Answered2 years ago
Will the 60-day visa exemption ease restrictions on opening bank accounts in Thailand?
With the 60 day exempt entry coming this week (supposedly) does this mean there could be an ease of restricted bank account opening ? Thoughts 🙏
Answer summary
The discussion centers around the newly announced 60-day visa exemption and its potential impact on the ability of expats to open bank accounts in Thailand. Most comments indicate that the 60-day visa exemption is unrelated to bank account restrictions, which are primarily due to anti-money laundering regulations. Many expats advise that acquiring a long-term visa, such as the NON-O visa, is typically necessary to open a bank account in Thailand, as banks often require proof of residence and a longer stay.
64 repliesnewest first
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Jim ********
Just pay an agent and get a bank account = Easy!
Peter *********
Yes supposedly lol 😆
Kevin ******
I don’t see how the two are related.
Alan ******
@Kevin *****
Not related at all.🤣😂Kevin ******
@Alan *****
exactly
Henrik *****
Bank accounts will not be given to short stay people.
That’s why a residence certificat can be a help, but you may have to be staying 3 month on a long stay visa ( not tourist visas ) to get the certificat.
Probably much similar to a foreigner opening a bankaccount in your homecountry.
Same with residency, most countrys does not regard you as a resident, until after 3 months.
You may need to stay on another kind of visa, than you prefer to have, to get things sorted out, before getting the long time visa to base a future life on.
That’s why a residence certificat can be a help, but you may have to be staying 3 month on a long stay visa ( not tourist visas ) to get the certificat.
Probably much similar to a foreigner opening a bankaccount in your homecountry.
Same with residency, most countrys does not regard you as a resident, until after 3 months.
You may need to stay on another kind of visa, than you prefer to have, to get things sorted out, before getting the long time visa to base a future life on.
John ********
I had an account with SCB for over ten years. Then I moved back to my country and there was only a few hundred baht left in this account, so when after a few years I hadn't used the account the bank closed it. I want to open another account, so got a Thai friend whose house I stay at when visiting, I asked him to take my old bank book and debit card from my last account and show it to SCB and ask if I could open a new account with a tourist visa and tell them I live at his house when I'm in Thailand. The answer was sorry, no.
Mitchell *******
NO.
Will ************
You can get the initial NON O as an Evisa when in the UK , it must be used within 90 days from day of issue. You MUST show £
*****
in your UK current bank account to get it , proven by uploading your bank statement into the required documents.
Mick **********
@Will ***********
£10,000 is no longer viable. Now it's £18,000
Max *************
@Will ***********
The amount in a UK bank account is now actually £18.000.
Jan ******************
@Will ***********
Definitely the best option. You’ll get in some days and you can open a bank account yourself in Thailand with a long stay visa.
Phil ******
@John *******
no not related. Buy an agent for ฿3k-฿5k. Lots of agents do it usually Bangkok bank @
Tony *********
@Phil *****
I am planning on using MOTS based in Pattaya to open a bank account for me on my 60 day tourist visa they have explained the do's and don'ts of the process and the documentation required from me. Has anyone here used MOTS and what is there experience of them?
Andi ***********
@Tony ********
lots of positive posts on here about them which speaks to their professionalism.Phil ******
@Tony ********
millions of people great company. One stop, Cambodia Inter travel is Great too. Its just an easy Bank account.
Joe ******
No
Kevin ********
No
Chrisna **********
Get the correct long term visa for the purpose of the stay and a bank acc wouldn't be an issue at all.
Troy ******
I don't think very many countries allow tourists to open a bank account.
John ********
OP@Troy *****
can't be many tourists would stay 60 days or more .Joe ******
@John *******
I know loads who stay 90 days and longerTroy ******
@John *******
When you sell your house just come on a 60 day visa exempt. They say it's coming. Once here apply for your retirement visa. It's easy. I did it this yearTroy ******
@Steve ******
And I know they don't have a 60 day visa exempt yet. Read my most moronTroy ******
@Steve ******
Than get it in your own country. I don't give a shit. I have my visa so why tell me. I had no problems getting mine in Thailand. No mail to deal with. They call you when it's ready. It was much easier in Thailand in my opinion.
Steve *******
@Troy *****
Much easier to apply for the Non Imm O visa in your home Country before you arrive plus there is NO 60 days visa exempt yet.John ********
OP@Troy *****
thanks . How long does application take to process ? Don't I need bank account already for application ?
Michael ********
No absolutely not related.
Also noticed in yesterdays statement about DTV and visa free entry for more countries the 60 day visa exempt was not mentioned (that i noticed)
Also noticed in yesterdays statement about DTV and visa free entry for more countries the 60 day visa exempt was not mentioned (that i noticed)
John ********
OP@Michael *******
was mentioned on tiktok is that not reliable info ??? 🤣Michael ********
@John *******
must be true its on tik tok.It did say 60 days in Thailand but that is what people get now 30 + 30
Glenn *****
@Michael *******
but extension not required.
Bennito *********
"Supposedly" 😂
Jan ******************
Most branches now require minimum Non immigrant or long stay visa anyway.
Max *************
@Jan *****************
Not Bangkok Bank in some locations.Bart **************
These two things are not related. The difficulties with bank accounts come from anti-laundering measures.
Darin ********
@Bart *************
opening a Thai bank account can be a bit of chicken and the egg, if in the kingdom just save yourself the hassle and use a visa agent to open a account and takes about one hour. Price depends on what paperwork you have.
Shayne **********
@Bart *************
elites moving billions in and out of fake foundations, but they are worried about yours and my $600!Max *************
@Shayne *********
You should mention this to banking authorities in the US. They are paranoid about money-laundering and thai banks hates it. They don't like the extra paperwork, mainly because of FATCA.Bart **************
@Shayne *********
it's a global thing. In a response to things having been to lax for a while, governments have been requiring banks to do more against laundering. Thailand and its banks do not have much choice but comply with what its global trading partners demand. But there are now signs in several countries that things have taken the wrong turn. For instance in my home country there have been citizens who went to Mekka for their hadj, which showed as a clear pattern of tourism expenses on their account, but were required by their bank to justify all their expenses with receipts, to the penny. It is possible that current measures get reviewed at some point and that policies become more targeted towards the actual problem. On the other hand... how do they know that you are planning to stay long term and opening a bank account because immigrations requires it, and that you're not laundering anything, before the account is actually open? The requirement to reside somewhere before being allowed to open a bank account does appear quite sensible to me. Perhaps the circle must be broken elsewhere: at immigrations requiring the money to be banked in Thailand before you go on an extension of stay and can get residence certificates.
Peter **********
@Bart *************
Nee, ik ben geen wappie. Ga maar lekker Rutte stemmen… slaap zacht!Peter **********
@Bart *************
You don’t have a clue how governments work. Your vision is really far off.There is no individual approving or disapproving transfers. Governments and banks use their wonderful algorithms for the job. You, being Duchess, and even with a background from Groningen (!), should be on the first row being scared of those infamous algorithms.
People lost their jobs, their marriage and in various cases their children were outplaced and now nobody knows where they are! Numerous people were discriminated and blacklisted by the government thanks to wonderful algorithms.
You don’t seem to remember the multitude of crises which our former MP has caused… using algorithms!
Bart **************
@Peter *********
yes super dangerous plan. We'll all die. And it's Bill Gates's fault.Peter **********
Bart **************
@Peter *********
"suppose we have digital euros and suppose some government people are going to sit behind a desk and control and (dis)approve everything we do". Let's suppose they don't. They have better things to do. I'd be more afraid of an invasion by the Mars people.
Peter **********
@Bart *************
The system has already been approved. Dutch parliament voted against the digital Euro and European ID and the Dutch minister went to Brussels and signed on the dotted lines. You seem to be missing some information, I presume. Speak to you later, sonny.
Bart **************
@Peter *********
dude, get real.Peter **********
@Bart *************
It gets even worse when the EU governments decide to implement a digital Euro, fully controlled by EU and the European bank.Once setup, the governments can decide how you spend your money and what you can’t do with it. How much misery and mistakes will that deliver?
Imagine someone using the monthly income method for proof of funds. Then your monthly allowance is… erhm… is *not* coming in because some dick made one of those well known programming mistakes and all retirement payment to Thailand are automatically blocked.
You complain. The government apologizes and… sends the money three weeks later. Good luck at your next visa extension explaining why you had one month zero income…
I am landing every last penny I own in Thailand to protect myself against EU computer errors.
Jim ********
@Shayne *********
I'll bet everyone says the same when they open an account 😆
Brandon ************
The restrictions have to do with money laundering and nominee bank accounts. Adding 30 days to visa exempt won't change the need for monitoring of either of those things.
Henrik *****
The
So …….
***********************
has been warned to be down for “Upgrading” this weekend.So …….
John *******
@Bradley ********
Notice was posted on the Thai embassy’s webpage in USA. Updated requirements for DTV as well.John ********
OP@Bradley ********
looked positive from yesterday's report . But 🤗John ********
OP@Brandon ***********
thank you , another question though please . My whole immigration process is relying on the completion of house sale here in the UK. A long chain is the hold up but I can not start the visa applications until I have the money in the bank . It would be of great advantage to get a bank account opened in Thailand ASAP .
Chris *******
@John *******
when you get here, the easiest path is to pay an agent to open one with/for you.
John **********
@John *******
you can't open a bank account in Thailand from the UKTroy ******
@John *********
Makes no difference. You still have to go to Immigration in Thailand to get a letter to open the account. I had zero issues opening a account.John **********
@Troy *****
yes you can do everything in Thailand as you say but having the non-o prior to arriving makes opening the bank account easierTroy ******
@John *********
You can do everything in Thailand I arrived on a 30 day exempt. 3 days later I had a lease. I went to Immigration for letter to open bank account. Once I had the 800 000 transfered I applied for a one month extension and change to non o retirement visa. I had my retirement non o 29 days after arriving. After the money is in the account for 60 days you apply for an extension so you get 15 months.totalJohn **********
@Troy *****
he would get these in the UK before travellingTroy ******
@John *********
He doesn't have the money yet for the visaJohn **********
@John *******
then come on a non-o or non-oa, get a residence certificate from immigration and go try some bank branchesJohn ********
OP@John *********
not trying to . Will be returning to Thailand soon .Activity
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