Can tourists currently open bank accounts in Thailand given the recent non-O visa application restrictions?

@Darrel ********

so why they never if it’s only been for a year.

@Darrel ********

there is no law. Each bank sets its own policy and each branch of the bank makes up there own...there is no uniform rule in thai anything...

@JJ *******

my buddy got his visa today with the ฿800kdeposit made by immigration. The agents aren’t putting the money in, it comes from the immigration officers themselves.

@Jackie *******

I opened one up in 1999 on a tourist visa because I didn’t wanna carry cash around or leave it in my condo when I was out. Much safer to have it in a bank account then have ฿50,000 in your pocket.

@Henrik ****

in Eu we can open in every country. Im swede but have three different bank in different country. Ni problem at all

Be aware there is a error in the start of the Pattaya mail article ( and several other copy - paste media with the same article )

A Thai Bankaccount has never been a requirement to get DTV, on the contrary it has been one of the big advantage over other visa, that you could get DTV as long as you could show 500.000 Baht equivalent in any bank anywhere in the world.

It has never been the intention that DTV visaholders should be in need of a Thai bankaccount.

@Jo**

good read, thanks for sharing.

I don’t have telegram

@Jacky ****

how much?

@Colorado *****

Anyone in the US can open an account.

Be aware there is a error in the start of the Aseannow article ( and several other copy - paste media with the same article with the exact same mistake )

A Thai Bankaccount has never been a requirement to get DTV, on the contrary it has been one of the big advantage over other visa, that you could get DTV as long as you could show 500.000 Baht equivalent in any bank anywhere in the world.

It has never been the intention that DTV visaholders should be in need of a Thai bankaccount.

@Derek *********

Complete non-sense. Even now, there is no regulation preventing a bank from opening an account for someone on a tourist visa or visa-exempt entry. The banks at the moment are choosing to not to open accounts. Once the crackdown on "mule accounts" has passed then the bank policies may return to normal.

@Robert *******

3000 for driver license. That is chicken fee. Less than a hundred dollars for someone to handle all the stress. I would take that any day of the week

@Alan ********

you can still open a Thai bank account if you entered on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. . . . . because most people need the 2-month seasoning of +800,000 THB in the first year in order to apply for the "1-year extension of stay based on retirement"

@Alan *****

I just did.

Tourist in another country abroad in October last year. I opened an account and I am already transferring money there now ready for when I move and leave Thailand. 🤷‍♂️

Much easier laws - Much stricter due diligence….. but if all legitimate (as I am) it was simple!

Better retirement rules. And better visa rules for retirees and working visas too….

There ARE other countries that actually WANT your money and will encourage you to move there. Many!!!

@Alan *****

there are people here who entered on tourist visa who are trying to switch to O visa and are required to open an account to do it...

@Alan *****

I've been a tourist here for 15 years, so I have two bank accounts, it's easy.

@Aaron *******

which branch?

@Scott ********

DTV is 5 years...

@Scott ********

5 years is a considerable amount of time

@Scott ********

Is 3-4 months every year a short time ??

@Scott ********

I stay for two months twice a year. A bank account would be very handy. But, it’s not available.

@Scott ********

yeah. But people IN Thailand looking to switch to O retirement (not OA, which is obtained abroad) need a bank account.

@Rok *******

I tried to get my NonO in a different country where I had residency prior to my move here. Each time I went to the embassy, they found a reason to say no. I kept fixing what needed to be fixed and after 13 visits, they basically begged me to just deal with NonO when I reached Thailand since they would only give me 6 month multiple entry visa. Basically I was in a country where I think I might have been the first person to ever ask for nonO.

@Steve **********

or Indian

@Steve **********

or Chinese

@Graham ******

so any chance once they frozen these millions of accounts I'll get money back from being scammed. Doubt it I'm sure the government will find an excuse to keep it

@Tom *******

These crackdowns are always temporary and this one isn't even that widespread. It's mostly just Pattaya and the agents that open dozens or hundreds of accounts every week.

@John ********

For every country in the world, you are supposed to get the visa at the embassy BEFORE you travel there.

If you're not able to open an account you will need to leave Thailand to a nearby country and apply for the non-O visa through the Thai embassy there, and then return to Thailand and use that visa to open the account.

@John ********

pretty sure that you could get the non immigrant visa via eVisa from your home country and it wont require a thai bank account. you would then have time to open the account for the extension where you will show the proof.

@Alfred **********

Coz if you're a tourist you don't need one! Anymore dumb questions?

Be aware there is a error in the start of the Pattaya mail article ( and several other copy - paste media with the same article )

A Thai Bankaccount has never been a requirement to get DTV, on the contrary it has been one of the big advantage over other visa, that you could get DTV as long as you could show 500.000 Baht equivalent in any bank anywhere in the world.

It has never been the intention that DTV visaholders should be in need of a Thai bankaccount.

@Dave *********

not true, until now, you were always able to open a bank account on a tourist visa using an agent, and sometimes you even could get an account opened if you bought an insurance plan from the bank

@Dave *********

and yet people still have been doing it, mostly with Bangkok bank, and with a condition such as buying their insurance package for 5-7k along with it.

Correct, as is the case in many parts of the world if you have no permanent address.

@Dave *********

true

@Arthit ********

this man is legit! I will vouch for him. He help me tremendously.

@Arthit ********

which one for you use?

@Arthit ********

that's going to change.Id hate to get caught doing something illegal

Yeah. I saw a lot of Thai people got their account blocked by bank and must provide proof of income. They can't open any new bank also as their ID is shared among other bank.

I think it would be now way harder for foreigner to get bank of short stay visa.

@Toni *********************

what is O non visa ?

@Toni *********************

I assume you did that today because the new rules went into effect yesterday

@Toni *********************

You opened a bank account on a tourist visa ?

@Alan *****

I am here for 3 months and every time I withdraw the max baht from atm, I am charged 220baht plus my bank charges me for the transaction

@Alan *****

I have a bank account and come to Thailand every year for 3-4 months, it is so much more convenient to transfer money to pay bills and for spends plus no ATM charges.

@Alan *****

many long-term tourists began their time here as short-term tourists, hence wanting to get bank accounts, drivers licences etc.

@Al**

Alan what if a tourist comes here and decides to buy a property. Then they will need a bank account. I have known many such people including myself, but when I opened my accounts 20 years ago it was easy.

@Alan *****

Why would I come with 5000 USD cash and keep it under my pillow for a month or two?

Honest question

@Alan *****

Those that visit often on a tourist Visa would like to have a bank account so they can Scan and Pay.

@Alan *****

when we come over to live in Thailand we will be coming over on the tourist visa as our visa agent advised extended up to 90 days and while on the 90 visa they will open us up a bank account ready for our retirement visa 🤷

@Alan *****

condo purchase

@Alan *****

“long term” tourists - to pay rent, utilities, use QR payments……

@Nongnuch *******

I would still try Bangkok Bank and look if they still open it if you buy insurance from them🤷‍♂️

@Nongnuch *******

you can

@Charles *******

I found out from two agents last month. Tourist below 50yrs of age can no longer open bank account. Agents can't even do it.

@Charles *******

What's changed is the freezing of mule accounts, so agents can no longer provide the 800k required for extensions of stay. This has only occured in the last few weeks. I think bank staff have been told to stop taking bribes

@Patrick *******

there just pushing people to go Vietnam or Malaysia.

@David *********

doesn’t mean you will get to keep it. Banks can always close accounts. It’s in their Ts&Cs

@David *********

now be careful what you do with it because we are all now under surveillance.

@David *********

👍🏻

@David *********

same here 2weeks ago 😅

@NaTa ****

not at all..

@Nick ***********

Only for people with foreign investments.

It’s not about incoming cash - It’s about generating more investments in Thailand rather than foreign.

So first they created tax ruling to impose better taxation on results from foreign investments. Then they figured the ruling had an adverse effect because investors would simply keep their money abroad rather than investing it in Thailand.

So now they relax the same ruling, but only for foreign investments, so it seems. Unfortunately leaving (some) expats like us in the middle.

@Nick ***********

I thought this might happen on a large scale…..

Well , I stopped all transfers in to Thailand in Dec 2023.

I have paid tax abroad, I have sold my cars and properties. My money is sitting in bank and savings accounts and I have been retired for years…..

Since moving here over 12 years ago I have bought homes in Thailand, cars, employ gardeners and pool guys and maids etc etc etc. - but I am NOT bringing any more money IN to Thailand until I can see how this is all going to work out.

The Thai government has put the onus on to the foreigner to prove he has paid tax in another country….. not as easy as it sounds when I left the UK 20 yrs ago and lived elsewhere before settling in Thailand.

I have enough money to live on here but sick of them moving the goalposts and wanting to tax me on money that they freely allowed me to move in years ago and until recently was still allowed and ongoing….

Even if just a little bit, if 1000s of foreigners stop bringing lots of money in to Thailand because of these changes - which are a huge inconvenience - it MUST affect the Thai banks bottom-line some where, somehow.

The reverse for me actually, I am actively moving money back out of Thailand whenever I can. 🤷‍♂️

Just renewed my long-term visa this week and it is painfully obvious at immigration and the attitudes there that they don’t want me or my money here anymore, so I am looking to sell up and move after 12 years of loving this place.

There really are plenty of countries that make it easier to retire or move to than Thailand. (It has been great but enough is enough now!)

@Nick ***********

I have seen these, however they only Mentioned Thai's not Falangs.

@Andy ***********

actually YES, they can: a Non-Imm-O visa type can be obtained through the E-visa online system of the Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates worldwide, or inside Thailand on Immigration - if you fulfill the requirements

@Andy ***********

only if u have a bank account and u cannot get a bank account without a long term visa. Chickens and Eggs.

@Andy ***********

only available in your own Country I think ?

@Andy ***********

pretty hard to get one if you can't open a Thai bank account to meet the financial requirements though.