I’m coming to Thailand next month. Can I get a 90 day tourist visa or 90? Day Visa as I want to retire in Thailand? I was unable to get a non-o as the the online application form would not download my bank statements. I am going to open a bank account when I arrive in Thailand. 

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS:

Change in group recommendation for Non-O visas

This is just going to be an FYI type of post to relate information..

In the past we'd advise people to come in free stamp (visa exempt) open a thai bank account, transfer in the required funds and apply for the Non-O visa inside the country at your immigration office.

Unfortunately due to the banks tightening up who can open an account and what visa you need to do it, showing up free stamp often means you're not going to be able to open a bank account to start the whole in country Non-O visa process.

That is why we are recommending people get their 90 day single entry Non-O visa OUTSIDE of thailand (hopefully before you wing your way here) because once you stamp in on that Non-O it's usually not that difficult to open a bank account (although you still might have to try a couple banks/branches, you can get it accomplished).

If you're already here in thailand you can go to a nearby country to apply for the initial 90 day Non-O visa thru a consulate there.. The consulates in Lao and Vietnam are not difficult to deal with and have fast processing for 'regular visas' (Non-O, Non-B, Non-ED).. In Lao you do have to go to the consulate in person to pay for the visa once you apply

Another upside to applying outside thailand is that you can use money in your account in your home country as proof of funds.

I would say give the thai consulates in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bharu, Penang) a pass for these visas as their processing time seems to be long. Same for the thai consulate in Phnom Penh give it a pass as they have extended processing times..

I just wanted people to understand why we used to say come in, get the Non-O in country and now why we're saying get the Non-O BEFORE you wing your way here or go to a thai consulate in a nearby country and get one.

Dumb question time, but i really can’t see how it works.

I need a bank account to get a visa, but i need a visa to get a bank account.

How do i do it ?

EDIT: Heaps of good advice and surprisingly few

w ⚓️ s.

Thank you everyone for your help.

Can agent help open a bank account with entry visa?

Hi All , a friend come to Thailand in Autumn, doing the Non O Retired here . But as he not has a bank account before , how he can do it ..

I’m in Koh Samui can anyone recommend an agent in the chaweng area . I would like to open a bank account I have a non o retirement visa from the UK . Thanks in advance for replying.

Hello everyone, Please i need advice on which bank allow NON O (90 days) Visa to open account in Bangkok or nearby province.

Currently in Thailand in the first 90 day period of a Non O visa. Trying to open a bank account so I can deposit the 800K which I have available in my UK bank.

I have a TM30 but no lease/rental agreement as am staying at my girlfriends house.

Any suggestions of what I could try? The house is in girlfriends fathers name and we have blue book and he can come to bank if required.

I don’t want to use an agent if possible.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Successfully opened another Bangkok Bank account in Sattahip today, had all my documents for Rental agreement, passport with 12 month extension stamp on my Non-O visa. Phone number verified.

Half hour later tried at Krungsri branch in the Big C Super Store complex at Sattahip.

Was told that I would need to wait till I renewed my Visa, for the record my 12mth extension was on 9th Jan 26, so it goes through till Jan 27, not sure what the Bank Staffer was thinking, called her out on her claim and then the story changed to it was not possible with Krungsri Bank and I should try other banks.

So there you have it, make of that what you will, my thoughts are that the staffer didn’t want or know how to deal with a Foreigner opening a Bank account or Krungsri are not wanting Foreign account holders on their books.

🤔🤷🏽

Can I open a Thai bank account with a tourist visa? I have a Thai girlfriend of 3 years