Answered2 years ago
How can DTV visa holders in Thailand open a bank account and pay bills without an employment contract?
Just sharing my experience with the others here. There was a lot of talk last month about how we DTV holders could get bank accounts at the TTB bank branch at True Digital Park. In my case, I went there and, while they tried to be very helpful, they would not grant me an account since I am a freelancer and don't have an employment contract. They referred me to their main headquarters branch saying that I might be able to get one there. I then went to the main branch but again, I was rejected since I don't have a contract. But it did sound like I could have gotten one if I'd had a contract. Without a bank account, I'm going to be forced to pay my rent by depositing cash to my landlord's bank account (which the banks will allow you to do). I'll also have to pay my electric bill using cash at the 7-Eleven. I'll probably also be able to pay my water bill with cash. I've been approached by a number of so-called "agents" who say they can get me a bank account, but I'm suspicious and don't think the hefty fees they charge are worth the convenience. I've heard that True Wallet and Revolut can be used to do QR code charges, but I haven't tried them yet. I'm sure there will be people here who say they're DTV freelancers and managed to get a bank account on their own. I say, good for them, but I wasn't able to.
On another topic, I left Thailand recently for a few days and I had to show my DTV visa when I passed through immigration, so be sure to take yours if you leave. Just having the DTV stamp in my passport wouldn't have been enough to allow me back in.
Hope this helps!
On another topic, I left Thailand recently for a few days and I had to show my DTV visa when I passed through immigration, so be sure to take yours if you leave. Just having the DTV stamp in my passport wouldn't have been enough to allow me back in.
Hope this helps!
Answer summary
The post shares the author's experience of trying to open a bank account in Thailand with a DTV visa as a freelancer. They faced rejection from both TTB bank and its main branch due to the lack of an employment contract, which is a common prerequisite for account approval. As a result, they will have to pay rent and bills in cash. Various commenters suggest alternatives for financial transactions, such as using Lazada or getting accounts with TrueMoney and Revolut. Additionally, the author highlights the necessity of presenting the DTV visa for re-entry into Thailand, emphasizing the importance of keeping the visa documentation handy.
45 repliesnewest first
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Bruno *********
Je n'ai pas de compte thaie.
Je règle tout avec fortuneo ou boursobanque
Je règle tout avec fortuneo ou boursobanque
Aaron *********
This is a serious problem - I'm freelance too and am considering the DTV visa. Are there any other problems from not having a contract?
Anonymous *************
OPNone that I can think of. Not having a bank account isn't typically what I would call serious, it's more of an inconvenience.
Arthur ***************
Check this, it is not the cheapest but allows QR code payments in Thailand.
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Anonymous ******************
They are handing out DTV visas like candy. They are a complete boom for Thailand and worthless for the recipient.
Anonymous ******************
DTV is scam. Thai banks are idiots and make up "policies" as they go. If you look at the written regs, you are allowed to open an account.
Henrik *****
Banks in Thailand are like everywhere in the world, interested in having good stable custormers, that have a permanent address, a steady easy traceable income, and use the account all year round.
That is why the banks are reluctant to give accounts to people on short time ( read: tourist ) visas, and who only spend part of the year in Thailand.
Don’t expect to get a residence certificat, until you have stayed at a permanent adress in at least 3 month, since that is what the residence certificat should confirm.
Furthermore the added attention on whitewashing of money, is an added burden on the banks, so reluctant depositing large amounts isn’t a guaranteed way to open an account.
The value of a resident certificat, had gone down, since Immigration Officers are giving them to people that are not on a longterm visa, or have stayed severel months at 1 adress in Thailand, so even if it is a formal requirement, the bank make up their own assesment of the stability of the want-to-be customer.
That is why the banks are reluctant to give accounts to people on short time ( read: tourist ) visas, and who only spend part of the year in Thailand.
Don’t expect to get a residence certificat, until you have stayed at a permanent adress in at least 3 month, since that is what the residence certificat should confirm.
Furthermore the added attention on whitewashing of money, is an added burden on the banks, so reluctant depositing large amounts isn’t a guaranteed way to open an account.
The value of a resident certificat, had gone down, since Immigration Officers are giving them to people that are not on a longterm visa, or have stayed severel months at 1 adress in Thailand, so even if it is a formal requirement, the bank make up their own assesment of the stability of the want-to-be customer.
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Craig *******
I don't want a Thai bank account - I want to avoid getting on the tax radar screen (I don't have any Thai tax liability but I don't want the hassle of trying to prove that). I can do transfers from my CDN bank with a cash pickup option (many convenient locations). The rate is within 10 satang of the superrich cash rate.
Wannikea *********
Get a Wise account and send your rent to your landlord as a recipient that way.
Anonymous *************
OP@Wannikea ********
I could but I’d pay a fee to Wise. I can just withdraw the cash and my bank refunds that ATM fee at the end of the month. But, yes, using Wisr would be easier and more convenient.Wannikea *********
Anonymous participant Wise is the defacto cheapest way to send money and you get the realtime midmarket rate, or you can convert the currency when you choose to. 11 million users can't be wrong.
Erik *******
Anonymous participant
Sometimes I wonder how people don’t get lost half way when they’re going to Thailand. When you get cash from an ATM , the change rate you get is among the worst you can get. Much worse than the Wise rate. Fees are one thing . Change rates are another thing, much more important than fees. Everytime you pay your rent with cash : not only it’s far less convenient than Wise but also you lose money : paying with a Wise transfer would be way cheaper thanks to the much better change rate applied !!!
Sometimes I wonder how people don’t get lost half way when they’re going to Thailand. When you get cash from an ATM , the change rate you get is among the worst you can get. Much worse than the Wise rate. Fees are one thing . Change rates are another thing, much more important than fees. Everytime you pay your rent with cash : not only it’s far less convenient than Wise but also you lose money : paying with a Wise transfer would be way cheaper thanks to the much better change rate applied !!!
James ********
Thank you for your helpful report.
Your experience with reentering Thailand follows my advice...
"Thank You for your helpful report 👍
Congratulations 👏👏👏
PRINT OUT THE EMAIL THAT HAS YOUR DTV VISA.
That's what you should do... print it out.
You may have to show PROOF of your DTV Visa to airline staff on check-in for your flight ✈️ to Thailand...even to the connecting airline staff. Or to the land border crossing entry Thai Immigration Officer.
Upon arrival into Thailand, show the DTV visa to the Thai Immigration Officer and look at the STAMP placed in your passport to be sure you are STAMPED in for 180 days."
Your experience with reentering Thailand follows my advice...
"Thank You for your helpful report 👍
Congratulations 👏👏👏
PRINT OUT THE EMAIL THAT HAS YOUR DTV VISA.
That's what you should do... print it out.
You may have to show PROOF of your DTV Visa to airline staff on check-in for your flight ✈️ to Thailand...even to the connecting airline staff. Or to the land border crossing entry Thai Immigration Officer.
Upon arrival into Thailand, show the DTV visa to the Thai Immigration Officer and look at the STAMP placed in your passport to be sure you are STAMPED in for 180 days."
Anonymous *************
OP@James *******
I didn’t think to look to see if it was stamped for 180 days. Great idea!
Niall ********
My work contract was genuine, but I drafted it myself in chat GPT. The most important thing is that it says you have permission to work from Thailand. It took 5 minutes
Adam ********
@Niall *******
does this only work at TTB or does it work at all banks? I already have a contract and permission to work remotely from my boss (which is me 😅)
Chris ******
Which part of Thailand are you staying?
Anonymous *************
OP@Chris *****
BKK.
Jack ********
You can also pay your electricity using Lazada on a foreign credit card
Adam ********
@Jack *******
what?!? I never knew this! I tried to pay on myAIS and line but they wouldn't accept a foreign cc, so I was taking cash to 7-11 and paying that way. Going to try this for my next bill. I use Lazada all the time!
Thinley **********
@Jack *******
how?Jack ********
@Thinley *********
in the Lazada app.Google ‘lazada thai electric bill’ and it will give the details. Sorry can’t post links
Steve *******
Just to help solve some of your issues:
You can pay your electric bill through Line pay. You only need a passport to open an account with them.
If you have a Thai drivers license, you can also get a Truemoney account, allowing you to scan to pay most things.
If you get Revolut, you can get a virtual card and use that to make payments in Thailand.
You can pay your electric bill through Line pay. You only need a passport to open an account with them.
If you have a Thai drivers license, you can also get a Truemoney account, allowing you to scan to pay most things.
If you get Revolut, you can get a virtual card and use that to make payments in Thailand.
Tammi *****
@Steve ******
Is Revolut better than Wise?
David ********
@Tammi ****
they are very similar. I have both and monitor their conversion rate and they are extremely similar after fees. Think of Revolut as a bank replacement and wise as only a currency transfer. Steve *******
@Tammi ****
in certain ways, yes. Because of the ability to get a card, no matter where you live.But Wise usually has better exchange rates.
Steve *******
@Tammi ****
basically yes. Sometimes one is faster than the other, but that changes from day to day, for some reason.Tammi *****
@Steve ******
I also have Wise card. Is that the only advantage?Anonymous *************
OP@Steve ******
Thanks!
Debee ********
Thanks for taking the time to share to help the rest of us in the processes. Is the visa electronic or a card? 🤔
Anonymous *************
OP@Debee *******
They email it to you and you print it out. You can also save it to your phone, but I’d rather not hand my phone over to someone.David ********
Fortunately, I have lived a few years here without a bank account and I have survived. Small issues using cash but 99% money transactions no issues
Georges *****
@David *******
how do you do to pay your rent by bank transfer to a thai account ?David ********
@Georges ****
in the atm of the bankDavid ********
@Georges ****
in the exchange rate no, just in the 220b atm fee one a month. I used wise and paypal for international transfer and over there is a big chunk in exchange rate and commissions , the price for convenienceGeorges *****
@David *******
oh yes but at the end don’t you loose a lot btw bank commission and money rate exchange ? Looking for a way to transfer money to a thai bank account monthly without having bank account in TH. Thanks for your insight 🙏🏻David ********
@Georges ****
cash, I take out from ATM with my country debit cardGeorges *****
@David *******
with your credit card ?
Anonymous ******************
Just write yourself a contract. It’s simple as that. They have no ways of verifying it
Tammi *****
The last bit, you had the stamp and then had to show email received of approval?
Henrik *****
Paper is so smart,
paper weighs nothing,
paper doesn't run out of battery,
paper doesn't require (forgotten) passwords,
paper doesn't auto-off after x seconds,
paper can be easily transferred,
paper doesn't require wifi.
And Thai officials love paper.
paper weighs nothing,
paper doesn't run out of battery,
paper doesn't require (forgotten) passwords,
paper doesn't auto-off after x seconds,
paper can be easily transferred,
paper doesn't require wifi.
And Thai officials love paper.
Anonymous *************
OP@Tammi ****
I didn’t have to show the email notifying me that my DTV was approved, just the actual visa document that was attached to it.
Wayne *********
Just write yourself a contract
Anonymous *************
OP@Wayne ********
I’d rather not be dishonest. Plus, I’d charge a huge fee to draw up an employment contract. 😄Adam ********
Anonymous participant ChatGPT will draw one up for free 😜
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