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What is the best way to open a bank account in Thailand on a DTV visa without overpaying for agent services?
Nov 13, 2024
a year ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERCan you recommend any agent in Bangkok that would handle opening Bank Account on DTV visa? I got one offer, but 15k THB is insanely high. DTV = you have money = rip off?
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is seeking recommendations for agents in Bangkok to help open a bank account on a DTV visa. They received an offer of 15k THB, which they find excessive compared to other offers ranging from 5k to 10k THB from various agents, particularly in Pattaya. The conversation reveals frustration among expats regarding high agent fees, perceived scams, and the difficulties of being accepted by banks for account openings due to varying requirements based on their visa status.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted DTV Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Tod *********
Go to Pattaya and try any one of these companies.
Mots
M Thai Visa
Mots
@https://www.facebook*********************
TikTok @https://www.faceboo********************
Maneerat Travel@https://www.facebook.com************************
Farang Thai Visa Pattaya *******************************************************
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*****
*****
*****
M Thai Visa
@https://www.faceb*****************
Patra *******
What country's passport do you have and what type of DTV visa do you have?
Greg ********
@Patra ******
Does it matter?Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Greg ********
Agents seem to be milking this visa. Charging 100 to 150k to obtain it smells too.
Fallon *******
@Greg *******
they really are and it’s disturbingGreg ********
@Fallon ******
They did with ED and Volunteer Visas that ended in tears for many.Fallon *******
@Greg *******
🥲 wowGreg ********
@Fallon ******
The DTV is a great visa and a boon to many who found it hard to stay longer term with some security. There were the ED visas which helped but had restrictions. Then others had to do border bounces in tourist visas and visa exempt with the insecurity they brought. It would be pity if abuse of the DTV by some put it in jeopardy. Maybe I am overly suspicious but the wall of silence and no official announcements by Immigration seems strange. MFA issue it but Immigration have final say over extensions and entries. It probably does need a little tweaking to bring the advantages Thailand wants from it and like anything implemented quickly and without consulting all stakeholders there are risks. Hope it remains because it does offer people a route to longer term stays.Fallon *******
@Greg *******
yeah I agree. I’ve been on the TR and extensions and it’s quite stressful tbh. I started out on a non o volunteer visa and I already have an account. I’m planning to do the Dtv and hopefully it works out well 🤞🏼Greg ********
@Fallon ******
Good luck - it will certainly give you a degree of security.Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Steve ********
@Greg *******
I think agents have realised the DTV has sounded the death knell for non-O retirement visas, and many who previously were paying 25k+ for visa extensions are now switching to DTV, so agents are scrambling to find alternative sources of income and are setting the bank account bar very highGreg ********
@Steve *******
Good point. I have not heard anyone in my social group planning on a change. Only costs us 1900 a year though as no need for an agent. The worry is the change the DTV ie continuing reason to be proved and they change the O Retirement Visa amount without being grandfathered in.Steve ********
@Greg *******
MFA have created a monster with the DTV, and perhaps Immigration need to take a long hard look at the pedantic way they carry on with non-O extensions. People who have lived in Thailand for ten years on non-O still have to go visit immigration every year and take their resume with them to prove they're worthy of another twelve months. It's tantamount to being sent to the headmaster's office in school."You've been a naughty boy". That's how immigration feels to me. Wear long pants, comb your hair, brush your teeth. It's f*cken ridiculous, and hopefully the DTV will change a mindset that's long overdue an overhaulGreg ********
@Steve *******
Agree. My view, and it is only my opinion so worth nothing. Immigration seem to be keeping their powder very dry over this visa. I think some might get surprises down the line. It is why I am not jumping to DTV. I have 7 months left on O and will let that run it's course. I will look at the lay of the land at the time. The Immigration office in Jomtien is less formal than other I hear about. They are so busy they have forced to be efficient. As for the dress of their customers I wince when I look at some of them their. Leo wife beaters and flip flops *****
Steve ********
@Greg *******
Look as far as dress code is concerned I couldn't agree more. I'm from the collared shirt brigade and I don't possess a t-shirt with writing on it, so I do show respect. The point I was making is we pander to immigration because we don't want to send them into meltdown mode, because our extensions are at stake. I can't see why a non-O retirement extension can't be done online, with simple submission of bank statements. Do they really need photos every year? A passport photo suffices for ten years, but a Thai visa extension is one year. Isn't that a tad lopsided? Or a tad pedantic? The DTV should be renamed the BPV, as in By-Pass Visa, as it gives holders a free passage past immigration. I actually wonder if MFA have had a gutful of immigration so have introduced this visa to give foreigners the opportunity to live a peaceful life in ThailandGreg ********
@Steve *******
There are 5 and and 1p year retirement visas you can apply for. Just have higher barriers to entry. I am not going to complain about Thai visas when Thais have no similar reciprocal agreements with our countries. A once a year application is not exactly onerous.Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Romain ****
Go to Pattaya, with
*****
baht you will have the account, the agent, and big budget for nice fun in Pattaya 🤣🤣Tore *********
You need some other reason in addition to the DTV Visa. In my case ongoing medical treatment was the approval reason.
I got approved first try, paid 500 baht that was then deposited into my account.
I got approved first try, paid 500 baht that was then deposited into my account.
David ********
@Tore ********
l didn't have an issue also. Can you explain how you approached the bank? What paperwork was required? Did they set up the banking app on your phone? Did you explain your visa and the fact that you live here and require a Thai Bank to transfer money from home country to pay bills etc etcReply to
David ********
Reply
Wannikea *********
I'm starting to think just wave the 5K in front of the bank managers face to see if they will bite and bypass the local agent completely
Andi ***********
@Wannikea ********
Yeah that can be done, and they will give you insurance.Reply to
Andi ***********
Reply
Andi ***********
You can get 3500-5000 in Pattaya. Tik Tok, FS Consulting are well known bank account opening agents
Sefton ********
@Andi **********
how recently ?? All the agent that were 5k 6 months ago are now in the 12 plus range up in CM.. Because the banks are demanding insurance purchases along with it.
Greg ********
@Sefton *******
TikTok Services can open bank accounts for DTV holders, inc under 50's, for 5k THB in Pattaya. They just messaged meSefton ********
@Greg *******
Nice.. only problem is it seems to cost me a min of 50k to visit pattaya 🤣Wannikea *********
@Sefton *******
okay, the cycle starts again, stay away from walking Street and head to Soi (take your pick)Greg ********
@Wannikea ********
Does anyone go to Walking Street apart from tourists these days? I had to go last January as old friends from home visited. Strange down there these days. Great for tourists I suppose.Greg ********
@Sefton *******
Well there is that lol. I hardly ever go out jn Pattaya these days. It is why I shall probably relocate to Chiang Mai in February. I prefer coffee shops to bars these days. I feel like Bob Mortimer on Gone FishingSefton ********
@Greg *******
I need to live away from it.. I can resist everything except temptation etc..Greg ********
@Sefton *******
When I was working in Bangkok it was out Thursday the Sunday inc most weekends. In a group where everyone was the same.Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Greg ********
@Sefton *******
Interesting reply from the agent. It is still 5k to open a bank account but must be over 50. I have asked follow up about DTV under 50. I am now interested in the reply :-)Greg ********
@Sefton *******
I have just messaged one on that list. She is on friends list as her husband watches football in same bar I do. Will let you know when I get an answerRomain ****
@Sefton *******
you get ripped off in CM and BKK as foreigners, Pattaya is the cheapest place for anything in Thailand 🤣😜Wannikea *********
@Sefton *******
you can't compare anywhere to Pattaya pricing.Greg ********
@Wannikea ********
It is down to competition. I can tell you which bank it is and during high season go in and there will be agents, wearing agency t-shirts, based in the branch permanently while other agency staff bring clients. They get a handful of numbered queue tickets at time time to hasten the waiting for clientsWannikea *********
@Greg *******
sounds like Tik TokReply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
Andi ***********
@Sefton *******
CM and BKk are more costly than Pattaya. Pattaya for a very long time has been in the 3500-5k range. Check with Pattaya agent for the update fee, doubt it is 12k. I was offered 3500 Oct in Pattaya.Reply to
Andi ***********
Reply
Sefton ********
What makes you think that is insanely high ?? How much cheaper have you seen it ??
Fallon *******
@Sefton *******
prices were between 4-5k bahtGreg ********
@Sefton *******
Pattaya is 5k. There are at least a handful of agents here so competition keeps prices competitive.Brian *********
@Sefton *******
what makes me think it’s insanely high is the plethora of people stating how much they paid - all waaaay below this. People I know personally all got it for around 5k from local agentsDaniel **********
@Sefton *******
opening a bank account is free. so going from 0 baht to 15k or sometimes even 30k is hilarious. scam… imagine how many foreign transactions you could do with that money and still have it in a more secure account in the western world…. most agency services are not necessary. same as the dtv agencys scams.Deepak *******
@Daniel *********
I keep posting to use ATM cards and CCs. Get an ATM card that reimburses ATM fees worldwide. For US users, they can use Fiedility and Charles Schwab. Even without ATM fee reimbursed, one will be ahead when 30k is taken out of the ATM for each withdrawal.Al**
Deepak Dutta I've heard of some people's accounts getting closed because of this but idk. Also, if we do transfer from US Bank account to Thai bank is there taxes to be paid? I know atm withdrawals are not taxed at all I have Fidelity and it worked great for 2 months in Asia for me.
Daniel **********
@Deepak ******
yes i just use my german bank and its about the same cost as using Wise and a thai account for example. so not really that useful and i pay cash all day long anyway.Reply to
Daniel **********
Reply
Sefton ********
@Daniel *********
yes but if people cant solve thier own problems then they need to pay the cost to have them solved. I opened an account on a DTV with zero issues.. but agents are now charging 12 - 15 for this service if you're not able to.
Paul *******
@Sefton *******
How did you manage to open an account on a DTV? Nearly everyone is saying it's difficult.Not that I need to, I already have 2 Thai bank accounts and I don't need any more. Just wondering why your experience is supposedly the opposite of everyone else's.
Sefton ********
@Paul ******
I walked in and asked for one.. There were multiple factors that worked in my favor.Ivan ***********
@Sefton *******
Which branch did you use? Address? Thank you.Sefton ********
@Ivan **********
scb hang dong Chiang Mai. But as said there were other factors that helped my situation.
Daniel **********
@Sefton *******
i would just wait. the banks will probably adapt to the situation and allow opening an account in the future… for me anyway not really an advantage of having the bank account. more of an experiment for me trying out many different branches (and getting denied at all of them so far) ;)Reply to
Daniel **********
Reply
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Sefton *******
Other posts saying agent offers range from 5k to 10kSefton ********
Anonymous participant it used to be 5k agent fee and then usually plus insurance which was high 3.. then the insurance went up (over 5k) and so it was a combined cost of 10 - 12 back before the DTV.
These have risen.. At least that seems to be the case with the chiang mai agents.
These have risen.. At least that seems to be the case with the chiang mai agents.
Jared *********
@Sefton *******
7000 including insurance in pattayaGreg ********
@Jared ********
Which agent was that? I am still seeing 5k quotes but no need for insurance.Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
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