Answereda year ago

How can expats in Thailand manage banking issues while on a DTV visa?

Thai banking issues DTV visa Cambodian bank accounts QR payments in Thailand International banking Financial tips for expats

Zakhar ***********

asked Sep 26, 2025

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As I get more questions from fellow DTVers regarding the matter in private, I wanted to share my family’s 4 month experience of living without Thai bank accounts on DTV visa and walkarounds that proved to be working so far. 

The story is pretty standard: we live in Thailand with kids and got affected by the first wave of Thai bank crackdown in May.

As my wife is a DTV holder and so is the elder son, they got their bank accounts frozen and shut down later. That happened in April-May this year.

What makes our case even “better” is that payment cards issued in our country don’t really work overseas.

So what worked for the family and working so far is the use of cambodian bank account, which has Thai QR and is crypto friendly with cash payments plus cash payments (cash is king in Thailand). 

We use 2 banks that  are owned by international groups, which makes me less worried about the funds there and that issue proper Mastercard/Visa that work globally.

All bigger payments (school fees and other significant transfer) can be done by instant transfer to a Thai account. But it costs $15 per transaction.

Smaller purchases are working through QR-payments to legal vendors.

The issue still persists with smaller transfers or payments to mamas and papas shops. Here they use cash or ask me to pay 😂. 

Hope this helps and also hope it won’t deteriorate as quickly as Thai banking system accessibility in the past 3 years.

Answer summary

The user shares their family's experience living in Thailand on a DTV visa without Thai bank accounts due to banking restrictions. They utilize Cambodian bank accounts for QR payments and cash transactions, as their cards from their home country are not functional abroad. They highlight the use of banks associated with international groups for security and provide insights into transaction methods for various payments, noting challenges with smaller business transactions. The conversation includes comments discussing feasibility, transaction fees, and currency options.

14 repliesnewest first

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Anonymous ******************

They out Moretta Pay

a year ago

Anonymous ******************

Yes BUT … you can pay only thaï QR that are businesses, not personal ones.

a year ago

Peter **********

Thanks for sharing this option. May I ask: do the Cambodian banks also have EUR deposits or only USD? I want to bring sufficient cash to Thailand during my first visit as I still have to set up everything, and I curenly hold EUR.

a year ago

Zakhar ***********

@Peter *********

there is ACLEDA and Bred bank that offers Euro accounts, as far as I know. I don’t use them, but checked they have this option.

But the thing is that you need a long term visa and work contract to open an account now. Or use an agency that will set it up, like we did.

a year ago

Anonymous ******************

@Zakhar **********

i opened on tourist visa. Airbnb address, local phone number, and passport all that was required. Its branch specific but the first bank I went to accepted me so id assume a few still do

Many banks there they operate independently. I’m sure ABA would be most strict but many others available

a year ago

Zakhar ***********

Well, I did the same in Thailand in 2022 and now see where we have ended up. When did you set up the account in Cambodia? And which bank was that?

a year ago

Peter **********

Time to stand up against this BS. It was to catch terrorists, they said....

a year ago

Peter **********

@Mark *******

the banking system has actually very little to do with the country they operate in. They are certainly not accountable to congress or any other democratic institution. They are above the law, regulated through the BIS.

a year ago

Mark ********

@Peter *********

Something you can say in your own country not one you are a tourist in...😂

a year ago

Anonymous ******************

That’s great thanks for the insight. I opened a Cambodian bank 🏦 the other week and heard it works for QR’s in Thailand of businesses not personal. So Bolt scan I assume won’t work

What are the fees though? Losing 3% on conversion for every transaction isn’t ideal even if it makes life simpler

a year ago

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous participant 308 but hey I guess 3% while having access to your funds is a fair trade haha. But longer term not ideal. Hopefully blows over in a few months

a year ago

Ray *****

Anonymous participant 308 it's way less than 3% closer to 0.1%

I have accounts in both countries and have used the facility both ways. It's negligible at best

a year ago

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous participant 308 because I believe they convert your usd balance to KHM then to THB so maybe even higher than 3%. You check the rates and see?

a year ago

Zakhar ***********

Anonymous participant 308 it’s direct conversion from USD to THB. All accounts are in USD, not KHM. So all transactions cost less than 2%. All QR payments are around 0.9-1.3% according to my calculations.

a year ago