Answered2 years ago
How can I open a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O visa and what are the requirements?
UPDATE 08/04/2025 Bank Account opening
Went to the immigration office in Nong Bua Lamphu with landlord and wife. Immigration officer spoke excellent English and processed my TM30 and issued me with an official letter for the Bank of Bangkok advising on my residential status and intentions for the bank account. Process took 30 minutes and cost 500 baht for the certificate.
I now have a 90 day NON O Visa which I applied for in the UK at a cost of £60.00 and my letter from immigration costing 500 Baht. These along with my Thai telephone number and passport should be sufficient to open the bank account.
I was then advised to return to his office after I had deposited 800k baht and allowed it to sit there for 60 days. Once that had happened I could then apply for a 1 year extension to my 90 day Non O Visa. He also said that the process is much quicker if I went to the Embassy ( I think he may have meant immigration office) in Bangkok as they can make an immediate decision.
Hope this helps
Went to the immigration office in Nong Bua Lamphu with landlord and wife. Immigration officer spoke excellent English and processed my TM30 and issued me with an official letter for the Bank of Bangkok advising on my residential status and intentions for the bank account. Process took 30 minutes and cost 500 baht for the certificate.
I now have a 90 day NON O Visa which I applied for in the UK at a cost of £60.00 and my letter from immigration costing 500 Baht. These along with my Thai telephone number and passport should be sufficient to open the bank account.
I was then advised to return to his office after I had deposited 800k baht and allowed it to sit there for 60 days. Once that had happened I could then apply for a 1 year extension to my 90 day Non O Visa. He also said that the process is much quicker if I went to the Embassy ( I think he may have meant immigration office) in Bangkok as they can make an immediate decision.
Hope this helps
Answer summary
A user shared their experience of opening a bank account in Thailand after obtaining a 90-day NON-O visa. They visited the immigration office in Nong Bua Lamphu, where they were assisted in English and received a TM30 processing certificate for 500 baht. They were informed that to open a bank account, they would need the TM30 certificate, a Thai phone number, their passport, and a deposit of 800k baht to apply for a one-year extension on their visa after two months. Other community members provided additional insights into the immigration process and the importance of local immigration offices.
31 repliesnewest first
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Chris **********
Thanks
@Lester ********
!
Craig *********
I found this really helpful , thank you.
Caress ******
Raed CK say that's the problem with our retired people all over the world is they have a pension and they have a good income off of that but that money is in a pension plan it's not in their bank account. Most Americans don't have a lot in their bank account but they have huge amounts in their pension fund that they built up over time but they can't withdraw that money. It only comes out in a form of a pension.
Ian **********
Bangkok and Chiang Mai immigration offices make decisions about marriage extensions for regional offices. Retirement extensions decisions are made locally
Sanne *********
I live in Nong Bua Lamphu to and will be going there to make my Non O visa and then extensiom. Glad to hear they speak good english 🙏☺️
Lester *********
OP@Sanne ********
Young man on reception. Very polite and helpful. Good knowledge but maybe my understanding of the terminology is slightly off but hey ho, everyday is a learning day
Andy *******
"should be sufficient"
Ken ********
Hi Lester,,I live in Nong bua lamphu, have for many years. We have our own fb group if you'd like to ask any locals if they've ever been told same has you.
Or, if you need any help in the area, you can direct contact me.
Or, if you need any help in the area, you can direct contact me.
Lester *********
OP@Ken *******
That’s very kind of you. Where do I find the link to your page?Ken ********
@Lester ********
I've approved your request to join .Ken ********
@Lester ********
we have many positive and helpful people in NBLP. Hope your enjoying as much as we do. Your always welcome for a cuppa tea.Lester *********
OP@Ken *******
Cheers Ken. Nice to hear from someone who posts positivityWannikea *********
You apply at the immigration office that has jurisdiction over where your TM30 is filed so you won't be doing anything in Bangkok if you live in Lampu, possibly what they meant was that they send it to Bangkok for approval.
Lester *********
OP@Wannikea ********
Perhaps that is the caseWannikea *********
It's 2 calendar months, not 60 days.
Lester *********
OP@Wannikea ********
This was the message that he conveyed to me. I’m only passing on that informationBrandon ************
What embassy in Bangkok? There's no embassy in Bangkok that has anything to do with non-O visas. Those are visas for Thailand and there's no Thai embassy inside of Thailand.
And embassies have nothing to do with extensions. Those are done by immigration.
And embassies have nothing to do with extensions. Those are done by immigration.
Jonathan *******
@Brandon ***********
I think he is referring to the old affidavits of income embassies used to issue maybe
Pete ********
@Brandon ***********
dude he literally just wrote ( I think he meant immigration office ) He litrelay pointed it out himself that the word embassy was wrong haha
Brandon ************
@Pete *******
He LITERALLY edited his post. Learn to use Facebook tools. It lets you see the edits.
Peter **********
@Brandon ***********
@Lester ********
I guess the immigration officer was referring to a possible income affidavit when he mentions “It will be much quicker procedure” as that doesn’t need the two months waiting time.Likely the IO doesn’t know whether the embassy would issue an income affidavit or not.
Lester *********
OP@Peter *********
That makes a lot of senseLester *********
OP@Brandon ***********
I’m only repeating what was conveyed to me in the conversation. Perhaps you can enlighten us as to what he was referring to. Perhaps he meant the immigration office in Bangkok. I’ve also updated the post to give a little more clarity.
Len *****
@Lester ********
I think he meant the main admin centre. It does everything there. It’s a huge building.
Lester *********
OP@Brandon ***********
The initial Visa was issued in the UK so I’m confused now.Lester *********
OP@Ron *****
That’s exactly how I perceived it Ron. My post was simply about that and to give insight into my experience. The original post was in relation to a bank account. My next post will be about the extension and my experience in getting over that hurdle. Thank you for your response
Ron ******
@Lester ********
1. Go to the bank and get the account opened. 2. Deposit the 800k baht. 3. Wait 2 months. 4. While your waiting get the list of requirements from your local immigration office to apply for your extension of stay (they differ from office to office). 5. hen the 2 months are up go to your local immigration office and apply (with 1900baht cash).Brandon ************
@Lester ********
okay. You didn't mention that fact. Then there's still no embassy in Bangkok that can do anything, but even going to immigration in Bangkok wouldn't make sense since you can only apply in the province you live in. If you didn't live in Bangkok with a TM30 from Bangkok, they would turn you away.Brandon ************
@Lester ********
I have no idea what he was referring to. And you can only get the 1-year extension from the same province you got the initial visa from. So no, he didn't mean go to Bangkok for that because they wouldn't issue it if that's not where you got the visa.Talking about an embassy at all in this regard makes no sense. There's no Thai embassy in Thailand. And a foreign embassy can't do anything about your Thai permission to stay.
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