Answered2 years ago
What do I need to open a bank account in Thailand with a non O-A visa?
Hi all, so I now have my non O-A visa and tomorrow I will take my TM 30 to immigration to get a residence certificate. So apart from those, my passport and another ID what else should I expect to need to open a bank account, also which bank is recommended? I am in Karon Beach Phuket. TIA
Answer summary
To open a bank account in Thailand with a non O-A visa, you typically need your passport, visa, and possibly a residence certificate. Some banks may also request a lease agreement or a Thai driving license, but requirements can vary by bank. It's advisable to have a Thai phone number as well. Recommended banks in the area include Kasikorn Bank and SCB, but be aware that banks often prefer customers with a stable, long-term residency status.
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Jesper *******
I opened one with kasikorn with passport (nonO) visa and lease agreement with TM30 didn't need residency cert...and recently with SCB passport (nonO) and thai driving licence (they don't even look at my lease agreement) hope this helps
Graham ******
@Jesper ******
You should name the Immigration Office for this to be of any use to othersCharlie ********
OP@Graham *****
Hi Graham my post is about opening a bank account and @Jesper ******
named the banks. I found his and Peter’s comments above exactly the type of help I was looking for.Jesper *******
@Graham *****
kasikorn at Big C (Onnut)bkk and SCB at lotus (Onnut) not really a farang zoneCharlie ********
OP@Graham *****
it was BKK branches of Kasikorn and SCBGraham ******
@Charlie *******
I meant bank branch not Immigration, sorry, as different branches of the same bank have different requirementsCharlie ********
OP@Jesper ******
thanks Jesper that’s the info I needed , I was asking for other peoples experience , like yours. Can ask which branches they were? What area. Too many people make stuff up or have an uneducated guess.
Jesper *******
@Charlie *******
both are in bkk as I live there and branches in those lotus mallHenrik *****
Depending where you go to the Immigration office, you should have stayed more than 90 days before you are eligible for a residence certificat
Banks in Thailand are like everywhere in the world, interested in having good stable custormers, that have a permanent address, a steady easy traceable income, and use the account all year round.
That is why the banks are reluctant to give accounts to people on short time ( read: tourist ) visas, and who only spend part of the year in Thailand.
Don’t expect to get a residence certificat, until you have stayed at a permanent adress in at least 3 month, since that is what the residence certificat should confirm.
Furthermore the added attention on whitewashing of money, is an added burden on the banks, so reluctant depositing large amounts isn’t a guaranteed way to open an account.
The value of a resident certificat, had gone down, since Immigration Officers are giving them to people that are not on a longterm visa, or have stayed severel months at 1 adress in Thailand, so even if it is a formal requirement, the bank make up their own assesment of the stability of the want-to-be customer.
Be aware there is a error in the start of the article ( and several other copy - paste media with the same article )
A Thai Bankaccount has never been a requirement to get DTV, on the contrary it has been one of the big advantage over other visa, that you could get DTV as long as you could show 500.000 Baht equivalent in any bank anywhere in the world.
Banks in Thailand are like everywhere in the world, interested in having good stable custormers, that have a permanent address, a steady easy traceable income, and use the account all year round.
That is why the banks are reluctant to give accounts to people on short time ( read: tourist ) visas, and who only spend part of the year in Thailand.
Don’t expect to get a residence certificat, until you have stayed at a permanent adress in at least 3 month, since that is what the residence certificat should confirm.
Furthermore the added attention on whitewashing of money, is an added burden on the banks, so reluctant depositing large amounts isn’t a guaranteed way to open an account.
The value of a resident certificat, had gone down, since Immigration Officers are giving them to people that are not on a longterm visa, or have stayed severel months at 1 adress in Thailand, so even if it is a formal requirement, the bank make up their own assesment of the stability of the want-to-be customer.
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77-foreigners-face-new-hurdles-in-opening-thai-bank-accounts/Be aware there is a error in the start of the article ( and several other copy - paste media with the same article )
A Thai Bankaccount has never been a requirement to get DTV, on the contrary it has been one of the big advantage over other visa, that you could get DTV as long as you could show 500.000 Baht equivalent in any bank anywhere in the world.
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929?Charlie ********
OP@Henrik ****
also as stated in my post I have a non O-A visa that’s a 12 month retirement visa granted by Thai Embassy in London so not a short term or a tourist visa.Charlie ********
OPI’ve been coming to Thailand for 6 months a year for 4 years. I’ve had the same Thai address for two years. I don’t get your point or the stupid assumptions you are making. I am asking for people’s experience in opening a bank account not someone’s best guess and misinformation.
Henrik *****
You haven’t yet stayed long enough to be regarded as having a permanent adress.
Compare with banks in your homecountry, they will neither give a bankaccount to someone just arrived in the country.
So it is not unique to Thailand to have those requirements.
Compare with banks in your homecountry, they will neither give a bankaccount to someone just arrived in the country.
So it is not unique to Thailand to have those requirements.
Charlie ********
OP@Henrik ****
is this new? I got two residence certificates 2 years ago on a 30 day visa exemption in order to by motorbikes. Never heard you needed to be on the country longer than 3 months to get a residence cert. In any event that wouldn’t make sense as if you cone into country on a 3 month non 0 you need to open a bank account almost immediately to season your money before the first 12 month extension.Henrik *****
Lot of things change in 2 years.
Some Immigrationoffices, need a 90-day report, before they will issue a residence certificat, which is in line with the original purpose of the residence certificat, which is to confirm you are a RESIDENT, and are having a permanent adress in Thailand, which you can’t be regarded as until you have stayed at least 3 months.
But a residence certificat, will not any longer, help you in any way to get a bankaccount, even when it is stipulated as a requirement.
You need to give evidence that you have a permanent Thai adress on a long lease, before most banks will let you open a account.
Some Immigrationoffices, need a 90-day report, before they will issue a residence certificat, which is in line with the original purpose of the residence certificat, which is to confirm you are a RESIDENT, and are having a permanent adress in Thailand, which you can’t be regarded as until you have stayed at least 3 months.
But a residence certificat, will not any longer, help you in any way to get a bankaccount, even when it is stipulated as a requirement.
You need to give evidence that you have a permanent Thai adress on a long lease, before most banks will let you open a account.
Pete *******
Some require a long term lease, you will need a Thai phone number as well.
Charlie ********
OP@Pete ******
I have a Thai number, had the same one for 4 years. Lease may be a problem but I can cross that bridge if its requested. Is the lease requirement something you have experienced personally? If so which bank was it?Pete *******
@Charlie *******
Bangkok Bank Jomtien but every bank is pretty much branch specific.Charlie ********
OP@Pete ******
thanks
Nicholas ******
Government official..passport..money..you’ll be fine
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