Immigration and Banking

[2lz2p]

I received a very recent report from an Expat which for some may be good news (Immigration) and for others bad news (Opening a Thai bank account) and posting it here as some others may find the information useful.

This individual is using and has for several years the 65k+ monthly deposits through Wise to his Bangkok Bank account. As reported in other threads, other than the Pattaya Branch where the account was opened the other Pattaya branches refuse to provide the two letters needed by Immigration for renewing Retirement extensions - verification of account (also needed by those with 800k+ on deposit) and the letter listing all foreign deposits to their account.

In his case, he opened his account several years ago in Udon Thani before moving to Pattaya. Thus the BBk branches in Pattaya refused to provide him with either letter. Also, last September Wise sent his transfer through Kasikorn Bank. Kasikorn told him to get a credit advice form BBk and they could provide the information needed to show it was from a foreign source. He said BBk also refused to provide a credit advice.

The good news, in his case, Jomtien Immigration Officer was understanding and lenient - Immigration said he could use his bank statements and they would not require the listing of foreign deposits but they needed a verification letter. However, since he also had a Krungsri bank account, the Jomtien Immigration Officer accepted a verification of account letter from Krungsri even though it was not the account he used for his monthly 65k+ deposits. Further, they also didn't require a credit advice or letter from Kasikorn for the September deposit (he didn't say if he used his Wise receipt to show his transfer went through Kasikorn to BBk). He did receive his one year extension.

The bad news, Thai banks now require more identification documents to open an account - I suggested to him that he open a Kasikorn account as it was a Wise partner bank and they did show Wise transfers as foreign and would provide both verification letters (I opened my Kasikorn account last September after I also experienced my Wise transfer through Kasikorn and was able to get another 65k+ deposit made in September - since then, I transfer funds to my Kasikorn account which usually arrive within seconds of my submitting the transfer order to Wise).

He obtained his residency certificate and went to Kasikorn to open an account - they would not do so as they now require a second form of identification other than the passport which must be from the person's home country such as an identity card or driving license. In his case, his UK driving license had expired several years ago and he had thrown it away.

I did some research and it appears since the first of this year when the Bank of Thailand told Thai banks to strengthen their "know your customer" procedures most of the other major Thai banks have also adopted the policy of requiring a second home country identity document to open an account. I would expect that for recent arrivals using a non-immigrant visa, they most likely will still have a home country driving license. However for many others that have lived here a several years, if we still have a driving license, it probably has expired (mine did several years ago, I still have it). Whether Thai banks will accept an expired license is unknown, but it might be worth a try. I am glad I opened my Kasikorn account before they started requiring this second form of identification as I might not have succeeded.

[Dodger]

2lx2p...Thanks for the detailed account of your friends entanglements.

As mentioned before, both BKK Bank and K-Bank have free e:mail Credit Advice services which provide those who sign up for this service with monthly Credit Advice Reports via e:mail. I just received mine today for the March money transfer of my social security into my BKK bank account.

There's no downside to signing up for this service, and for those using the 65k method it shows Immigration a 12 month history of +65k foreign pension payments which correlate with 12 consecutive monthly deposits displayed in your bank book. For those using the 800k method it's a different story all together.

In Thailand ONLY the bank where a person opens their account (then referred to as their home bank) is obligated to provide bank letters to their customers. Some will provide this service anyway - and some won't. According to BKK Bank, the only way a person can change the location of their home bank is to close their account and reopen it at the location of their choice. This is definitely third-world stuff we're talking about.

Regarding the need for two ID cards to open an account; Many (not all) expats have Thai drivers licenses which would suffice. I know if I was planning to reside in Thailand and didn't have a bank account yet I'd make sure to have several picture I.D's with me. At the very least a farang can pick up a temporary International Drivers License form their home country which would probably also suffice.

GB's been telling people for years to open a Thai bank account before it's too late. Well... here we are.

[2lz2p]

Regarding the need for two ID cards to open an account; Many (not all) expats have Thai drivers licenses which would suffice. I know if I was planning to reside in Thailand and didn't have a bank account yet I'd make sure to have several picture I.D's with me. At the very least a farang can pick up a temporary International Drivers License form their home country which would probably also suffice.

A Thai driving license will not suffice as it is not from the person's home country which is the apparent new requirement for the second form of identification now being required. Getting an International Driving Permit (not license) requires a valid home country/state driving license. So for those whose license has expired, getting one does not appear to be an option.

[Gaybutton]

A second form of ID from one's home country does not necessarily have to be a driving license, especially if it has expired. Birth Certificates don't expire and should be relatively easy to obtain if you don't already have it. Maybe that, along with other forms of ID, would suffice. I'm surprised a passport is no longer sufficient. How do they think people get passports?

I think most people who have been on this board for any length of time, as Dodger pointed out above, know for years I have been urging people to get a Thai bank account while you can. It has been getting tougher and tougher. I don't expect it to get any easier, but I won't be the least bit surprised if it continues to get tougher. I still urge everyone to get a Thai bank account before it becomes virtually impossible, and we're all that far away from that already.

Some of you may have no choice other than to start switching to the 800,000 baht method, but even that requires the money be held in a Thai bank account. That might be a bit difficult if you can't even open a Thai bank account anymore.

The only alternatives I can think of are trying to open a Thai bank account using one of the visa companies - if they can still get accounts for foreigners. Even if a visa company can get Thai bank accounts for foreigners, the next question is how much longer they will continue to be able to do so - tea money or not. You might also try different bank branches. Often enough, what you are told at one branch can be entirely different from what other branches will tell you. Can't hurt to try.

I have no evidence of any kind to back this up, but I can't help wondering if toughening up these banking regulations might be a back door method of trying to force people to buy these very expensive visas.

I would also want to know, if any of you do know, just why Bangkok Bank is refusing to issue credit advice reports. Anyone have information about that? As far as I can tell, that is Bangkok Bank's own policy, not a Bank of Thailand policy.

It would be nice if Anutin's administration starts taking a look at for once making things easier for expats, but I have a feeling that expat concerns are way down at the bottom of their priority list, especially now when their focus is trying to figure out how they are going to be able to evacuate Thai citizens from Iran, figuring out how to keep the fallout from this war from causing problems for Thailand, and how to keep oil prices under control. They have already said to expect price rises.

[Jun]

I would also want to know, if any of you do know, just why Bangkok Bank is refusing to issue credit advice reports. Anyone have information about that? As far as I can tell, that is Bangkok Bank's own policy, not a Bank of Thailand policy.

From what I see and what I read in the newspapers, the Thai banking system looks rather inefficient and short on disruptors to bring in competition.

Last year, I opened a new UK bank account without leaving my home and it took under 20 minutes. I see no reason why it shouldn't be the same for Thais, expats in Thailand and anyone else who has a valid reason for opening an account.

As for the credit advice reports, if immigration were efficient, they wouldn't even be asking for these in the first place.


As for preserving ID, well renewing a UK photo card driving license costs £14 online. Renewing a license online is free for over 70s. Although I'm not quite sure if they would post to an overseas address.

[2lz2p]

second form of ID from one's home country does not necessarily have to be a driving license, especially if it has expired. Birth Certificates don't expire and should be relatively easy to obtain if you don't already have it.

Correct as to it does not have to be a driving license. The information I read also mentions a home country Identity Card - many Expats come from countries that do not issue such cards. I don't think a birth certificate will suffice as I understand it, the second form must have a photo.

As for the credit advice reports, if immigration were efficient, they wouldn't even be asking for these in the first place.
As for preserving ID, well renewing a UK photo card driving license costs £14 online. Renewing a license online is free for over 70s. Although I'm not quite sure if they would post to an overseas address.

Immigration does not normally ask for credit advice reports. However, if the bank records a Wise transfer as being a domestic transfer (sending through one of their partner banks rather than to the recipient bank), then it may be necessary to have a credit advice showing the origin was a foreign transfer to convince the Immigration Officer that it meets that requirement when using the 65k+ monthly income method.

[Gaybutton]

I don't think a birth certificate will suffice as I understand it, the second form must have a photo.

How about a birth certificate and your baby picture. It's a form of ID and a photo too . . .

How about a photo of someone else? Does the requirement specify it must be a photo of yourself? A birth certificate and a photo of
Benito Mussolini. Isn't that a form of Id and a photo . . . ?

[Dodger]

Just for clarification:

A BANK STATEMENT is a multi-page report issued by your Home Bank which provides money transfer details proving that your funds for the last 12 months came from a foreign source.

A CREDIT ADVICE is a one page report generated by your banks Global Services Payment Dept. which provides the same transfer details as the Bank Statement described above, only for a single month. For immigration purposes you would need the last 12 credit advices (12 month history) if using the 65k method.

A BANK LETTER (which people commonly confuse with the Bank Statement) is simply a stamped one page summary from your Home Bank attesting to the fact that 800k was maintained in the account for the specified period. NOTE: this Letter was intended to be used for Immigration purposes when using the 800k method. Even some Immigration agents get confused over this which only adds to the chaos.

It's the Bank Letter, and in some recent cases even the Bank Statement, that some BKK Bank Branches have been refusing to issue to customers because of money laundering concerns, especially when their records indicate that the customer is not in the Kingdom on a long-stay visa (retired). That's why signing up for the free credit advice e-mail service at your bank is so important.

Hope this helps.

[Gaybutton]

That's why signing up for the free credit advice e-mail service at your bank is so important.

I'm glad you posted that. Until your post I never knew about that service.

Your post also explains why Bangkok Bank is doing what they're doing, although in my opinion they're going way over the top. What it doesn't explain is why, as far as I know, Bangkok Bank is the only bank refusing credit advice services. If they are that worried about money laundering, once again completely innocent people get caught up in this and punished for the crimes of somebody else. I have no idea if refusing credit advice documents are actually putting even any kind of dent in money laundering. Also, if it is such a great idea, unless I'm wrong, then why are no other banks doing that?

I'll ask my usual question that I know will never be answered: Who is responsible for deciding to refuse credit advice service, and doing so without providing their foreign customers an easy alternative means of getting whatever bank documentation immigration needs?

[2lz2p]

Just for clarification:

A BANK STATEMENT is a multi-page report issued by your Home Bank which provides money transfer details proving that your funds for the last 12 months came from a foreign source.

A CREDIT ADVICE is a one page report generated by your banks Global Services Payment Dept. which provides the same transfer details as the Bank Statement described above, only for a single month. For immigration purposes you would need the last 12 credit advices (12 month history) if using the 65k method.

A BANK LETTER (which people commonly confuse with the Bank Statement) is simply a stamped one page summary from your Home Bank attesting to the fact that 800k was maintained in the account for the specified period. NOTE: this Letter was intended to be used for Immigration purposes when using the 800k method. Even some Immigration agents get confused over this which only adds to the chaos.

It's the Bank Letter, and in some recent cases even the Bank Statement, that some BKK Bank Branches have been refusing to issue to customers because of money laundering concerns, especially when their records indicate that the customer is not in the Kingdom on a long-stay visa (retired). That's why signing up for the free credit advice e-mail service at your bank is so important.

Hope this helps.

Although a BANK STATEMENT provides money transfer details along with all other transactions in that account, it does not necessarily prove that money transfers into the account came from a foreign source. For those that use Wise and the account is not in one of Wise's partner banks, the funds deposited in their account will be through a partner bank which then transfers it to their account - thus it shows on their bank statements as a domestic transfer not foreign.

CREDIT ADVICES - I have used the 65k monthly income for the past 20+ years for my retirement extensions. Initially I used the US Embassy's "income" letter until they ceased providing them effective in January 2019 along with the bank account verification letter. The UK Embassy and Australian Embassy also stopped providing them. This is when Thai Immigration imposed the requirement to provide proof of transferring at least 65k+ in each of the preceding 12 months. For the following 6 years I provided the bank statements and two bank letters (see below) to Immigration. I have never provided, nor ever been asked by Jomtien Immigration for credit advices in each of those 6 years and had no difficulty in renewing my annual extension.

The BANK LETTER is not attesting to the fact that 800k was maintained in the account for the specified period. The bank letter referenced is intended to verify to Immigration the ownership of the bank account and the ending balance on the date issued. This has always been required by Immigration for granting annual extensions, whether using the 800k+ on deposit or the 65k+ monthly income method. In the latter case, the balance can be anything. In my original message creating this thread, I noted that Immigration accepted accepted the individual's verification letter from Krungsri bank even though his 65k+ transfers were going to his Bangkok Bank account.

For those of us using the 65k+ method, Jomtien Immigration required an additional bank letter specifically listing the date and amount of all foreign deposits into the account during the previous 12 months. The Immigration Bureau's official rules require evidence of the monthly transfers, but do not specify what documents are required. The second bank letter listing foreign deposits is a requirement imposed by Jomtien Immigration and based on various reports I have seen from Expats renewing their retirement extension, many other Immigration Offices do not require it.

I am not aware of all the particulars, but as I recall there were news articles about the police raiding one Bangkok Bank branch in Pattaya and arresting several bank employees. It was shortly after this that Bangkok Bank branches (only in Pattaya) changed their policy on issuing the letters.

In the case of those using the 800k method, the Pattaya branches would issue the account verification letter provided the bank statements showed the 800k+ had been on deposit for the preceding 4 months (Immigration rules require only 2 months). Otherwise, they would issue the letter but "froze" 800k for the next 4 months (Immigration Rules require only 3 months). For those using the 65k monthly income method, they refused to issue either of the two letters required by Jomtien Immigration starting in September 2025. At that time, I received a report from another Expat who had been refused the letters that while he was in Bangkok for other purposes, he went to Bangkok Bank HQ on Silom Road and had no problem. In October 2025, two members at a Pattaya City Expats Club meeting announced they used the 65k monthly income method and had no problem obtaining the two letter from the Pattaya Branch where they had opened their account.