Hi all, so I now have my non O-A visa and tomorrow I will take my TM 30 to immigration to get a residence certificate. So apart from those, my passport and another ID what else should I expect to need to open a bank account, also which bank is recommended? I am in Karon Beach Phuket. TIA

Please i want agent to open bank account thai, because i went to so many branches in phuket but they didn’t accept DTV, thank you!

11/Apr/2025 I just went to Bangkok Bank in Ratchaburi province to attempt to open a bank account. The bank employee had 100 reasons for denying me and no reasons to help me. The biggest hurdle I was unable to jump over. It was…my visa had to state “retirement” in my passport. Well, I have a Non-O marriage visa and it doesn’t state “retirement”. My Thai wife and I both looked at each other and decided it was hopeless.

We went to Krungthai bank and they rolled out the red carpet for us. They were looking for reasons to help us. Smooth sailing at Krungthai.

Update 10/04/2025 opening a bank account

Recap

Yesterday I went to Bangkok Bank with my Passport, Ninety Day Non O Visa, issued in the UK,UK driving licence, Stamped TM30 and Immigration Letter addressed to Bangkok Bank and was refused an account.

Today after returning to immigration and collecting a new letter addressed to KrungThai bank and having the same documents, I managed to open an account. I did approach the bank first to make sure that they would accept them.

Costings As Follows:

£60 for 90 day Non O issued in the UK

500 baht for immigration letter

500 baht for one years fees on bank account

40 baht on coffees

Time taken in total

Approximately 4 hours over two days

The problem is, is that what has happened to me may not happen to the next person, as you learn quite quickly that processes are very rarely followed in Thailand and the outcome can be very much dependant on who you speak to and on which day.

As I’ve said in my earlier posts, I have only wanted to give my experience and highlight the pitfalls of trying to do things by yourself in Thailand and I hope that my posts help people, rather than encourage ridicule and negativity.

hello, I have a question about the process to get a retirement extension. I have been living here since 2016 on retirement extensions, but have been helping a new guy, who now has had two agencies tell him he needs an education visa which three months down the road can then be turned into a retirement extension. problem is they both want a total of +- 60K baht.

it is still possible to get a 90 day tourist visa (from outside the country, online), then request an extension? are the visa agencies just not offering this because they can charge more for the education visa route? or has this avenue been closed?

also, my friend also was turned down by two banks yesterday for an account, are there still banks who will open an account for a new person with a residency certificate?

so, the questions:

1. can you still go the 90 day tourist visa route to get a retirement extension?

2. will banks still open accounts, and you just need to find the one that will?

thanks for your input!

Is a DTV sufficient to open a bank account…..

Hi everyone! I just recently moved to Bangkok under the DTV visa (Muay Thai) and starting the, what sounds like, the complicated process of opening a bank account. I know my gym will help with that (as long as you purchase a couple insurance plans and pay a processing fee), but I'm looking for other options for comparison. I've heard about going to Pattaya to open an account with an agent. Has anyone used this company to help? [members only]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

UPDATE 08/04/2025 Bank Account opening

Went to the immigration office in Nong Bua Lamphu with landlord and wife. Immigration officer spoke excellent English and processed my TM30 and issued me with an official letter for the Bank of Bangkok advising on my residential status and intentions for the bank account. Process took 30 minutes and cost 500 baht for the certificate.

I now have a 90 day NON O Visa which I applied for in the UK at a cost of £60.00 and my letter from immigration costing 500 Baht. These along with my Thai telephone number and passport should be sufficient to open the bank account.

I was then advised to return to his office after I had deposited 800k baht and allowed it to sit there for 60 days. Once that had happened I could then apply for a 1 year extension to my 90 day Non O Visa. He also said that the process is much quicker if I went to the Embassy ( I think he may have meant immigration office) in Bangkok as they can make an immediate decision.

Hope this helps

Hi im looking for some information on opening a bank account. I have my DTV visa already. Ive had 1 quote for 19k baht just to open a bank account. Does anyone know where i can open an account cheaper?

Searching for agent to pen a bank account in phuket