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What are the requirements for opening a Thai bank account with a Non-O visa?

Dec 14, 2025

18 hours ago

USA arrived Bangkok on 90 day non-imm O visa December 4. Over 50 and intend to retire here. Decided to go to open bank account today. Went to Bang kaput mall, 3 different banks. Kbank, krungsri and Bangkok bank. All 3 had different rules and requirements. None allowed me to open account. I supplied passport, 90 day Non-O visa hard , copy, invoice of Condo I’m renting, TM30 and prepared to transfer 800,000 baht. No good. Lease contract needed. Bangkok bank wanted a lease contract of at least 6 months. Ongoing theme was they wanted the visa in the passport stamped as retirement visa. My visa was stamped and in writing on the visa stamp was “Evisa” and “non-O” with the date set for March 3, 2026. 

Any suggestions on where or what else I need to do to open an account? I will not be using an illegal agency. 

Thanks!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The original poster is a U.S. expat in Thailand on a 90-day Non-O visa seeking to open a bank account. They faced difficulties as banks required a lease contract of at least 6 months and a retirement visa stamp, which the poster did not have. Comments from the community suggest obtaining a residency certificate from the immigration office, using a registered Thai SIM, and, in some cases, seeking assistance from agents to help navigate the requirements. Several commenters share their own experiences and offer potential solutions.

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Bob **********

Get a resident certificate and I’d only consider Kasikorn best for transferring with Wise from the US

9 hours ago

Jason ***********

Your print out of your retirement visa with barcode? Did you bring that and damn my 6 month lease ended on dec1. I got a metv visa and didn't use my lease agreement because I applied on the 3rd. Sounds crazy but if you had your E visa print out, and a fresh 6 month lease do you think they would of approved it?

10 hours ago

Jack *****

A lease or certificate of residence is required.

COR obtained from immigration office.

10 hours ago

Nongnuch ********

visit F.S. Consulting Co in Pattaya, for 5000 THB they will get a bank account opened for you within two days. With Kasikorn Bank. EVERYTHING legal, as you have the correct 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa, which is one pre-requisite, and the other requirement is a Thai SIM card registered on your name and passport number

11 hours ago

Jo **********

did you go to SCB?

11 hours ago

Max **********

Visa agent !!!!

11 hours ago

John ******

Is quite Claire easy to understand. If you have a lease contract of one month you can expect that the bank believes that you are going to be short time in thailand. That is not a real customer

12 hours ago

John **********

You need to go to immigration and get a residence certificate, then you need to get a Thai SIM registered against your passport (get a receipt) then go visit a bank.

13 hours ago

Chance ********

Here in chiang Mai I have the same issue. I will try again next year, I was unable to get the bank account and have to leave the country. It's a vicious circle but I think I will have everything they want next year.

13 hours ago

Gregory *********

I got a proof of residency from local immigration themselves for opening a bank account and have no lease and opened the account. I had to come back after 7 days to the same immi office to collect the proof of residence and it was free. Opened at kasikorn bank. I visited the bank before that and spoke by phone to someone who spoke english. So tm30, proof of residency, passport copies and they opened up an account with 1000 baht deposit.

13 hours ago

Ian ********

I found small branches easier to deal with.

and I wrote my own rental agreement and signed it for both parties. 🤐🤐🤐

14 hours ago

Bob ********

Thai Visa Center in Bangkok, I did same came here July, certificate of residency was required by K bank, lease agreement by yellow,, 3 day turn around on the retirement visa stamp multiple entries

*****

THB

14 hours ago

Martin *********

Use a agent

15 hours ago

Patrick **********

I’m arriving Jan 5 on a non o visa . Is the issue that you don’t have at least a 6 month lease ? Or your visa wasn’t stamp with retirement ? I plan to obtain 12 month lease . Or both ?

15 hours ago

Raymond *********

Go to Immigration office and request à letter from them confirming your Non-O and ask them where it would be easiest to open your bank account. The letter cost me 500 thb and one hour later my bank account was open

16 hours ago

Reply to

Raymond *********

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What are the requirements for opening a bank account in Thailand with a Non-O visa?

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