What are the requirements for opening a bank account for a guardian visa in Thailand?

Thai visas ED visa Non-O visa guardian visa Thai bank account requirements immigration rules Chiang Mai

Apr 26, 2024

7 months ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Good morning everyone, my son will attend a school in Chiang Mai in August. The school will assist with the application of his ED visa and my wife’s guardian visa. I read that for her guardian visa she needs a Thai bank account and 500,000 THB deposited. My question is does this 500,000 need to be deposited from the very beginning of the application or only when it is extended ? Also can a bank account be opened before the visa is extended to 12 months ?  I read the recent difficulties for opening bank accounts on shorter term visas.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

To apply for a guardian visa in Thailand, the applicant needs to have 500,000 THB deposited in a Thai bank account. This amount must be in the account before applying for the initial 90-day Non-O visa, and for the yearly extension, it needs to be in the account for 30 days prior to the extension application. If applying for the Non-O visa from abroad, the funds are only required when extending the visa locally.

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James ********

What kind of Thai Visa will you be on in Thailand?

7 months ago

Rob *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@James *******

thanks I think I have solved it now. Best is for my wife to get a non O for 3 months online from home then open a bank account after arriving and apply for 12 months extension after depositing the 500,000. Thanks 🙏

7 months ago

James ********

@Rob ******

that's a workable plan.

7 months ago

Reply to

James ********

Ellie *******

It depends on where she applies for her initial Non-O visa based on a parent of a foreign child.

IF she applies for her visa at the local immigration office INSIDE Thailand:

She needs to have funds in a Thai bank account when she applies, means she has to have it in advance.

IF she applies for an initial visa at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in another country: She only needs to have funds in a Thai bank account for a month (for 1st year) when she applies for an extension at the local immigration office, means she can have it just after getting an initial visa.

7 months ago

Tod *********

The funds need to be in the thai bank account in her name only before she applies for the 90 day Non-O visa based on supporting a foreign child legally enrolled in a school on an ED visa here.

They won't accept the application for the 90 day Non-O without the proof of funds too

When you apply for the year extension for the first year the funds need to be in the account for 30 days before the extension application and for every subsequent yearly extension the funds need to be in the account for 3 months before the application

𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀.

That may well be but this isn't the group to discuss opening a bank account in thailand.

Post on a group related to where you will stay in thailand and ask for suggestions because your wife will definitely need a thai bank account in her name only with 500K in it before she can apply for that Non-O

7 months ago

Rob *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

thanks for your advice and quick reply. I am aware the bank account is not a direct visa question but unfortunately it is a critical requirement

7 months ago

Tod *********

@Rob ******

then get out there and start pounding the pavement the second you hit the ground hit bank after bank over and over one after another until you find one that will let her open an account

AND

My advice is you should ALL get at least single entry tourist visas before you come here so that you get stamped in for 60 days.

Remember Chiang Mai takes 15 working days to process in country Non-Imm visa applications and that means you need that much time on your current stamp or you can't apply in country.

Getting a tourist visa will give you 60 days when you land and you can extend that for 30 more at the immigration office. 90 days should be plenty of time to pull off what you're trying to accomplish with your child and wife

7 months ago

Rob *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

thanks. Busy times 😊

7 months ago

Reply to

Rob *******

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