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What are the current requirements for opening a bank account in Thailand for expats on a TR visa?

BankingVisa RegulationsThailandTR VisaOpening Bank AccountsExpat ExperiencesImmigrationFinancial Procedures
Dec 19, 2022
2 years ago
Kay ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tried to help my tenant open a bank account with TR visa , tried :

SCB and TTB inside Silom complex.

BBL and Kbank Suan Phlu , Sathorn.

BBL head office.

BBL and Krungsri Silom.

No luck so far ,All need a letter from embassy or property reservation form (100k). 🤝 just for your information in case you want try those branch.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation discusses the challenges expats face when trying to open bank accounts in Thailand, particularly for those holding a TR visa. Many banks require additional documentation such as a letter from the embassy or a property reservation form. Suggestions include using different branches of the same bank that may have varying requirements and the option of hiring agents to expedite the process. Experiences with specific banks like Bangkok Bank, Krungsri, and SCB are shared, highlighting the evolving regulations and differing practices across branches.
Jack *****
Hi

Can u call me ?

I want to open bank account

0659597233
**********
*****
*****
6 months ago
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Paul *******
Bangkok Bank's head office branch surely makes it straightforward. I opened an account with them years ago and just recently went to get a new debit card. Saw lots of foreigners opening new accounts, some were on tourist visas.
2 years ago
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RV *************
If this is the new rule then as many people as possible need to contact immagration about not being allowed to comply with their requirements.
2 years ago
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George *********
Sukhumvit soi 43, Bangkok bank. Don't look further
2 years ago
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Mauro ********************
Easy question... They don't want your money ..

Why need make big enforce for give money to Thai bank?? 🫣
2 years ago
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Robert **********
@Mauro *******************
 banks are usually hostile to Farangs. The tellers may be polite, but this is what they are taught. I’ve heard that if you don’t have a work permit, they suspect you were working illegally and not paying taxes, and the bank is somehow responsible-plus, if you were American, they have additional paperwork
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Robert *********
I don't think that's the reasoning given so many expats reside in Thailand on retirement visas and not allowed to work in the country.
2 years ago
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Mauro ********************
@Paul ******
 rules is easy for have account bank.

2 choice

1) you are permanent resident

2) you have work permits

Easy right?
2 years ago
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Robert **********
@Mauro *******************
 very few people who are long term here ate permanent residency, thats hard to get. And many of us are retired or not working but still need bank accounts.
2 years ago
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Robert **********
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Winston ********
Just remember one thing..... Branches of the same bank follow their own rules. I tried so many banks when I was BKK but now luck about an easy process. KTB was just across the road but it was a no no. One day I went to the mall at Rama 4, I think and all i needed was to show my passport. One SCB bank just asked me for another id apart from my passport. Luckily I had my Canadian driving license and it was accepted. account opened in few minutes.
2 years ago
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Winston ********
Poonsup Market branch
2 years ago
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Taketo *********
@Winston *******
 which scb branch sir?
2 years ago
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Winston ********
@Taketo *********
 Pathum Thani
2 years ago
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Taketo *********
@Winston *******
 more detail pls. which mall at rama 4 or branch name at which soi? i want try also
2 years ago
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Taketo *********
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VaiAna **********
Opening an Accnt in Chang Mai was super easy for me . I just went to Bangkok Bank , found out what I needed to open an Accnt , went to Immigration , got a letter of residence , paid 500 baht to expedite it , picked up my letter the next and I got a bank Accnt . Super easy . Visa agent offered to do it for me for 10 x the amount but no thanks , I'll do it myself . I was on a tourist visa
2 years ago
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Andy *********
Likewise - Opened account at Bangkok Bank in Chiang Mai with a CoR (Certificate of Residence) from Imm.

About 3 years ago.

Brought to Imm.copy of the TM30 form my hotel uses to register guests with Police or Imm.

(Imm. rules may have changed to get CoR).

Was on Tourist Visa extension with about 10 days left.
2 years ago
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London *****
This was the only thing I ever used an agent for after similarly being refused by many banks. The agent staff accompanied me to Bangkok Bank and it took about 40 mins. Cost was about 5k.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@London ****
What are the agents doing? Bribing bank officials or providing doctored documents?
2 years ago
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London *****
@Paul ******
 I noticed they had provided a "letter of introduction" and a,pretty lady to sit with me at the bank. An hour and dozens of signatures later to Thai docs I had my card and account.

wouldn't surprise me if part of the fee is shared.
2 years ago
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London *****
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VaiAna **********
@London ****
 , visa agent offered to do it for 6000 baht but I said no . I'll try my way and if I'm not successful I'll let you know .
2 years ago
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VaiAna **********
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Gordon *******
@VaiAna *********
 When you say letter of residence, we're you staying in a hotel or your own property?
2 years ago
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VaiAna **********
@Gordon ******
 . I live in Koh Tao and I was in Chang Mai for about 3 months so I got a receipt from the hotel I was staying at as proof . I took the contract with me to Immigration and I got a TM30 .
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
@VaiAna *********
 okay Thanks
2 years ago
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VaiAna **********
@Gordon ******
 , sure I found it easy to open an Accnt in Chang Mai . My friend had an Accnt w Kasikorn bank in Chang Mai and they didn't require a letter from Immigration . I think each bank have their own rules and some require more paperwork and others none . My friend was on a tourist visa from China
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@VaiAna *********
Depends also on nationality. Chinese citizens will find it more difficult than westerners, Japanese or Singaporeans.
2 years ago
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VaiAna **********
@Paul ******
 not true . My friend is Chinese and she opened up an account w Kasikorn in Chang Mai
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@VaiAna *********
I never said that Chinese nationals couldn't open a Thai bank account..what I'm saying is, it might be more complicated for them.
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
@VaiAna *********
 okay Thanks!
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
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Andrew *******
Immigration gave me a form to take to Bangkok Bank and 500 bhat. All done in 5 minutes. No mention about a letter from the embassy.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
@Andrew ******
It's that or a certified copy or certificate of residency from your embassy (some embassies don't issue the latter anymore unfortunately).
2 years ago
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Paul *******
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Ivan ************
"No luck so far ,All need a letter from embassy or property reservation form (100k)."

So get the letter from the embassy? I get most embassies do charge for this but it's not usually that much (US is $50) and this is what you need. If you are outside Bangkok, a Certificate of Residence from immigration is an alternative, between free if you can wait and 500-1,000B if you want it quick. You can get one of these from Bangkok immigration either but only after first 90 day report. Hence why many do the embassy letter.
2 years ago
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Jira ******
Hint----Just bring a Thai friend with you
2 years ago
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Clive *******
To help us were are you based
2 years ago
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Dany *******
Through Siam Legal International agency, I opened my bank account in Bangkok bank without any hassles in just 5 mins. Nothing needed except passport. Not even address proof. Just your hotel address is enough. 5000B though. But very worth IMO.
2 years ago
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Adrian ******
@Eeshwar *****
 yeh keep paying & never do anything your self
2 years ago
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Dany *******
@Adrian *****
 No offence. But there is a proverb called "Work smarter not harder". Instead of wasting hours and days of walking to different banks and branches and getting rejected, I just wanted to spend those time efficiently on my work 🙂
2 years ago
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Adrian ******
@Eeshwar *****
 full of shit comes to mind
2 years ago
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Dany *******
@Adrian *****
 I didn't mean to be offensive. Sorry if it sounded like that. Peace ✌🏻
2 years ago
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Dany *******
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Gordon *******
@Eeshwar *****
 agree
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
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Grant *******
Took me 10 different banks before I got one that would let me, either keep trying or pay an agent
2 years ago
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Taketo *********
@Grant ******
 inbox sir
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
@Grant ******
 Only10 that's good then!
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
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เจสัน ******
Certificate of Residency (sometimes referred to as a letter) from IO based on tenants current TM30 is required. (Same form is used to register or sell a vehicle).

The form is free if you can wait a week or 500THB if you want the document straight away.

Your local IO should be able to assist and advise your tenant of the process.
2 years ago
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Onne ***********
@Jay ********
 not free
2 years ago
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เจสัน ******
Onne De Geest Depending on one's experience it is free if you wait a week for the form to be completed.

Otherwise the IO will "charge 500 THB" to complete on the day of application.

In my experience the IO will not issue a receipt against this "charge"...😉
2 years ago
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เจสัน ******
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Adrian ******
Happy memories of walking into a dozen banks & being told no & that was on a year long O visa. But lost plot with in last branch being told no by a minion & demanded to speak to manager. She came I explained & we did application & cleared by head office 3 days later opened in branch
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
Cue the posts from people saying it's easy to open up bank account in Thailand.

It's not easy at all for a lot of visitors who don't reside here!

Agent charge 3500-4000b

definitely worth considering
2 years ago
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Alistair **********
@Gordon ******
 this, people post their experiences from a few years ago. Things have changed and it's not as easy to open an account.
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
@Alistair *********
 Absolutely I totally agree. That's what I'm saying
2 years ago
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Gordon *******
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Tore *********
But letter from embassy would have been faster no?
2 years ago
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James ***************
I went to Krungsri Bank, Jomtien this morning with my Cambodia partners passport and her Krungsri bank book - she opened an account there 7 years ago on Tourist Visa and is on tourist visa at the moment - i went to enquire about opening a seperate savings account for her and would deposit 500,000 bht - dependant visa rules. Reply - no can do - new rule - need 12 month visa....... What a place 🙏
2 years ago
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Andy *********
@James **************
 try tik tok services Thailand - based in jomtien - sorted me out in in 1 hour on tourist visa
2 years ago
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James ***************
@Andy ********
 - if reasonable price i would consider but i probably will put the 500,000bht in my partners existing account. I wonder how much of a cut the bank member of staff gets from agent...... Might be one of the reason bank staff are refusing because there is a chance they will get a cut when that same customer is forced to use an agent.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@James **************
 just beware if your plan is to use the money for an extension like marriage or retirement, the money must be in an account in your name only.
2 years ago
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James ***************
@Brandon ***********
 - should have said - my partner and her niece are cambodian nationals.
2 years ago
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James ***************
@Brandon ***********
 - this is for a dependant visa. We have adopted (still to be formalised) my partners little 4yr old niece - hoping she will get education visa as she is now enrolled in international school. I can simply transfer the money into my partners existing Krungsri account but thought it wise to have a second account purely for the
*****
0 bht dependant rule. That way no risk of accidently going below the 500,000 bht .
2 years ago
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James ***************
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James ***************
@Andy ********
 - how much ?
2 years ago
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Kay ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James **************
 Pattaya normally 3500Baht, Bangkok 5000Baht for agent price
2 years ago
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Kay ***********
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Chadaporn **************
You should try BBL Thonglor branch.
2 years ago
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Harry ********
UOB, 50,000 bath, 10minutes
2 years ago
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Harry ********
Idid in srinakarin branch, but was told any branch UOB; just 50,000 and leave same for two months
2 years ago
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Jintana **********
@Alistair *********
@Harry *******
 UOB at srinakarin might still work, my friend still lack a few more documents. will update tomorrow again!
2 years ago
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Harry ********
sorry was outside, I opened there last year, may be they changed regulations , no idea
2 years ago
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Jintana **********
@Harry *******
*************************************
this branch? will try tomorrow
2 years ago
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Alistair **********
@Harry *******
 when was this tho? I went to two UOB branches and was told no.
2 years ago
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Jintana **********
@Alistair *********
 my friend have all documents ready, but now they require a non o visa with at least 3 months or more
2 years ago
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Jintana **********
@Alistair *********
 me too, i even asked whether its possible to put a FD and they said no
2 years ago
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Jintana **********
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Jintana **********
@Harry *******
 located in bangkok? if so where please
2 years ago
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Jintana **********
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Russell *******
I opened Bangkok Bank account with just letter of residence from immigration 500 baht .
2 years ago
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Lyndon ************
Bangkok Bank head office.

The letter they want from your embassy is a certified copy of your passport. Easily obtained from your Embassy
2 years ago
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Niklas ***********
You can go to other offices at the same branch, even if it’s the same branch different offices use different rules.
2 years ago
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Noel ********
Bangkok bank between sukhumvit soi 10 and 12. No questions asked.

Say thanks when its done please
2 years ago
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Thoram *******
@Noel *******
 on Sukhumvit road not going to the Soi right ?
2 years ago
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Noel ********
Big one main branch
2 years ago
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Noel ********
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Clive *******
@Noel *******
 bangkok bank most places easy
2 years ago
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Clive *******
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Thoram *******
If urgent some agent can help you to open account just with an address in Thailand and local phone number for the app...5000 b yes is expensive but depends on your needs...
2 years ago
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Kay ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kyrian ****
 that’s true , depends on keep trying or pay to agent for quick and easy opening.
2 years ago
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Colleen *********
@Kay **********
 you are going to need the documentation that the bank asks for. My experience is u won't get it without it. Bangkok bank requirements are standard
2 years ago
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Colleen *********
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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