How to open a Thai Bank Account before applying for a retirement visa when on a tourist visa.

if i cant open a bank account to deposit the 800k for the retirement visa, how can i get it please??

I'm looking for an agent to help me open a Thai Bank Account in Hua Hin please.

Bank account update.

Hi last week I posted here asking for personal experiences opening a bank account and I got some helpful advice. I also got the usual doom sayer , keyboard warrior stuff suggesting I had no chance without an agent. Anyway, here is my experience and this relates only to one bank branch in one specific place but it may assist someone. It’s specific to me a UK citizen on O-A 12 month retirement visa.

I went today to Bangkok bank in Karon Beach, Phuket , I was there a total of 55 minutes including waiting time. I signed what seemed like hundreds of forms then left with a savings book and master card for my newly opened bank account.

What was required :

1. My passport showing entry stamp and long term visa

2. Printout of E Visa

3. I was asked for a Thai driving licence but they accepted my UK licence and International driving permit instead.

4. Thai phone number

5. UK UTR ( Tax reference)

I had taken a residence certificate ( some people in this group refer to this as “ a letter from immigration” )this was not required.

I also took TM 30 also not required and I was never asked for a tenancy agreement. ( I don’t have one anyway)

As I say this was my experience in a specific branch. The experience may well differ in different branches of BKK bank and different banks. It may also differ with different nationalities and different visas.

I paid a small fee 699 baht for my Mastercard. There was an option for a different card at 400 baht. After my account was opened I was offered insurance but declined and this was no issue.

One last thing, despite having a Thai sim I could not set up online banking but was told if I got a top up invoice from an AIS store with my phone number on it they would be able to do this for me quite easily on my next visit.

BKK bank in Karon is the first and only bank I went to.

Hope this helps someone

Hello, did someone manage to open a bank account in Thailand with dtv?

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!