What documents do you need to open a bank account in Thailand with an exempt tourist visa?

Dec 15, 2021
3 years ago
Hey guys, after trying 4 banks today I finally managed to open a bank account at the yellow Krungsri bank in Silom with an exempt tourist visa, it was necessary: ​​valid passport with tourism stamp, rental contact of the condominium where I live, ID. from the Thai owner of the condominium where he writes that he knows me that I have rented this apartment for a year and it is for the purpose of opening a bank account, and records of the books of the condominium, also my ID of my country of origin and address, as well as address and telephone in thailand ... and at once I opened the. it has 5000 bht. the account must have a minimum balance of 2,000 and must have movements every year ...
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user successfully opened a bank account at Krungsri Bank in Silom using an exempt tourist visa. The required documents included a valid passport with a tourism stamp, a rental contract for their condominium, an ID from the Thai owner confirming their tenancy, condominium records, their country ID, and a Thai address with phone number. The account requires a minimum balance of 2,000 baht and must have annual transactions. The discussion includes inquiries about account fees, maintenance, and other personal experiences with banking in Thailand.
Thoram *******
Which brand office in Silom ?
Salvador *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Peter ****
Mervin *******
Hello all, you can open same day at Bangkok Bangkok across from Terminal 21 ( Bangkok ) no minimum needed : tourist visa and no lease : I have had my account for over a year : I’m american : I used a lawyer firm also located on Sukhumvit : please dm for lawyers office contact : I don’t want to just openly relay the relationship . The lawyers prepared all papers : I believe as remember the fee wasn’t more than 5000baht.
Thoram *******
@Mervin ******
I don't mind to pay 5000 b for open a bank account..bcz I don't have fix address and in Thailand at the moment
Sam ********
Congrats. I had Zero success with a tourist Visa.
John-Paul ******
Bkk bank... took me 15 mins.
Gordon *******
How, please tell us when everyone has problems
Gordon *******
Already vote Thai girl Wayne, doesn't make any difference!

Agency can do it for 4500b
Wayne *********
@Gordon ******
get a thai lady to go and pretend to be wife, new business idea...hire a wife :)
Wayne *********
@Gordon ******
If you have the right paperwork can be very quick and easy, if not still can but its a search for the bank and branch that says yes.
Gordon *******
They all give the same answers

Thai wife,

Work permit,

Letter from Immigration,

letter of residence/accommodation
Tukka *******
Did you need any papers from immigration?
Felix ******************************
@Tukka ******
They needed mountains of paperwork. They already stated that.
Daniel ******
Krungsri is the easiest and the best Bank in Thailand
Munee ****
@Anton ******
reference
Curtis *******
What is an "exempt tourist visa"?
Nick **********
@Curtis ********************
"(tourist) visa exemption" is the correct wording. For tourists from certain countries who can get a permission to stay stamp on arrival without the need to have a visa.

The (wrong) wording "exempt tourist visa" implies it is a specific visa. But the whole point is that it is not a visa, it is an exemption from visa to come and stay for a limited time in Thailand for tourism purposes.
Tudchapon ****************
From this promotion you can get 100baht coupon in everymonth by collect from KMA app.

Actually for now only Krungsri Bank will be top choice with tourist visa.
Gordon *******
How did you manage that?

Been to 5 different banks on 30 day visa exempt

They've refused saying

1 You need Thai wife

2 Work permit visa or

3 Retirement visa

Hence I'm always suspicious of people who say it's easy, no problem etc
Chris ********
@Gordon ******
went to 5 banks in Ubon on 60 day tourist visa. Wanted marriage certificate or work permit or letter from embassy or retirement stamp in passport. Kept reminding myself to smile, maybe I'll be lucky next time 🙂
Gordon *******
@Chris *******
Crazy Chris isn't it, the difficulty involved
Ken ********
Use wise app to transfer money into Thailand
Rob **********
@Ken *******
yes Wise are good, with very competitive rates, but have a ceiling cap with a maximum transfer of 2 million Baht. I use my Citibank account and transfer to my Bangkok bank FCD account, no limit and no fees.
Ken ********
@Rob *********
never had the inclination to transfer
*****
00 baht in one hit
Martin **********
Krungsri has a very good currency exchange rate. Maybe the best. On top you can take 50.000 with a visa or mastercard in 24h. I am with Kasikorn very happy, very good app. But they didn't allow me to open a second account. Everything is smooth so far.

With Bkk bank I had different trouble, friends of me too.
Mah **********
Martin Kehrwald just curious, what were the problems your friends faced with Bangkok Bank? Cos I'm planning to open an account too.
Nick ************
Much the same as my experience with Krungsri. Dont forget to adjust the minimum transaction and withdrawl amount to suit you. Mine was set at
*****
baht and I couldn't figure out why I could not make a purchase for
*****
baht. I set mine to 1000 baht now to reduce the chance of fraud and adjust as necessary using the app which works well.
Min *****
Can you wire large lump sum from foreign bank to this bank? How much is the wiring fee?
David ***********
@Min ****
I’ll send you the bank details to wire too
Jimmy ******
I agree. wise has been the most cost efficient way
Garrett ***********
@M**
It's normally cheaper to use a 3rd party company like Wise or Dee money to transfer between bank accounts. A wire transfer costs money on both ends and normally the exchange rate the bank gives you is subpar to Wise.
Nick ************
@Min ****
cheapest way us to use UK credit card that does not charge for foreign purchases and transfer through Wise. Instant transfer, literally 5 seconds!
James *******
Isn't that the point of it?
Mark *********
Where
Niclas ***********
I had to buy an insurance I couldn't use with Bangkok Bank 😅
Felix ******************************
Deffinitely doesn't seem worth it.
Wayne *********
@Rupert ********
maybe for someone who only visits 1 time a year maybe 2. But for some like myself who comes very often it's worth it. So easy to buy things with scan and pay no atm fee,s etc.
Adrián ******************
Hey, they give you internet access to the bank account or to the app? I opened 2 years ago the same account but they don’t give me the access from internet. They said that there’s no internet access for this type of bank accounts.
Salvador *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Adrián *****************
yes I have access internet
Adrián ******************
@Salvador ******************
nice!! I will go to my branch again to get it. Thanks!
Brandon ************
@Adrián *****************
make sure you bring your passport and bank book
Phillip ********
I've got 2 bank acts bbk and kasikorn, both opened no drama,s
Phillip ********
Cause im The ONE :)
Lindsay *********
@Phillip *******
favouritism always given to Structures
Maya *******
I just transferred money to my account via app called neema

At very good rate

Because in arrival can't change money sibuts better to use the Thai bank card atm
Maya *******
I have kasikorn green bank

Its very useful
Salvador *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have understood. which is very important. I would say determining. have an id and review of a thai. And if he is the owner of the apartment you rent, it is better!
Gordon *******
Been to Banks with Thai girl, no difference whatsoever in my cases in Pattaya
Brandon ************
@Salvador ******************
definitely suggest going with a Thai friend or associate if trying to open a bank account. It helps a lot!
Salvador *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
definitely yes!
Wayne *********
Had an account for years now on exempt. I transfer amount each month from Australia keeps it topped up for when I am there. Arrived December after 23 months away it is looking very healthy account:)
Salvador *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wayne ********
exactly..
Min *****
Do you need to pay a account Maintanence fee or ATM fee to keep this Thai bank account open?
Carsten ************
@Min ****
no maintannence fee, but you usually have to choose from one of their cards with differnt privileges, starting from about 200,-thb per year.
Salvador *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Min ****
just 400 bht first year and later free
Fernando ********
Thanks for sharing.

Do you really have to make movements every year?

It is my undertanding that as long as you have 2k thb in it you are good. I have an account there years ago, but no card. Believe its still there 😬
Salvador *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Fernando *******
of course.. 2,000 bht minimum, I pay 400 bht for debit card
Carsten ************
What means "it has 5000,-thb"? The account is always for free and you only have to pay for the card for the first year. You have to make a deposit only.
Salvador *******************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Carsten ***********
I opened the account with 5,000 baht.
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