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How can expats with a DTV Visa open a bank account in Thailand amid new regulations?

Feb 18, 2025
3 days ago
Tomer ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sawadee Krub friend🙏 We are two people seeking assistance to open a bank account with a DTV Visa and are happy to pay for help.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Opening a bank account in Thailand with a DTV visa has recently become challenging due to new regulations aimed at preventing scams and money laundering. To successfully open an account, individuals typically need a permanent address in Thailand, a Thai mobile number, and often a residency certificate. Many commenters suggest consulting agents in Pattaya or waiting for regulations to settle before attempting to open an account. It's noted that holding a DTV visa does not traditionally require a Thai bank account, as equivalent funds can be held in foreign accounts. The situation is currently fluid, and individuals seeking a bank account are advised to stay informed about the latest requirements.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Nick ********
You can't get an bank account without permit of stay.... dtv is more or less a tourist visa...
Mauro ******************
Krub? 🫣😅
John *******
It's very difficult now the rules are changing its a NO from me
Ali ******
Siam Legal Bangkok
Henrik *****
Do never believe those scammers.

They give the impression of being a Thai Embassy, and such crooks misleading people should never be dealt with.
Henrik *****
Next time make sure that the visa you choose, also can be used to that you have in mind.

DTV has never been eligable for a Thai bankaccount.
Damian ****************
Old times when you go to BKK bank with tourist visa seems long gone...
Joe **********
Better let the dust settle a bit, nearly impossible now...
Steve ********
With Thailand cracking down on money laundering, banks are running scared. The result is they don’t wanna all “any” foreigner opening a bank account. It’s all BS, but I think it will ease up in a few weeks. All these so called “tourists” getting bank accounts doesn’t help. And that’s on the banks.
Philip *******
You need Thai phone number, you need letter of residence from immigration so obviously a TM 30 longer than 90 days lodged
Robert **************
@Philip ******
question will an eSIM work as well as a regular Thai number
Philip *******
@Robert *************
who knows I doubt it I had to have Thai phone number to install banking app
Robert **************
@Philip ******
yeah me too. I have a friend that works at one of the banks Kasikorn I believe. Let me ask
Henrik *****
Forget about it, DTV has never been eligble for Thai bankaccounts, since it is a tourist visa, and not a proper longterm visa.

New rules have now stopped getting a bankaccount totally

Reconsider if a Thai bankaccount is need-to-have or nice-to-have.

Banks in Thailand are like everywhere in the world, interested in having good stable custormers, that have a permanent address, a steady easy traceable income, and use the account all year round.

That is why the banks are reluctant to give accounts to people on short time ( read: tourist ) visas, and who only spend part of the year in Thailand.

Don’t expect to get a residence certificat, until you have stayed at a permanent adress in at least 3 month, since that is what the residence certificat should confirm.

Furthermore the added attention on whitewashing of money, is an added burden on the banks, so reluctant depositing large amounts isn’t a guaranteed way to open an account.

The value of a resident certificat, had gone down, since Immigration Officers are giving them to people that are not on a longterm visa, or have stayed severel months at 1 adress in Thailand, so even if it is a formal requirement, the bank make up their own assesment of the stability of the want-to-be customer.

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เต๋อ *****
As I understand, NO agent can do it, anyone dare, they will arrest them.

Go to immigration, tell them you are applying for a visa ( pick one that you will qualify for and require bank account balance) Ask them for a letter of permission,
เต๋อ *****
DTV visa must apply from outside the country.

Bank account from your country will do.

If you are inside the country, there are other visa you can apply, go to immigration, ask for a letter of permission to open account, base on your application visa type that requires account balance. Then go to Bangkok Bank.
Shake *****
@เต๋อ ****
if not a DTV, and im in country. What type visa do you suggest?
เต๋อ *****
@Shake ****
what is your intention of stay?

If you are over 50 of age and have 800k thb, you can apply for retirement visa.
Shake *****
@เต๋อ ****
I like the DTV, im under 50.
เต๋อ *****
@Shake ****
then you can use your country bank account and apply from outside the country.

You can try extending your 60 days visa, and ask for that letter at the same time.

I don't know where you at, but if you in Huahin, I can introduce you to an agent that might be able to help.
Shake *****
@เต๋อ ****
ok,thanks i will do so at any thai embassy in the world. Im currently not in my home country
Tomasz ********
Go to Pattaya. TikTok services company helped with that 🙂
Henrik *****
They have published a message that they are no longer able to open bankaccounts for anyone, after rules changed last week.
Joel *********
So if you can't open a thai bank account, how is anyone supposed to get a visa if the requirements are to have money in a thai bank account? Weird.
Nick ************
@Joel ********
you get the Visa before coming to Thailand
Jennifer ******
@Joel ********
not DTV. You can have the equivalent of 500k baht in your home country account.
Joel *********
@Jennifer *****
aaaaaah okay that's rad! That's what I'll be looking to do.
Dover **********
you can’t unfortunately
Graham *******
Can't be done at the moment! Sorry about that!
Paul ***********
I would wait until this latest crack down has settled and there is clarity
Egger *********
Thavorn property agency in Pattaya has a guy that helped me open my Bank account, need it to transfer the money for house purchase.

Excellent service with Bangkok bank .
Egger *********
@Henrik ****
, well f that’s what you believe , as they say in Thailand “ upto you “?
เต๋อ *****
@Egger ********
how long ago?
Henrik *****
Not possibel any longer, everything changed within the last week.
Egger *********
@เต๋อ ****
he works for Thavorn now , I used him last year
เต๋อ *****
@Egger ********
I did it for my sister in March last year, I would check with Thavorn again.
Magnus ******************
I thought its better to wait one month and see what happened. Its new rules then last day (17 feb) and big problems to open new accounts fore the moment.
David **********
Go to immigratio n with your residency certificate and ask for a letter to open a bank account
Bob **********
@David *********
they need a residents first and some offices won’t issue one unless you’ve done a 90 day report
David **********
@Bob *********
khon kaen will
Magnus ******************
@David *********
Thats not help for the moment.

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Henrik *****
Be aware there is a error in the start of the 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.
Us *****
Unfortunately the Chinese effed it up for everyone, just like everything in Thailand. You will have to go to Pattaya and find the right agent that has a reliable connection with a bank person.
Abu ********
@Us ****
, Pattaya agents already refused many cases dear! Many agents are already under threat to be arrested for their illegal assistance in opening bank accounts and others.
Us *****
@Abu *******
damn Chinese ruined everything. Why do they have to kidnap their own people in Thailand and traffic them across to Myanmar to scam other Chinese? Only the Chinese can do the unbearable.
Lucas **********
No
Peter *****************
Bro big problem to have a Thai bank account now.1st you need a pernernant house address and you need to have a Thai mobile register under your name.Just find an agent.All because of scam.
Abu ********
@Peter ****************
, right now it's impossible. Don't go to any agent to be in danger. Just wait for the government to bring changes.
Peter *****************
@Abu *******
agreed dude
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