What is the procedure for opening a Thai bank account as a foreigner to apply for a retirement visa?

I wrote this a good while back about the changes in our recommendation as far as Non-O visas/bank accounts 5

I wrote this a good while back about the changes in our recommendation as far as Non-O visas/bank accounts

5

The process is that you apply for the visa before you go to Thailand. You don't need a Thai bank account for that.

The process is that you apply for the visa before you go to Thailand.

You don't need a Thai bank account for that.

Once inside Thailand you’re in a Catch 22 situation. Get your retirement visa online from your home country before travelling to Thailand. With your retirement visa in hand you can then open a bank account.

It can be straight forward. Go to the Thai Embassy website and read the requirements. Start the process with the requied documentation. No, you cannot open a Thai bank account outside of Thailand. One requirement is, that if your application is approved and you enter Thailand on a 90 day initial stamp. You then have time to get a Thai phone number & a tenancy agreement. Along with your passport, 2nd ID and the above documentation then you can open an account and deposit the required funds, the amount required on the application. I use Kashikorn Bank which I found very easy to deal with. If it all becomes overwhelming, someone here can recommend another path to use.

It can be a frustrating process. Every bank branch, even of the same bank, seems to have its own rules. It takes patience to bank-hop until you find one that agrees to open an account in your name. It can be a pain, but it isn’t an insurmountable barrier.

It can be straight forward. Go to the Thai Embassy website and read the requirements. Start the process with the requied documentation. No, you cannot open a Thai bank account outside of Thailand. One requirement is, that if your application is approved and you enter Thailand on a 90 day initial stamp.

You then have time to get a Thai phone number & a tenancy agreement. Along with your passport, 2nd ID and the above documentation then you can open an account and deposit the required funds, the amount required on the application.

I use Kashikorn Bank which I found very easy to deal with. If it all becomes overwhelming, someone here can recommend another path to use.

It can be a frustrating process. Every bank branch, even of the same bank, seems to have its own rules. It takes patience to bank-hop until you find one that agrees to open an account in your name. It can be a pain, but it isn’t an insurmountable barrier.

Once inside Thailand you’re in a Catch 22 situation. Get your retirement visa online from your home country before travelling to Thailand. With your retirement visa in hand you can then open a bank account.