But that was where I started. Actually, asked for my daughter (21) a Thai national, a year ago.

What it told me, no overseas BKK bank would open and account (even for Thai nationals) to be used within Thailand as personal account.

She opened her own acount in Bangkok.

@Chris ******

That was Bangkok Bank in Osaka. The account opened that way is meant to be used in Thailand for commercial transactions, like payments between companies, not retail banking.

@Graham *****

Yes, you have to be in Thai for 2 months and then apply for retirement visa, while being on 30 days extension.

How could you meet financial requirement if you have no right to open the account without visa other than tourist or visa exemption? And the money has to sit in the account for two (not 3) months. Possible, if one is already on a spouse or some other kind of visa.

For a fresh start for the retirement visa, they just made it impossible from within Thailand. And opened the gate for visa agencies to sort it out somehow.

@Chris ******

I called Bangkok Bank in Osaka.

They told me, I can open a bank account with them, deposit the money, but no ATM card, no money movement out. Can not do anything with that bank account from within Thailand.

"The ‘retirement visa’ is an extension of the Non-O visa. The Non-O visa is a 90 day visa that allows you to open a bank account. There are few requirement for the 90 Day visa. Most of the requirements are for the extension. I have all of those things. Money, Insurance, criminal record check, condo contract etc."

But you have to get that visa first. When you have it, then OK. But, how to get it in the first place?

That is how Thais made it near impossible.

@Paul ********

The procedure is not simple at all. Thais made it almost impossible.

The agents charge:

58,000 THB if you have no residence in Thailand, 52,000 THB if you have.

Why did you put 800K THB into that account? Sounds like to make what is mandatory for a retirement visa.

@Paul ******

Never heard of that. If true, it would have been up for grabs.

"Golden Visa", if it is the same thing Mr Thaksin introduced in 2003, does give you 5-10-20 years stay, at the price of 8,000 THB (200 EUR) per month just to breath Thai air. Nothing else worth mentioning.

I know of some Japanese Execs who got that from their companies, part of their retirement package.