Look at the Thai immigration website, you may not need a business visa, maybe just a work permit. It all depends on what you are intending to do. I have a restaurant and 2 bars but I im on a marriage visa with a work permit. Again it all depends on what you are doing so go straight to the real source and look at website or better still vist/call the Thai embassy in your home country.

@Dave ********

for scanning, you just add your HDBC card to you wallet. Like Google pay or for QR i added it to my LINE pay. As for lounge access, yes depending on the level of card you have you get access through Lounge Key app.. hope that helps. Just to clarify the HSBC app does not have QR itself, so you attach it to another app like LINE or some other one.

I've said for months now that unless you have a specific need for a thai bank account don't get one. I use HSBC Global account. It works with all payment systems like tap and go, line pay, QR payments, google pay, samsung wallet and no ATM fees, lowest rate for the whole month of payment, so if I buy something today and tomorrow the exchange rate is better I'll get that rate. The card also has some benefits like lounge access and its a multi currency account. 12 years in Thailand and never had a thai account except for my marriage visa, that account just sits there and i dont touch it. also I don't need to worry about tax. Maybe this might be worth looking into for some of you.

@Janelle ****

a visa agent can't guarantee your entry. They just provide a visa, which you can do yourself, its upto immigration if you are stamped in or not.

@Paul ******

as i said if you have everything ready. And yes you need to go and make an appointment at witch time they will look over your documents then you go back for you appointment and it did take less then an hour. There was no visit to our home as I had the lease for more then a year and all the proof of a real marriage, we were married for over a year as well. Maybe we got lucky but it was easy because we did everything properly.

@Paul ******

depending on if the op wants to work. Marriage visa allows it. And its very easy, not sure what you mean by jumping through hoops I did mine in less then an hour. If you have everything ready and all the relevant doc's its simple.

I used to work in the mines as a FIFO worker and travelled back to Thailand every 3 weeks and stayed 2 weeks. Did that for almost 3 years, never had a problem. I know its a bit stricter now but if you are doing the right thing then I can't see it being a problem. I have travelled back to Thailand 3 times this year already and never be stopped or asked anything.

HSBC Global account is the best option that i have found, no ATM fees and best rate for the month.