ask
Search
Ask
Unanswereda year ago

Is it possible to open a bank account in Thailand on a tourist visa?

Greg ***********
asked Aug 30, 2025
3.6k
views
28
replies
15
likes
Some people seem to attract sheer luck.

He opened an account with Khrungthai Bank last week on a tourist visa, all by himself
Summary so far
The post discusses an individual who claims to have opened a bank account with Khrungthai Bank while on a tourist visa, which has led to skepticism among commenters. Many believe it is unlikely due to strict banking regulations in Thailand that typically require a residence permit for account opening. Various commenters share their doubts and negative experiences related to banking on a tourist visa, suggesting that the original claim may not be accurate.
28 repliesnewest first
13

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Kevin ****
Kevin ****
I doubt this is true.
Pete **********
Pete **********
Highly doubt it.
Max *************
Max *************
And pigs can fly. 😎
David ***********
David ***********
I call BS
Gerg **********
Gerg **********
Pete **********
Pete **********
Facebook troll.
Bob **********
Bob **********
This is a wind up
Marc ********
Marc ********
I think he is lying. 3 years ago when it was very easy opening an account with Bangkok Bank Khrungthai refused telling me only possible with residence permit
Jo **********
Jo **********
@Marc *******
no I also had a friend who just opened an account on visa exempt
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
OP
@Jo *********
if the "just" was last year, YES it was absolutely possible by then 😆
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Jo *********
I don't believe you
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Marc *******
the post said he had to get a residence certificate ;)
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Graham *****
residence certificate is not a permit to stay in the country.😉 They wanted to see a stamp in my passport allowing me to live in Thailand.
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Greg **********
I know and you can go smart alecking around with the people in the bank. I did not come up with it🤡
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
OP
@Marc *******
you cannot be a residence. Only a house, a room, a camping tent our your sleeping bag under a bridge can be a residence 😆😂😄
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Greg **********
you cannot read properly. I said that's what the guy at the bank has told me. I need to be a residence with appropriate visa or work permit. I was on visa exemption so I did not ask anymore questions and just left. You are very stubborn just to argue🤡
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
OP
@Marc *******
Actually, YOU are making things up 😅😆😅 You NEVER EVER had a residency permit. Not on a tourist visa, not on a Non-O visa, and not on a visa exempt entry. Never ever. A "residency permit" looks like this passport. . . . I will leave this discussion now, it is a waste of time trying to teach stubborn and introverted people who are unwilling to learn
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Greg **********
No that was not what they meant. Certificate of residence is very easy to get. Anybody can get it. Without the proper visa they were not going to open an account for me. Even if I provide a certificate of residence. It was not easy at all 3 years ago so today even worse. So you and the guy are just making things up
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
OP
@Marc *******
"and they told me I need to be residence of Thailand" . . . . . "residence", bad English. . . . .

If put into correct English they should have said "you need to be a resident in Thailand and prove it".

Neither YOU nor the bank clerk knew the correct wording, pity for both of you

What they intended to say was, that they need the “certificate of residence” from Immigration.

This certificate is not a “resident permit”. . . . It simply is a proof of address
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Greg **********
Correct I am not native english speaking. I went in the bank and they told me I need to be residence of Thailand. Therefor I didn't question them anymore as I was on visa exemption🤷 So Not sure why you just want contradict me🤡
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
OP
@Marc *******
It was YOU who described the requirements wrongly in the first place!

You wrote:

“it was very easy opening an account with Bangkok Bank Khrungthai refused telling me only possible with residence permit”

And that’s bollocks, because the bank had never asked you for a “residence permit”, other than their staff worded it wrongly

It was then YOU who got lost in translation.

The bank rather asked you for the “certificate of residence” (COR) from your Immigration, and NOT for a “residence permit”

The “COR” is NOT a residence permit - but it was YOU who named it as such in the first place. YOU named it “residence permit” in your own words

Graham Seal was right to remember you that the OP wasn’t asked for a residence permit, but for a residence certificate! A completely different thing!

YOU just are not capable of proper English. Sorry to say, you are confusing matters.

Stick to stirring in the Swiss Cheese Fondue, nothing can go wrong with that
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Greg **********
and why are you telling me this? I know the residence certificate from immigration dosn't allow me to live in Thailand. Maybe you should read first properly before lecturing me
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
OP
@Marc *******
you fell for Immigrations bad English and wrong wording. . . . . You need to be either on the 90-days stay permit out of a Non-Imm-O visa type, or you need to be on a "1-year Extended Stay Permit based on Retirement". You are NOT a permanent resident of Thailand if you have any of the two mentioned stamps. All you got is a "stay permit" for Thailand, but not a "residence permit". The "Wohnsitzbescheinigung" ist just a letter from Immigration certifying that you are living under address XYZ. We call it "certificate of residence" and this is what is needed on most banks to get a bank account opened. . . . . .you could only bypass the "certificate of residence" if you hold a yellow house book and a pink ID-card. . . . . . . A "residence permit" is something else, it is a blue/purple passbook that says "PR-Permament Residency", and the hurdles to jump through in order to get one issued are very high
Marc ********
Marc ********
@Graham *****
Well that's what they have told me. I need to be a residence in order to open a bank account. Bangkok Bank just wanted me to buy insurance from them no other documents was needed
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Marc *******
that is an entry stamp or in country issued visa/extension, nothing to do with residence
Stephan ***********
Stephan ***********
Nah... I highly doubt that it was that easy... Phuket isn't a good place for opening accounts anymore, not without the requested kind of visa. He might have been lucky using an agent... but actually the most agents don't offer this "special" service anymore... 🤔🙄
Jared *********
Jared *********
Which location???
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
OP
@Jared ********
he didn't say

Activity

13 joined
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
13
people
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
...members60% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
What are the requirements and challenges for opening a bank account in Thailand on a NON-O marriage visa?
3.4k21563mo
Can I open a bank account in Thailand on a DTV visa?
2.6k21304mo
What is the experience with obtaining a DTV visa through a Muay Thai program in Thailand?
2.1k655mo
What is the process of opening a bank account in Thailand with a retirement visa?
5.2k35795mo
Can a person with a DTV visa successfully open a bank account in Thailand?
4.4k442410mo
Can you open a bank account in Thailand with a DTV visa?
7.8k68761y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a one-year student visa?
2.1k11231y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a DTV visa?
920541y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a DTV visa?
2.5k19231y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a DTV visa?
4.4k37431y
What are the challenges of opening a bank account in Thailand on a tourist visa?
7541141y
Can I open a bank account in Bangkok with a DTV visa?
2.2k1982y
Can I open a bank account in Bangkok with a Digital Tourist Visa (DTV)?
2.9k20192y
Can you open a bank account and buy a car on a DTV visa in Thailand?
2.5k21142y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a tourist visa?
2.6k11202y
How easy is it to open a bank account in Thailand with a Destination Thailand Visa?
5k42322y
Can you open a bank account in Thailand with a DTV Visa?
1.8k952y
Can you open a bank account in Thailand on a DTV visa?
1k312y
How can I open a bank account in Bangkok on a tourist visa?
4.7k42263y
How can I open a Kasikorn Bank account in Thailand on a tourist visa?
4.9k38203y
How can tourists open a bank account in Thailand, and do they need a guarantor?
3.8k30354y
What are the requirements and recommendations for opening a bank account as a tourist in Bangkok?
2.9k23164y
Can I open a bank account in Chiang Mai with just a tourist visa?
1.1k5104y
What are the challenges and tips for opening a bank account in Thailand on a tourist visa?
2.6k2474y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand using a TR Visa?
4.6k41326y

Resources

Need help with your Thai visa?