What is the best way for British expats over 50 to manage banking and visa requirements before moving to Thailand?

Welcome to Thailand..the food here is delicious..and the people are very kind.

Banks have been getting a hard time recently with mule accounts. You need a long term visa and CR to open a bank account. Which is a problem since to get a Non O retirement visa requires 800,000 in the bank for at least 2 months.

Strangely Bangkok Bank seems to be much more strict and wants a separate account just for the 800,000 and they wamt it in for 4 months or the account frozen for 4 months before they will issue the letter to immigration. It's time for my annual extension and it looks like I'm going to Bangkok Bank to open a second account with them tomorrow.

I think you mix up a lot of things.

If you come with a 90 day non 0 retirement visa. Why the hurry to put that money in a Thai bank?

And its not 800.000 and 65.000.

it is 800.000 in the bank.

Or... 65.000 a month income.

Or a combination of both. Calculate as this... For every 1000 bath income you are short. You need bath in a Thai bank account. That money must be there untouched in the last 2 months.

To get a retirement visa or his extension. For immigration, you will need...

* TM30 from the landlord where you rent

* Long term (mostly they ask for a year contract) renting contract.

* They will ask you probably to draw a map of the neighbourhood you live in.

* As you don't have a Thai bank account yet. An embassy AFFIDAVIT. To prove your foreign assets or income.

* Visa application.

* copy of passport and entry stamp or visa stamp.

* Picture without glasses.

* If your landlord isn't know by immigration, you need to apply for the landlord's information by the "DBD" in the basement of the immigration office.

* As much as possible documents to prove your assets or income.

I guess that's all.

I live on the outskirts of BKK. You can rent in this neighborhood easily a condo or apartment for less than 10.000 a month. I pay 8000.

Opening a bank account you need a document of immigration + retirement visa + year contract Renting + ( for some banks even a contract with a telecom company.) easiest is "K-bank"

If you want a rental car or scooter. Bring an international driving licence. A simple British is not sufficient.

I hope this info is useful. If you have more questions. Feel free to pm me.

One advice. It looks complicated. But it is easy. So don't use an agent. They are expensive and not worth the money you spend.

It's best if you apply for the retirement visa from your own Country then you will have no problem opening a bank account here, You can not open one now with just a tourist visa.

No reason you can't get Non-O visas for both trips. Set up your bank account on the first trip and apply for the extension of stay on your second. Money doesn't have to be in your UK bank for any time to get the Non-O but it does need to be in a Thai bank for 2 months before applying for an extension of stay based on retirement. It's pretty easy to do yourself, forget the agent

Talk to Robert Jackson in Bangkok, he's here on Facebook great guy. Visa's and bank accounts.

I am from UK and arrived one week ago on a non o visa. I already have a bank account and now waiting to extend for a year retirement visa. To make sure you are ready , you will need a copy of you E-visa your passports and non o stamp inside and your TM30. ( certificate of residency ) I would recommend that you start with Kasikorn Bank. If you have all the correct paperwork , it's a doddle. I have not used an agent yet Try speaking with the bank and ask their requirements and go from there

The main difficulty in opening a bank acct is to show that you have a permanent residence.

Come on your 90 day Non immigrant O. Get a thai sim card and the paper you need from them to register your phone number with the bank. Take those and open your bank account shortly after arriving in Thailand. Transfer your money.

Traveling while you are trying to get set up may cause you problems because you will get a new tm30 everywhere you stay. Not sure how immigration will look at that.

I was able to do everything within a week including getting my one year extension, but I used an agent. I did bank my own 800k. I was able to get the bank letter quickly because I agreed to freeze the money for 4 months. Hope that helps

Expect being hard to get a bankaccount straight after arriving in Thailand, even for retirement.

Banks in Thailand are like everywhere in the world, interested in having good stable customers, 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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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.

It has never been the intention that DTV visaholders should be in need of a Thai bankaccount.

929?

I found my one year rental on a fb site for rentals in the town I was choosing for my first year. I had my contract in hand when I landed in Thailand.

I messaged you pms me

Many banks require a certificate of residency and a long term lease / ownership to open an account. You will struggle on hotel bookings.

Pffft