Do you need a Thai bank account to obtain a visa in Thailand?

Oct 29, 2022
2 years ago
Dimitris ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Obtaining a visa to stay in Thailand in most cases requires the open a bank account. So admin, as you may realise, opening a bank account is crusial part obtaining a visa and such discussion should be allowed. Please reach out to the members of the group to find out if this is right or wrong. If wrong, then I will apologise to the group and you may let everyone know if your decision and remove these kinds of posts. Otherwise you apologise to the group
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around whether a bank account is necessary for obtaining various types of visas in Thailand. Many comments argue that for certain visas, such as the NON-O visa (often linked to retirement or marriage), a bank account is crucial for demonstrating financial stability during visa renewal. However, others point out that for some visa applications, particularly initial ones, a bank account might not be necessary. The conversation highlights varying opinions and experiences related to banks in Thailand and their requirements for expats applying for visas.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Otto *********
Yolu can apply for a 1 year visa, if you're older than 50 years, in your home country. Then you need a bank account in your home country, which should not be a problem. Check the conditions to apply for a "O-A" visa on the web site of the Thai Embassy in your home country. Good luck.
Colin ********
@Otto ********
they were asking about a visa for working
Otto *********
@Colin *******
How to work without an account, where the salary is paid into? The HR department normally does this or helps with it.
Colin ********
@Otto ********
you need a WP to open an account in most cases
Ennio ********
All I will say is just turn your brain on and you'll be fine.
Colin ********
You don't need a bank account for most visa UNLESS it's based on marriage or retirement.
Dimitris ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *******
I need a bank account for my own use
Colin ********
@Dimitris ***********
that's not what you said
Erin ***************
You need a bank account
Brian ********
I opened an account with SCB about 12 years ago. At the time I was on a B visa, but had no work permit. The lady I spoke to in the bank told me that without a WP I could not open the account. So, I said to her that I wanted to transfer in XX thousand baht every month and if SCB would not give me an account I would walk down to Bangkok Bank and open one there.

She then asked me EVERY month? I said yes and she then went and spoke to her superior. I could see them looking at my passport and looking over in my direction. After a few minutes she came over as if nothing had happened and opened the account for me.
Paul ********
@Brian *******
money talks
Brian ********
@Paul *******
Money doesn't talk; it swears
Harry *********
Jarkko *********
I opened my first bank account, 20 years ago with 30-days visa exemption, from the first bank I walked into. I'm pretty sure that the "advice" given millions of times since that and to this date remains still the same. Visit as many banks as it takes, until you get the account opened. If someone got account opened somewhere, it does not mean that the next one will be successful in that same branch. I had one account, that hadn't been used for years. I went to the exact same place, where the account was opened before to ask if it can still be revoked. Wasn't possible to revoke and for opening a new account, the work permit was now required. No problem. I went to another bank and got new account opened.
Chris ****
What are you saying? Is this a statement, opinion or question? Hard to know how to help you?
Peter ****************
In this group it's not a problem to talk about opening a bank account
@Dimitris ***********
. Never bin. Maybe confused with another group.
Russell *******
It was easy for me in Chiang Rai. I can try to find the address if anyone is trying to open in Chiang Rai 🙏
Steve **********
Opening a bank account is so easy. Opened my first on a tourist visa.

Many predators will tell you its difficult for the benefit of THEIR bank account.

If one branch gives you trouble, go to another.
Michael ********
There are hundreds of posts about opening bank accounts
Myles *******
Dont need a bank account for Non B visa
Braulio *********
What is this noise???
Edwin ********
@Braulio ********
I have no idea what this discussion is about, and personal attacks are normally discouraged in public Facebook groups anyway. Please clarify what you are getting at?
Steve **********
Need and want are distinct entities .
Steve **********
Edwin ********
The FIRST time I opened a bank account in Thailand was in 1984. I was on a Fulbright Grant already attested by the National Research Council of Thiland (NRCT). Still, it sounded like my Thai female householder was working directly with her bank to get them to open a savings account for me (just in case that story helps you).
Edwin ********
Fortunately, I have Thailand bank accounts still open from when I was here on Work and Volunteer visas. So just two days ago I was able to get an updated Debit Card from a local branch of Krung Thai Bank, and they handed it to me on the spot (unlike Chase Bank in the USA, which makes me wait for them to mail it to me, for some reason). Did that on a 45-day entry stamp, though it probably helped that they already knew me.. M
Otto *********
Visas you can only get from Embassies and Consulates OUTSIDE Thailand. You might need to show proof of money, but no bank account IN Thailand.

If you mean a "retirement visa", then you only need it for the annual extension, not for the visa itself.
Otto *********
I rest my case.
Stuart *********
@Otto ********
you seem to be deluded.
Peter ****************
And no comment from
@Otto ********
anymore 😜
Stuart *********
@Otto ********
not true. You can apply for an in country Non O VISA. You do need funds inside Thailand for that (or an embassy affidavit if they do them).
Otto *********
@Stuart ********
That is then only possible for a "retirement visa", which in fact is only an extension of an existing visa. Now try that at an age below 50...
Stuart *********
@Otto ********
A in country Non O is a completely new visa. Not an extension off anything. You can get from exempt or tourist entry.
Otto *********
@Stuart ********
Sorry, the immigration does not have the authority to issue new visas. It can extend existing visas, but not issue new ones.
Stuart *********
@Otto ********
What planet are you on? I’ve tried to tell you three times now that you’re wrong. You may never believe me but that doesn’t alter the fact that you’re wrong. Period. Immigration issues visas in country. Get over it. Get educated.
Otto *********
@Stuart ********
Then show me the source of your claim by pointing to the regulation as displayed on their weg site(s).
Stuart *********
@Otto ********
heres the requirements to obtain one in Phuket. Other offices may differ slightly.

******************************************************
Stuart *********
Here’s another from the main immigration website.

*********************************************************************************************************
*******
/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf

It’s for the retirement purpose but the same goes for marriage, being a dependent, or a plethora of other reasons (as long as you meet the requirements).
Stuart *********
@Otto ********
you can get a non O for various reason. Retirement is one. Marriage is another and so on.
Joe ******
Definitely yes.
Paul ********
Immigration need to see letter from bank to show you have had money come in from your country evey time you renew your visa. A bank account is the 1 st thing you do correct
Peter ****************
Sorry
@Paul *******
, it's no visa anymore. When the original visa was single entry, it has a stamp "USED" now. You mean an extension of stay based on retirement.
Peter ****************
Nope, you talk about a year extension. That's not a visa anymore. Y'r visa has a stamp 'USED'
@Paul *******
. That's also a reason many mistakes are made in posting. It seams nitpicking, but 🤷‍♂️
Paul ********
@Peter ***************
it’s still a retirement visa so yes you are not picking and we all accept that people need help from us who do these things on a regular basis
Brandon ************
Yes this is an important part, and has also been posted about and discussed dozens, if not hundreds of times. Search the group and you'll find lots of answers and information on getting a bank account.
Phil ********
I used to recommend Krung Sri, but recently a bloke posted he was not allowed to open N account there.

Bangkok Bank seems to be it on tourist visas, accompanied by a rental agreement & may require purchasing insurance, too

YMMV 🙃
Dave ********
@Bra****
, have you ever tried searching for a specific subject using the group's "search" function, or scrolling through 100's of pages until you happen to come across a post that is vaguely applicable to what you want to know ?
Brandon ************
@Dave *******
Yes, I do it all the time to find references to old posts to give information to people.
Braulio *********
@Dave *******
He could apologize
Dave ********
@Braulio ********
he could, but he won't
Dimitris ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
thanks. IMO is nothing wrong to repost these kind of questions as people with more recent experiences may reply rather than relying in info based in 1-3 years ago
Justin *********
@Dimitris ***********
group search has an option to show most recent posts first so.. not sure what the issue is 🤷🏻‍♂️
Stuart *********
@Dimitris ***********
each and every branch have their own set of “rules”. Some will allow. Many won’t. You’re best to ask in a local Facebook group for the area you’ll be in and get “local” knowledge on which branches may be more likely to let you open one.

An agent maybe the only joy you have. We just can’t give a definitive answer as one doesn’t exist.
Henrik ****
@Stuart ********
, how are the experiences about going BKK for the headquarters to open a bank account? Is that the golden trick if everything else fails?
Stuart *********
@Henrik ***
Sorry no experience of that.
Dimitris ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi yes I came to conclusion that agent is best choice at least for me. After trying 20 branches…
Phil ******
@Dimitris ***********
google bangkok bank conditions for opening a bank account. It's pretty straight forward these days
Alistair **********
@Dimitris ***********
Bangkok Bank & Krungsri will open accounts on tourist visas. That's pretty much it
Dimitris ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
thanks Alistair
Brandon ************
@Dimitris ***********
Bank accounts have been discussed at least 5 times THIS MONTH.
Dimitris ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
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