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Is it easy to open a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O visa?
Jul 21, 2025
9 months ago
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTERNon O vis 90 days (retirement). I'll apply Thai Embassy in UK. Is it straightforward to open a bank ac account with this visa?
TLDR : Answer Summary
Opening a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O retirement visa can be possible, but experiences vary. Many users report that it is straightforward, especially if using an agent, which may charge around 5000 THB. However, some individuals note that it can be hit or miss depending on the bank and the specific requirements, as some branches may prefer long-term visas. Having the correct documents, such as a 'certificate of residence' and proof of funds, is essential, and it can help to check with multiple banks while also considering the location. Alternative approaches, like using agents, are also recommended to ease the process.
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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Ralph *******
I’ve read recently of people having trouble opening accounts with the 90 day visa. Banks are looking for one year.
Daz **********
Just opened two accounts today, kasikon and SCB, both very easy and both very helpful, need printed evisa, driving licence, thai address documents
Tony *****
@Daz *********
hi Dan. Sorry two questions. Is that Non O for marriage and where was this. Location seems to be the key. Thanks ☺️Daz **********
@Tony ****
non o for retirement, I have condo in hua hin but did bank account in bangkok as I was staying here few daysTony *****
@Daz *********
thanks really appreciate it. Where in Bangkok. I’m going there in a few days. It seems they are willing to open for Non ODaz **********
@Tony ****
no problem, I got over stressed with it all but its all pretty simple. The easiest was kasikorn bank in 'One Bangkok, lumphini'Tony *****
@Daz *********
thanks Daz you’re a star. It is pretty stressful lolDaz **********
@Tony ****
many people helped me on here, so returning the favour ..... hope all goes well 😁Tony *****
@Daz *********
yeah it’s a great group. Some negative people on here but generally great advice. Enjoy life my friend.Reply to
Tony *****
Reply
Daz **********
Richard Parker my condo
Greg ***********
@Daz *********
thanks for confirming that it is indeed possible!Reply to
Greg ***********
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Max *************
The problem at the moment is the fact that the 90-days non-O visa isn't a long term visa. That's why there have been reports lately about people being denied opening bank accounts. It should work at many branches,but I won't call it straight forward.
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTERYou do realise that the money actually used originated from the 50,000 other foreigners who've deposited 800k and received zero interest. They place 800k of money they were given for free into thr account then try to charge us 32k for using it for 30 minutes.
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
so if I arrive on a non o 90 day retirement visa agent can open account for 5000 baht. Fine. No need for 800k deposits? And the one year extension? Total price?Greg ***********
@David ******
there are some agents who do the bank account opening and the application to the 1-year extension of the Stay Permit for you without you using your own funds. You need to search for those. You can expect a price for this service starting at 32,000 THB. But sorry, the agent I recommend for the bank account opening will NOT do the "1-year Extension" application for you if you don't use your own funds.David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
i had a quote already from a well known agent. Standard fee for bank account and retirement fee is *****
baht. ...not including reentry permit... .....Still unable to make retirement visa in aThailand unless you arrive with 3 month Non O e-visa based on retirementDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTEROwn funds means it's 1900 baht at immigration
Greg ***********
@David ******
no, you probably misunderstood the agent. If you use your own funds of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account, the agent helps you with bank account opening and the application to the 1-year Extension of Stay for 16,500 THB. If the agent has to front the money, you would pay at least something like 32,000 THB. Opening the bank account only would cost something like 5000 to 7000 THB. The fee on Immigration for the application to the Extension, is 1900.-THB. In case you use own funds, then you actually would not even need an agent. You would just use the agent for a seamless account opening, and apply for the 1-year Extension by yourself 60 days after the money was paid into the accountDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
I'm now checking the 800k with the agent. Another agent charges 45k complete service (including 90 day non O in bangkok)Greg ***********
@David ******
up to you how you proceed. But you need to be aware that once you start to ride the agent hamster wheel, you can't easily get away from itDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
the agent says for *****
baht they will "assist with the funds" ...so I pay 2600 baht to Thai embassy for a non O and *****
baht to agent and EVERYTHING is taken care of. Some agents are currently quoting 60k for whole service. Getting the non O before entering Thailand is a big money saver.Greg ***********
@David ******
that's a bargain priceGreg ***********
@David ******
16,500 THB, that requires you are using your own fundsDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
no. Definitely notReply to
David *******
Reply
Greg ***********
@David ******
the agent I am talking about is not going to borrow you the needed 800,000 THB. This is on YOUR responsibility. He is only opening a bank account for you - period.Max *************
@David ******
The 5k is for opening the account,nothing else.Reply to
Max *************
Reply
Greg ***********
@Max ************
The news you hear are from people on Non-Imm-O Retirement visa who try to open a bank account by themselves. They should have employed agents. Almost every agent in Pattaya can get a bank account opened for anyone having entered Thailand on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. Not with the Bangkok Bank, but with most of the other Thai banks. The price in Pattaya is around 5000 THB. The only pre-requisite is to have arrived on a Non-Imm-O Retirement visa, having a Thai phone number and holding a "certificate of residence" from Immigration. Almost every agent can do itMax *************
@Greg **********
My comments wasn't about using agents. It was about opening an account in a bank when on a 90 days non-O visa. Get it?Reply to
Max *************
Reply
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Max ************
the non o 90 day retirement is conceived to allow 60 day deposit of 800k and 4 weeks to process the one year extensionReply to
David *******
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Pete *******
Go to the bank, ask for a list of documents required to open an account. Gather the documents, return and open account. Pretty straight forward.
Doug ********
@Pete ******
you are a clown...you keep telling everyone it's straight forward when sooo many tell you it's not..it should be but in reality it's NOT....wish you would stop being so stubborn and misadvising endless people who are not as aware of how hut and miss opening a bank account can be. Lots of threads now moaning at you about this as I did many times last week but nothing can stop you and your inaccurate answer...stop telling everyone opening a bank account is simple...you could get someone to make plans based on your advice and it's so wrong.😡😡😡😡😡Pete *******
@Doug *******
your inability to plan ahead and request the list of documents required to open an account is only a reflection on you. Others simply gather the required documents and open accounts without drama.Doug ********
@Pete ******
😂😂😅😂😅😂😅😅😂😅😂😅😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😅😅😂😅😅😂😅😅😅😂😅😂😅😅😂😅😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😅😂😅😅😂😆😂😆😆😂😅😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂Pete *******
@Doug *******
you are acting like a 5 year old. Grow up.Doug ********
@Pete ******
turn the light off on your way out...good chapDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pete ******
he has a point Pete right? You clearly are a dickhead. Don't worry you're not alone bro. World is full of dickheads like you. Full of shit . Empty assertions. Vacuous nonsense. Have a nice day Pete. Pop a pill I think. Fuckwit.Pete *******
@David ******
indeed a fuckwit with a Non-O and several Thai bank accounts. Enjoy the rest of your day.Doug ********
@Pete ******
ok now I know your just a wind up merchant with nothing else to do except preach your higher intelligence than all before you. Enjoy your day in Peter power ivory towers and if you ever want to listen to another point of view, or consider that by some strange act of God that you got something wrong then please answer just one question that you have ever been asked. Not seen it yet. Thanks for listening. Clown😂😂😂😂Reply to
Doug ********
Reply
Greg ***********
@Doug *******
The news you hear are from people on Non-Imm-O Retirement visa who try to open a bank account by themselves. They should have employed agents. Almost every agent in Pattaya can get a bank account opened for anyone having entered Thailand on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. Not with the Bangkok Bank, but with most of the other Thai banks. The price in Pattaya is around 5000 THB. The only pre-requisite is to have arrived on a Non-Imm-O Retirement visa, having a Thai phone number and holding a "certificate of residence" from Immigration. Almost every agent can do itDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
don't feed the corruption monster!Pete *******
@Greg **********
you don’t need an agent to open a bank account if you hold a Non-O.Greg ***********
@Pete ******
in some places, if you want to avoid being sent from Pontius to Pilatus, you better use the service of an agent . . @David ******
you seem to forget that most banks will ask you to include an insurance if you want to open a bank account with them. This insurance will cost you 5000 Baht. So, paying an agent the same 5000 Baht to get a bank account opened, doesn't set you back one centDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
i won't be taking out insurance. I decided to move to Vietnam. I refuse to be a scam victim. Thai running rings around farangs...billions in free loans to Thai banks which they loan out for 6 - 10% ...shameful. nothing similar in Vietnam. No need for bank statements or £18k earning fxck all. Thais exploit farangs in every which way. My three month visa to Vietnam $25 and only my passport is needed.Reply to
David *******
Reply
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pete ******
"gathering the documents" is all well and good if the "list of documents " is reasonable. Sometimes thais have unreasonable requirements to shunt us towards their relatives running visa shops!Pete *******
Banks are commercial businesses , it’s up to them to decide what documents are required to open an account.
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pete ******
oh you're really smart. Sorry Pete. So completely arbitrary then? They can decide how many hoops we must jump through and how high? No consistent rules across thai banks? The wild West right?Pete *******
@David ******
nope, just a commercial business exercising due diligence in how they operate.David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pete ******
are you for real? So exploitative and corrupt practices are euphamistically nothing more than due diligence "your honour"! Ffs man. Give us all a break.Pete *******
@David ******
I don’t see anything exploitative or corrupt in asking for a long stay visa, certificate of residency, a Thai phone number and a long term lease in order to open a bank account.Doug ********
@Pete ******
all of which I had ...lol...you are such a fool.Reply to
Doug ********
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Peter *******
Probably ok but not guaranteed. Only guaranteed way is to get a Non OA retirement visa before traveling. This visa has mandatory health insurance requirements so maybe that's why they are making difficulties for the 90 day non O.
Jim *******
@Peter ******
Wrong, they are making it easier for 90 days non O from home country. I am on it now. No health insurance, no police check.Peter *******
@Jim ******
never has been health insurance or police check for Non O, only OA. 90 day Non O is easy to obtain but have read reports of people being unable to open a bank account on this visa.Nongnuch ********
@Peter ******
and I, on the contrary, have just read about people who are on a Non-Imm-O/A visa and were unable to get a Thai bank account opened. Their report is from yesterday. You are extremely generalizing. It is absolutely possible to get a bank account opened on a Non-Imm-O visa, and on a Non-O/A visa as well. It depends on the competence or rather on the incomepetence of the bank clerksJim *******
@Peter ******
You are right, can't remember where I picked police clearance and health insurance.Reply to
Jim *******
Reply
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jim ******
yes! No medical certificate too....all required if you apply from Vietnam or Philippines etc. Clearly they create artificial hurdles to divert the sheep to their incestuous agents while maintaining the facade they're stamping out corruption. Vietnam makes it a doddle to get 90 day e-visa. Requires only passport and $25. No bank statements and letters...no medical certs ...no criminal record checks. Is Vietnam suffering for making it easy or is Thailand likely to suffer for making it so tortuous? Clearly follow the money. Who's benefitting? The same people who set the policies and strict rules. We gotta act like we didn't notice anything improper!Reply to
David *******
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Lynnette *******
It should be ok. You may have to print a copy of it not just the stamp in the passport. Then it's a case of trying a few banks.
Ant ***********
It’s hit & miss at the moment the more you read , however having a Non-O is a big plus .
Depending on which area you will reside , you may have to go to many banks to eventually open an account
Depending on which area you will reside , you may have to go to many banks to eventually open an account
Greg ***********
yes, on this visa you can get a Thai bank account opened, however I suggest before you try that by yourself, let an agent help you. It should cost around 5000 THB to get a bank account opened by an agent, at least that's the price in Pattaya
Anna *********
@Greg **********
gee thanks for telling me the obvious I’m not the one saying it’s impossible to open an account 😀Jim *******
@Greg **********
No, you can do nothing with that visa only. Forget what people here tell you.Anna *********
@Jim ******
cos everyone else is wrong even those who opens bank account last Friday with this exact visa 🤣🤣Max *************
@Anna ********
You must be a rookie. Do you have any idea how many bank branches there are in Thailand? Of course there will be people able to open an account when on a 90 days non-O visa.But not everywhere. Get it?Anna *********
@Max ************
then why do random people keep saying it can’t be done at all They are the rookies and you are a dillGreg ***********
@Anna ********
The prerequisite for opening a Thai bank account is usually *** an entry on a Non-Imm visa class
**** a Thai telephone number
*** and a residence certificate issued by the immigration authorities.
The residence certificate can only be obtained on the Immigration where you are registered as a resident via the TM30
Different banks in different places may ask for different requirements. The above is just the play by the book.
However, since many bank employees are incompetent regarding the handling of an account opening for a foreigner, so they will pull out of their nose random requirements, in order to get rid of you. Along with a “face saving” wide smile
Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Max *************
@Greg **********
Fyi,a lot of people arriving on a 90 days non-O have lately been denied opening bank accounts. The reason is the fact that a 90 days non-O isn't a long term visa.This is a catch-22 for a lot of people.Greg ***********
@Max ************
The only change by February 2025 was, that you can't open a bank account any more on a touristic entry. If you enter on a Non-Imm visa class, have a Thai mobile phone number and a certificate of residence from Immigration, you can get a bank account opened.
The whincing you hear is from people on Non-Imm-visa who try to open a bank account by themselves.
Many bank clerks have no idea what they need to do for a foreigner, and in order to "save face", they pull out of their noses all kinds of reasons why it would be not possible.
You should have employed agents in the first place.
Almost every agent in Pattaya can get a bank account opened for anyone having entered Thailand on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa or on any other Non-Imm visa class.
Exception: not with the Bangkok Bank, but with most of the other Thai banks.
The price in Pattaya is around 5000 THB. The only pre-requisite is to have arrived on a Non-Imm-visa class, having a Thai phone number and holding a "certificate of residence" from Immigration. Almost every agent in Pattaya can do it, and YES, they still can do it
And since everybody seems to be whincing how difficult it is to get the bank account opened, even when somebody has the correct Non-Imm-visa class and the certificate of residence and the Thai mobile phone number, all it takes is to pay 5000 THB to an agent to get a bank account opened on the same day. I know an agent in Pattaya who is opening half a dozen of bank accounts every other day
Max *************
@Greg **********
The "normal" way to open an account is by doing it yourself,not by using an agent. The resident certificate that earlier was a door opener at most Bangkok Bank branches is not usable anymore in many branches. How do I know? I asked customer service at my branch in Jomtien in March this year when I opened/extended my FDA. She said no,not anymore. And again, many branches don't consider a 90 days non-O visa to be a long term visa. How hard is this to understand? I have been around many years and I've never used an agent for anything and never will. Period!Greg ***********
@Max ************
you are not in the position to declare anything "normal" and "not normal". You are not in the position to tell us what to do and how to do it! . . . . . . . In Thailand there are THREE ways to regulate things: the official way, the backdoor way and the money way. I have lived in Thailand long enough to have seen all three ways working.Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Max ************
it is EXACTLY same visa HIGH FEE agents use to open accounts at their friend's bank. It's called a non O retirement visa. After 800k sits in new account 2 months the one year extension is available at (shock) only 1900 baht. Lucky for us many agents available to navigate those pesky obstructions for only ten times the price?Max *************
@David ******
This is not about using agents. It's about doing it yourself. Many branches don't consider a 90 days non-O visa to be a long term visa. Thats the major problem at the moment. Get it?Greg ***********
@Max ************
You are still spreading wrong info, day by day, hour by hour. It is becoming ridiculous eventually.A Non-Imm visa class is sufficient to get a bank account opened.
It doesn't matter that you THINK it is not a "long term visa".
It actually is the beginning of a "long term stay".
Nobody wants to know your opinion about it, your opinion is totally irrelevant. The only relevance is that a Non-Imm Visa Class is the first KEY to get a bank account opened
What incompetent bank staff is doing, this is a completely different matter. They love to pull out of their noses random requirements, and are grinning from one ear to the other if a foreigner believes them. The famous “face saving smile”
Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
David *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
that was the price before rules changed for those with a 60 day stamp. The non O 90 day retirement is supposed to be guaranteed. That's its purpose to open bank account deposit 800k and then extend by one year. They create rule then change them...then block everything to force honest people into the hands of the corruptGreg ***********
@David ******
the only change was, that you can't open a bank account any more on a touristic entry. If you enter on a Non-Imm visa class, have a Thai mobile phone number and a certificate of residence from Immigration, you can get a bank account opened. The whincing you hear is from people on Non-Imm-visa who try to open a bank account by themselves. Many bank clerks have no idea what they need to do for a foreigner, and in order to "save face", they pull out of their noses all kinds of reasons why it would be not possible.You should have employed agents in the first place .
Almost every agent in Pattaya can get a bank account opened for anyone having entered Thailand on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa or on any other Non-Imm visa class.
Exception: not with the Bangkok Bank, but with most of the other Thai banks.
The price in Pattaya is around 5000 THB. The only pre-requisite is to have arrived on a Non-Imm-visa class, having a Thai phone number and holding a "certificate of residence" from Immigration. Almost every agent in Pattaya can do it, and YES, they still can do it
And since everybody seems to be whincing how difficult it is to get the bank account opened, even when somebody has the correct Non-Imm-visa class and the certificate of residence and the Thai mobile phone number, all it takes is to pay 5000 THB to an agent to get a bank account opened on the same day. I know an agent in Pattaya who is opening a dozen of bank accounts every day
Tony *****
@David ******
the reason for all of the rules change is due to corruption. A couple of weeks ago some bank workers got busted opening fake accounts for Chinese money laundering. Since then everything has changed. This in the last two weeks alone. I’ve just been through this. I spent 4 days trying to open an account. Unless was either married or had what’s called a yellow house book I was refused by both Kasikorn and Siam Commercial Bank. Thai was in the Phetchabun/phitsanulok areas. It seems in places like Pattaya it’s still easier to open an account.
The staff at SCB told me that the week before there were staff meetings where they were informed NOT to open accounts for foreigners. I’ll reiterate though that was in the areas I tried.
I finally managed to open an account with Krungthai Bank without any hassle.
When you get closer to coming I suspect things will have settled more. Understandably the banks are waiting for Government fallout on this before deciding on what to do.
This group can be excellent for up to date advice. My advice is seek up to date advice just before you leave the U.K. on the current state of affairs.
But an agent at the moment is a good way to proceed.
Brandon ************
@Tony ****
Corruption has nothing to do with it. The reason all of this is happening is because a new law came into effect that requires banks to be responsible for all fraud and scams. They are not willing to lose any money, so now they are doing everything in their power to limit their liability. Hence all the trouble people are having now. The big Bangkok Bank thing in Pattaya was just a coincidence.Tony *****
@Brandon ***********
I’m just relaying what the bank staff said to us at both Kasikorn and SCB and the reason they were informed not to open accounts in that area. Fraud/corruption a play on words but the same thing. The corrupt staff were opening accounts to allow fraud. That was the exact incident referred to us by those banks we visited. Hope that clears up my commentDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
tens of billions of thai baht loaned TO thr banks practically free of charge (i.e. the deposits of those dumb farangs) loaned out by the banks to thai individuals and businesses at 6 to 10% interest. All coincidence? Such nice people? A monumental scam!Greg ***********
@David ******
the 800,000 THB deposit is a requirement from Thai Immigration, it is not a requirement from the banks. This deposit is meant to ensure that a foreigner doesn't fall into an abyys should he require hospital care, it is to ensure a financial security in case of emergencyDavid *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
if that was it's real reason a reasonable amount of interest would accrue. Not convinced. Clearly thai government benefits thai banks who in turn benefit thai elites.Brandon ************
@David ******
Umm. You do know that's how banks work around the entire world, right?Reply to
Brandon ************
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