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Is it better to move mid-visa or at renewal time when relocating to a different province in Thailand?

Aug 13, 2025
11 days ago
Tractor *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi. I am on a non O retirement visa with the 800000 baht option and my wife is in a non O retirement visa with 65000 monthly deposit. We live in Chiang Mai and both bank with Bangkok Bank. We are considering a move to Hua Hin but have read that this can create many issues around visa renewal and providing evidence from the bank for accepted time allowances for seasoning if we move to Bangkok Bank in Hua Hin. Is it best to move mid visa or at renewal time. Any advice most welcome Cheers
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster is currently on a Non-O retirement visa and is considering a move from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin while managing visa and banking concerns. They query the timing of their move relative to visa renewal to avoid complications with submitting bank evidence for seasoning requirements. Community responses suggest that it might be beneficial to complete the next yearly extension in Chiang Mai before moving, to establish a track record with the new immigration office in Hua Hin, enhancing future extension processes. Suggestions include alternatives like having one spouse apply as a dependent to simplify the visa situation, and personal experiences indicate that banking issues, such as transferring accounts or obtaining necessary paperwork from Bangkok Bank, vary by branch. Overall, moving mid-visa can be manageable if proper steps are taken.
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Ralph **********
I bank with Kasikorn BK and I have moved to 2 different provinces since I opened the account in 2002. I never had any problems with getting information for Immigration office.
Cris ******
I opened my account in a hua hin branch. And now live in isaan. I have no problems with just going to a close branch to immigration.
Wylie *******
There is no need to change branches that I've found. I still use an out of province branch. Any branch at my current location can give the necessary paperwork for immigration. The only disadvantage I'm aware of is a small fee for out of province atm withdrawals, but that is waived if you use the cardless atm withdrawal. Also, no fee for scan to pay. There may be some other disadvantage but I haven't ran into any yet.
Siggi *******
One of you can go as dependent, you don't need 2 retirement visa if you are married
Tractor *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Siggi ******
in case I die πŸ˜‚
Tractor *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Siggi ******
we had the dependent visa but wanted the security of individual visa
Siggi *******
@Tractor ******
what security? There is no difference
John **********
@Siggi ******
you can't get a dependant visa based on the primary person being on a retirement visa inside Thailand. But they may be able to change the reason for an extension of stay for one of them the next time that comes around
Lauren *******
@Siggi ******
Thanks for that info. Does the dependant have to still bank a seperate
*****
0 Baht.
Chris ********
@Lau***
no only the main visa holder, my husband has the money in the bank and I do not
Stuart ***********
I bank with Bangkok Bank and moved provinces a couple of years ago. The new province bank refused to let me transfer my account, but when I extended my visa they provided me with the necessary paperwork in about 10 minutes. This kind of thing obviously varies from branch to branch, but this is my experience.
Graham ******
@Stuart **********
I've heard it's very difficult to transfer to a new branch and they encourage you to open a new account.
Jeff *********
@Graham *****
which makes no sense at all! I had the same issue with Kasakorn. They loved the fees when making withdrawals in a different province! lol At least now you can make ATM withdrawals anywhere without the fees using the app 😊
Wylie *******
@Graham *****
why even bother transferring though? I moved provinces about 18 months ago and never transferred. Any branch here will give me any paperwork I need. The only downside is a small transaction fee for atm withdrawals outside the home banks province. Which they don't charge you if you use the card less withdrawal or scan to pay.
Keith ************
@Wylie ******
I'm with Wylie. I moved 7 years ago and never transferred my Bangkok bank account to my new location. I can order yearly statements from the mobile app, and the local bank does the letter in one day. Just use the mobile app to withdraw money, and avoid the charge for using the ATM card out of your bank's free ATM area.
Stuart ***********
@Graham *****
yes I think that's the case Graham. I haven't needed to open a new account yet. The recent changes at Bkk bank might force my hand and encourage me to change after my next extension.
Tod *********
I would get the next yearly extension at the office you're at (if you can do that before you move)

THEN

I would move, file new TM30's at the Hua Hin office, start doing the 90 day reporting at that office and that will make it a LOT easier to start doing your extensions at that office as you will have built up a 'track record' of using that office for things that people on long term extensions do :)
Tractor *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thanks for your rapid response but what about transferring the money from one bank to the other? Does a change in banks make any difference? (Even if both Bangkok Bank?)
Stan *******
@Tractor ******
You can use same branch , you don’t need to change branches. They can see on the computer that your money is in Acc and give you documentation in Hua Hin .
Tod *********
I mean if you can't time it that way, you can't, and you just move, file the TM30's and get your extension down there, BUT I've found it's way easier to get an extension after you've done a year of 90 day reports at that office rather than just showing up with a month before you need to get a new extension and trying to push it thru πŸ™‚
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