Bank Account

[Patriciachas]

According to the thai consulate in hull uk the 800,000 bahts required does not have to be in a thai bank is this correct as this is different to what i have previously been told

[MickeyM]

It is my understanding that, for an initial (first time) overseas application, the money does not have to be in a Thai bank. However, for subsequent renewals, it must be in a Thai bank. Thai Banks do include those with local Thai branches, such as HSBC, CitiBank, Standard Chart., etc.

[endure]

It depends on what kind of visa you have. If you have an O-A visa (a retirement visa issued by an issuing authority OUTSIDE Thailand) you do not have to have 800,000bt in a Thai bank until you apply for an extension of that visa a year later. If you enter Thailand on an O visa and apply for a retirement extension INSIDE Thailand you must have had 800,000bt in a Thai bank account for three months prior to your application.