Answereda year ago
What are the options for expats under 50 to open a bank account in Thailand on a DTV?
For those who are here on the DTV and had their bank accounts closed, what are the options to get a new bank account if you are under 50? If they refuse to open new accounts to people on tourist visas (DTV included), is the only option to either get married or simply buy the Elite visa? I cant imagine living here without a bank account so trying to find a solution to this. Buying the elite visa just for a bank account is not a good option.
Answer summary
Expats in Thailand on a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) facing challenges with bank account access have several alternatives to consider. If banks refuse to open new accounts for those on tourist visas, they might have to switch to a long-term visa, such as a student visa or the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa. Some residents manage without a bank account, relying solely on cash. Marriage to a Thai national could facilitate opening a joint account, but it’s essential to verify if this would allow account access for the foreign spouse. In some cases, existing residents have found ways to obtain accounts through joint arrangements with Thai partners. A community member even suggested contacting a facilitator who can assist with opening accounts for a fee, though it involves specific branch requirements.
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Radius ******************
Dm me
Ill give u contact info on someone who can get u a ban at bkk bank , costs 12k baht and u walk away with 500 baht in ur account , but u have to go to Pattaya and ur home branch will be there , only down fall .
Ill give u contact info on someone who can get u a ban at bkk bank , costs 12k baht and u walk away with 500 baht in ur account , but u have to go to Pattaya and ur home branch will be there , only down fall .
Robert **********
OP@Radius *****************
if you can guarantee bank account will be opened, I I pay you the money, AFTER everything checks out and I have everything in place, ok?Radius ******************
@Robert *********
get a life
James ********
@Robert *********
have a Bex and a quiet lay down mate.James ********
@Radius *****************
Sometimes the advice is astounding .Radius ******************
@James *******
meaning?
Ian **********
@Radius *****************
Those are the accounts that are getting frozenRadius ******************
@Ian *********
why ?Ian **********
Radius Pat Riot Jones. They are looking for mule accounts that were illegally opened
Radius ******************
@James *******
I haven't had an issueJames ********
@Radius *****************
12k to open a bank account that could get blocked/ frozen any day...astounding !!Radius ******************
@James *******
my account seems fine
Peter *******
I am married to a Thai national and we needed a that bank account so I had my wife open 2 but I used one in her name and one she used. Until I had my Thai house book and pink id card.
James ********
Just get your girl friend to open a separate ac and you use the card . You can put money in this account from your home ac and bobs your uncle.
Frank *********
@James *******
they don't like you pouring money into it if it is not for them to use
Ron ******
@James *******
So whose phone are you getting the app linked to? My understanding is it can only be one in which case things may becoming somewhat tricky for QR use.
Kim *********
@Ron *****
only 1 phone number for qr as far as I know. They are registered in a central database.James ********
@Ron *****
no I don't think you could go the qr code route. Just use the card to pay most things or withdraw cash with no penalty.
Jesper *******
@James *******
its still possible when your GF opened a bank acct register a Sim under her name and set up the Sim and bank app on your phone.....
Rob ******
So even if expat uses the marriage visa - (non immigrant O type) to a Thai national will not permit a bank account for the expat? Can a joint bank account work in both expat and Thai wife name?
Steve ********
@Rob *****
According to K-Bank any non-O visa is acceptable. However, for reasons known only to themselves, many expats married to Thais try to live in Thailand on a succession of tourist entries. These will not be allowed a bank account, even though they're married
John ********
@Steve *******
Why on earth would anyone get married to a Thai and want to live in Thailand on tourist visas? That would seem very suspicious to me. Hmm🤔🤔🤔, or they are on the fiddle from their home country. Like I believe some Brits, who have not declared to the DWP that they are living in another country and using relatives UK addresses as their place of residence so as to get their UK state pension increase every year, which I don't blame them for, you can live in some countries and get your UK state pension increased annually, but live in other countries and it won't be increased, total discrimination.Steve ********
@John *******
I believe many expats only see their wives for a few months every year. Apparently they're "working elsewhere". It doesn't equate with me. Why get married if you're going to spend more time away from your wife than with her. I get the bit about bank accounts. I know retirees here who live here full time but still get their pensions paid into a UK bank account so they get the annual increasesRob ******
@Steve *******
thanks Steve
Brad ************
@Rob *****
marriage Visa works to open a bank account. Many offices will NOT allow joint accounts. You must first apply for bank account by coming to Thailand on Non O Visa from your home country.Rob ******
@Brad ***********
thank you both
Andi ***********
Many live without a Thai bank account, several options to live in Thailand without a local bank account.
Frank *********
@Andi **********
but not for much longer. With it's digital wallet scheme Thailand is on the forefront of the great reset. Without a coupled bankaccount you will most probably not be able to make any payment in the near future
Gareth ********
@Frank ********
so how will normal tourists be able to visit and spend money in the near future if that’s the case?
Daren ********
@Gareth *******
A tourist can download the tag Thai app and use that. Although many say it doesn't work well.Frank *********
@Gareth *******
that will be another catch 22 situation. But the Agenda does not care about thatAndi ***********
@Frank ********
Yes having an online bank account is important but that is easy enough with a home account or Wise.
Marianne ********
Just live without a bank account?
It's completely possible to do.
Cash is king, after all.
It's completely possible to do.
Cash is king, after all.
Kim *********
@Marianne *******
yeah right - except for all the benefits you have having a bank accountMarianne ********
@Kim ********
sure. But you don't need those.Marianne ********
@Kim ********
All of those are "nice to have" and not required.Does it make it easier? Sure.
But do you need it? No.
Kim *********
@Marianne *******
well - transfer of money - qr bill payments I do that every day - online shopping - lazada - villa market - global house - macro etc - special shops - easy way to pay electricity and net and phone and everything and so on and on and on.Marianne ********
@Kim ********
What in the world wold REQUIRE a bank account when you come here twice a year? I am honestly curious. Please enlighten me.
I lived here for at least 2 years before I got an account. And I still would not need it for anything at all.
Kim *********
@Marianne *******
I most certainly do! You don't know what I need. Even when I came here twice a year and 3 months every time I wouldn't do without my bank account - and now that I live here it's essential.Robert **********
OP@Marianne *******
imagine walking around paying everything in cash in 2025, on top of that paying 4% extra because of exchange rate and bank charges, not very smart is it
Eryk ************
@Robert *********
Imagine walking around in 2025 not knowing there are many ways to solve this issue. As Marianne said, use tools like Revolut or Wise smartly. You can even buy premium accounts for higher withdrawal limits, and you may also get cashback. There's really no need to have a Thai bank account with a DTV visa.
Lynnette *******
@Robert *********
you're basically a tourist with up to 180 days stay. Use your home bank to access your money perhaps. I still use cash wherever I can regardless of it being 2025. Lol.
Todd *********
@Christopher **********
yes and now those cheap fools have learned that being endlessly miserly results in 'getting what you pay for.' It's better to learn from stupid mistakes of others than become one of them
Mark **********
@Christopher **********
well apparently that tiny amount of savings comes with some complications. As it usually does when gaming the system…
Christopher ***********
@Todd ********
Retirement extension holders simply worked out that an annual extension plus a multi entry reentry permit is approx 6,000 baht per annum. Plus, keeping 800,000 baht tied up. Instead, they could get a five year multi entry visa for 10,000 baht with no ongoing savings requirement.Todd *********
@Robert *********
fascinating that anyone was daft enough to believe DTV was a residency visa. What are you thinking?Eryk ************
@Robert *********
But you do realize that having a Thai bank account could cost you quite a lot in transfer fees anyway? You can use tools like Wise to make such transfers (to minimize fees) too, but for what? Just to be able to pay by QR code? It's not that people aren't interested in having a bank account - they simply know it's not worth it. There's a reason why you can't have a bank account with a DTV visa, and that's completely fine.Steve ********
@Robert *********
The fact is DTV holders do not "live" in the country. Immigration and Banks see a tourist, and tourists generally don't "live" in a country. I'm expecting some major changes to DTV in the coming months. It's causing the government more headaches than it's worth. They will go back to pushing Elite and LTR for those who want to stay long-term in ThailandRobert **********
OP@Eryk ***********
fascinating to see people not even interested in having a bank account in the country they live in. Wise can be a good option, but certainly not as convenient as having a thai bank account with qr payments, using app at the atm etc. But each to their ownMarianne ********
@Robert *********
You will be dealing with exchange rates and transfer fees anyway. It's not like that disappears because you have a local bank account.
Use a service like Wise and decrease your fees if you use it smartly.
Gordon *******
@Marianne *******
💯 correctSteve ********
LTR visa is also an option
Robert **********
OP@Steve *******
yeah sadly I dont qualify for that visaSteve ********
@Robert *********
I think that's a major part of the "DTV Problem". The government has realised it's not working the way it was planned and that many are circumnavigating the requirements to get what they perceive as a long term visa - which the DTA isn't. An officer at CW told me a few months ago that the DTV was intended to have a maximum of 180 days in any year, which is why immigration generally won't touch it. I do expect some major changes to the DTV in the next six months, with some very amended restrictions. It's proving to be very unpopular with the government, immigration and the banks
Colleen *******
@Robert *********
thank you. Yes it does look the best. We are looking at three individual visas for our family so we're working out the funds and who needs what. Bloody minefield. 😂Robert **********
OP@Colleen ******
if you quality for the ltr visa just apply for it. Think its the best visa out there, you even pay a lot less taxes with the LTRColleen *******
@Steve *******
this is what scares me about this visa.... I'm think LTR is going to be better long term. Or even retirement non-o. Just not DTV because it's seen as a tourist visa. And we all know how banks feel about tourists 🙈.
Jarek ************
Student visa from university should work fine.
Edgars *********
@Jarek ***********
now they open only for university like 2 years minimum.The language schools don't work anymoreJarek ************
@Edgars ********
friend has it with one year university course.Robert **********
OPahh you are on to something here Jarek, signing up fo thai class one year, get a ED visa, that could work with the bank? I plan on studying thai anyway so this could be an option
Colleen *******
@Robert *********
this is possible. My partner did this and still has the bank account. We're in Europe now but he opened the account with the Ed visa. No problem. 👍
Roberto *********
@Robert *********
It might need to be an ED visa from a university, not a 90-day language school version. It seems the banks are looking for something more "long-term", not just 90 days
Jon *****
Forget the bank account, don't get married
Kim *********
@Jon ****
it's not up to you to advice on getting married - unless you mean don't get married to get a bank account. which you probably didn't.Jon *****
@Kim ********
Keep cool funny man 😃Jon *****
@Kim ********
Well I pity your wife being married with such a boring man 😉Kim *********
@Jon ****
I am 😊 And happily married - which I shouldn't be according to you 😉Steve ********
@Jon ****
Exactly! Even if a person gets married to a Thai, they still won't have access to their money 😆😆😆
Walter *********
@Steve *******
I'm married to a Thai, could not get a bank account!Steve ********
@Walter ********
What visa are you on?Robert **********
OP@Steve *******
but could find some random chick, marry her, get the paperwork, open bank account and get divorced? I can pay her some good money that is also an optionDonald **********
@Antanas ************
Not sure that a lot of ‘Americans’ get irony either! 😂
Antanas *************
@Donald *********
unfortunately I’m not from USA 😊Donald **********
@Antanas ************
the marriage suggestion that was made was not serious. It was irony. Time to get acquainted with Western ‘humour’.Antanas *************
@Donald *********
this is only example not comparable in my home country I could pay around the same because I’m from poor country.Donald **********
@Antanas ************
How much would you pay for a wedding reception in your home country? 100k baht wouldn’t even touch the sides!Antanas *************
Robert Kleinark and marriage in Thailand is not so simple you will spend a lot to prove that you are really married not for a visa, you must do a party in her village so you will pay a minimum 100k THB
Donald **********
@Robert *********
Good luck with that, Einstein.Steve ********
@Robert *********
As soon as you're divorced your non-O visa/extension is null and void, and so too is your bank account
Brandon ************
You either adapt to not having a bank account or you change to a different visa that's more long-term. Those are the only real options at the moment.
Jim **********
@Brandon ***********
if it was doable could a person spend 90 days between Thailand and Malaysia alternating. No need for a retirement visa or bank account just work with visa's. I know Malaysia offers 90 days on entry.
Heb *****
@Jim *********
I did it last year and was told from the Thai immigration officer, he will make a notice and I should go for a long term visa . It always depends on the immigration, right now they're tending to only accept long-term visa . It might work for a while, but not forever.Brandon ************
@Jim *********
probably doable as long as visa exempt stays at 60 days. But not much security in that. A DTV is a much better option.Steve ********
@Jim *********
Probably could for a while, but if a pattern sets in, you could be questioned, but if you're only spending 180 days in Thailand each year, in 2 x 90 day segments, you'll probably get away with itRobert **********
OPI am no Thailand expert but one thing I have learned is that their is always a way, just need to speak to the right person.
Bent *************
@Robert *********
And leave a brown envelope on his table..😂😂Steve ********
@Robert *********
That's a major part of the problem. So many accounts opened by the "right people" has led to the massive freeze of bank accountsSteve ********
@Pete ******
Not a rumour. Impossible to open a bank account on a tourist visa, but can open on a non-immigrant visa. Fact
Pete *******
@Steve *******
don’t spread rumours....
Andy *******
@Christer ****
correct
Christer *****
@Andy ******
The general rule has really been no account on tourist visa all the time.Donald **********
@Andy ******
but not operating under the circumstances in place now, Buddha.Steve ********
@Andy ******
Visa agents don't like the DTV. It has to be obtained online overseas. Agents strength was always in paying bribes to immigration offices. The DTV has totally bypassed these. Rumours are rife that the DTV is going to be totally overhauled and that retirement visa criteria levels will be increased. The government is pushing Elite and LTRAndy *******
@Donald *********
times are always changing but Visa agents have been around way longer than youDonald **********
@Andy ******
subverting the rules have contributed to the problem. When you are investigating big corruption and you find multiple cases of small corruption, do you think it will be ignored? Clearly peoples employment have been terminated and banks have been told get their affairs in order. Like it or not, the times they are a changing!Andy *******
@Steve *******
not Agents, money launderers, to be precise, have caused all the problemsBrandon ************
@Robert *********
most agents are no longer offering bank account services unless you also purchase a non-immigrant visa service from them as a total package. I don't know if any agents that still offer assistance opening bank accounts for people on tourist visas.Originally the banks were telling people that they could open accounts if they were married to a Thai or owned property in Thailand, but I've also read reports that banks are saying that's no longer the case and shutting those accounts as well.
Andi ***********
@Steve *******
Yeah not banks per se request, it is the agent requesting it to open the account with 'their' bank.Donald **********
@Sue *********
Think that’s the whole point. Why would the Thai Government want people ‘retiring’ here, who are <50? The 50 is actually quite generous. Clearly people are seeking something that doesn’t legally exist unless you have the financial requirements.Steve ********
@Sue *********
Or married to a Thai
Sue **********
@Steve *******
but only if you are >50.Steve ********
@Andi **********
It's not a long term lease the banks are looking for, it's a long term visa. If an agent is arranging a 12-month non-O extension, they can also arrange a bank account. However, realistically if a person enters the country with a 90-day non-O, or a 12-month non-OA, they can actually open the bank account themselvesAndi ***********
@Brandon ***********
Some agents offering to open accounts but require a long term lease (min 1 yr) to open the account.Activity
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