Residency Certificates - Just One More Hassle!

[Harald]

In the end of last year they did not ask the Certificate of Residence in SCB. But I have Elite visa. So not sure it is true in general.

[Harald]

Dodger, you need to report your story to Benjamin Hart from integrity legal. He may comment on it or even create a YouTube video. I do not want to upset anybody but the way the winds are blowing, there may come times when no foreigners may need Thai bank accounts.

[Gaybutton]

there may come times when no foreigners may need Thai bank accounts.

At least for the retirement visa immigration has required a Thai bank account long before I ever lived here. What makes you think that may change?

[Dodger]

As a follow-on to this post;

If anyone needs a Certificate of Residency to open a bank account you should probably check with Immigration just in case the agent I was talking to had this wrong...or on the event they reverse course on this.

I haven't seen or heard anything mentioned about this in the media yet which seems a bit strange to me.

[Gaybutton]

in case the agent I was talking to had this wrong

Then now it is down to a 'maybe'. If anyone finds out for sure, please let us know, although it makes no sense that immigration would refuse to issue residence certificates if banks are demanding them. But making no sense is nothing new in Thailand, especially when trying to deal with immigration. If, as was said earlier, that on the certificate the reason for the certificate is written, then would would opening a bank account not also be something they would include?

It also makes no sense that banks would not provide other means of proving you reside here or are about to.

So, at this moment we don't know for certain whether immigration will provide residence certificates or not. Do we even know for certain that banks actually are demanding residence certificates?

One thing we do know with certainty - whether residence certificates are required or not, getting a Thai bank account is already very difficult if you don't already have one, far more difficult than before - and it definitely will not be getting any easier.

[BKKDreamer]

Hi GB,

Not sure if I should post this in this existing thread. If not, please move it.

Today, with the help of Mots Services, I opened a new bank account with Kasikorn - Lotus branch on Sukhumvit next to the Thapprasit outlet center.

I already have a bank account with Bangkok Bank (BBL) that Mots helped me get when back in September 2022.

I wanted this second bank account because of all of the recent problems that many people have been having with BBL. In this way, I will have a backup bank account just in case.

The requirements to open this Kasikorn account for me - being a USA citizen were:
- USA passport,
- long stay visa - I have the non-O retirement visa with expiry in December 2026,
- proof of secondary ID issued from outside of Thailand. I tried to use my Hungarian driving license but it expired last year. When my mom passed away during covid one of the things that I did was to secure a replacement social security card (as I had lost my original from my youth) and to do this I had to have a USA ID card so one of my relatives friends helped me get a New York ID card. Kasikorn was able to accept my NY ID card to meet the requirement of a form of ID issued from outside of Thailand. I was very lucky because my NY ID card will expire this August - and I don't have any other available forms of ID from outside of Thailand.
- Address in the USA. As I left the USA in May 1999, I gave them my voter registration address (in Denver) that I use for overseas voting.

The fee for today's services was 6,650 baht - which for me was ok as I now have a backup plan to BBL (just in case).

So, it is still possible to acquire a bank account - just with some extra requirements.

Cheers,
M

p.s. Mot has 2 sons - and the more Thai looking one accompanied us to Kasikorn bank today and he is truly a handsome cute young guy.

[Gaybutton]

Not sure if I should post this in this existing thread. If not, please move it..

It is not necessary to tell me I can move a post. Believe me, I already know. I will leave it in place, but since this topic is about residency certificates, while you were with MOTS did you think to ask them about residency certificates?

[BKKDreamer]

Oops, I forgot to ask about the residency certificates. Sorry.

I realized that I made a mistake in the details of the price that I mentioned above.

4500 baht fee for Mots to assist you to open a new bank account
1500 baht required by Kasikorn - they require you to purchase a 1 year Personal Accident Insurance policy with Muang Thai
500 baht fee for an updated TM.30 - address certificate (not a residency certificate) - bank wanted this in lieu of residency
certificate - Mots performed this activity for me at the Jomtien immigration office when they did my 90 day report
150 baht fee for 2 passport photos - Mots provided these in the office - as they have a digital photo printer
-------
6,650 - Total that I paid today to Mots

[Gaybutton]

I'm glad MOTS is able to take care of these things. If they can take care of all that, I imagine they can take care of getting residency certificates too.

The part that makes no sense to me is the bank's personal accident insurance requirement. Most, if not all, of us already have perfectly adequate accident insurance and can prove it. This sounds like a rip-off to me and somebody's pockets are getting lined. Nevertheless, it is not a major expense for those who need a Thai bank account - just something else we have to live with. But that's better than being unable to get a Thai bank account at all.

Once again, if anyone reading this needs a Thai bank account or anticipates needing one later, DON'T WAIT. Get the account while you still can before it becomes much more expensive or virtually impossible even via a visa agent.

Don't forget, holding a Thai bank account is an absolute requirement for those who want the retirement visa. I don't know if those very expensive visas also require a Thai bank account, but sooner or later that may become the only way to get a new long-stay visa.

[Dodger]

Kasikorn was able to accept my NY ID card to meet the requirement of a form of ID issued from outside of Thailand.

Thanks for the update.

Was the NY ID card you provided K-Bank a picture ID?