@Max ************

Asi says it's the most expensive and the it's pretty damn easy

Personally non O retirement worked for me.

You can also apply for a Non OA while outside Thailand. You will have to get insurance but you will have an easier time getting a back account set up in Thailand.

The other two alternatives are the LTR ( if you qualify ) or the Thai privilege.

The privilege is the most expensive 650,000 baht fee, but it is the simplest to get. Takis 6-8 weeks to process due to criminal background checks.

You can try to bounce to another country. Just note that if they IO suggests that you should get a longer term visa. Do it.

There isn't a posted number of multiple entries you are allowed in a year.

@Ossie ********

the 20 privilege visa is significantly more than 1 million baht. The Non O retirement visa is legally a long term visa. The DTV is a short term visa as you can't actually stay in Thailand for a year ( you must leave ). Maybe banks are giving DTV holders a very hard time opening accounts.

There is a 10 year ( really 5 + 5 ) LTR but I can't get health insurance and having to tie up $100,000 USD for 10 years in Thailand will cost me significantly more than the 1.5 million baht for the 10 year privilege visa

Even if I let my non O retirement visa expire because I left Thailand, once you have a place and a bank account, it's straight forward to go to immigration and get one.

@Ossie ********

what's better about it? If the money isn't a problem Non O is a long term visa, DTV is not.

@Graham *****

if you go Non OA you need health insurance.

Honestly, just get an agent. You only need them once to open the bank account. From then on its pretty easy. BTW, he will need a TM30 from the girlfriend if she owns the house.

Banks have been getting a hard time recently with mule accounts. You need a long term visa and CR to open a bank account. Which is a problem since to get a Non O retirement visa requires 800,000 in the bank for at least 2 months.

Strangely Bangkok Bank seems to be much more strict and wants a separate account just for the 800,000 and they wamt it in for 4 months or the account frozen for 4 months before they will issue the letter to immigration. It's time for my annual extension and it looks like I'm going to Bangkok Bank to open a second account with them tomorrow.

@Pete ******

you need a long term visa to open a bank account. It's not like it uses to be

@Max ************

make sure you get the property version of the certificate of residency... Tell immigration why you want it and they will get your the correct one

You need to do a non OA in Oz, you will have to get health insurance, but once you have it, you should be able to open a bank account in Thailand for the 800,000 baht