Hi All,

I'm looking for the correct visa for up to a 5.5 month holiday stay in Thailand. I would want to open a Thai bank account and not work, could anyone please advise ? Thanks

Apply for the Multi-Entry Tourist Visa. Theoretically you could stay 9 months in Thailand using this visa.

For a stay of 5.5 months, you will either need to take two trips out of Thailand or one trip out of Thailand and two 30-day extensions in Thailand at an Immigration office. Your choice.

Depending on your history of staying for long periods in Thailand, you may be challenged at the border during one of these re-entries. Immigration do not like you de facto living in Thailand. However, if you have no history of spending months in Thailand then you should be okay.

You would need to post your history of staying in Thailand for better advice.

You will not be able to open a bank account on a tourist visa.

Edited June 2Jun 2 by Briggsy

You will need a Non Immigrant visa to open bank account.

That provides a 90 day stamp upon entry

That along with few things such as COR should be sufficient to open account.

The other 3 month of desired stay requires exit and reenter visa exempt or tourist visa entry.

Are you 50+

Why 5.5 months.

Why the need for bank account.

There are reasons for these questions.

Edit: posted same time as Briggsy.

I didn't suggest METV as you stated need for bank account and that why I asked why you want one

I will retire to Thailand in the next couple of years, so best to get a bank account now. I own a house in Thailand and have a yellow book in my name. I'm 65 yrs but don't really want to go out and then come back into Thailand

But also not ready yet to get a retirement visa

Okay.

You are 65.

You want to live in Thailand.

You want to spend 5.5 months here but don't want to do a border run.

You have clearly spent considerable time here already.

Get a non-immigrant O visa.

This will give you 90 days. This will allow you to open a bank account.

In order to stay 5.5 months, you will need to extend your permission to stay at an Immigration office or leave Thailand and then re-enter.

In order for the advice to be tailored to your situation, please could you say why you are "not ready to get a retirement visa".

There is an alternative, apply for a Destination Thailand Visa, you will get 180 days permission to stay. However, you will not be able to open a bank account unless you get very lucky but you won't need to leave Thailand for those 5.5 months.

But based on what you have you said so far, there is no "correct visa".

33 minutes ago, Duncan 100 said:

I'm 65 yrs but don't really want to go out and then come back into Thailand

You have good advice above ^

You need to enter Thailand with a Non O eVisa to open a Thai bank account.

Own a house in Thailand? + yellow book and yet No bank account.

The only extension to Non O 90 day permission of stay is 60 days to visit Thai wife or 12 month extension (retirement)

There is no 30 day extension.

There is no visa that suits your specific requirements you outlined.

Suggest for the initial 5.5 month trip obtain a METV and forget about the bank account for now.

Would have thought you would know all these points having lived in Thailand for some time.

You could consider obtaining a Non O eVisa then after 90 days exit Thailand to nearby country to obtain a second Non O

A Non-OA visa is also possible if you plan on returning home after ~6 months. It's more paperwork for sure, and you'll have to show mandatory insurance coverage that meets the embassy requirements. But you'll get a 1-year entry stamp and can open a bank account. Just depends on if your current insurance carrier is willing to fill out the embassy form or not as to whether it will cost you more money to buy insurance or if you can use your current insurance.

4 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

A Non-OA visa is also possible if you plan on returning home after ~6 months. It's more paperwork for sure, and you'll have to show mandatory insurance coverage that meets the embassy requirements.

Your advice is always spot on.

For the OP thinking a Non O-A would be worst option.

OP has not clarified his situation.

Some hypothetical options have been provided.

Non O-A would be last on list for6 month stay IMO

The plus side he would be able to open Thai bank account.

Non O better option

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Your advice is always spot on.

For the OP thinking a Non O-A would be worst option.

OP's criteria.

1. Wants to initial stay 5.5 months.

2. Wants to open a Thai bank account.

3. Doesn't want to leave Thailand.

I would agree with @BrandonJT and suggest the Non Imm O-A visa is the only visa type that fits the OP's criteria.

9 hours ago, Duncan 100 said:

Hi All,

I'm looking for the correct visa for up to a 5.5 month holiday stay in Thailand. I would want to open a Thai bank account and not work, could anyone please advise ? Thanks

To open a bank account in Thailand you must now enter on a Non Immigrant type visa.
The single entry Non O visa only grants a stay of 90 days on entry. You would need to exit Thailand and apply for another visa type to possible stay for a further 2.5 months.
The multiple entry Non Imm O-A visa grants a stay of 12 months on entry. Comes with more requirements than the Non O.

Edited June 2Jun 2 by Liquorice

6 hours ago, Liquorice said:

OP's criteria.

1. Wants to initial stay 5.5 months.

2. Wants to open a Thai bank account.

3. Doesn't want to leave Thailand.

I would agree with @BrandonJT and suggest the Non Imm O-A visa is the only visa type that fits the OP's criteria.

Yes that's obvious... however the OP seems driven by need for Thai Bank account on this 5.5 month visit and yet states won't retire in Thailand for couple of years.

The Non O-A has some requirements .... insurance and even the medical not as straight forward as in the past. Some clinics requiring blood tests etc.

Also background check (police check)

All for a stay of under 6 months.

Yes it's an option however the OP parameters could be less narrow.

I would ditch the bank account for now

7 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

I would ditch the bank account for now

Even ditching the bank account option, there is no visa type that would permit him to stay for 5.5 months, other than the DTV, without additionally exiting and re-entering Thailand. Alternatively, if he was prepared to exit and re-enter Thailand, he could get the Non O which would allow him to open a bank account, then depart, apply for a TV locally + 30 day extension.

Sometimes you can't have the best of both worlds.

Edited June 3Jun 3 by Liquorice

56 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Alternatively, if he was prepared to exit and re-enter Thailand, he could get the Non O which would allow him to open a bank account, then depart, apply for a TV locally + 30 day extension.

From my first post.....

"You will need a Non Immigrant visa to open bank account.

That provides a 90 day stamp upon entry

That along with few things such as COR should be sufficient to open account.

The other 3 month of desired stay requires exit and reenter visa exempt or tourist visa entry"

23 hours ago, Duncan 100 said:

I will retire to Thailand in the next couple of years, so best to get a bank account now. I own a house in Thailand and have a yellow book in my name. I'm 65 yrs but don't really want to go out and then come back into Thailand

How do you own a house in Thailand?

2 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

How do you own a house in Thailand?

I own my house in Thailand; however, as a foreign national I am not allowed to own the land it stands on, so I have the land on a 30 year lease.

1 minute ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

I own my house in Thailand; however, as a foreign national I am not allowed to own the land it stands on, so I have the land on a 30 year lease.

Unless you can pick it up and take with you, then ownership is probably not the right term to use. I know what you are saying, but normally the term own means exclusively one's own. A lease sort of erodes the claim of ownership. I own a car, it's mine, nobody can take it away.

34 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Unless you can pick it up and take with you, then ownership is probably not the right term to use. I know what you are saying, but normally the term own means exclusively one's own. A lease sort of erodes the claim of ownership. I own a car, it's mine, nobody can take it away.

Yes, I understand your point, just as I completely understood the terms under which I bought my house and the 30 year land lease; however, I do technically own the house, it is registered at the Land Office in my name.

33 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Unless you can pick it up and take with you, then ownership is probably not the right term to use

The OP in an earlier thread explains that he had a house on land in wife name and she subsequently passed.

This is somewhat irrelevant to planned 5.5 month visit and even future plans to live/retire in Thailand.

Some nonsense posts with replies removed

Thanks Guys.

My Thai wife sadly died last Aug, I bought a house in Hua Hin and put it in her name, she was only 46, so I never expected her to go first. I have wills drawn up, I had to go to a Thai court last Nov to become sole administrator of her will, the judge has given me a year to sort out the land problem (Land that the house sits on) As I see it I have two choices, sell or put the land into my Thai lawyers holding company or give / lend the land to a Thai friend.

I was gong to open a Thai bank account when I retired, last year I came on a tourist visa 60 days then extended 30 days, I'm still working in London but due to retire in Sept 2027

Reading though the messages a Non O A would do the job i think ?

25 minutes ago, Duncan 100 said:

Reading though the messages a Non O A would do the job i think ?

It's an option.

Be aware that ongoing extensions to your permission of stay from a Non O-A will require health insurance.

Is there a reason the first visit is 5.5 months.

Also as you would know the Non O (retirement) actually has nothing to do with retirement.

The requirement is age 50+ and a condition is no working in Thailand.

IMO The Non O-A tad overkill. However meets list of requirements outlined in your OP

As for home situation... Suggest you start a separate thread in property forum

3 hours ago, Duncan 100 said:

Thanks Guys.

My Thai wife sadly died last Aug, I bought a house in Hua Hin and put it in her name, she was only 46, so I never expected her to go first. I have wills drawn up, I had to go to a Thai court last Nov to become sole administrator of her will, the judge has given me a year to sort out the land problem (Land that the house sits on) As I see it I have two choices, sell or put the land into my Thai lawyers holding company or give / lend the land to a Thai friend.

I was gong to open a Thai bank account when I retired, last year I came on a tourist visa 60 days then extended 30 days, I'm still working in London but due to retire in Sept 2027

Reading though the messages a Non O A would do the job i think ?

Also, with the crackdown, I am not sure if your lawyers' holding company can still do that. You might want to check with him.

31 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Also, with the crackdown, I am not sure if your lawyers' holding company can still do that. You might want to check with him.

As suggested above...

For advice for options for what to do regarding home with land in wife name, OP advised to start thread in real estate Forum.

It's not uncommon situation.

On 6/2/2026 at 7:54 AM, DrJack54 said:

You will need a Non Immigrant visa to open bank account.

That provides a 90 day stamp upon entry

That along with few things such as COR should be sufficient to open account.

The other 3 month of desired stay requires exit and reenter visa exempt or tourist visa entry.

Are you 50+

Why 5.5 months.

Why the need for bank account.

There are reasons for these questions.

Edit: posted same time as Briggsy.

I didn't suggest METV as you stated need for bank account and that why I asked why you want one

What is the COR ?

40 minutes ago, Tiger1980 said:

What is the COR ?

Certificate (Letter) of Residence.

56 minutes ago, Tiger1980 said:

What is the COR ?

14 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Certificate (Letter) of Residence.

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/downloads_en/

On 6/3/2026 at 5:42 PM, emptypockets said:

Unless you can pick it up and take with you, then ownership is probably not the right term to use. I know what you are saying, but normally the term own means exclusively one's own. A lease sort of erodes the claim of ownership. I own a car, it's mine, nobody can take it away.

Pedantic to say the least! Yes they can take you owned car off you if you get pulled over pissed up!

On 6/3/2026 at 5:49 PM, DrJack54 said:

It's an option.

Be aware that ongoing extensions to your permission of stay from a Non O-A will require health insurance.

For the OP, i think this is a good point of DrJack54. For the Non-OA you need health insurance when first applying (it can be from a company from outside of Thailand) . Then while the Non-OA on the surface may appear best, the future as to one's plans can be hard to predict. If 5.5 months were to turn into something longer, then a Non-immigrant Type-OA could be less convenient as health insurance becomes even more complex if one starts looking at annual extensions of one's permission to stay in Thailand.

On 6/3/2026 at 5:49 PM, DrJack54 said:

Is there a reason the first visit is 5.5 months.

Also as you would know the Non O (retirement) actually has nothing to do with retirement.

Again, a good point of DrJack54.

Again, for the OP, if you don't mind a trip to immigration while in Thailand (and if you can put 800k THB in your Thai bank account), then I would recommend the 90-day type-O. No health insurance is required for the Type-O. Arrive in Thailand on that 90-day Type-O visa, transfer the 800K THB to a Thai account, and then 30 to 45 days (immigration office dependent) before the Type-O initial 90-days permission to stay in Thailand expires, apply for the one year extension on your permission to stay on the Type-O.

I concede a 90-day type-O plus a 1-year extension gives massively more than the 5.5 months (it gives you close to 14 to 15 months permission to stay in total) but it also gives you an easier route if you change your mind and wish to extend your stay beyond the time granted with the Type-OA and not leave Thailand.

Else if departing Thailand is assured by you after 5.5 months, and if you already have the necessary health insurance, then the Type-OA could work really well. But as has been pointed out, the Type-OA, so to work for permission to stay extensions year after year in Thailand, requires health insurance from the Thai branch of a Health Insurance company, which can get expensive as we get older and for those of us with excellent foreign health insurance, means a change in insurance policies or means double health insurance.

One great thing about Thailand is the choices one has.

6 hours ago, Bagwain said:

Pedantic to say the least! Yes they can take you owned car off you if you get pulled over pissed up!

Nonsense.

I don't drink and drive, unlike you, apparently.

Edited June 17Jun 17 by emptypockets