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What are the best strategies for opening a bank account in Thailand as an expat on a DTV?
Thai bank accountsVisa requirementsDTVExpat bank account tipsAccount closure risksNon-immigrant visasResidency requirements
Oct 9, 2025
7 months ago
Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHey guys. I want to open a Thai bank account. Can anyone give me advice on what bank to choose. And I also seen something in here about them shutting down accounts is that true if so how do I avoid that happening ? Any help would be greatly appreciated !!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation addresses the challenges expats face when trying to open a Thai bank account, particularly with a Digital Tourist Visa (DTV). Users commonly report that it is difficult, if not impossible, to open an account with a DTV, with many banks rejecting applications based on tourist visa status. There are suggestions to utilize alternative payment options like TrueMoney or Moreta Pay instead. The topic of account shutdowns is also discussed, with unanimous consensus that while a closed account will return funds, the risk of arbitrary closure exists. Some members mention successful experiences with other visa types, such as Non-Immigrant Visa O-A or O-X, which appear to have an easier account opening process.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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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Anonymous ******************
Use wise
Maxime *****
I've been to at least 2 branches of every banks in BKK and all of them rejected me at the second I presented the DTV 😅
Zakhar ***********
Search the group. Chances close to zero for you to open bank account on DTV.
So far only a neighboring country that can open bank account for those on tourist visas and allow use Thai QR (though limited).
So far only a neighboring country that can open bank account for those on tourist visas and allow use Thai QR (though limited).
เอดี *******
Its about time the mods made 'can I open account on a dtv' a sticky. Just my opinion 🤷
DTV ******
Try the bank of sadness and impossible dreams.
Anonymous ******************
With the risk of the account being arbitrarily closed with little to no notice it’s not worth it. Alternatives like TrueMoney, Moreta Pay, and cash work just fine.
Wannikea *********
6 months in the group, use the search tool keywords Thai bank account, there's only about 1000 posts and replies.
Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
your a lovely person not 👌🏽 don’t use FacebookPete *******
@Holly ******
Don’t be lazy and use the search tool as suggested. Suggest also you learn some grammar, “you’re” welcome...Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pete ******
do you get a kick out of being a d*ckhead 👍🏽 get a life you sad old manJac **********
@Pete ******
I think you meant, "Don't be lazy. Use the search tool as suggested. I also suggest you learn some grammar." Amazing how I still understood you were being a turd, even with incorrect grammar.😂💩Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jac *********
thank you so much 🫶🏼Jac **********
@Holly ******
my pleasure! men like that should learn to keep their traps shut <3Reply to
Jac **********
Reply
Tha****
Please search the group.
Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you everyone for your advice and being kind. Dont appreciate the laugh reacts for asking a question mind you. I’m asking because I don’t know.🤷🏽♀️
Luit *****************
My reaction is about you calling people in this group rude, obviously you read it and don't understand it, I will remove it because it is not informational for anyone else than you.
Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luit ****************
You are wrong I can read just fine. People in this group IS rude including yourself, that’s why you removed your previous message it’s quite obvious. Bad days when you can’t ask a DTV question in a DTV group 😂I don’t use Facebook as mentioned multiple times ! so no I didn’t know yous speak about this topic all the time. I don’t spend my days on facebook seeing what a group chat has to say.Reply to
Holly *******
Reply
Tore *********
@Holly ******
granted, some are being needlessly rude. But, this is being asked every day, multiple times day. Do a quick search before asking questions repeated so many times 🙏Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tore ********
I don’t even use Facebook I just remembered I joined a dtv group for help to get my visa so I thought what better place to ask than a DTV groupTore *********
@Holly ******
its great group. Even has a search function and scroll function to see previous posts 😊Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tore ********
Yeah I see that now. ☺️A gentle reminder would have been nice, instead of some of the horrible comments I’ve received. I’m really new to all of this🙏🏼I’ll just use the search bar next time and not even bother asking.Reply to
Holly *******
Reply
Pete *******
@Holly ******
“allowed”Wannikea *********
@Holly ******
I'm so sorry, I ran out of pablum and warm milk, so I made the tough choice to feed you raw meat.Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
what a weird thing to say, maybe too much facebook for you today😂Reply to
Holly *******
Reply
Wannikea *********
@Holly ******
you're asking because you're too lazy to researchHolly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
who exactly do you think you are grow up mate I’m aloud to ask whatever question I want and see if you don’t like it here’s a thought don’t reply 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luit ****************
see if you have a problem mate here’s a thought use some general netiquette and don’t reply 👍🏽👍🏽what a rude bunch of people.Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luit ****************
funny how your previous comment has been deleted and now your trying to twist the narrative😂👌🏽Luit *****************
@Holly ******
You indeed are ALLOWED each question you want, but when you ask a question that is asked several times a day in a group, you can expect reactions you should first look around if your question is asked before, that is just general netiquette.Reply to
Luit *****************
Reply
Holly *******
ORIGINAL POSTERSo if I manage to open one and in theory it gets shut down would I loose the money I have in it ?
Marcopolo ******
@Holly ******
nop the frizze and and. after the tell to Remove you accMr *******************
@Holly ******
no, they'd give it back to you in cashWannikea *********
Reply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
John **********
It's very difficult to open a bank account on a DTV although not impossible. All you can do is go from branch to branch of every bank and hope you find one that will. You'll also need a residence certificate from immigration
Luit *****************
@John *********
How are chances you find one brach you can keep it for a longer time?What use is it to have a bank account you can not rely on?
John **********
@Luit ****************
if you manage to legitimately open the account you should be OKReply to
John **********
Reply
Anonymous ******************
You can't open it on a DTV and if you could, by pure luck, chances are high it I'll be closed.
Stephan ***********
No chance to open an account on a DTV... that time is over...
Claire ********
You won't on a DTV, it's a tourist visa. You can't open one on a tourist visa
Ja *********
@Claire *******
not correctAnonymous ******************
@Claire *******
Yes you can if its is Elite Visa.Nick *******
Anonymous participant 713 elite visa is not a tourist visa 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Tore *********
@Nick ******
elite visa is most definitively a tourist visa…..Nick *******
@Tore ********
maybe it’s just me but surely you can recognise the absurdity of labelling something that lets you stay for 20 years as a ‘tourist visa’. Something that is literally sold and marketed as a residency tool. Even if it is labelled that way somewhere in the background, for some administrative purpose, I am sure you will agree it is not aimed at tourists.Luit *****************
@Nick ******
It is not just you, I think the only reason to call it a tourist visa is to prevent people from having rights to work on it.They are targeting a group with enough money not having to work for a living.
Nick *******
@Luit ****************
Isn't that the same as a retirement visa? I never heard anyone refer to that as a 'tourist' visa. It doesn't make any sense. Given there is an actual tourist visa called, well a 'tourist visa' I don't understand where the reference to the privilege being a tourist visa comes from. It has its own specific set of requirements and restrictions etc.Luit *****************
@Nick ******
retirement visa is not classified as tourist visa, DTV is, Elite also is.The reason why Elite is classified as tourist visa might be to prevent it as a path to permanent residency.
Since Elite has stays of 1 year, and the owners normally have money to spend, banks have no problems for holders to open an account.
Nick *******
@Luit ****************
I can’t find anything that shows what is classified as what? The only thing I can find that is on an official website is here, and it is in its own classification. **********************************************************************
can you point me to something that officially classifies it as a tourist visa? I am genuinely curiousMr *******************
@Nick ******
Elite (now Thailand Privilege) is a tourist visa and they make this very clear to you when you apply, it's the very first line: "Elite Visa is categorized as a Tourist Visa, which does not allow the holder to legally apply for a work permit to work in Thailand"Nick *******
Mr 5 Bank Accounts you are talking nonsense. You cannot work on a retirement visa either. Is that a tourist visa based on your definition. The headline on the official site, in massive, big bold letters (so you should be able to read it!) is "Thailand's most exclusive residency program". But you know that already. Haven't you got anything better to do?
Jef ********
@Nick ******
what an un qualified comment 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣The elite visa doesn’t give you residency it just allows you to stay in Thailand as and exclusive tourist 👌
Mr *******************
@Nick ******
I had an Elite visa myself. What I quoted is literally the first line of the T&Cs they send you when you apply for it. It's marketed as "residence" and it does let you reside in Thailand as much as you like for the duration. But it's legally a tourist visa.From their own site (Milestones): "Released ‘Privilege Entry Visa (PE)–the first exclusive tourist visa."
*****************************************
From Siam Legal (who are an agent for them):
"Because the Thailand Privilege Visa is technically a tourist visa, you cannot work for a Thai company with it, unlike with the LTR Visa."
****************************************************************************
Nick *******
Mr 5 Bank Accounts again its semantics. It is not aimed at tourists. Their language and guidance and benefits are clear. It doesn’t matter. Sorry I said anything - my point wasn’t one of legality, it was who it was aimed at. Bye
Jef ********
Mr 5 Bank Accounts 💯 Mr Nick has no f*cking clue what he is talking about
Nick *******
@Jef *******
more pointless semantics. Maybe you should sue them for calling it a long term residency visa then. Bless you.Jef ********
@Nick ******
awwww is someone upset because they are wrong ?Next time before you shoot your mouth of maybe get your ducks in a row.
As for your last comment about tourist visas not having bank accounts that’s not even the case.
The rules are you must have a long term qualifying visa.
It’s just so happens they group the standard tourist exemption etc and DTV into the same basket.
Simple as this old man, if your visa gives you a 1 year or longer stamp you can open a bank account.
Same deal with
Drivers licenses now, any renewals ( to a 5 year license ) will be determined on what entry stamp you have, if your stamp is greater than a year you will
Renew for a 5 year license , less then 1 year you will
Get a 2 year license
Nick *******
@Jef *******
I am married to a Thai. I have a DTV. Do you think I opened a bank account recently or not? Again you are totally missing the point I was trying to make but that’s probably because you are too busy trying to be a smartarse. Bye.Jef ********
@Nick ******
you literally scolded someone for calling it a tourist visa , in fact you laughed in there face.Yeah I know exactly what you meant.
The Thai elite visa is a tourist visa but it self identifying as a “ somewhat of an LTR” visa.
Don’t be a f*ck wit online mate especially when you are wrong.
Infact if someone calls you out on it , take a minute to go look it up 🙏🏽.before you double down on your nonsense
Nick *******
@Jef *******
ok mate you do you. Personally I think this group is here to help people and the vast majority of people that come do not understand the visas at a high level, let alone the specific, underlying classifications that may exist in the background. Describing something as a tourist visa that is neither aimed at tourists, or described as such in its own marketing material is just not helpful. It is simply confusing to people that are looking for help. I do accept though that it gives people like you the perfect opportunity to try and be clever with the semantics of it. Well done youJef ********
@Nick ******
and you are right , this group is here for the vast majority of people,To answer it easy for the vast majority
DTV = no bank account.
However this is where we differ ,
I have seen you belittle people in other post , this is a public forum, so of if I see someone like you calling out other people in other post, I will for sure pull you up on your nonsense….
See how this works ?
Nick *******
@Jef *******
yep. Likewise. mind you given how quickly you respond it clearly gives you some purpose. GoodnightJef ********
@Nick ******
good night Princess 👸🏻Jef ********
@Nick ******
I don’t need to try and be clever , you my friend are low hanging fruit …….Jef ********
@Nick ******
the bank thing , the rules around it are that you can’t open an account unless your are on a valid long term visa ( meaning you get a 1 year stamp) when they say tourist visa they basically say or group tourists / tourist visa into one basket because of the 60Day exempt etc.
The elite visa isn’t a non o visa,
It’s a tourist visa exact the same as a the DTV only
Difference is you get 1 year stamps, you can stay in Thailand for 5 years straight( up
To 20 years if you want and being as it is a valid long
Term visa for opening a bank you can obviously open a bank.
So I would suggest before you go out making your self look bad for world to see , save your self some embarrassment and educate your self.
Nick *******
@Jef *******
you’re just playing with semantics. You know exactly what I meant. The privilege visa is not for tourists. Their own guide around banking now specifically references tourist visas (with no definition) no longer qualifying for bank accounts, but privilege obviously does. That distinction alone is pretty clear. It’s a pointless discussion anyway so no need to be a patronising d***Jef ********
@Nick ******
the DTV isn’t for tourist either, it’s forDigital nomads etc. call it what you want they are still tourist visas
Luit *****************
@Jef *******
The big difference is DTV is made for 180 days stay with you can extend to 360 days and Elite is for stays of 1 year which can be extended to 20 years without leaving the country once.So compare 360 days to 20 years, which is quite a difference
Jef ********
@Luit ****************
yeah I did mention the differences earlier, but nick still can’t grasp itNick *******
@Jef *******
it’s semantics. You can stay for 5 years with a privilege visa. The language they use, and the guidance they give is not aimed at tourists but people looking for residency. This is a pointless discussion really. Have a great night. ByeJef ********
@Nick ******
you are wrong mate 👌Jef ********
@Nick ******
The Thai Elite Visa, now known as the Thailand Privilege Card, is a long-term Thai tourist visa offering stays of 5 to 20 years for a one-time membership fee, providing exclusive benefits like VIP airport services, personal assistance for immigration tasks, and discounts at resorts and golf clubs, without the income or investment requirements of other Thai long-term visas. It is a multi-entry, hassle-free option for foreigners wanting extended, convenient stays in Thailand, with no requirement to leave the country every 90 daysReply to
Jef ********
Reply
Sean *******
Someone opened an account at Krungthai in Trat a couple of weeks ago.
Shelly *************
@Sean ******
, Hope you are successful, sorry, I can't give you good advice except to keep trying. And, thank for sharing the info. That's part of learning. Also, I'm curious, if the difficulty would be the same for other visas like the O-A or O-XMr *******************
@Shelly ************
there's no issue with non immigrant visas like O-A or O-X, a Thai bank account is even required for extension so it's expected. Just tourist entries and DTV.Shelly *************
Mr 5 Bank Accounts Thank you
Reply to
Shelly *************
Reply
Sean *******
@Shelly ************
I've had a KTB account for 10 years. Opening an account on a Non O is easy.Shelly *************
@Sean ******
Thank you kindly for the your response.I have plan in place to visit in November so I have been doing my research. You know the deal in the east but don't want any drama either in the Asia.🤣.Thanks again Cheers and best regardsReply to
Shelly *************
Reply
Pete *******
@Sean ******
wait a few weeks and they will be posting about them being shutdown.Sean *******
And someone just posted in Udon Thani as well.
Reply to
Sean *******
Reply
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