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Will switching from an ED visa to a DTV affect my Thai bank account?

Thai Visa Rules DTV Visa ED Visa Banking Regulations KYC Compliance

Aug 30, 2025

4 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

So you already have a bank account on other visa lets say ED and you intend to apply for DTV will bank find out and close yours like kasikorn SCB. i don’t care about bkk bank. Still wondering should i continue with ED or DTV since thai bank is very important for me

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around the concerns of an expat in Thailand about how changing their visa status from an Education Visa (ED) to a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) might impact their existing bank account with Thai banks like Kasikorn or SCB. Several comments highlight that while banks are required to keep their Know Your Customer (KYC) information updated, it is not guaranteed they will automatically know about the visa change unless the account holder is asked to update it. Some commenters advise against applying for the DTV visa if having a bank account is crucial due to potential complications. Others suggest that not all expats feel the need for a bank account at all.

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.
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Anonymous ******************

It’s part of bank obligations to keep KYC updated; so anytime they can ask you to come update your visa status; they will not know it automatically but it can happens that an update comes and ask you come show last stamp on your passport or once you go to the bank for any matter they use to check KYC info; it’s common to any bank in the world not specific to Thailand

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Luit *****************

If bank account is important don't apply for tourist visa like DTV. Bank can find out if they ask you for visa.

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Anonymous ******************

It’s a good question.

I understand the benefit of having a bank account.

I wish people wouldn’t reply with criticism of another person preference for using a bank account.

Please just keep scrolling if you don’t need a bank account.

Anyway I don’t know if anyone can answer your question because it’s uncertain what will happen tomorrow

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Dany ********

I live in Thailand for allmost 3 years. Without a bank account. Super easy. No problems at all and minimal cost this way. Idk why people chase a bank account and go crazy over it every day….

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Elías ********

same here. I first arrived in Thailand around one year ago. I've been living with the DTV, and I never ever tried nor needed to get a bank account, even before the "official crackdown". I simply done need it. By the way, we can use TrueMoney, and it works pretty well for me.

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Warren *********

@Elías *******

QR code payments from bank are very convenient and also bank transfers for some transactions. Depends on what you’re doing.

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Warren ********

that’s true as a long term residence in Thailand you need a bank a thai driving license and truemoney. Third party companies like Wise revolut can’t help you promptpay here and many times international transfer delay is just horrible experience, let alone putting large amount of money in WISE( you can’t even find this company if your money disappear) instead of thai bank.

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Dany ********

@Warren ********

use TrueMoney if you need QR payments. easy. i personally always use cash and it works perfectly fine in everyday life. I always have to facepalm when locals do scan at the market and it takes minutes (find phone, phone not work, app not work, incompetent user, etc.)… while i stand there and hand over the 2x20 baht notes for my mangos 🤷‍♀️ cash is king. and we are not in columbia where you must fear getting robbed. this is thailand. super safe.

Bank Transfers you could just do with Revolut. Takes minutes to complete. Wise is a little slow recently, agree. Many fintech companies now and more to come. i regularly use revolut for transfers. Rent, etc… super low fees. last time i paid 42 baht fee for a 47k international transfer.

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

brother truemoney promptpay is linked to a thai bank account you can apply for truemoney advanced account on DTV which i already asked its CS, but you want to use truemoney to scan promptpay QR code you would need a thai bank linked to your truemoney and they don’t accept foreign bank or third party companies like wise revolut. But if someone is willing to withdraw a lump sum of cash and deposit into their truemoney at 711, it also works, just not for me and still you can’t promptpay if your truemoney wallet is not linked to a thai bank account

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Dany ********

you are very uninformed. i use my TM account with full functionality for over a year now. on my dtv. verified with my local driving license. super easy. can use all the qr payments. yes need to top up with cash. it has nothing to do with any bank account at all.

*****

baht cash withdrawal costs 250 baht. not as bad. and how much cash do you really need in everyday life?

since rent and other big bills i can just transfer cheaply with Revolut. 🤷‍♀️ the big chunk is already covered.

easy life without a bank account in thailand.

and surprise surprise, you dont have many more options and bank accounts are a thing of the past for people on tourist visa (dtv included)

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

i got you brother and i have truemoney for years too i dont top up with cash cuz i already have gone cashless for long time

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Tarem *****

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Anonymous ******************

Should rename this group Destination Thailand Banking

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Henrik *****

Some activities like language courses, embassies will give you a ED visa, even when you applied for and payed for a DTV.

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Stuart *********

People obsessed with getting a Thai bank account - why ? You really don’t need one.

Get WISE account and use it Properly and exactly like a Thai bank account.

QR codes purchases , hold money in baht, pay with card at big stores.

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Sebastian *********

@Stuart ********

I also don’t get this obsession.

I actually have both WISE and Thai bank account, but barely using the later

Never had any issues with wise for many many years

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Stuart *********

@Sebastian ********

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

so does that mean promptpay is acceptable too?

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Stuart *********

ive already advised to open a "Thai" Currency Jar...so your wise account is in baht.....you can then pay using QR codes ....which is what a thai bank account allows you to do....should try it ....its dead easy...

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

instead i use Moreta Pay for emergency and it works fine with promptpay in thailand

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

i did and i got

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Stuart *********

access to camera on your phone ?

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Stuart *********

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Stuart *********

@Sebastian ********

not many people know how to use the QR code functionality and all the other features

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Luit *****************

@Stuart ********

As far as I know Wise can not be used in Thailand to pay with QR code, except for paying other Wise users.

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Luit *****************

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Anonymous ******************

@Stuart ********

I need a bank account. Its very important for me. 50 % of my money are in Thailand. And i cant move them.

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Luit *****************

Anonieme deelnemer 704 Then just get a proper visa and not a tourist visa.

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Luit *****************

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

that’s not true wise card and account which i already have can’t get you anything here. Especially there is always unexpected delay of money transfer. Holding a thai bank is super convenient for buying everything and make transfer easier

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Elías ********

you can do that with TrueMoney also. You can use it to transfer to bank accounts.

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Elías *******

i do have truemoney and it’s tied to my kasikorn so i don’t want to lose my thai bank cuz truemoney only accepts transfer to and from a thai bank

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Tarem *****

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Luit *****************

Transfer to Wise account is a problem for you because of delays and transfer to Thai bank account is not a problem? Strange...

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Stuart *********

you don’t know how to to use the wise account properly - you should ADD a currency for Thai baht.

Send money from home country account to this balance yes may take a few hours.

Once you have the funds you can 1/ use the QR codes to pay for almost everything 2/use the green card itself to pay contactless in big stores.

Only thing you cannot avoid in the ATM fee- unless you go in bank with passport and withdraw baht

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

Well yes i do know all wise functions. Yes it can help you easily pay online shopping here in thai baht like normal credit card but please show me how you use wise for promptpay at street food vendors. all it supports is singapore paynow qr code

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Anonymous ******************

@Stuart ********

have you tried to pay with QR code from wise? It doesn’t work

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Luit *****************

@Stuart ********

What do you mean with use QR codes to pay for amost everything?

As far as I know QR PRomptpay does not work with Wise, only transfers to other Wise accounts.

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Luit *****************

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Henrik *****

Then get a visa that are eligible, not a tourist visa like DTV.

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Tarem *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

absolutely i’ll. Just consider DTV since it gets you 5 years. If DTV visa is going to make my bank cancel my account i’ll extend with another ED

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Henrik *****

Actually DTV is 180 day.

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Henrik *****

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Anonymous ******************

Damm... enough with bank account issue...

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Anonymous ******************

Seems that Bangkok bank is very strict and others arnt.

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Greg ********

Anonymous participant 119 Well, it was the opposite actually. Bangkok Bank were least strict in the past. They let people n TR and Visa Exempt open accounts too easily. Now they are having to deal with the issues this has caused.

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Anonymous ******************

Anonymous participant 119 Until when? They usually all take example on BB policies and follow later.

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Anonymous ******************

Anonymous participant 435 that’s my opinion mate deal with it

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Anonymous ******************

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Anonymous ******************

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Anonymous ******************

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