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What are the requirements and options for obtaining a Thai bank account and a marriage visa extension as an expat?
Non-O VisaMarriage VisaBank Account RequirementsExtension of StayHousing and Land Ownership for ExpatsHomestay AccommodationSIM Registration
Oct 4, 2025
7 months ago
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTERAs i will be arriving on a Non O in December, i am using an agent in Pattaya to open a bank account. Requires Passport, visa, SIM registered in my name, and hotel booking. (Booked 5 days but said I only need 2-3)
Then return to my wifes village in Buriram and we have booked a homestay for 3 months as we are still looking for land to build s small house.
For the 12 months extension based on marriage, has anyone done something similar to this?
I guess for retirement wisas this kind of option is more common as foreigners cannot own a house but instead only have rental as an option?
Then return to my wifes village in Buriram and we have booked a homestay for 3 months as we are still looking for land to build s small house.
For the 12 months extension based on marriage, has anyone done something similar to this?
I guess for retirement wisas this kind of option is more common as foreigners cannot own a house but instead only have rental as an option?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user plans to arrive in Thailand on a Non-O visa in December and is opening a bank account with an agent in Pattaya, needing a passport, visa, registered SIM, and hotel booking. They're concerned about obtaining a marriage-based 12-month extension while staying at a homestay in Buriram, as they look for land to build a house. Comments clarify the need to choose between a marriage or retirement visa, bank account opening procedures, and the implications of temporary accommodations on their visa situation.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement 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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Ally ************
If you have applied for the 90-day non-o based on marriage in your home country.. and will be arriving with this already.. then you don't need an agent to open a bank account.
Mike **********
Plus the 800k needs to be there 2 months in advance and i hear now 4 months after or somthing like that. This is why i went DTV way.
Graham ******
@Mike *********
that is just a Bangkok Bank requirement, the Immigration rules are unchangedReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Larry ***************
If there is a snafu with your bank account you're going to have to come all the way back to Pattaya to your home Bank to sort it. Not always but many have had to do just that
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTERWe don;t have a Certificate of Residence and I am really concerned that I have to have the 400k in the bank ASAP. The agent said it is no problem as they do not need it. As we are staying in a hotel and no lease agreement anywhere, other than a Homestay, I can't take the risk of delaying the 2 month maturing period and the threat of overstaying the 90 day Non O. Just panicky but with all the news on banks lately, I have to go for the least risk option. Yep, I'm F. desperate to get out the UK so I don't want to be booking a return flight home. EVER.
Larry ***************
@John ********
if you're dealing with an agent you don't need much at all that's why you pay them their fee to get you through without having to produce a lot of the stuff like the two-month maturing. Or a lease here in Pattaya the people I have sent to my agent have not had to have any of that that was the reason they pay a inflated fee to get it doneReply to
Larry ***************
Reply
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThe point I am making is that is it possible to have a bank account and a SIM card for that matter, registered to a temporary accommodation? Thats what I was referring to when I referenced retirement and not the intention to switch. I am doing to marriage route which is what I am going to London for this Monday to obtain the Non O. I was a bit concerned that when in Thailand, having a Homestay accommodation temporary address would in some way prevent me obtaining certain things which I might need for the 12 month extension (based on marriage). My wife does have a blue book but we demolished her parents house after they both died in a short space of time 2 years ago. It wasn't ft for us to live in so now, as it is just land, we can't take the obligatory photos for the 12 month visa hence we are having to stay in the local Homestay. Sorry a bit of a ramble.... Can't wait to get the F out of the UK so please forgive me 🛫 Roll on December 7th!!
Robert **********
@John ********
I have replied several times to your different posts giving you the same information as others as long as the property owner or hotel or … registers you on a TM 30 that’s fineYou can take the photos at the place you are living at as long as the owner gives you permission
As others have said using an agent to open a bank account invites problems. It is partly due to activities of agents that the issue that are happening now are happening
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert *********
just have to hope now im doing the right thing.Reply to
John *********
Reply
Will ************
@John ********
you cant go to the Embassy in London you MUST APPLY HERE ****************************
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Will ***********
hi Will, i’m actually doing the Non O using an agent. Not expensive and very highly recommended.He is based in London so apologies if I made it sound I was physically going into the embassy!!
Althought the truth is actally I want to kneel in front of the door and beg saying, please, I will do anything, just get me out of the UK ASAP😂
Reply to
John *********
Reply
Graham ******
@John ********
Yes you can do it from any accommodation using your TM30 to get a residence certificate from Immigration.Reply to
Graham ******
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Robert **********
You can do this really easily all by yourself in Buriram. In many cases once you start with an agent you are locked in with them
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert *********
Only using agent for the bank account. We have already been up to Buriram immigration and we will see them as soon as we arrive so we are clear what we need to do.Graham ******
@John ********
Many Pattaya agents can no longer open bank accounts and some of those that can will only do it as part of a package including the Non-O and extension. Having a Non-O probably allows some of these agents to act for you but it can be done yourself without the added expense of agent fees.Reply to
Graham ******
Reply
Robert *****
Marriage visa or Retirement visa. You gotta choose which one you want. Cannot mix and match. You can open a bank account by yourself. No need agent for that. The agent is helpful with the 12 month extension of stay to avoid keeping your money locked up in a Thai bank account.
Graham ******
@Robert ****
800k "locked up" for just over 5 months then 400k for 9 months if planned properlyRobert *****
@Graham *****
why would anybody willingly do that if there was a less expensive alternative ?Graham ******
@Robert ****
to stay legal maybeRobert *****
@Graham *****
there's nothing illegal about using the services of a licensed visa agent.Brandon ************
@Robert ****
there's no such thing as a licensed visa agent.Graham ******
@Robert ****
not having the 800k banked for the required months isRobert *****
@Graham *****
work smarter, not harderGraham ******
@Robert ****
it's smart to be illegal? 555Reply to
Graham ******
Reply
Colin **********
Why open an bank account in Pattaya if you will live somewhere else. You may need to go back to Pattaya if you need account changes or simlar. You dont need an agent.
I built a house with my wife, everything is in her name.
I built a house with my wife, everything is in her name.
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Colin *********
Are you on a 12 months marriage visa Colin? Just wondered whether you had a rented property or hotel / homestay whilst bulding. We are still on the lookout for land so best will in the world, we will be in temporary accommodation for at least 6 months. Which I will have to include as part of the 12 moth mariage extension.Colin **********
@John ********
I am on one now, when we built the house its was well over a decade ago, it was probably a business visa, however, its not important the visa and the property. If i was you I would go for the marriage its more paperwork, but less money tied up. Also rent for 6 months or so and take your time looking for land. Is your wifes hometown Buriam? Is she registered in the family home?Reply to
Colin **********
Reply
Michael ********
What is your question ?
Many people have built houses here, wife can own land and you can lease house to protect yourself or have an usufruct. Research first great book from Building in Thailand group recomend to buy. Also another great group is Residential Construction for Expats Thailand
Many people have built houses here, wife can own land and you can lease house to protect yourself or have an usufruct. Research first great book from Building in Thailand group recomend to buy. Also another great group is Residential Construction for Expats Thailand
Mikkel *******
You seem to have some wires crossed. You talk about visa based on marriage but then also about the "retirement visa" (based on being over 50 years old).
Beware that you cannot mix and match.
Make sure the non o you get is based on marriage if that is your intended route.
For this you need 400K in a Thai bank for your yearly extension. (Plus other various paperwork of course)
If you go the retirement route, you will need 800K for your yearly extension.
If you get the initial non o based on retirement, you cannot get the first extension based on marriage, and vice versa.
Beware that you cannot mix and match.
Make sure the non o you get is based on marriage if that is your intended route.
For this you need 400K in a Thai bank for your yearly extension. (Plus other various paperwork of course)
If you go the retirement route, you will need 800K for your yearly extension.
If you get the initial non o based on retirement, you cannot get the first extension based on marriage, and vice versa.
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mikkel ******
Yes I understand this already. For the Non O in London, that is what the initial 90 day is based on so I need to show Kor 2 and 3 for example.Mikkel *******
@John ********
at least it sounds like you got it right 😂 You just mixed the retirement/marriage thing in your original post, that's why.Just remember that for retirement visa it's irrelevant whether you are married or not, and for the marriage visa it's irrelevant whether you are old enough for a retirement visa or not. They each have their own requirements and they dont mix.
Keith ********
@Mikkel ******
CorrectReply to
Keith ********
Reply
Mikkel *******
@John ********
yes, if you get a non o based on marriage from london, and want to make a yearly extension in Thailand you need to show the marriage certificate (kor ror 3, the rose border one) and an updated marriage document from ampur (kor ror 2). That's if married inside Thailand. If you got married outside Thailand, it would be a kor ror 22.Reply to
Mikkel *******
Reply
Keith ********
@Mikkel ******
sorry yes it is , my government gives my copes of my pensions each year for tax purposes and the Vancouver embassy accepts themGraham ******
@Keith *******
The Canadian Embassy in Bangkok stopped doing the income affidavit earlier this year so that route is not available to you and you must start with the 800k methodKeith ********
My bank also stamped them with signature, also showed 12 months of pension deposits
Mikkel *******
@Keith *******
when you get to the second yearly extension, that is exactly what you need from your Thai bank.Mikkel *******
@Keith *******
that's great for you, but useless for a yearly extension inside Thailand.Reply to
Mikkel *******
Reply
Mikkel *******
@Keith *******
the Vancouver embassy is only able to give out the initial non o. And yes for that, you can use money in your home country. Once in Thailand that will become useless. They cannot issue a yearly extension of stay. Only immigration inside Thailand can do that. And for that you require either the bulk amount in a Thai bank account, or have an embassy willing/able to issue a verified income affidavit. Using monthly transfers in any case is only possible from the second yearly extension. For the first one it's either bulk seasoned amount or embassy verified income. *Edit* ( Your countries embassy in Thailand, not the other way around)So unless you travel in and out, not needing a yearly extension, and only buy single non o from the Thai embassy each time, then what you are suggesting is useless.
Reply to
Mikkel *******
Reply
Keith ********
@Mikkel ******
yes thank you , or the 65 K in your home account each month , with good proof ….. pensionsMikkel *******
@Keith *******
for the first visa and the first extension, you need the full bulk amount in your account. No monthly anything is acceptable.Graham ******
@Mikkel ******
800k for 2 months before applying for the extension and for the first 3 months of the extension then 400k for the rest of the first yearReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Mikkel *******
@Keith *******
if you are from the US or UK or any of the other countries who's embassies no longer provides income affidavits, then you cannot use the 65K for neither the initial visa or the first yearly extension. That could be an option from the second yearly extension onwards, by consistently transferring in, as a foreign transfer, 65K each and every month to your Thai bank account, for at least 12 months before applying for the yearly extension, while also maintaining the 800K for the existing extension.Reply to
Mikkel *******
Reply
Keith ********
Open a bank account yourself it’s easy , is there.no bank close to the home stay ? Open the account there
Alan *****
@Keith *******
yes your right about opening a bank account near homeReply to
Alan *****
Reply
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