Is a 30-day Visa on Arrival enough to open a bank account and sign a rental contract in Thailand?

No . With a student visa it’s easier ☺️

Yes I sorted out my retirement visa with a 30 day visa exemption., which is plenty enough if you planned ahead and know where you are going live.

I've just opened bank account with 30 day exempt but extended it to give more weeks. I own a condo so that helped. I needed second ID (extra to passport)which in UK I don't have. .so used my bus pass 😆! Had to buy insurance but that wasn't too bad.

För oss som gift oss i Sverige var dat ganska enkelt. Ambassaden översatte dokumenten, ett företag i samma byggnad som Ambassaden legaliserade dokumenten hos Thai ud och skickade med DHL till oss. Vi åkte till lokala distriktrskontoret, Amphur tillsammans med bychefen och två vittnen. Byte av efternamn, gul husbok och Thai id klart på en timma.

If you come on a tourist visa, it will be more difficult to get a residens certificat, since you need to stay at least 3 month, to be entitled to get that.

Without it it will be much harder to get a bank account, which again will be close to impossibel on tourist visa.

VOA is limited to a small number of countrys, is 15 days and cost a fee.

Probably you mean visa excempt, but that will not be suitable for your purposes.

A agent will sort everything out for a fee, bank account, 15 month's Non O immigration visa etc...

I did arrive on a 30 day but needed an agent to get things done. Can be done

No you need to have the 800,000 baht seasoned for 2 months in thai bank account prior to the extension

@Tom *******

no the 30 day Visa Exempt isn't enough. Go get a 60 day tourist visa

I would recommend that you apply for a 90 days Non O visa at the embassy at home first. You can just use your bank at home to verify your income/funds. Then you will be able to open a bank account within a month and bank the required 800K baht to apply for your first year extension of stay in Thailand.

You might also come on a 30 days visa exemption or 60 days tourist visa and apply for a 90 days Non O in country if you get an agent to help you opening a bank account to bank the required 800K baht at date when you apply. (At Jomtien immigration they demand two months seasoning in your account before you can apply as well).