@Tony ********

I am afraid you are right.

@Tony ********

cost if calls to UK landlines is about 5 baht per minute. To UK mobiles about 8 baht per minute. My UK sim wants £1.75 per minute! My only advice is to do all you can to avoid your UK bank thinking you live in Thailand. I made two monthly Swift transfers and my last account was closed. In addutionnyte bank messed one transfer up completely meaning I had to start 12 x monthly payments again.

Also if you register device as trusted it does not require pin with my bank. Awkward if you change device though.

Calling the UK on AIS using prefix 44 with no + is very cheap. Maybe the best way to call your banks. Why not order a contract sim from uk and use that when you need to receive pin? That is what I do and it works well. Just make sure your uk number us registered as +44 something or it might not work. Dual sim phone allows you to keep thai sim fitted at same time for normal use. I use talkmobile at £11.75 a month. Might sound expensive but I get use of phone as soon as I land in UK and vv in Thailand.

@Paul ********

well it is the only thing that every consulate will want. Everything else varies from one to another.

Passport useful.

@Bill ************

no, I beleive that to get the non o in your home country you can show the funds in your home bank. Unless it is different at your embassy this is what I beleive us correct. Email the embassy to find out. I got my first 90 day non o in Savannakhet and showed my UK bank statements.

I think it is the same as from Uk. Get a 90 day non o based on retirement, assuming you are over 50, in your home country. Enter Thailand with that and it will be easier to open a bank account. Only 3 Thai banks will allow transfers using Wise over baht. Bangkok Bank is one of them. Transfer 0 baht to new Thai account two months before applying for 12 month extension at local immigration. Make sure you ask your immigration office for a list of their requirements. Job done. Good luck.

Dont do it!

You can choose to have your UK state pension paid directly to a Thai bank account. You are then not taxed on it in the UK but would be in Thailand. I dont know how that works out financially but it might be a lot simpler. If course your UK pension would be frozen.