ask
Search
Ask
Answereda year ago

What are the steps for opening a bank account in Thailand as an expat on a Non-O visa?

Richard **********
asked Oct 9, 2025
6.3k
views
43
replies
8
likes
Ok. I got it. My non o. Will be in bangkok on the 18th. Not worried about tm30 . Looking for sum advice on a good bank to park my baht in and how I should go about doing it. From US and use BOA. Looking to land smooth.
Answer summary
The user plans to arrive in Bangkok on a NON-O visa and is looking for advice on banks to store their currency. Community members suggest opening an account at Kasikorn Bank or SCB, while warning against Bangkok Bank. They recommend bringing essential documents, such as a lease agreement, passport, and possibly a certificate of residence, though requirements may vary by branch.
43 repliesnewest first
20

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Jo **********
Jo **********
SCB
Tom ********
Tom ********
Krungsri (yellow Bank) is good and they have larger ATM withdrawal capability, Avoid Bangkok Bank.
Peter **********
Peter **********
@Tom *******
I believe Krungsri doesn’t accept incoming international transfers above 50,000 baht.

SCB is max 1.5 mln thb.

Kasikorn is max 2 mln thb.
Richard **********
Richard **********
OP
Best way to move money into bank?
Donald **********
Donald **********
@Richard *********
- Swift/BACS from own bank, Wise, Revolut, Remitly, XE? Check who’ll do the best overall rate taking into account fees, exchange rate and introductory offers. Receiving bank might have fees too.
Mike **********
Mike **********
Dont forget to fill out the TDC 72 hours prior to
John ********
John ********
@Mike *********
I did mine at the airport before I went through customs. Took about 10 minutes. I've done it twice now. Dead easy.
Peter **********
Peter **********
@John *******
Exactly. Approximately 71 hours and 50 minutes LATER than 72 hours before arrival. 🤣🤣🤣
John ********
John ********
@Peter *********
Not when I came back last week but being not real flash on a computer I was able to get through it. Last time there were 3 or 4 great ladies to help if you need it.
Peter **********
Peter **********
@John *******
Yep. Do they still offer assistance at the terminals?
John ********
John ********
@Peter *********
There are computers set up at bottom of the ramp. About 6 of them. You just walk up to one of them and it is already on the first page. And it's within 72 hours of arrival.
Supreedee *****************************
Supreedee *****************************
@Mike *********
can we do 24 hours before? Seem stupid question sorry.
Peter **********
Peter **********
@Supreedee ****************************
Yes. Not earlier than 72 hours before arrival.

You can even do it at the available terminals at the airport!
Peter **********
Peter **********
@Kim ********
That’s fine. Your skull is too thick to catch that anyway.

I hope my explanations, confirmed by many others here, have taught you something. Then at least I made a small contribution to the world.

And maybe, just maybe…. some day far far away… you might see the light. I hope for your sake, and for the sake of those that need to bear your presence, that this day will come soon. I wish you well.
Kim *********
Kim *********
@Peter *********
. Your stupid insults I don't care about.
Peter **********
Peter **********
@Kim ********
Damn, do you have a thick skull!

Imagine someone arrives on the 20th.

72 hours before the 20th it’s the 17th.

You can not fill out the TDAC *EARLIER* than the 17th.

You can not fill out the TDAC *EARLIER* than 72 hours before the 20th.

You can not fill out the TDAC *EARLIER* than 72 hours before arrival.

You are a programmer? How many morons did it take to debug your stupid mistakes???? Geez!!!
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Kim ********
Peter"s grasp of English is correct. You are wrong. "not earlier than 72 hours before arrival" means exactly what you should do: if you filled out the TDAC as "early" as 94 hours, 80 hours, 75 hours etc. etc. before arrival, the TDAC system won't accept it. That's why the TDAC should not be filled out "earlier than 72 hours before arrival". And of course you also can fill out the TDAC "later than 72 hours before arrival", which would mean any time between 0 and 72 hours before arrival . . your problem seems to arise from ignoring the negation
Kim *********
Kim *********
@Peter *********
your arrogance is overwhelming 😂 not earlier than 72 hours before arrival means later than 72 hours before arrival - which could be for example 3 months before arrival - and that's not what you mean. So it is in fact within 72 hours before arrival and no - your language was not perfect since you wrote the opposite of what you meant.
Mike **********
Mike **********
@Peter *********
this is correct.
Peter **********
Peter **********
@Kim ********
I meant what I wrote and my language was perfect.

“Not earlier than 72 hours before arrival” means exactly “During the last three days before arrival”. Not earlier, so not 3.5 days before arrival.

If you don’t know the meaning of the word “earlier” I suggest you take some lessons of English language.

Don’t you tell me erroneously what I meant. I wrote exactly and precisely what I meant and it is the correct wording.

It *must* be later than 72 before arrival. You can even fill it out 12 seconds before arrival, which is 71 hours, 59 minutes and 48 seconds LATER than 72 hours before arrival.

Next time when your arrogance tells you to correct someone at least assure that you are right because otherwise it might make you look really stupid! 🤣
Kim *********
Kim *********
@Peter *********
not earlier than 72 hours before arrival you say which means later than 72 hours before arrival which is wrong. You meant not later than 72 hours before arrival. Can be filled at arrival and up to 72 hours before that.
Richard **********
Richard **********
OP
@Mike *********
thank you. I won't forget
John ********
John ********
@Richard *********
You can do it at the bottom of the ramp before you go through customs. To easy.
John ********
John ********
@Mike *********
Yeah. Just don't be in a hurry. I forgot to mention that.
Mike **********
Mike **********
@John *******
or on your phone where there isnt any lines.
Mark ***********
Mark ***********
Kasikorn didn’t ask me for certificate of residence this morning when I opened account on my non-o retirement visa with lease, but every branch and teller can be different. You might go to a bank or two and ask for requirements.
Jesper *******
Jesper *******
Kasikorn OR SCB avoid bkk bank....you will need lease agreement/ residency cert passport(nonO) and thai phone number registered under your name
Simon *******
Simon *******
Kasikornbank are very good and helpful, DO NOT GO NEAR BANGKOKUP BANK
Charles **********
Charles **********
@Simon ******
curious Why is Bangkok Bank not recommended? I’ve used it for 12 years already and I’ve had no major issues. I only stay in Thailand 2 months each time we go there every year.
Simon *******
Simon *******
@Charles *********
Read the news a out them freezing accounts without notice ,then making people go the original branch they opened up the account even if it was the other end of the country
Steve ********
Steve ********
@Charles *********
It's all connected with bribery and corruption. Those of us who kept our noses clean have been totally unaffected
Steve ********
Steve ********
@Peter ********
So an agent didn't open your account, and you've never been on a tourist visa?
Peter *********
Peter *********
@Steve *******
well I also did the right thing and my account was frozen until I took the same documents I opened the account with only 6 months ago , BTW still got 1M baht in the account
Steve ********
Steve ********
@Peter ********
Actually very true. My Bangkok Bank account has never been frozen, and I've always done the right thing. It's surprising the number of people who have used agents to falsify the 800k lump sum have been suspended.
Peter *********
Peter *********
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Charles *********
seen the Thai news recently?
Behzad ***********
Behzad ***********
I opened an account at Kasikorn bank and they wanted a copy of the rental lease agreement, passport, and a copy of E Visa
Richard **********
Richard **********
OP
Richard **********
Richard **********
OP
Thank you
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
You finished the first step.

Arrive, get settled into where you'll be staying, then go to immigration and order a certificate of residence. Then go to Kasikorn or a bank of your choice (NOT Bangkok Bank) and try to open a bank account. You might need to hit a couple of branches, as the branch managers determines the rules for each branch, so some are better than others).

Once you have the account, it's pretty straightforward from there. Just make sure you can get that done within the first 30 days with your money transferred into your new account for your extension.
14
Sean **********
Sean **********
@Brandon ***********
however, worried or not you will need the TM30 when you go to immigration for the certificate of residence.

If you are staying at a home you may also need a copy of the 1st page of the owners Blue Book and the owner ID card. It is likely you will need a copy of your Thai Cell phone bill that matches the number you are using to open the account.

The suggestions here advising go to the bank first and ask about requirements sounds like good idea to me.
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
@Sean *********
I assumed when the op stated "not worried about tm30" means they already have getting that done figured out.
Sean **********
Sean **********

Activity

20 joined
Richard **********
Richard **********
Richard **********
Richard **********
Richard **********
Richard **********
20
people
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
...members60% approval
Member 1
Member 2
Member 3
Member 4
Member 5
Member 6
Member 7
Member 8

Related

25
What are the recommended banks for opening a Thai bank account for a Non-O Guardian Visa in Phuket?
2.4k17342mo
Which banks in Thailand welcome Non-O retirement visa holders to open bank accounts?
6k241372mo
What do I need to open a Thai bank account for my retirement visa?
2.8k904mo
What are the best agencies or banks for obtaining a DTV visa in Thailand?
1.7k525mo
Which bank is the easiest to open a visa bank account for expats in Thailand?
9.4k781088mo
Which bank should I choose to open an account in Bangkok with a NON-O Visa?
2.1k13299mo
What are the experiences of expats in opening bank accounts in Thailand?
6k51609mo
Which bank is the easiest for expats to open an account in Nonthaburi, Thailand with a Non-O visa?
7.8k635910mo
What is the best foreigner-friendly bank in Koh Samui for opening an account with a Non-Immigrant Guardian visa?
5221310mo
What are the challenges of opening a bank account in Thailand for expats with a spouse who has dementia?
3.2k21451y
Which bank should I approach to open an account in Chiang Mai for my retirement visa?
1.2k5161y
What are some banks in Thailand that are easier to open an account with for expats on a Non-Immigrant Visa?
3.6k35171y
What issues are expats facing with Thai banks regarding account freezes and visa types?
2.9k20301y
Should I use a visa agent for the Non-O retirement visa in Thailand and which bank should I choose in Bangkok?
3.3k31201y
Which bank should I choose to open an account for my retirement visa in Thailand?
8k74601y
What banks in Bangkok are recommended for Americans with a non O visa to open a bank account?
2.3k17151y
Can I open a bank account in Thailand with a retirement visa?
7.4k57432y
What are the requirements for opening a bank account in Thailand to obtain a Marriage Visa?
1.9k12182y
Which bank in Thailand allows you to open an account for transferring money from abroad while on an O visa?
2.5k20122y
What are the best options for opening a bank account in Chiang Rai as a Non-B visa holder?
6.3k61262y
Which bank is best for expats to open an account in Thailand?
7.3k49932y
What are the current requirements for opening a bank account in Thailand for long-term visa applicants?
2.8k21223y
What are the steps to open a bank account in Thailand as an expat?
3.7k33233y
What is the best bank to open an account in Thailand for expats with a work permit?
2.3k16203y
How can I open a bank account in Bangkok without a work permit?
4.9k39464y

Resources

Need help with your retirement visa?