What visa does my friend need to open a bank account in Thailand, and can he apply for it while in Thailand?

Felipe **********

If he's not 50 years old, doesn't have a condo or a job then he's not going to be getting that visa so... He can hold off on the bank account until he's more established in the country.

Jesper *******

You can't get a bank acct unless you already have work permit/nonB or nonO.....you can apply for that outside of thailand (doesn't have to be in UK) you need to check which category u qualify and apply.....mostly need proof of funds and btw DTV doesn't guarantee you a bank acct

Mike *******

You can go to Vietnam or laos.

Nongnuch ********

@Mike ******

he is not married to a Thai wife, and he obviously is not 50 years old, yet. Going to Vietnam or Laos won't help him visa-wise. He can spend a nice holiday there, but that's what's to it

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Stuart ***********

It used to be possible to open a bank account in Thailand without a long term visa until this year, when the banks were scrutinised and stopped. He therefore needs to travel to one of the neighbouring countries ((Vietnam, Laos etc), apply online for a 90 day non-O visa and once granted, return to Thailand, open a bank account to start the process.

Deepak *******

With a non o visa and Thai wife, there should not be any problem opening a Thai bank account. Did he even try once?

Nongnuch ********

@Deepak ******

he is not married to a Thai wife, and he obviously is not 50 years old, yet

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Raymond *********

To get à bank account in Thaïland, you need à 90 days visa (Non-O) which you can get on line in the UK or at Immigration in Thailand (i did). That visa will grant you time to season(2 months) your deposit of either 400 000 thb(marriage) or 800 000 thb(retirement) before you can get your 1 year extension

Greg ***********

what you were able to do, is no longer possible since February 2025. For applying to the Non-Imm-O visa inside Thailand you need a Thai bank account, and for getting a bank account opened, you need to be on a Non-Imm Visa class. You cannot get a bank account opened any more on a touristic entry

Raymond *********

You're à 100% right about the tourist entry not about non-imm visa class. I did and did not bribe anybody or went through an agent. It is simpler to do it online but immigration will agree to do it if you are from the 66 or so countries that can come in from thd visa exempt lust

Raymond *********

What you are describing is the story of à dog trying to catch its tail and à short one at that. If true thai immigration would/ could not issue any new visas.

Reply to

Raymond *********

Stuart ***********

When did you open your bank account without a long term visa? Was it this year? Did you use an agent?

Raymond *********

Did that one month ago by myself. Immigration told me where to go and even provided me with à letter confirming that I was waiting the required 3 months to get my 1 year extention

Reply to

Raymond *********

Pete *******

you cannot get the Non-O in Thailand without having the funds in a Thai bank account.

Raymond *********

Yes you can, I did. What you can't get without the funds is the one year extension. That's what the 90 days non-o visa is for

John **********

you can only get that 90 day Non-O visa inside Thailand without having the required funds in a Thai bank account is if your embassy will provide an income affidavit/certificate proving you have the requisite funds. And if they will still do that you don't need the money in a Thai account for an extension either

4 hours ago

Pete *******

how did you meet the Immigration Office financial requirements for the Non-O of having funds in a Thai bank account without having the funds in a Thai bank account?

Raymond *********

I did it one month ago, without an agent. Immigration agent told me where to go. They even provided me with à letter confirming that I was waiting for the onebyear extension (cost 500 thb)

Raymond *********

Easy, I did not. You only need it for the one year extension. It would be counter productive otherwise. If you need 800 000 thb in your bank account to get your non-o visa but need a non-o visa to get à bank account.

Reply to

Raymond *********

Jeff *************

He has to leave Thailand in order to get a non o, Laos, Cambodia, if the borders have reopened or fly to Vietnam, apply in that country wait for your approval and come back

Darren *********

Yes, short of him owning a condo he will need to leave to get his non-o. Then come back to get his bank account for the extension. He can try going to anagent or a lawyer but they will cost.

Darren *********

Some banks will allow you to open an account to buy a condo or if you already own one. Every rule has room for real world exceptions. You can always tell people who have little experience, they seem to rush to identify themselves to be bl9cked. 555

2 hours ago

Andreas *********

@Darren ********

owning a condo is no prerequisite to get a bank account opened. Only being on a long term visa like a Non-Imm visaclass, will enable him to get a bank account opened. An agent costs around 5000 Baht for this service, if you don't have this kind of money you should not come to live in Thailand

Bob **********

@Darren ********

a condo won’t help with a bank account

Reply to

Bob **********

Brandon ************

Bank staff don't know anything about immigration. OX visa is simply not used.

In order to open a bank account they just need to be on a long-term visa or extension. Even a non-O visa suffices, and it's only 90 days. Those 90 days are meant for opening the bank account you must have in order to get the 1-year extension.

But each bank branch manager sets their requirements for that bank branch. There are many that simply won't deal with foreigners so they will make rules that are impossible. Just go to the next bank branch down the street and try there. Eventually you'll find one that will open a bank account with a long-term visa and a residence certificate from immigration.

Don't even bother trying if he's in Thailand as a tourist, as banks no longer open accounts for tourists.