How to open a bank account in Thailand for foreigners
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- Опубліковано 27 чер 2022
- Tourist visa and visa-exempt holders are allowed to open a bank account in Thailand. I’m a Canadian who was able to open up a bank account with Bangkok Bank on a 30 days visa exempt stamp. Here’s how you can do it.
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Three things. 1) Keep the passport that you used to open the Thai bank account. Why? When that passport expires (in 5 or 10 years) you will need the SAME passport, with the SAME passport number to proove the bank account is yours should you forget/lose your ATM PIN number or Internet banking log in password. Note that for Thai people their national ID card number does not change throughout their life but your passport number will change when you get a new passport. 2) Those from the USA will be asked a few more questions because the Thai bank will need to conform to the US FATCA reporting requirements. 3) WISE is good for sending money TO Thailand but you cannot use it to send money FROM Thailand. Since the financial crisis Thailand ( and many other southeast countries) went through in 1997-1998 Thai authorities have made it more difficult to get money out of Thailand. These restrictions will not apply if you have a Thai Work Permit.
When I changed my passport I went to the bank and informed them and they changed the details AND when anyone changes their driving licence they are required to do the same.If your licence id number doesn't match your passport your licence is invalid.
Good, short and non complicated video. You answered all the questions I had. Thankyou
Thank you so much, I've never heard this explained so clearly, thanks for sharing. Top man 👍😊
Good info is always a gem, thanks.
Excellent video with very important information, very straightforward explanation, very easy to understand, keep up the good work.
Thank you!
Really appreciate this bro!!
Exactly, That is 100% spot-on.
VERY Helpful...Thanks!
Very informative thanks alot, I'm heading to Thailand in a couple of months to open a bank account
Thank you, very useful information, i will be moving to Thailand shortly
Really helpful, thank you
EXCELLENT VIDEO!
Well done, thanks.
I appreciate you for excellent information about the transfers banks accounts and the details of each item thank you for the helpful information .
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you very much Bro
That awesome idea 😊
It has been wonderful with it!
Excellent content mate.
Thank you!
@@unborders which branch did you to go mate?
@@brucedavis6234 I went to the one on the ground floor of the Canadian Embassy goo.gl/maps/JjHU8mrPjjHMs6Gu6
@@unborders Thanks mate
For transfers, look at Monito, it compares multiple Fx transfer options
Thank you!
Jeepers cats! Weed is legal and it’s that difficult to get a basic checking account?
Not anymore...
Great Video 👏 Will this still apply to today considering the new Thai visa laws that took effect in June 2024?
I’m only aware of the ease of visa rules and longer stays (from 30 to 60 days) for multiple countries starting June 1. All the info in this video still applies as far as I know!
Great video! Do you need a tourist visa or can you open an account while on 30 day visa exempt period?
I opened mine with a 30 day exempt, no tourist visa!
So far the most useful video on this topic and suits my case as well. Question. I heard the embassy gives that statement or fills that form A based on a 1-year lease agreement (if the other two options you advised are not feasible). Do you know anything about that?
I don't know anything about that. The process I went through was super easy, no confirmation of lease agreement by the embassy. Their main concern was to verify my passport is genuine and that I am a citizen of Canada. That's all.
@@unborders and that cost $50. What a reap off. Canadian embassy can do better!
@@mmmo4579 yeah,you might as well pay an agent, will be almost the same money with the travel to bangkok.
Bangkok Bank in Chiangrai only needs a letter from immigration to confirm your address.
Same in BKK -- Bangkok Bank even gives you the form you need to take to Immigration .... very, very simple to get done ....
Hello guys - Is it true that customers with large balances receive interest on the funds they hold in the account ?
Great video thanks, can you access your account on your phone or computer?
Yes! I can access it on my phone through the BuaLuang Bangkok Bank App. From there I can use PromptPay, transfers, QR code payments, cardless withdrawals at the ATM, and account status. I haven't tried logging on through the computer before.
which bank is the best for linking to paypal business? i need it for my online business. im an american with education visa. (or should i use wise instead of paypal?)
Great and informative video. I plan on retiring in Thailand in the next few years, but would I would like to open a Thai bank account on my next vacation trip to Thailand. My questions is...If I'm from the U.S. which does not require me to obtain a tourist visa, can I still apply for a bank account? I want to set up the Thai bank account to facilitate my Thai retirement visa requirements when the time comes.
Yes you can. Americans can enter Thailand with a 30-days visa exemption stamp and they will accept that.
Hi, Why need a annual fee 200baht for a atm card? Also how much min amount need to keep in the account to avoid penalty charge?
Thanks for your video. Which SIM card provider did you buy from & the price? Wise withdrawal ATM fee is too high, it's insane & this is on top of the 220 baht charged by every Thai ATM (except Aeon). Aeon charges 150 baht fee for ATM withdrawal, but Wise ATM fees are so killer that the difference between 220 & 150 baht is nothing.
I buy my SIM card from AIS (central world - 4th floor), they have a SIM card that cost 99 baht for 10gb for 30 days. You can reload through the app later for continued use.
Look at video guide here for ultra low fees using Wise, I don't directly use the wise card to withdraw from the ATM: ua-cam.com/video/6dO741VJaug/v-deo.html
Is OTP required when logging into your Bangkok account? And when transferring funds from Wise to your Bangkok account?
OTP is not required
Why does a passport holder need to get a certified letter from their embassy???? Seems like the passport itself is "certified".
Try to get an appointment with your Embassy to get the notary stamp. In 2 years I have not seen the US Embassy with an open appointment date and I check daily, they are ignoring citizens but out partying every night.
Is it ok to get a notary stamp at US?
Exactly - it's good enough to get into the country but not good enough to get a bank account?
What's the ATM fee? (How much it cost to take your money out)
Little known fact, even if you international transfer in baht, Bangkok bank charges a fee from 200 to 500baht to deposit into your account.
Check out my video on how to get money into your Bangkok bank account with ultra low fees. I do this all the time.
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Thanks for your video! I’m going to visit Thailand with US passport. If I want to open an account at Bangkok bank, do I need a certificate letter from us embassy in Thailand ?
Yes that’s right!
I have a Thai bank account but would like to upgrade it so I can pay my builder and other bits and pieces. I need an account that can transfer funds in thailand.
Bangkok bank. Two branches asked me to purchase accident insurance. I Declined . Third said I need to provide Embassy letter but after explaining Australian embassy stopped supplying legal document certification for non Australian purpose they said I need yellow house book. Luckily I now bank with Krungsri bank. Very happy with them. I think after time citizens will be charged simply to step into the sun. Sun Tax coming soon or some would say it's here already, right EV owners?
A monkey data slave I'll never be. 👍
Do you know how long a certified letter will be valid for? Is there any expiration date on it?
There wasn't an expiry date on it, but there is the date that the certified letter was issued on the stamped seal.
May I have bring the cash and deposit it in the bank 😊
Thank God Bangkok bank is in New York and I can just apply through the new york branch
My experience with Bangkok Bank was to sign up insurance cost 5900 TBH/Year to get mobile banking facilities & debit card 699 THB/Year.
But i refused to sign up insurance though.
That's the answer I got when I tried opening account with Bangkok Bank. The bank guy told me it's 700 baht/year (where did this value come from??) but it will be reduced to 600 baht the following year. He insisted that the insurance 5900 baht is "for only 1 year" (he said), is compulsory. If don't want insurance, that would be the Unionpay card, not Mastercard. I said, but I read that it's possible to not have to buy insurance. He kinda shrugged & said, "It is required here.". I didn't sign up at all. I'm not going to lose so much money just to open an account that's going to take more fees later. I didn't get to the residence address stage, so I don't know if it's really possible to open the account on a tourist visa-exempt.
@@shoiku4734Where was the bank ?
# Three is hilarious....haha. You forgot to mention if the account was Savings or checking.....details will separate you from all the other youtubers.
The one I opened was a savings account. Thanks for catching that.
Is it possible to open a bank account BEFORE I come to Thailand? I'm a Brasilian, another BRICS country
Sir I live in apartment in Phetchaburi. Can I use non B visa to open a bank account with these documents. I am hired at school
As I write this on 27 July 2023 inside BKk Bank Emporium this method is redundant and no more valid…they need a work permit AND a non O visa!…less than a month ago I was here this method was still valid and explained to me by the counter staff who ONLY needs more than 30 days tourist visa and passport confirmation from embassy….wasted time and energy!….😅😅😅
Try asking another branch around tourist areas. I went to 4-5 different branches and they all said different things!
What is the crypto friendliest bank in Thailand?🤨
As a fellow Canadian, how do get around the two factor authentication required to transfer money from Canada to Thailand ? Thank you for your videos.
Excellent video , thank you ; I'm an old Canadian never owned a cell phone , so should I buy one here in Canada , or wait until I travel to Thailand ? Thanks again J
I'd just pick one up in Canada because the prices of smartphones is about the same here in Thailand. In Bangkok, there are two large Apple stores + multiple authorized resellers/service that you can go to for any help with your iPhone should you run into any problems here.
If you want to take the gamble on a lower priced phone largely with brands from China, they can be found for cheap here. But as for reliability and compatibility with the Canadian network for when you return home, I'm not sure.
Helpful tips on how to open a bank account with a tourist visa. Do you know if the embassy also requires a 'proof of residential address in Thailand' to provide the passport certification letter, or is there some flexibility around this. Is the address required on Form A?
The address is required on the form, but they don't ask for proof of you living there. They are only concerned about making sure your passport is real.
@@unborders I saw two banks in that place: Bangkok Bank, K bank🏦 , which one you can recommend
@@elaineg6594 Bangkok Bank!
Should I have to apply a Thai tour-visa for with US passport
I used my Visa on arrival stamp (tourist visa 30 days) to apply, it was ok.
Can you clarify please. I want to apply for a retirement visa for the UK. How do I open the Thai bank account to deposit the minimum amount for that visa to be successful? Can you help
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To open a Thai bank account you'll have to do it in person at a bank branch in Thailand. From my research before, there isn't a way to do it online as a foreigner.
How about if I rent a place, Im planning on staying for wa while.
If you’re renting a place you can use your rental address on the application form.
I keep reading that I need a visa to open a bank account, but that I need a bank account to get the visa. Make it make sense.
I opened mine with just the 30-days visa exemption stamp that I received from the immigration line when I arrived at the airport. Give it a try in multiple bank branches and see what happens.
I don't understand why someone would need to get their passport certified, or get this Form A filled out for $50. A trip to the US Embassy in Bangkok is not that insignificant a journey from Pattaya (all day). Are you absolutely sure this is needed?
Yes it's needed and one of the hurdles you'll have to go through. It's well worth the effort in my opinion! My bank account has been very useful.
I just went to my embassy and the staff said they only notorise residence leases. They have nothing to show the bank, no letter. The staff offered to stamp "true copy" on a photocopy of my passport for 130 baht (come back Monday morning to collect because it's Friday afternoon). Some days ago, I went to Bangkok bank to ask about account opening and the staff didn't say anything about hotel address even though I said I am staying in a hotel. She just told me to get a "letter" from my embassy verifying my passport number. No mention of "Form A". So today I went to that same bank and the staff said they needed a long-term address, not hotel. I said I read of tourists being able to open accounts with Bangkok bank. She said no.
I suggest trying a different branch. Go to one close to the Siam area. I also know the branch in Emquartier (Phrom Phong BTS station) allows tourist to open bank accounts.
@@unborders Thank you! I will try it!
@@shoiku4734 And? Any success?
Great video bud. Im a US citizen visiting Thailand for the 1st time..Im getting engaged and plan on retirement there. Im hoping all goes well with attempting to open the bank account as described. I will be in NE Thailand staying with her family for 2 months. Just working on my 60 day visa know. I will be in Sakon Nakhon Province area. So are you saying its best to do it in big city??? I think my Girl uses Bangcock Bank as well. Appreciate you and great information.Any other suggestions be much value. So your saying I get Form A from bank. Then need to go too usa embassy and get it cleared,then open account. I have her family adrress, passport,all I need is Form A ,Thia phone number. Im leaving after new years on Jan 8th.
Thanks for the video 👍🙏
Yes, doing it in Bangkok will be easier because the embassy is located there. Also, since the city has a significant number of foreigners opening bank accounts, the bank staff are more knowledgeable about the process. In some locations, staff may deny you simply because they are not familiar with the procedure for opening an account for a foreigner.
With the info you have you shouldn’t have a problem opening an account. If you fail opening at one location, try another location. I suggest trying at tourist hot spots like Emquartier mall or Siam Paragon.
Good luck!
@@unborders Thanks you so much... It will be a fun trip for myself and my girlfriend as well!!! Great advice. 🙏👍
Any minimum deposit required?
Yes for me it was 500 baht
What is the minimum amount to put when making a bank account
500 baht.
my 'european country' embassy only provide services for people REGISTERED living here... tourist visa, no way... only emergency passport they can deliver... that's it
seriously? tried 10 banks and branches... all want long term visa first... so cannot convert from tourist to retirement... as they all want work permit, long term visa, etc...
Try the Bangkok Bank branches in touristy areas of Bangkok (Siam, EmQuartier), the success rate is higher there and they frequently get foreigners opening bank accounts. Good luck!
Can I keep dollars in a Thai bank account?
I think if you’re able to somehow open a foreign currency deposit account with the bank you can. I see an option to link one to my account, but no option to apply for one.
I suggest asking them in person when you apply for your account. The Bangkok Bank savings account I have only keeps Thai bahts.
Anyone that can help? I'm trying to find out how much the SCB charges for their transfer fee for a wire transfer from overseas. I sent $100 can. and was charged 220thb on the Thai side, but if I send 1000 or 10000 is it same fee or a percent of total sent. The SCB bank in thailand can't tell us for some strange reason - tried couple of branches but tell us to ask our bank in Canada.
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Which branch did u go to?
The one on the ground floor of the Canadian embassy (across from Lumpini Park)
I am trying to get a bank account i cant have one because i dont have a visa i went to get a visa they say i cant have a visa unless i have a bank account whats happening here
That’s weird. Did they say which type of visa you need? There are many types
@@unborders O visa I asked for
It was PDC visa udon thani
You have to apply for a 90 day visa , then while you are in thailand on that visa you open a. bank account to be able to apply , at the Immigration Office , to extend / swap to the O visa .
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