Which type of visa is required to open a bank account in Thailand?

Andy Kay bank policy not Thai law ;)

John Holmes Certainly more Sheraton class tourists than Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam. Those who are not, the less of them the better for Thai. They will be always around but hopefully, the fewer of them than now.

There were attempts in my condo complex to rent through AirBnB which is prohibited, ont only bthe Thai law but by the building management and strictly enforced.

There were families (with children) evicted by Thi police 15 minutes after their arrival, right to the street with their suitcases.

Tourists like that should to go Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia.

Good retort 👍

Marcel Adriaans Thai bank account opening MINIMUM pre-requisites:

*** have a Longterm visa, like a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa type, an LTR or Non-O/A

*** you need to be properly registered per TM30 Online System at your accommodation

*** visit Immigration and ask for the “certificate of residence”. Immigration in this document will ask the bank explicitly to open a bank account for the applicant.

*** have a Thai mobile number and the SIM-card registered to your name and passport number, show the receipt from the phone shop.

*** your passport as a valid document of identification.

Some banks will ask you for a second piece of valid identification, like your home country driver’s license.

*** a work permit (only if applicable – it is NOT a mandatory requirement!)

Here a list of NOT commonly needed requirements, but that can get asked from over-zealous bank staff:

*** They might tell you that you have to be married to a Thai wife if you want to get a bank account opened.

*** a rental contract - actually irrelevant- but it is okay if you got one, or if you got a blue housebook indicating ownership of a condo.

*** a third (!) piece of identification (check above)

*** a mandatory life-insurance or accident insurance the bank offers you for yearly 5000 Baht (they love to earn a sidekick)

*** your foreign Tax-number or Social Security number (which would be okay so far, why not)

Try several branches of different banks, you should find one that opens an account for you under the minimal requirements. Sometimes it takes a day or two of running around until you find a bank willing to help you.

I don’t recommend Bangkok Bank. Better get a Kasikorn or Siam Commercial Bank account. Other good banks are Khrungthai and Krungsri

In case you consistently meet bank staff who resist and pull out of their noses random requirements, use the service of an agent. In Pattaya for example, you can get a Thai bank account opened within 2 days for 5000 THB.

Marcel Adriaans She may well help you, there may be more than her translation service required by the bank.

Like, your marriage certificate, her Blue Book, your TM30, your Thai mobile number registerd to your passport.

Marcel Adriaans because you can’t as tourist !

Marcel Adriaans probably one of those foreigners that enjoys the hardship of other foreigners and thinks it can’t happen to them because they bribe their agent to extend their retirement visa every year

Dante Try it now or even 3 years ago. BKK Bank is the least foreigner friendly of all Thai banks. The blogosphere is full of bad press about BKK Bank.