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

Several visas have a "cash in bank" requirement. I have cash in an Australian Super Fund. These funds have huge assets, are as safe as banks, and because I'm over 60 the funds are immediately accessible. I'd hate to have to transfer funds from this high-interest environment into a low-interest bank account just for the visa. So does it have to be in a bank, or would a Super Fund qualify?

Also, some visas want to see an income from a government pension. I get some funds from this, but the majority from my Super Fund as an allocated pension. Would they look at both incomes?

O-A Visa Required Document

( Please check relevant embassy/

consulate-general website for specific

required documents)*at the time of application

1. Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document

2. Photograph taken within the last six months

3. Proof of the permanent residence in the country where the application is submitted

4. Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB or having the current balance of 800,000 THB, e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings

5. A medical certificate issued from the country where the application is submitted, showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No.14 (B.E. 2535) (certificate shall be valid for not more than three months)

6. Foreign Insurance Certificate as stipulated by the Office of Insurance Commission and Health Insurance of Thailand, which must be completed, signed and stamped by the insurance company. The form can be downloaded from [members only]

7. Health Insurance issued by a Thai or foreign insurer for general illnesses, including COVID-19, with the insured sum of no less than 100,000 USD or 3,000,000 THB

8. Certificate of criminal record clearance from the country of nationality or the country where the application is submitted

a few questions:

for 5, my primary doctor or any doctor can sign it or must be some doctors appointed?

1. need my current medical insurance company UMR to sign it? how about if my insurance company is not on the list of Thai government?

2. my current UMR insurance in America?

I am a 58 year old Canadian citizen looking to spend 7 months in Thailand and am looking evaluating the O-A Visa for 1 year. I am 58 and have the financial requirements but am at the start of the process to fill out the forms which seem to have to be notarized and signed by the Consulate General. I have 5 months to obtains this O-A Visa as I want to stay for 7 months this year (end of Oct 2025-April 2026). Any advice regarding the scheduling of duties? police report, proof of funds, proof of Health, Insurance. It seems the only alternative is Multiple- Entry-Visa (which 1. Includes the cost and disruption of Visa runs and 2. Officially states the ‘up to 6 months and I need almost 7 months) I know Thailand fairly well and have a good contact there who lives in a retirement visa from Europe but on prior trips have spent just 4 months at a time. Ultimately the O-A retirement visa is what I think is my only choice as I negotiate a longer term visa commitment. Also I have noted that some people are having difficulties with the Multiple Entry route in terms of re-entering Thailand and encountering different requirements from different immigration officers. I’m curious if anyone else has successfully obtained this visa recently and if so, how long it might have taken as well as details or advice on issues encountered during the application process. Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

Trying to get my mum an O-A visa to live with us in her retirement. Health insurance is a requirement, however she is 81 and so far none of the health insurance companies in the official visa guide's recommended list will insure anyone over 75. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Hello’s, when applying for an O- A visa from the US online , do I necessarily have to provide insurance proof and if so how do I get a Thai insurance without a knon address ( yet ). Or do I just come on a tourist and take care of the conversion once I get ther

The O-A visa requires a health insurance policy, that covers 400,000 baht for inpatient and 40,000 baht for outpatient coverage from certified health insurance companies.

I would like to save a little with the premiums of the health insurance policy.

Does anybody know, if these policies are also accepted by the thai embassy, if a deductible is agreed on with the insurance company?

Hi everyone. I'm after a bit of advice. I want to obtain a O-A visa in the UK and come to Thailand. I understand that it lasts for 12 months and that I can leave the country and come back in and get another 12 months. What I want to know is, can I continue to do this every year or is there a limit. I do realise that I need 12 months insurance initially to get it. Many thanks.

I am American trying to get O-A visa. I am getting grief about the medical form I submitted. The embassy staff in Washinton are asking for a stamp with proof of the doctor office.

I requested this from my doctor, but they do not have any type of stamp. Everything is electronic. My doctor was surprised to fill out a paper form.

I attached his business card to the form and it is not being accepted either.

Any advice? And be respectful please.

Conflicting info on the Los Angeles Consulate site.

For the O-A visa do I need to show 800k baht equivalent (approx 24k USD) or 30k USD?

The requirements list shows 800k baht, and the document list says 30k USD.

Any first hand experiences?