Answereda year ago
How can I open a Thai bank account for a marriage visa if I currently have no visa?
I thought we had all the ducks in a row, I have got a Thai marriage certificate stamped and certified, yellow book, Thai ID card and trying to work towards a marriage visa. Now I need to open a Thai bank account to season funds however after having been to several banks that refuse to open an account without a visa, my wife is now taking me to a Chinese bank, I’m having serious reservations about this.
Answer summary
A user trying to open a Thai bank account for his marriage visa faces a challenge due to the requirements of having a visa. Despite having a certified marriage certificate, a Thai ID, and other documents, he finds that banks refuse to open an account without a visa. Comments suggest various routes, such as applying for a Non-O visa in a neighboring country, emphasizing that most banks in Thailand require a Non-O visa for expats. The conversation highlights how immigration's guidance may differ from bank policies, adding to the frustration of expats navigating these procedures.
94 repliesnewest first
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Steven ********
I opened a thai bank account on a tourist visa. Got married, yellow book, Thai I'd, drivers license then opened a bank account at siam bank
SJ *******
Think she means bank of your wife’s family
Jim **********
With the bank your missus is considering i don't think you can use wise to transfer money to it
Martin **************
I want to appIy for a marrige visa in November, also with a non-O retirement visa. I'm Dutch and the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok provides a Certificate of Residence for this purpose. I can only hope that with this document I will be able to open a Thai bank account.
Graham ******
@Martin *************
Doesn't the Dutch Embassy still do the income affidavit so you can get your 12 month retirement Extension of Stay using that? Note - you cannot switch from a retirement Non-O Visa to a marriage Extension of Stay for your first extension. You can change the reason for the extension in any subsequent year by meeting the requirements.
John **********
Can you not just do a joint bank account using your wife's account and call it a family account ? Not everyone has seperate bank accounts in the world
Benjamin *******
Why u not come with a Non O 3 month problem solved.
Graham ******
@Benjamin ******
He missed that duck ;)Benjamin *******
@Graham *****
easy peasy fly to Vietnam, MalaysiaMark ********
The easiest way to do this is fly back to your country and apply for a non OA visa. It might take a month or two to get it and there’s a bunch of hoops to jump through, but once you have it you can then return to Thailand and open a bank account. All this is much easier with a retirement visa. Otherwise pay an agent a bunch of money.
Max *************
@Mark *******
It's way easier (and faster) to go to Laos and apply for a 90 days Non-O. No need for a Thai bank account. Then return and open a bank account and deposit the money needed at immigration.Mark ********
@Max ************
Bangkok bank is not letting people open an account, even on a 90 day visa now. They’re asking for one year retirement or another one year visa.
Terry ***********
OPYeah I know right? The real tragedy is, we have done most of the leg work, some of it multiple times and done everything that has been asked of us. My wife has been doing all of the talking with immigration and, according to her, immigration is saying that we should able t open a bank account however the banks disagree. I think I'm going to pause until the other documents that we are waiting to arrive and see what happens from there.
Mark ********
@Terry **********
in the last year the banks have cracked down on phony accounts and made it almost impossible to open an account unless you have at least a non O three month visa. I think Krungsri and Kbank might still but it’s getting more and more difficult. Immigration says many things and depending on who you talk with it’s a roll of the dice if the information is accurate. Either way if you’re on a tourist visa the odds are stacked against you. None of us enjoy this but this is the game that we’re playing now! Catch 22 ! Haha 😆Max *************
@Mark *******
You will (most likely) not be able to open a bank account at any bank without at least a 90 days Non-O. It doesn't matter what immigration says, it's up to the bank.
THAI ******************************
What is the current visa type you are on?
If you are in bangkok we assist with this situation daily as long as the intent is to obtain a non-o based visa, or if you already have one.
If you are in bangkok we assist with this situation daily as long as the intent is to obtain a non-o based visa, or if you already have one.
Max *************
@THAI *****************************
He's not on any visa.THAI ******************************
@Max ************
We handle cases like this on a daily basis, but only when we also coordinate the Non-O visa, and client must be in bangkok for 1-2 days.
Don **********
Everyone that wants a long term Thai visa remember two things: you can’t get a visa without a Thai bank account. And you can’t get a Thai bank account without a visa. There you go! You’re welcome.
Pieter **************
@Don *********
depends on what kind visa you have, I myself have in 3 different banks an accountMax *************
@Don *********
Not correct. You can apply for a 90 days Non-O (or even an O-A) outside Thailand without a Thai bank account, but when applying for a 1 year extension you need a Thai bank account.
Leighton ********
@Ma***
can you help this guy?
Wannikea *********
You haven't said where you are?
Terry ***********
OP@Wannikea ********
I'm in Bangkok
Frank **********
Chinese Bank? You mean Bank of Sick Water Buffalo. 5555
Max **********
I could not get Thai ID until I had long term visa??? I could not get retirement visa until I had bank account???
Stan **********
@Max *********
🤣🤣 even with a long term visa, still impossible, where I am anyway, to get the elusive pink ID card. The requirements change every visit and last time they wanted copies of my parents birth certificates translated to Thai and stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok 🤔🤔Basically a "go away, I cannot be bothered to do it" situation 🤣🤣
Terry ***********
OP@Stan *********
the lady at the district office just asked my parents names and country of origin. She also asked my blood group type which I couldn’t answer so she skipped that questionPieter **************
@Max *********
thai id is only for thai people, we farang can have id-card (pink) special for farangMax **********
@Pieter *************
I have pink ID!Max *************
@Max *********
It's up to the district office, and some of them have no clue about visas/extensions.Terry ***********
OP@Max *********
the young lass at the district office was really pleasant and helpful, in fact I could say the same for all the other people that we encountered in the same office.Max *************
@Terry **********
Fyi,there are 928 district offices in Thailand. A few has to (logically) be helpful. 😁Terry ***********
OPWe have some other documents allegedly arriving from immigration via registered post this coming Friday, I’m not sure what they relate to, maybe they might help otherwise I think a little holiday might be in order.
Wannikea *********
@Terry **********
sounds like a certificate of residenceTerry ***********
OP@Wannikea ********
It could be, I have filled out so many forms some of them many times over. I seem to remember ticking a box on one of them seeking approval to apply for a Thai driver's license.
Peter ********
having those reservations is your intuition don't ignore that
SJ *******
Don't worry you wife will know what to with your money.
Stan **********
You managed to get a yellow tabian book and Thai ID card on a visa exempt or tourist visa.
Wow, well done you
Wow, well done you
Alan *******
@Stan *********
I've tried 3 times at my local 😔 been refused 3 times! ..Married 6 years on Non O ext, Got my Bank Acc (when on 30 day permit) 9 Years ago. Mrs has a business, Sister in law is a Lawyer, took her and 2 witnesses, no luck! Gave up! F@ck em !
Peter *********
@Stan *********
don't think he did do you lol 😆
Tony *****
Sorry if I’ve missed something here. Do you have any kind of visa?
Terry ***********
OP@Tony ****
no, I am trying to get a marriage visa, we were originally told that a stamped and verified marriage certificate would be sufficient to get us started with a bank account.Tony *****
@Terry **********
ahh get it now. If I was you I’d do some research in this group. So many people on marriage visas report how much of a nightmare it is to get an extension of stay. Non O for retirement if you qualify seems a good bet.
Richard ********
@Tony ****
I aggee %100! 👍Rory *******
Go to your local immigration office and ask for an immigration form/ letter to show the bank what is required.
Terry ***********
OP@Rory ******
so far we have spent two full days at immigration and with Bangkok traffic it takes approximately an hour and a half just to get there.Rory *******
@Terry **********
with the immigration stamped letter for the banks attention is the way to go, with the rest of what you already have in my hand, I opened an account first attempt with Bangkok BankRichard ********
@Terry **********
You will need a letter from immigration stating your intention to complete your Visa Application.
Nongnuch ********
@Max ************
it probably was the "certificate of residence" from Immigration, containing a text adressed to a Thai bank in order to get a bank account opened for the bearer. NOTE: most COR's contain a text that states the PURPOSE the COR gets issued for. It can be for a driver's license, it can be for the purchase and registering a vehicle, and it can also be especially issued for opening a bank accountRory *******
@Max ************
if it’s not a an official procedure, what is? I asked them the question, because as you know, you need to open a bank account to apply for your extension and the bank won’t let you unless you have a visa. So I asked them how? That’s what they done for me cost 500b , the bank got their rules out for foreigners after ****
minutes of checking, went ahead showing yellow book, pink ID, passport, marriage certificate, immigration letter. This was my first attempt to open a Thai bank account and I done my visa extension myself also, I didn’t know what to expect or really do, but got my ducks all in a row and ask the people you are dealing with.Max *************
@Rory ******
And I repeat, there are ~85 immigration offices in Thailand. You're claiming you went to one of those and got a letter which is imo not an official procedure. What rules did your bank check out? Please tell.Rory *******
@Max ************
I asked about, how I can open a bank account to submit the seasoned 400k for my marriage extension application. They gave me a standard printed letter and stamped. Then in the bank done a little research rules checking, I put 2,000 THB cash in to open, then later transferred the remainder to the total just over 400,000 THBMax *************
@Rory ******
This is not an official option at all, and not something most Immigration offices even do. Name an office, preferably a major one where this is possible. There are about 85 immigration offices in Thailand in 77 provinces.Rory *******
@Max ************
The option is available at the immigration office, issuing a stamped standard letter to show the bank that you are processing your visaMax *************
@Richard *******
Since when is this an official option at immigration?
Andy ********
Chinese Bank, Thai branch THB balance I assume.
Max *************
@Andy *******
It has to be a Thai bank.Andy ********
@Max ************
The key factor is that the bank is licensed and located in Thailand, regulated by the Bank of Thailand (BOT), not necessarily Thai-owned. Foreign-owned banks operating branches or subsidiaries in Thailand, such as UOB (United Overseas Bank, Singapore-based but with a full Thai subsidiary), qualify as long as the account is opened in Thailand and holds THB. UOB Thailand is commonly used by expats for this purpose, including for retirement visa extensions, and there are no official restrictions based on foreign ownership. Other examples include HSBC, Citibank, or Standard Chartered, which are also accepted. Purely Thai-owned banks like Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank, or Siam Commercial Bank are equally valid but not required over foreign-owned ones.Terry ***********
OP@Andy *******
yes but even the Chinese bank said no
Jack ********
Agent.
Lynnette *******
You could go get the non O in a neighbouring country? Then head back and open Thai bank account.
THAI ******************************
@Lynnette ******
This is the approach we typically recommend, and if he truly had all the documents he mentioned, we believe the chances of approval would have been very high.The main pushback usually comes from certain branches when the applicant holds a Non-O retirement visa and is not married to a Thai national.
While we can assist with both the in-country conversion and the bank opening, it does come at a fairly high cost.
Chris **********
@Lynnette ******
what would be the requirements of this?Lynnette *******
@Chris *********
check embassy requirements. Proof you're in the country you are applying in is one. Can do in home country too.
Brandon ************
@Chris *********
maybe not 3 days, but probably a week would be do-able. For Non-O visa there's no interview normally. Pre-fill the application, as soon as you cross into Laos upload your entry stamp from your passport and submit the application. Then first thing the next morning go to the embassy and pay (Between 9-11AM). Then wait.Lynnette *******
@Chris *********
not sure. But perhaps you can fill in the paperwork in advance. Let's see us anyone knows the turnaround time in Laos. Maybe 3 days not enough.Max *************
@Chris *********
3 days might be tight. You can not apply in Thailand, you must physically be in Laos.Terry ***********
OP@Chris *********
same, I'm married to a Thai but still on a tourist visa exempt,Chris **********
P.s married to a Thai btw but on a visitor visa
Chris **********
@Lynnette ******
im in Thailand now but fly to Laos for a 3 day visit. Is that enough time to obtain a non o visa di you think? Or can I apply before I go to Laos ?
Peter *********
Agent ,
Stephen ********
your ducks will never be in a row here
Terry ***********
OPI cheated and used plastic ducks, they can’t fly.
Steve ****
@Stephen *******
wait, there are supposed to be ducks?
Cris ******
@Stephen *******
ducks? Your isaan neighbor ate and stole one, the rest the government changed so you need chickens in a row, also a buffalo.
Brett *********
@Stephen *******
my ducks got loose. 3 are missing. Now I think some of them are chickens.
David *********
So true that is
Max *************
@Stephen *******
You beat me to it. 😂
Jim *********
Did you apply for Thai marriage visa in a Thai embassy. When you have it then go to the bank with a Thai speaking person if you are not fluent in Thai.
Terry ***********
OP@Jim ********
Yes, I have applied for a marriage visa, I entered on a 60 day tourist visa exempt ( I was waiting for the sale of my house to settle), I got married on July 5th and now on the 30 day extension. Immigration are telling us I need to open a bank account and have seasoned funds for 60 days and the banks are all saying I need a visa to open a bank account. We have done multiple trips to immigration, Thai police customs (as directed) and the local municipal office where I received my house yellow book and ID card, my wife is urging me to contact the Australian Embassy, I don't know why because I really don't think they can offer any further assistance. We have discussed the idea of having a holiday in Laos or Vietnam and applying for a non o or, alternatively I return to Australia and apply from there.
Vaughn **********
@Terry **********
Laos is the best option for you.
Paul ********
I agreed n lookimg fot a place that wants me....
Stuart *********
Can’t see how a Chinese bank could help. Your funds need to be in a Thai bank.
If you’re not on a Non O visa already then you’ll find it almost impossible to open an account without help from an agent.
If you’re not on a Non O visa already then you’ll find it almost impossible to open an account without help from an agent.
Philip ***********
@Stuart ********
in bkk bank Phuket they told me you can open on exemption or any visa when you are married or have property in ThailandTerry ***********
OP@Philip **********
it seems that the banks in BKK didn’t get the memoPhilip ***********
@Terry **********
think a lot depends also on the "goodwill" of the manager of the branch ..Stuart *********
@Philip **********
That’s the rules, but finding a bank manager that’s willing to do so is the challenge.
Billy **********
@Stuart ********
almost seems contrived to keep the back hands flowing. No bank accounts if on TV but an agent can circumvent the rules for a fee and a backhand.
LOS ❤️ everyone can afford corruption here
✌️✌️✌️
Terry ***********
OPTiT?
Terry ***********
OPof course so obvious, thanks for that
Sylvia ********
@Terry **********
this is ThailandStuart *********
@Billy *********
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