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How can I open a Thai bank account on a Non Immigrant O Retirement visa while planning a short trip?
Thai Bank AccountNon-Immigrant O Retirement VisaVisa RulesBanking in ThailandExpat FinanceRetirement in ThailandVisa ExtensionsLong-term Visa Strategy
May 1, 2025
a year ago
David ******
ORIGINAL POSTERGoal: Is to open a Thai Bank account so I can slowly build up the 800,000 baht over the next two years.
Plan: I will be taking my normal 2 week holiday in Thailand, I will be in and out. But this time , I plan on entering on a Non Immigrant O Retirement visa from my home country.
I want to do what is necessary to open a Thai Bank Account, as if I were going to apply for the Non Immigrant O extension.
If I can secure the Bank Account,. mission successful, and I would exit I hope on the Non O visa after 2 weeks.
I would then apply again for Non O in 2027, When I actually plan on living in Thailand for long term. Again my main purpose on this trip is simply to begin the funding process early and establish the Thai Bank Account, so I can move money a bit at a time.
Will there be any problems on my exit, if I exit after 2 weeks on the Visa. I hope it is my prerogative how long I stay less than the 90 days.
Plan: I will be taking my normal 2 week holiday in Thailand, I will be in and out. But this time , I plan on entering on a Non Immigrant O Retirement visa from my home country.
I want to do what is necessary to open a Thai Bank Account, as if I were going to apply for the Non Immigrant O extension.
If I can secure the Bank Account,. mission successful, and I would exit I hope on the Non O visa after 2 weeks.
I would then apply again for Non O in 2027, When I actually plan on living in Thailand for long term. Again my main purpose on this trip is simply to begin the funding process early and establish the Thai Bank Account, so I can move money a bit at a time.
Will there be any problems on my exit, if I exit after 2 weeks on the Visa. I hope it is my prerogative how long I stay less than the 90 days.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user aims to open a Thai bank account during a two-week stay in Thailand while holding a Non-Immigrant O Retirement visa, to start building up funds for a future retirement. They are seeking advice on potential issues with exiting Thailand after a short stay and how to successfully establish a bank account for future financial needs. Comments from others in the thread discuss the feasibility and potential requirements for opening a bank account, such as having a residency certificate and possible alternatives to saving funds in Thailand.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Robert ********
If the exchange rate is your most important argument to wait with the transfer, then you should use Wise.
You can’t get better rates than that with any other bank.
(And please note: many talk about fees. That’s BS. The fees of Wise are about 0.5%, while the exchange rate is 2-3% better than the old fashioned banks)
If you use my link, we both get some small benefit.
You can’t get better rates than that with any other bank.
(And please note: many talk about fees. That’s BS. The fees of Wise are about 0.5%, while the exchange rate is 2-3% better than the old fashioned banks)
If you use my link, we both get some small benefit.
*************************
David ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert *******
for some reason, I cannot get a Wise Card right now in the United States. Cards are not available. I would not mind if I could virtually hold Thai Baht in Wise, I just want a way to be able to get the Baht when needed. If I had a card no problem. Otherwise I think I would need a Thai Bank to get money out.Robert ********
@David *****
You need a Thai bank anyway for your visa. I use Wise to keep my money waiting for good exchange rates (like right now - I’m Swiss - 40:1), not as the account for daily use. But you can send the money from Wise to any account in the world.
I don’t understand your need for a card. I use the card only to pay for goods and services around the world. If I need cash, I get it from one of my other bank accounts.
BTW: all banks hold the money virtually, not only Wise. Or how can it be that they lend about 50 bucks for every 1 buck that they really own? And how can a transfer from one end of the world to the other be done in a second?
Reply to
Robert ********
Reply
Peter *********
I just got Thai Visa centre to do it all for me. Very happy!
David ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peter ********
did you enter with a retirement Visa? And have agent get bank account.David **********
@Peter ********
damn how much did that costJeff ******
@Peter ********
do you work there? Three posts all ‘ I love Thai visa centre’Peter *********
@Jeff *****
noPeter *********
@Jeff *****
No no i.dont work there ! I'm in Bangkok now from Australia. I used them for my retirement visa after recommendations from friends here in Bangkok. Could not fault them !Graham ******
@Peter ********
Four now ;)Peter *********
@Graham *****
four what ?Graham ******
@Peter ********
Three posts all ‘ I love Thai visa centre’ 555Peter *********
@Graham *****
so what ?Reply to
Peter *********
Reply
Jesper *******
Build your funds in your home country and once you have enough funds (equivalent to 800k) apply for the non O in the thai embassy in your home country....visit thailand with the non O and start your process of applying bank acct and transfer the funds from your home country to your thai bank acct....
David **********
@Jesper ******
it is that easyMarcel *******
@Jesper ******
What speaks against transferring money to the thai account at a good rate? It could be that the exchange rate is worse if he needs his visa. The baht has fluctuated from 40 to 36 since last year. With the euro . That's 10 percent.Jesper *******
@Marcel ******
you only have to do it once instead of multiple times how much transfer fees are you going to pay? And how about the better interest he earns in his home acct.....it's a requirement to get visa extensions and ppl have no choice the rates are irrelevant when it comes to priorityMarcel *******
@Jesper ******
Everyone can do as they want. If I have 10 % at a good rate, this is more than the interest in the bank in Europe . And there are almost no transfer fees at all with wiseJesper *******
@Marcel ******
10% good rate is not guaranteed it does functuates I do use Wise for my transfers and they do charge transfer feesReply to
Jesper *******
Reply
Tony **********
Bank may want to see a long term lease along with a residency certificate from immigration and Thai phone number in your name.
David ********
Wouldn't bother. Save your money at home, get a better interest rate etc. Just sort it out when you are actually going to move.
Dany ********
@David *******
true. and you never know what will happen in your life over the next 2 years. and if you then need your money its in a foreign account…Todd *********
@David *******
fair point. The money makes better interest at home and can easily cover the cost of an agentDavid ********
@Todd ********
also less risk and a lot less fapping around. Options are available in the future if you do go the retirement routeTodd *********
@David *******
totally agreeReply to
Todd *********
Reply
David **********
Get a residency certificate from immigration and get a letter from immigration to open a bank account
Charlie ********
@David *********
what is the letter you need? I have O-A 12 months visa and residence certificate but what is the letter? ThanksDavid **********
@Charlie *******
to open a bank account already done itCharlie ********
@David *********
what does the letter say or confirm that your visa and residence certificate does not say?David **********
@Charlie *******
you need the letter for the bank it will enable you to open an account I don't read thai so no idea what it saidCharlie ********
@David *********
ok thanks I’m in immigration now and ticket the box on residence certificate application for bank account so they will give it to me I expectDavid **********
A standard letter the bangkok bank uses
David **********
@Charlie *******
yesCharlie ********
@David *********
what is the letter you are talking about?Reply to
Charlie ********
Reply
Marcel *******
I did it the same way. However, with a tourist visa, as last year it was still possible to open an account with it. I also had concerns, because it is valid for 60 days and I left after 3 weeks. Nobody is interested. Whenever the exchange rate is good, I transfer money for my Eos in 2 years
David ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marcel ******
this is what I'm talking about. Thank you.Dany ********
@Marcel ******
not possible anymore on tourist visaThomas *******
@Dany *******
not true, i even Opend an account at bkk bank In Phuket on a visa excemption just had to extend for a new 30 day stamp got letter from my hotel , went to Immigration for their letter and than i had no problemMarcel *******
@Thomas ******
normally it is since February impossible. Good luck for u👍🏽Thomas *******
@Marcel ******
Oh really? i did it just 3 weeks agoDany ********
@Thomas ******
and that was in the last 2 months?Thomas *******
@Dany *******
3 weeks ago bkk bank in Central Festival PhuketReply to
Thomas *******
Reply
Marcel *******
@Dany *******
exactly that's what I wrote .Reply to
Marcel *******
Reply
Stuart *********
There are no minimum number of days needed to stay on a visa. If you enter on a 90 days visa you can leave anytime prior to those 90 days
David ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stuart ********
so no harm no foul..if I can't open a bank account, than it would be same as if I had entered visa exempt for my normal holiday, outside the cost of the Visa and Certificate of Residence.Kool *******
@David *****
you are aware you must have the equivalent of bt800,000 in your home country personal bank account to get the type O visa. When you get here after you have your type O visa it is easy to get a Thai bank account, and I recommend getting two accounts at different banks. I have accounts with Bangkok Bank, and Kasikorn Bank. You'll see the advantages after you live here for a while. As long as you have enough in the accounts to cover the yearly service fees nothing happens to the accounts no matter where you are in the world. When you actually decide to move here it is much better to do a SWIFT transfer of the bt800,000 all at once rather than small transfers over time. By doing it this way you can get a FET, foreign exchange transfer, document if you ever decide to leave Thailand and want to send the whole amount out of Thailand. You'll need the FET to justify where that much money came from, meeting anti money laundering laws Thailand enforces.David ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
the actual money is not an issue. Not a significant amount. This is more preparatory work, instead being stressed out to try and do it all in 90 days. Also , trying to take advantage of friendly exchange rates, I see a lot of volatility with Trump on the horizon. Very good point, about doing it all at once. I was not aware of FET, that is something I want the flexibility to have.
Two Banks is a good recommendation, I suppose once you have one , it could be easier to get the second.
Very sound advice, thank you.
Robert ********
@David *****
It’s not easier to get a second account. I have one with kasikorn but couldn’t get another one 5+ years later. But I got 2 with Bangkok bank then instead.
Erik ***********
@Kool ******
big ? mark about the need to have tb 800.000 in your home bank a/c to get the non immigrant 0 visa? Never heard of, never had to (Norway). Funds were never a topic before applying for the extension here in Thailand.Graham ******
@Erik **********
Check the requirements on your local Thai Embassy website for a retirement Non-O, the financiall requirements will be clear, equivalent of at least 800k Baht in local currencyKool *******
@Erik **********
to get the one year extension of a type O 90 day visa based on retirement the bt800,000 has to be in a Thai bank account in your name only.Mark *********
@Kool ******
interested to know advantages of having 2 accounts, i currrntly have the bangkok bank accountKool *******
@Mark ********
I use one bank for all my online purchasing. Thailand uses lots of e-commerce now. One of the other one's I use for all my living expenses. I have 4 accounts at two different banks.Mark *********
@Kool ******
cheersJesper *******
@Mark ********
one with required funds for the yearly extensions and another one for daily usageKool *******
@Jesper ******
I use one for online purchasing, to keep that separate, as lots of e-commerce in Thailand now. As far as immigration goes, and I'm in Bangkok, I just do a transfer of a few baht from one bank to the other that morning I extend, and update my bank book in the machine. It makes that requirement real easy with two accounts.Reply to
Kool *******
Reply
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