How can I open a Thai bank account to obtain a visa when I need a visa to open a bank account?

You need a bank account for the "extension of stay", and not for the visa.

I have spoke with many expats in Jomtien regarding Bangkok Bank. And the majority of disgruntled account holders seem to be those that didn't meet up with the new requirements set out by the government. In the recent audits it was discovered that many expats had opened accounts on tourist visas or even visa exempt status, albeit several years ago in many cases but still, unacceptable by today's policy and procedures.

Many of those accounts were then frozen and some eventually closed until the matter was resolved. But it wasn't the Banks fault, they just have to show more accountability now. If you're going to apply for a bank account in Jomtien, doesn't it make sense to use the bank at the top of soi 5 and second road, Bangkok Bank. I'm pretty sure that would be your best bet. Good luck.

Yes…you are dumb with regard to this topic..

Take a Thai speaking friend to Thailand’s Immigration Bureau and ask them.

Alternatively, contact the Thailand Embassy in your home country and ask them to explain the procedure.

90 day non O

Welcome to Thailand... haha

not really difficult - if one understands the difference between a visa and a stay permit, and does not confuse both with each other. You need a bank account in your home country for the visa, you need that VISA to get a Thai bank account opened so you can apply for the extended STAY PERMIT

First, you need to learn the difference between a visa and a stay permit

*** to get the VISA, you can show money on your HOME BANK ACCOUNT or on any bank account anywhere in the World, as long as you show the account is in your sole name. Most Thai embassies will ask for the upload of three months bank statements into the E-Visa online application.

*** If you enter Thailand on a Non-Imm O retirement VISA, you can get a Thai bank account opened on this visa class.

*** to get the “1-year extension of STAY PERMIT based on retirement, on Immigration, you either need a minimum of 800,000 THB on your THAI bank account, or an affidavit of income over a minimum of monthly 65,000 THB

*** Handle the process like hundreds before you have it done: apply and get issued the 90-days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement VISA in your own country before you wing your way to Thailand.

*** when you enter, you will get stamped in for a 90-days STAY PERMIT, and the VISA will become invalid.

*** Get TM30 registered in your accommodation, which can be a hotel or a rental apartment. Visit Immigration and ask them for a “certificate of residency” addressed to a specific bank, with the plea to get a bank account opened for you. Some banks accept if you show a long term rental contract Further, you will need a Thai mobile SIM card and number registered in your name and passport number. I recommend either Kasikorn Bank or the Siam Commercial Bank.

*** Immediately transfer a minimum of 800,000 THB to your newly opened Thai bank account.

*** Wait until the deposit has been in your account for a minimum of 2 months. Visit Immigration with the “letter of guarantee” (in Thai: rab roong thanakan) from the bank that confirms this seasoning period, and apply for the 1-year extension of temporary stay permit. Immigration calls this wrongly “visa extension”, however you do not have a visa anymore which could be “extended”. They simply extend your stay permit.

***The E-Visa fee for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa online application is around 80 USD.

The fee for the bank letter should be something like 200 Baht.

The fee for the application to the 1-year extension of the stay permit is 1900 Baht.

*** Don’t forget to buy a re-entry permit for your one-year stay permit, on the day you get your 1-year extension stamped.

*** if you think that this is too difficult then you can use the service of an agent to do everything for you. Using your own funds, such a service would cost around 12,000 THB.

In case you have no own funds, it will cost significantly more to get around the existing law, like up from 34,000 THB, and if you entered on a tourist visa instead on a Non-Imm visa class, you can expect an agent fee up from 60,000 THB.

Chicken and egg question

Apply visa from outside country, come to Thailand by e-visa

You get the Non-O visa before you arrive.

Do not require money in Thai bank if you apply for it outside of Thailand.

Only if you apply for the Non-O inside of Thailand.

Gives you time to sort out the bank situation before you need money in Thai bank for your extension of stay.

To apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, you can show money in your home bank account. You enter with this Non-Imm-O visa and get a Thai bank account opened, then immediately transfer a minimum of 800,000 THB onto it. To apply on Immigration for the 1-year extension of the temporary stay permit based on retirement, you need to show that a minimum of 800,000THB has been sitting in your Thai bank account for a minimum of 2 months. Easy peasy as that.

You need a lease to get a bank account

It’s not a dumb question, it’s one of Thailand’s many hurdles toward getting established and legal. As stated above you probably should have an agency help facilitate that for you. Make sure not to get Bangkok Bank, you will seriously regret it.

I have been having the same problem for the past two years. I arrived on the 11th of march this year on a 60 day visa exempt. Went directly to a respected agent on soy 13 1. I paid about 66,000 baht and went through immigration and the bank three days later in less than four hours. I received my fully stamped passport on the 27th.

I was at my wits end. They made it painless but expensive.

As they say in Thailand ‘UP TO YOU MISTER.

You need a long term rental along with lease agreement signed by your landlord .You need more then just this

Havent you got a bank account? You get the visa in a Country outside of Thailand.

Rich Roesing ok

We assist with this situation regularly, and obtain both the bank account, and the non-o concurrently.

If you are talking about a non-O extension based on retirement then do the same as most people have done, get the non-O visa in your own country before coming to Thailand and when you arrive go to Immigration, present details of where you are living etc and get a residency certificate then use that to open the bank account. transfer the 800k Baht to that account and wait 2 months then go back to immigration with a letter from the bank and all the necessary forms filled in and you get the 1 year extension. It's easy and only costs about 2100 Baht (200 Baht for the bank letter and 1900 Baht for the Immigration fee). Alternatively if you think that this is too difficult then you can use an agent to do it for you but that will cost significantly more.

Get a Non–O E–Visa from a Thai Embassy/Thai Consulate outside Thailand, then along with a few other things, you can open a Thai bank account

Name countries that allow tourists or visitors (your CURRENT status) to open bank accounts freely?

Your question is not dumb. You can get a better answer if you identify the country, province/state where you are traveling from.

You go to a agent

If you are already in Thailand the simplest thing is to travel to a nearby country and apply for the visa there. Return to Thailand, get a residence certificate from immigration, get a Thai SIM registered against your passport then go to a bank and request to open an account

You get the visa before you arrive. Use it to open bank account. Same for most countries.

Either apply for the retirement visa from your own country before you travel or get a 90 day non o visa before you travel. Once you’re here you’ll need your visa, your passport, a Thai phone number,a TM30 and a rental agreement contract. Then it’s easy. Or contact someone like Thai visa Centre to assist. If you go with the 90 day option you’ll probably need to use an agent to get the retirement visa. All very easy. It your on a DTV it’s more complicated but Thai Visa Centre can advise you.

Stay away from BKK bank

Get yourself into kasikorn with your 3 month visa, you'll have a bank account in 30mins

@THAI *****************************

helped me as I’m lazy and don’t want any headache

You need show you have overseas assets, in order to apply for the visa before you come to Thailand. You need to open a Thai bank account after you come to Thailand, then transfer money to it, in order to apply for an extension of stay.

Easy and quick use an agent that helps you with everything..

You get the non imm O before you arrive