as banks go, each individual bank branch manager sets the requirements for their bank branch, so if one doesn't want to let you open an account, move on to the next one.
Peter *****
OP@Brandon ***********
So you're saying get a TM30 from a hotel, then get a residency cert from immigration? That seems reasonable if the bank will accept the cert in place of a lease.Graham ******
Peter Lam If you go in with a RC and you are asked for a lease then that can mean that the staff member does not want to deal with you even if it is not branch policy. Just move on to the next bank/branch.
Brandon ************
@Peter ****
yes
สก็อต *********
@Brandon ***********
your on point there , all banks have the same requirements but if they simply cannot be arsed to open one they won’t , even if you have all the required docs.Peter *****
OPสก็อต อัลการ์ Thanks. Other than Bangkok bank, are there other banks that should be avoided or preferred? I understand BB is making life a little bit difficult with their seasoning requirements for visa renewals.
Brandon ************
@Peter ****
Bangkok Bank is the only one that has actively terrible policies for foreigners. Most people have been tending towards Kasikorn, though they've added a new requirement for an additional photo ID from your home country, other than your passport.
Vincent *****
สก็อต อัลการ์ very true I transferred a million Bhat from the UK to my wife’s Bangkok bank I went in and had all the paperwork and non o visa they wouldn’t open the account because I didn’t have the retirement visa 🤣😂🤣😂I told them I can’t have a retirement visa without a bank account so I went opposite to the Kasikorn bank and haho they opened my bank account straight away I then went back to the wife’s Bangkok bank and my wife transferred one million Bhat to my new bank how stupid but that’s life I’ve since moved another two million to my new bank and just purchased a brand new Isuzu D-max Z their loss 🙄🤣🙄🙄🙄
Greg ***********
Vincent May what are you talking about? You wrote: "I didn’t have the retirement visa" . . . . . . of course you had a retirement visa. You said "I went in and had all the paperwork and non o visa" . . don't you know that the Non-Imm-O Visa is the "retirement visa" ?
GreyEle*******
Vincent May probably details lost in translation. You did have a visa, you didn’t have the 12 month extension. It is sad but it is easier and more face saving to go to another bank to speak to a different person that ask the bank officer for a second opinion or clarification.
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