✨ Successfully Opened a Thai Bank Account without Agent or Insurance ✨

(Your experience may vary.)

I just want to share my experience opening a Thai bank account without needing an agent or insurance, after running around to 10 different branches in Bangkok and Chiang Mai (since I was traveling around anyway). I’ve included a picture as proof, though I’ve hidden personal details for privacy. Hopefully, this helps some of you—though keep in mind, it may not work the same for everyone, depending on when and where you try. Good luck! 🍀

Branch: Bangkok Bank (Central Festival Chiang Mai)

Banker: When I went, there were two bankers—one male, one female. I chose the male banker without glasses. (Sorry I was too happy and forgotten to write down his name). I’m not sure if other bankers are as tourist/customer-friendly as the one who helped me.

Tips:

* Present yourself well—I avoided wearing a t-shirt, shorts, or slippers.

* Be really polite and pleasant

* I also mentioned I wanted to deposit 10,000 THB.

Documents I Brought:

* Passport with DTV Visa

* TM30

* Rental lease (for proof of address)

* Thai SIM card (for OTPs) -I already have this number for some time now.

* I also had a Thai driving license I got years ago on a 30-day visa-exempt, though I’m unsure if it helped my case.

* I brought the bank statements (I showed for DTV application) to proof I have more than enough funds to support myself in Thailand (Again, I do not know if this helps, but since I already have those documents printed as extra copies for DTV, I just show to the banker too)

I hope this helps others navigating the process! All the best.

Today, I went to Bangkok immigration to extend my retirement visa.. again, I had trouble not having a tm30 print, as my previous extension was done in chonburi. Is this normal? Anybody can clearly state what documents are needed, as I’m also not sure about documents needed from the bank.. thank you 🙏

Hi. Can anyone recommend how best to present the minimum 65k monthly income option (with all the required bank records I have showing a regular deposit from overseas each month above the 65k) to the immigration dept, rather than having to rely on the 800k option. Is there an easy solution for getting them to understand what I am trying to achieve without them suggesting that I need some kind of letter from the UK embassy, which isn’t going to happen. Thanks.

Renewal of O/A Retirement visa...

Copy of relevant passport pages

Bank Book

Bank Statement

Bank Letter

Insurance

2 x photos

TM 7

Have I missed anything?

Hi all,

I will be applying for a 12 month extension of my non-o (marriage) Visa next Monday and wanted to see if anyone had a checklist of documents to take.

Chaengwattana Office

I've looked online but found last time following the online info I was still short of a few documents.

TIA

Good morning, how many days is the bank's annual statement valid for the extension non o over 50 years in Bangkok Chaengwatthana? 3 days or 1 week?

Quick question.. For extension of non B visa for parent of child enrolled in school in Thailand I have to provide these bank documents in the picture.

If I go to the bank today do I have to go to immigration the same day or can be later this week? Bangkok immigration. Thank you

Morning. In Bangkok. Will go for extension of stay for non immigrant o visa based on expat child studying here. Question concerns bank book update and bank letter. Do they have to be dated the day of the extension or the day before is ok. The 500k is on the account for over a month (it’s my first extension). Reason for asking is that if I have to do it on the day then can’t go there early and finish early... Thanks!

Ok, so just did my 90 day report in Koh Samui, So thought I'd include this for information.

No mention of the TM30.

While there I also enquired about using the combination method for the qualifying funds.

I do not want to bring money over while the rate is so low, so wanted to do it this way. The very helpful lady said that I have to show two documents from the bank. 1. As per normal, letter stating my current balance. 2. Letter showing international deposits on a monthly basis for the last 14 months.

She said it would be better to include the two month qualifying period as well.

Seems straightforward, but I renew in August, so let's see.

Hope it's helpful.

I will be leaving Thailand soon and traveling for six to eight months. I'm currently here on a non immigration type O extension of stay that lasts until October 1st 2019.

When I return to Thailand next summer I want the ability to extend the non-imm. Type O visa for an additional year until October 2020. Let's say I apply for this one-year visa extension 30 days before October 1st or September 1st 2019. Can I move the 800k Thai baht out of the country now and then transfer that same 800 K Thai baht back into Thailand by June 1st 2019? That way I would have 3 months of 800k thb balances on my Thai Bank book when I apply for my one-year extension on September 1st 2019. Is the bank obligated to make a note on the documents that I did not have the 800k Thai baht balance in the country for the first half of 2019 and thereby creating an issue when I take those documents to immigration?

Or should I instead keep the 800,000 Thai baht required balance in my Thai Bank. I would like to move the money out of Thailand because I do not want to fill out Thailand tax returns for the 2019 tax year if possible (in the event I choose not to return to Thailand) and I would like to earn 2% interest back in my home country in my high-yield savings account. However the cost to move the money out of Thailand for 6 months might come at a great cost because of the associated wire transfer fees.

I used Transferwise on the incoming 800k Thb transfer and the fees were about 1% from what I remember. But, there are higher fees outbound because apparently Transferwise does not currently have the ability to transfer money out of Thailand. To move the money back to my home country using Bangkok Bank I would have to deal with the fees and markup of exchange rate at Bangkok Bank and an intermediary Bank which could add up to 5 to 7% fees on the amount transferred. In addition, if I moved the money back in June of 2019 there are the roughly additional 1% transferwise fees to move the money back into Thailand on June 1st in time for the September 1, 2019 non immigration visa extension application.