What are the experiences and steps for obtaining a residence certificate and applying for a retirement extension in Thailand?

Be aware that Bangkok Bank is in the middle of some kind of policy shift/upheaval. I, and many others in the past few weeks, have tried and failed to open an account there, despite having all paperwork in order. I had success at Kasikorn. Good luck!

I recently opened a bank account on my own after one failed attempt at a mall type Branch I went to a standalone Bank the requirements were a passport indicating on Visa with one year extension. A one-year signed lease. And my passport containing the Visa and stay of extension. I was in and out in 30 minutes to 45 minutes. There was no minimum deposit required and unlimited deposit capability and limited 50,000 withdrawal limits on online use

It’s a lot of paperwork. I was turned away a few times but had no problem when I used an agent to help.

I followed the paperwork given to me by immigration, and all went smoothly, obviously it helped my Thai wife was able to double check everything and speak to AIS, the bank etc etc

Learn Thai it Makes life so much easier

Go to the bank prepared. Have copies of all needed documents neatly in a folder. Residence certificate, passport pages, 1yr lease agreement, etc. Dress somewhat professionally and be respectful. Your goal is to make THEIR job as easy as possible.

Go to your local immigration to get a handout of the requirements for the residency certificate. Open a bank account. Transfer the 800K if on retirement route. Get a handout to the requirements. So easy a monkey could even do it.

Fact is, you can get a Thai bank account opened on ANY Non-Imm visaclass

However, what we get reported is, most bank staff have no idea what to do if the applicant is a foreigner. They will dream up random requirements so they avoid to tell you they don’t know. It’s all about “face saving”

That’s why I suggest before you try that by yourself endlessly without getting any results, let an agent help you.

Moving to a more touristic area also helps -so you should plan to set up residence in Pattaya for a few days

It should cost around 5000 THB to get a bank account opened by an agent, at least that's the price in Pattaya. And they will guarantee the success.

The most basic requirements from banks are:

*** a printed-out Non-Imm-O Visa Type or the Extension of the Stay permit out of it

*** a Thai mobile phone number with a SIM-card registered in the name of the account applicant (receipt from the phone shop)

*** a certificate of residence from Immigration which you can pick up if you are properly registered per TM30 in your accommodation

What you DON’T NEED but maybe can get asked for:

***a yellow housebook

*** a marriage certificate

*** the birth certificate of your grandmother and a few specimen of her ankle hair

*** your drivers licence

*** a health insurance

What you CAN’T DO:

*** there is no bank account opening possible for people on touristic visa (DTV included) or visa-exempt entries

Good Luck, go ahead, book an agent service, and by the evening you will have a Thai bank account

The following experience was posted a while ago and it confirms exactly what I wrote above!

“Kalasim immigration

Arrived in Thailand 5 days ago, under a Non O visa.

I’m from the UK.

Public holiday in Thailand, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Immigration reopened today Monday morning. I needed a TM30, and Certificate of Residency so I could open a bank account.

I got there at 8.50am, 10 minutes before it opened as I knew it would be busy. I live with my Thai girlfriend in our (hers) house, so difficult to do the TM30 online as not a business or hotel.

She came with me, I was one of the first in the queue all sorted in 20 minutes. The cost was 500 baht. Left with the TM30 stapled to my passport and my certificate of Residency in an envelope.

Could not have been easier, and lovely people.

I then went to get a new SIM card from the AIS shop, then opened a bank account with Kasikorn Bank.

All sorted in 4 hours 😀

Documents required:

***TM30 & Certificate of Residency.

***Passport

***E visa printed copy

***Passport size photo

***My girlfriend’s ID card.

***My girlfriend’s house book.

***Cost 500 baht.

***New sim for my phone.

(I have my own phone number as an e-sim)

Passport only.

Cost, SIM card 100 baht, and 300 Baht a month for a good data plan.

Opening a bank account (Kasikorn Bank):

Passport

Certificate of Residency

Phone with new Sim (so they can upload the app and open the account)

Usual bank questions, home address in UK, what you salary was, new phone number, ect.

Cost was 300 baht. (but I gave 3000 baht cash to put in)

The whole process took 4 hours.

I know I was probably lucky with my timing.

And I know all provinces are different.

And I know it depends on the person.

All that worry for nothing.

Now I wait for 60 days for my funds to season, and apply for my extension.

I hope all who are trying find it as easy as I did."

in case he entered on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, he got stamped in for a 90-days stay permit. On this visa, he is able to get a bank account opened in order to transfer a minimum of equivalent of 800,000 THB onto it - because if he wants the 1-year xtension of the stay permit based on retirement, he needs the proof with a bank letter, that the money sat in the account for 2 months. In case he meets resistance from bank employees, advice him to use an agent