This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Does the DTV visa qualify for keeping a Thai bank account?
DTV VisaThai Bank AccountVisa RegulationsDigital NomadsTouristic VisaBank Policies in ThailandExpat Life in Thailand
Jun 3, 2025
a year ago
Clive ********
ORIGINAL POSTERWith this new bank approach to close accounts unless you have long term visa, own property or are married, does the DTV visa suffice to keep the bank account or is this still deemed a touristic visa
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around whether the DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) qualifies holders to maintain a Thai bank account. While some participants assert that the DTV is essentially a tourist visa and may not be long-term, others argue its allowance for up to 180 days per entry makes it more substantial than a typical tourist visa. Many individuals share varied experiences with bank account policies, noting inconsistencies in how banks treat DTV holders. Ultimately, there appears to be no definitive answer, as individual banks may have different requirements.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted DTV Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Ken *********
I was told you can get a bank account with the a DTV visa in Pattaya...
Jeremy ********
@Ken ********
was this now (today) or was this about a week ago?Reply to
Jeremy ********
Reply
Phil ******
Darren *********
It isn’t long term, but has worked for some people to keep their account. So like everything it all depends on who you are talking to and what kind of day they are having.
Nelson ******
The DTV is more than just a tourist visa due to its target audience being largely digital nomads and by allowing them to stay up to 180 days per entry. Someone staying here that long could be spending more and travelling to more places than a 30-day tourist. In this scenario a Thai bank account would be a welcome and useful thing to have. I would argue that a DTV holder could potentially stay in Thailand for most of a year which is the length of time that a retirement visa is valid for. The DTV holder is likely a digital nomad still earning a (good) salary compared to a retiree living off their savings.
Brandon ************
@Nelson *****
the DTV is not more than a tourist visa because the law that created it specifically calls it a tourist visa.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Dany ********
dont need an account as a tourist.
Monster ***********
@Dany *******
I've been to Thailand 25 plus times since I legally opened my account 18 years ago. I consider it necessary so I can pay for shit easily(imagine that) and not be arsed raped on fees and chargesI plan to retire here in a 2 years so maybe your opinion isn't the be all and end all. Also Thai's on a tourist visa to my country can apply to open a bank account before they even arrive. So why I should be punished for scamming Chinese, Russians and some corrupt bank employees is beyond me. Anyway IDGAF as my account is clean and operating as normal and has every box ticked. If it gets nuked I'll get my Thai friend to open one in their name for me. There's always a way despite what some foreign jobworth opines on the internet.
Braulio *********
@Monster **********
such rude languageDany ********
@Monster **********
i can pay for shit easily with cash 🤷♀️ idk what the problem is with that 😅 the fee narrative has allready been discussed. literally non existent as it is similar to your wise fees… if you retire then you are on a valid longterm visa. no problem…Monster ***********
@Dany *******
A week before I came here my wise card was hacked. I couldn't get a physical replacement in time I came here plus wise has many limitations. I am for 6 months on long service leave. WTF is my crime operating a bank account I opened legally and why would you give a shit? My bank account is for convenience and to easily pay for online services. I bought shit off homepro online and had it delivered that I couldn't purchase at the store because it wasn't it stock. My bolt and grab are linked to my account. Again who is this hurting and why that F do you even care?Reply to
Monster ***********
Reply
Travis *******
@Monster **********
but your Thai friend doing it for you would help solve the issue of the other fake accounts being used to scam. I don't think there are nearly as many Thai people willing to put their name on an account they know will be used for scamming. Someone you have known a long time is likely a different story. So this current crackdown would do good by your logic.Reply to
Travis *******
Reply
Travis *******
@Dany *******
I think if tourists had access to scan pay 90% of them wouldnt want one.Jeremy ********
@Travis ******
here you go… ***********************
Dany ********
@Travis ******
TrueMoney or TagThai exist for „scan“. probably even more options in the future. and you can pay literally everywhere with cash anyway… when i see the people with their qr scan, it is supposed to be fast, but they often need multipletimes longer than a person with cash. also, thailand is pretty safe. this is not columbia where you will be robbed regularly. i dont really see any big advantages using scan over cash in everyday life here.
Jordan *****
@Dany *******
how about minding your own business you shill. Who tf are you to be telling others whether they need an account or not?Travis *******
@Dany *******
you can't setup scan pay without a Thai bank account. We tried true money when we got here in Dec and we couldn't link any US bank accounts (unless that's changed). We have bank accounts that refund ATM fees, and CC are taken in a lot of spots (more than I had imagined). So we get along fine until my work visa is approved and I can get my Thai account. But the atm thing is kinda rare for people, so that isn't as convenient for most.
I've lived in BKK and Pattaya the last 5 months, it's definitely plenty safe to walk around with a week ot two's worth of money. But for many tourist who can't recognize the bills, an app would be far more easy and cheaper. My first month here it wasn't uncommon to mix up a 100 and a 1000B bill at quick glance.
It would just be helpful, I don't think it should stop anyone from visiting, long or short term though.
Dany ********
@Travis ******
you can use QR payment with TrueMoney and with TagThai. Both solutions work… no you cannot top up with a bank transfer. they both need cash top-up. that is the only current downside. will probably change in the future…i live here for years without a local bank account and it works perfectly fine. 220 baht per
*****
baht transaction. that is like 0.73% fee… my home bank has good exchange rates too. and i also use revolut to its limit for very good rates. it is not much more expansive than using Wise and a local account. i also allways pay cash (even if i could use my truemoney account). cash is king.Travis *******
@Dany *******
I did not know you could top up with cash. But I'm not here solo, wife and three kids also lol. We burn through 300k/mo with rent and utilities being 100k. Wise wasn't an option so we would have to go to 3-5 ATMs to be able to withdraw all the money we needed. Doable, but not convenient. And tourisim generally does better the more convenient it is.
Dany ********
@Travis ******
lol. living the fancy hi-so life 😅 rent could probably be paid from wise to your landlord?Travis *******
@Dany *******
haha yeah, we moved from Las Vegas. We save a bit of money, but 100% recognize we don't live the typical Thai lifestyle. Here in Pattaya we can thankfully, but in BKK we had to pay via cash or Thai bank wire. So a week before rent was due we would just hit the
****
atm every morning on our daily stop 😅Big part of moving here was to show my kiddos they don't need as much in life as was taught to us. We get to bring some manufacturing jobs for the locals too, so it's a win win haha.
Duncan *******
@Travis ******
*************************************************************************
Reply to
Duncan *******
Reply
Travis *******
+1 for DTV not being for long term. You aren't applicable for a bank account, while you can live here on it, it's intentionally difficult to do so as that is not the intent.
Garrett ***********
@Travis ******
If 5 years isn't long term, what is?Travis *******
@Garrett **********
if it were a 5 year stay I would agree. But it's not, it's a 6 mo stay with the ability to do a relatively easy border run, or a more complicated visa extension. They also have been clear about the inability to open a bank account also. This doesn't prevent anyone from living here on it, it just makes it inconvenient. For some that's fine. For my family of 5 it's not something we want to jump through the hassle of, and we want the ability to work with Thai businesses to support our business back in the US. DTV has some pretty strict limits on even communicating with Thai businesses even about business outside the country.
Just my opinion, but if you want to stay here more than 6mo at a time without hassle, get a different visa. That's all.
Garrett ***********
@Travis ******
Never said it was a visa that worked for you, just asked what you'd define as a long term visa. A Non-O based on marriage or retirement is only 90 days, half the time a DTV allows you to stay. You also cannot work with a Non-O by itself.Travis *******
@Garrett **********
I guess the big difference to me between the non O and DTV is the requirement to have a bank account for the longer term stay (retirement). This is just in my head, but if they are allowing you to have money here, they are setting you up to stay long term. The DTV is specifically missing that component, and it seems by intent. If they wanted people here 6mo-5y they would have made a minor stipulation to require a small deposit or the 500k. Just my take on things though, I think Thailand could be more clear on this. But from what I've picked up the last 5 months of living here is that this is all pretty normal.
Garrett ***********
@Travis ******
When the 800k baht requirement was put in place (2018 I believe), it was to ensure those over 50 could pay for medical expenses they may incure. That's why the Non-OA that doesn't require 800k baht requires thai health insurance.Travis *******
@Garrett **********
that makes sense, as it reinforces you are staying here long term. Inversely the DTV has no insurance requirement and the funds needed are not required to be in a Thai account. You do need proof of funds if extending your DTV visa vs doing the border run. At least that's my understanding.Reply to
Travis *******
Reply
Jim ********
DTV is not a long term Visa.
Garrett ***********
@Jim *******
5 years isn't long term? It's longer than a Non-OJim ********
@Garrett **********
no the DTV is not a long-stay visa. I think you’re confusing the validity of the visa (5-yrs) with how long you can stay in country (180 days). The Non O-A is a year long Visa - you can stay in the country 1-yr and extend for 1-year without leaving Thailand.
The Non O-X is a 5 year Visa you can stay in the country 5-yrs and extend for 5-years without leaving Thailand. (total 10 years)
The LTR is a Ten Year multiple entry Visa. You can stay in country for 10 years without exiting if you chose to.
Garrett ***********
@Jim *******
First of all Jimbo, I aint confusing a fking thing. The DTV is a 5 years visa, you're given 6 months to stay per entry. Both the visa validity and permission to stay is long than the most common "long term visa" a Non-O based on marriage or retirement.Jim ********
@Garrett **********
got it dude. Have a good day.Reply to
Jim ********
Reply
Brandon ************
DTV is a tourist visa and is not eligible for opening a bank account or keeping one if your account requires verification later on.
Garrett ***********
@Bra****
There is no visa that makes you eligible or ineligible for a bank account, as there are no regulations in Thailand requiring a certainvisa status to have a bank account.
Reply to
Garrett ***********
Reply
30 comments
a year ago
76 comments
a year ago
10 comments
a year ago
70 comments
a year ago
5 comments
a year ago
18 comments
a year ago
12 comments
a year ago
59 comments
a year ago
19 comments
a year ago
20 comments
a year ago
20 comments
a year ago
90 comments
a year ago
34 comments
a year ago
22 comments
a year ago
22 comments
2 years ago
18 comments
2 years ago
8 comments
2 years ago
197 comments
2 years ago
5 comments
2 years ago
45 comments
2 years ago
11 comments
2 years ago
5 comments
2 years ago
176 comments
2 years ago
3 comments
2 years ago
37 comments
2 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.