Just posting this in case it’s helpful for anyone looking to open a bank account in Thailand right now. I’ve have gathered what seems to be required these days, given the tightening of KYC guidelines, the increased requirements in general and the fact that each bank may ask for slightly different things from new customers.
 

This isn’t a definitive guide since requirements can vary from bank to bank, but it should be a good starting point and cover the most common account opening situations. I’ve also tried to note when certain items might not always be required. If you notice anything important I’ve missed, please feel free to add it in. 
 

1 Passport

2 Long stay visa, residence permit, or valid non‑immigrant visa (work, retirement, marriage, study, etc)

3 Work permit or either marriage visa or retirement visa if no work permit 

4 Thai residence address proof (lease agreement, house registration yellow book, or immigration certificate of residence)

5 Home country address proof (bank statement, utility bill, foreign driving license or government ID)

6 Documentation showing Thai SIM card registered in your own name which matches your current passport details

7 Face scan to be done at the bank branch

8 Thai Tax Identification Number (TIN) if requested

9 Letter of reference (from employer, embassy, or educational institution, if requested)

10 Proof of funds source (if requested by the bank)

Maybe they accept the House blue book, Immigration do

22 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

Just posting this in case it’s helpful for anyone looking to open a bank account in Thailand right now. I’ve have gathered what seems to be required these days, given the tightening of KYC guidelines, the increased requirements in general and the fact that each bank may ask for slightly different things from new customers.
 

This isn’t a definitive guide since requirements can vary from bank to bank, but it should be a good starting point and cover the most common account opening situations. I’ve also tried to note when certain items might not always be required. If you notice anything important I’ve missed, please feel free to add it in. 
 

1 Passport

2 Long stay visa, residence permit, or valid non‑immigrant visa (work, retirement, marriage, study, etc)

3 Work permit or either marriage visa or retirement visa if no work permit 

4 Thai residence address proof (lease agreement, house registration yellow book, or immigration certificate of residence)

5 Home country address proof (bank statement, utility bill, foreign driving license or government ID)

6 Documentation showing Thai SIM card registered in your own name which matches your current passport details

7 Face scan to be done at the bank branch

8 Thai Tax Identification Number (TIN) if requested

9 Letter of reference (from employer, embassy, or educational institution, if requested)

10 Proof of funds source (if requested by the bank)

 

So they want a “long stay visa,” which actually expires in less than a year and has to be renewed, but proof of address in Thailand despite that, AND proof of address in the country of your passport, despite being on a “long term visa” for Thailand. 

 

It doesn’t surprise that it makes no sense at all.

 

It has gotten me thinking about how much money they must be losing though, closing accounts irrespective of account balance just because someone is on the “wrong” visa type at the moment. I don’t just mean chilling of investments to the kingdom, but having to physically pay out 50 million baht or whatever on the spot. At which point, the foreigner is supposed to do what with it?

 

Anyway, I suspect that they will get tired of losing depositors, and change the rules back somehow. 

On 9/21/2025 at 4:33 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Maybe they accept the House blue book, Immigration do

Thank you. Yes, I think you are right. I probably should have just put "house registration book" in my OP. I don't think it matters if it is a blue or yellow book, as long as the foreigner's name appears properly in the book. 

6 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

Thank you. Yes, I think you are right. I probably should have just put "house registration book" in my OP. I don't think it matters if it is a blue or yellow book, as long as the foreigner's name appears properly in the book. 

The blue book doesn't show the foreigners name but that doesn't stop Immigration accepting it, i like it when they are pragmatic 

There might never be a 100% consistent rule for all banks.

Last week opened a savings account at Krungsri.

I went there just to find out requirements but ended with bank book, VISA debit card and smartphone app ready to use (picture taken for facial recognition)

 

What I had:

Passport, Non O retirement extension expiring Oct 30.

Yellow house book/pink card.

They also copied TM30 and 90 day report slip from the passport.

 

Tax residence/TIN was some big deal. I had no clue and no proof.

Finally wrote my country of birth and "don't have...".

Similar with home country address. Had no proof (at hand) and finally wrote some pretty random stuff (from place of birth left 60 years ago).

No proof requested.

 

This is an example from a branch with little experience with foreigners. Can be much worse I guess.

On #6: showed them an SMS from AIS about my recent identification with the new passport (August).

 

#9, #10 nothing asked.

Had bank books from Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn with me.

But just lying on the desk.

14 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The blue book doesn't show the foreigners name but that doesn't stop Immigration accepting it, i like it when they are pragmatic 

 

Oh, I didn't know that. What does it show then for a foreigner when he gets added to a blue book? My yellow book shows my name as some (semi-accurate) Thai translation.

54 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

What does it show then for a foreigner when he gets added to a blue book?

It has always been reported on here that foreigners names don't get added to the blue book. 

13 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Tax residence/TIN was some big deal. I had no clue and no proof.

 

You have a pink ID.

Pink ID number is your TIN used for filing tax returns.

2 hours ago, topt said:

It has always been reported on here that foreigners names don't get added to the blue book. 

So then how does a foreigner use a blue book to use as proof of residency address if their name isn't shown in it?

2 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

You have a pink ID.

Pink ID number is your TIN used for filing tax returns.

Yes and no. It's not automatic. You have to go to a TRD office first and fill in a form to enable use of your Pink ID number as your Thai TIN. That was what I had to do earlier this year. 

8 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

Yes and no. It's not automatic. You have to go to a TRD office first and fill in a form to enable use of your Pink ID number as your Thai TIN. That was what I had to do earlier this year. 

 

Yes and no.  The form (our local office called the district office instead) is to activate the pink ID number for use with the online system.  Not needed for paper returns.

 

That's the way it works in this corner of the kingdom, at least.

8 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

 

Oh, I didn't know that. What does it show then for a foreigner when he gets added to a blue book? My yellow book shows my name as some (semi-accurate) Thai translation.

Foreigners name does get added, no need, my book has no history, no one bothers it seems

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Foreigners name does get added, no need, my book has no history, no one bothers it seems

Does or does not?

8 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

So then how does a foreigner use a blue book to use as proof of residency address if their name isn't shown in it?

No idea, you need to direct your question to @scubascuba3 .

Maybe with a copy of Chanotte which will have your name on it?

9 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

So then how does a foreigner use a blue book to use as proof of residency address if their name isn't shown in it?

 

It's not possible whatever nonsense has been said about a foreigner (not named in the document) using the blue book as proof of identity.

 

A foreigner who has been granted permanent residence (PR) has his/her name in the blue book.In fact it is a requirement of PR status.But otherwise foreigners cannot and should focus on the yellow book.

30 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

It's not possible whatever nonsense has been said about a foreigner (not named in the document) using the blue book as proof of identity.

 

A foreigner who has been granted permanent residence (PR) has his/her name in the blue book.In fact it is a requirement of PR status.But otherwise foreigners cannot and should focus on the yellow book.

 i do agree with you jay boy ... unfortunately, getting PR status is not easy, especially if you are not working ... 

 

sorry, off topic, my full name is in the blue house book, on page number 1: under "house name : mister my foreigner name"

reason: i am the owner of the house (proven with contract / documents at the land office) ... but this only proves who owns the house,

it is not proof of the address. for that, i have to use the yellow house book ...

 

5 hours ago, topt said:

Does or does not?

Foreigner name doesn't get added to blue book, not necessary 

5 hours ago, topt said:

No idea, you need to direct your question to @scubascuba3 .

Maybe with a copy of Chanotte which will have your name on it?

@FriscoKid as I've said before, Immigration are pragmatic, having possession of the blue book is proof enough 

5 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

It's not possible whatever nonsense has been said about a foreigner (not named in the document) using the blue book as proof of identity.

 

A foreigner who has been granted permanent residence (PR) has his/her name in the blue book.In fact it is a requirement of PR status.But otherwise foreigners cannot and should focus on the yellow book.

Read the posts again no one is saying using the blue book as proof of identity. Foreigners should forget the yellow book just not worth it for most people and not essential, but for people like you it was life changing as I'm sure you will tell us

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Read the posts again no one is saying using the blue book as proof of identity. Foreigners should forget the yellow book just not worth it for most people and not essential, but for people like you it was life changing as I'm sure you will tell us

 

Not life changing at all because I've never had one.

10 hours ago, motdaeng said:

i am the owner of the house (proven with contract / documents at the land office) ... but this only proves who owns the house,

it is not proof of the address.

 

You own a house in Thailand solely in your own name? 

Opened account today at K Bank Central Airport branch CM. Arrived at 4:30pm - 10 minutes wait - 20 minutes to do paperwork. Passport, driver's license, US address and US tax id (SS #), retirement visa.

I had previously installed the phone app. They completed install.

It all works fine. Transfers to/from BBK account. And transfer from Wise.
No problems encountered establishing account. 

16 hours ago, cgros said:

Opened account today at K Bank Central Airport branch CM. Arrived at 4:30pm - 10 minutes wait - 20 minutes to do paperwork. Passport, driver's license, US address and US tax id (SS #), retirement visa.

I had previously installed the phone app. They completed install.

It all works fine. Transfers to/from BBK account. And transfer from Wise.
No problems encountered establishing account. 

 

Sounds to me that that's the branch which @proton should head for regarding a new joint account!

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1373893-opening-a-k-bank-account-impossible/

 

17 hours ago, cgros said:

Opened account today at K Bank Central Airport branch CM. Arrived at 4:30pm - 10 minutes wait - 20 minutes to do paperwork. Passport, driver's license, US address and US tax id (SS #), retirement visa.

I had previously installed the phone app. They completed install.

It all works fine. Transfers to/from BBK account. And transfer from Wise.
No problems encountered establishing account. 

 

If I were in CM I would go there, Banks are like immigration offices they all seem to have different rules and make a few up

16 minutes ago, proton said:

 

If I were in CM I would go there, Banks are like immigration offices they all seem to have different rules and make a few up

From what I'm reading, KBank, UOB, and BBL are the most difficult now for foreigners. Have you tried the SCB head office branch in Bangkok?

47 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

From what I'm reading, KBank, UOB, and BBL are the most difficult now for foreigners. Have you tried the SCB head office branch in Bangkok?

 

If this is a no go I will try SCB, but I like the K bank app, mrs gets cash out of the K ATM without a card, just uses the phone

6 minutes ago, proton said:

 

If this is a no go I will try SCB, but I like the K bank app, mrs gets cash out of the K ATM without a card, just uses the phone

 

All the big banks offer cardless ATM withdrawals using the mobile banking app. Including SCB. I use it all the time.

 

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