anyone know how to get a bank account set up with a tourist visa or student visa
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Opening a bank account in Thailand with a tourist or student visa can be challenging. While some users report success with agents who streamline the process for a fee (around 5000 baht), others caution that many banks prefer stable, long-term customers with residence certificates. Some mention that tourist visas generally make it difficult to open bank accounts, though some branches may still allow it depending on the manager's discretion. For student visas, having a letter from the school can help, but their acceptance might vary by bank. Engaging with an agent or being persistent can improve chances, but a permanent residency or substantial investment is viewed as beneficial.
Richard ***********
It's difficult..I couldn't find a way to open a bank account after many attempts.
I ended up buying a condo in Thailand and that allowed me to open up a bank Account
Nongnuch ********
they changed another rule by last week. Now you need to be over 50 in order to open a bank account. Seems everybody has gone haywire
talking about those on tourist visa. Was always possible by agent. Then last week the banks told the agents "no more account opening if the tourist is under 50" . . .Ya wanna know what happened after one more week passed? The agents fee has always been 5000.- THB for those on tourist visa. Now it is 5000.- THB for those over 50 years, and it is 7500.- THB for those under 50 years . . . . . . like everywhere, it only is a question of money 😂
You can't with a tourist visa.Ive tried several times.The best way is to apply for a non immigrant O in your country.Gives you 3 months then convert to retirement visa.Opened account first day no problem.
Divya **********
If you're on an ED visa, it might be easier to open an account and you might not even need an agent if you're lucky. You just need to ask for a letter to open bank account from you school. Take that letter and visit the banks in your nearest shopping malls (Big C, Central, etc.). Some banks may refuse and will also ask for a "letter of residence" from the immigration. Do not feel disheartened, just visit different bank branch and try again. If you have a Thai person accompanying you, it'll help. Hopefully you'll be lucky and find a bank branch willing to open an account for you. If not, try and get the "letter of residence" from the immigration. If you don't want to deal with the hassle of going around yourself and possibly wasting time, just pay an agent to do it for you.
Patrick ********
Agent best way 5000 bht . Not possible on tourist visa I am in Pattaya tried cannot
Eric ******
I agree with the use agent suggestions. For what little they charge, and you don't have to fumble through the paperwork and shlep all over hoping to find one that will help. I found Mark at One Stop in Pattaya through You Tube interviews he has done with several channels. Search One Stop Visa on YT. He knows his stuff.
comment second option. Should work at any bank any branch but start with krungthai as its easiest.
Arnold **********
Buy a 25 million property and any bank will give you a account,very easy
Arnold **********
Go and buy a property and you will get a bank account easy
Nongnuch ********
visit an agent, they can open a bank account for you on any visa. In Pattaya, F.S. Consulting Co Stefan Fabbro are taking only 5000.- THB for this service
Alex *******
How long you have to stay to can apply residency certificate ?
T ****************
You need a Thai address.
Det *******
Student visa needs a letter from the school, pretty easy.
As a tourist you don’t need a Thai bankaccount, and it will hard ( impossibel ) to get.
Reconsider if a Thai bankaccount is need-to-have or nice-to-have.
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 even 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.
yes and I can go further if you tell me where you need an agent. I won’t give you the details of an agent in Phuket if you require an agent in Bangkok. Tell me where in Thailand you wish to use an agent and if I have contact details for one in that area I’ll gladly give you the information.
1) Easiest and guaranteed way, find an agent and pay about 5000 baht to help you open the account.
2) More difficult and not guaranteed way, get a residence certificate from your immigration office, and then start going into bank branches and asking. Maybe after 50 or so you might get lucky and find one that will let you open an account, or they might let you open an account if you buy their insurance for about 5000 baht.
it's the same thing. But each residence certificate is issued for a specific reason so you can't use the exact same document for both of those things. You must get a new one each time.