I think I read on AN earlier that some banks have required ID cards from your home country to open new bank accounts. Does anyone know if there is another reason to have an ID card from your home country when you already have a passport and bank accounts?

Thanks

Felt

NO, especially considering many countries dont even have such a thing.

The passport has always trumped everything else and in my experience is the "must have", not an ID card.

It’s possible the requirement you’re referring to is the one that many Thai banks now have for foreigners to provide proof of an overseas address, specifically in the form of a driving license rather than an ID card. This can be an issue even for people who have not lived overseas recently and no longer maintain a driving license or residential address in their home country.

Some Thai banks may also accept a bank statement showing your name and address in your home country in lieu of a driving license.

The problem is that this can be very difficult, and in some cases possibly impossible, for foreigners who have lived in Thailand for many years and no longer maintain any residential ties to their home country.

I’m not sure what other options are available in those circumstances, or whether this requirement can be overcome at all. Perhaps others here have dealt with the same situation and can explain what they did, or whether particular banks or alternative documents may be accepted.

I was asked for a home country address a few years ago when I went to an SCB branch to get a replacement for a lost ATM/debit card. It took a few minutes to convince the staff that I did not have one.

On the other hand, last year I got a new passport and went to SCB, Bangkok Bank, and UOB to update their records and none of them asked about a home country address.

3 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

It’s possible the requirement you’re referring to is the one that many Thai banks now have for foreigners to provide proof of an overseas address, specifically in the form of a driving license rather than an ID card. This can be an issue even for people who have not lived overseas recently and no longer maintain a driving license or residential address in their home country.

Some Thai banks may also accept a bank statement showing your name and address in your home country in lieu of a driving license.

The problem is that this can be very difficult, and in some cases possibly impossible, for foreigners who have lived in Thailand for many years and no longer maintain any residential ties to their home country.

I’m not sure what other options are available in those circumstances, or whether this requirement can be overcome at all. Perhaps others here have dealt with the same situation and can explain what they did, or whether particular banks or alternative documents may be accepted.

I've never been asked to prove overseas address or asked for any other ID.

Opening accounts in TH has always been PP, proof of Thai address, PH#. That is all. If DD, then exchange of routing #s to process. Too simple.

@Felt 35

I wouldn't put much stock in what folks say on AN, as most don't even live in TH or have tried to open an account.

Edited yesterday at 12:51 AM1 day by KhunLA

Here is an actual real-life experience.

About four or five years ago, I opened a savings account with one of the major Thai banks. The process was simple. I was not asked for much documentation at the time. I had also previously held an account with them, which I had closed a few years earlier, so they still had a profile for me and some of my old information in their system. As a result, opening the new account was straightforward.

However, this was before many of the newer banking requirements for foreign account holders came into effect.

About 12–18 months ago, I decided to open a second savings account with them so I could keep some money separately while having the both accounts linked. During the account-opening process, they asked me to provide evidence of my overseas address.

They initially asked for a driver’s licence. I explained that I did not have one. They then said they might be able to accept an overseas bank statement instead, but they had to contact Head Office to obtain an higher level approval for that. Fortunately, I had a suitable bank statement, and after making those enquiries, they accepted it.

I specifically asked why I was required to provide this documentation when I was already an existing customer with accounts that had been there for a long time. They explained that these were new requirements applying to all new foreigner account openings, regardless of whether the applicant was already an existing customer.

I managed to complete the process, and being an existing customer probably made things easier. Someone walking in off the street with no existing relationship with the bank could potentially have found the process more difficult.

That is my actual experience. It is not speculation or fiction. I went through the process myself. Anyone claiming that these requirements do not exist or that the process is completely different is simply making an assertion without a factual basis.

ID card and DL.

Thanks for the answers. I think I'll drop it because I will have to extend my stay by a week to get it issued, and winter is fast approaching in Europe 🥶 By the way, I don't have a "home address" here myself, but can get the ID card and will most likely have to use the c/o address I have here!

Felt

For reports on what was required to open a bank account with a Thai bank prior to January 2026 should be ignored. Requirements have changed.

If I recall correctly, The Bank of Thailand instructed Thai banks in December 2025 to be more diligent in the "know your customer" area. As a result, starting around Jan 2026, Kasikorn instituted the policy and other Thai banks soon followed of requiring your passport and a second form of photo ID from your home country showing an address there - if you have a current home country driving license, that will suffice.

This has caused a big problem with long time expats here whose country does not issue a photo ID and no longer have a current home country driving license. Even though they have a Thai driving license or pink Thailand ID card and accounts with other Thai banks, they still cannot open a new bank account. The Pattaya City Expats Club notes this on their webpage for opening a Thai bank account:

https://pcec.club/BANK-ACCOUNT

The Bank of Thailand governs the operations of all banks operating in Thailand. Due to recent emphasis on "Know Your Customer" major banks in Thailand have tightened their requirements for opening a bank account.

If you entered Thailand Visa Exempt or on a Tourist Visa, you will not be able to open a Thai bank account. This includes entering on a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV). Although they provide for a long stay, DTVs are considered to be another class of Tourist Visa.

Also, in addition to your passport, major banks now require a second photo ID from you home country, e.g., Driving License.

Having lived her for more than 20 years, my Texas driving license expired years ago. Fortunately, I decided to open a second account at Kasikorn Bank last September before the new requirement. But as mentioned, that would not be the case today.

On 9/9/2026 at 7:50 AM, KhunLA said:

I've never been asked to prove overseas address or asked for any other ID.

Opening accounts in TH has always been PP, proof of Thai address, PH#. That is all. If DD, then exchange of routing #s to process. Too simple.

@Felt 35

I wouldn't put much stock in what folks say on AN, as most don't even live in TH or have tried to open an account.

Same PP and Thai DL.

The UK doesn't allow non-residents to hold British D/Ls (but they don't check).

On 9/9/2026 at 7:43 AM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

On the other hand, last year I got a new passport and went to SCB, Bangkok Bank, and UOB to update their records and none of them asked about a home country address.

Same for me in Dec '25, except I use Krungsri and Kasikorn instead of UOB.

Yes sadly there are many credible reports of Thai banks requiring home country drivers licenses to open a new account.

On 9/9/2026 at 7:50 AM, KhunLA said:

I've never been asked to prove overseas address or asked for any other ID.

Opening accounts in TH has always been PP, proof of Thai address, PH#. That is all. If DD, then exchange of routing #s to process. Too simple.

@Felt 35

I wouldn't put much stock in what folks say on AN, as most don't even live in TH or have tried to open an account.

I have lived in Thailand for many years and have opened several bank accounts with no problem.

I recently tried to open an account with Kasikorn. A U.K. ID card was required which the U.K. doesn’t have. Next a U.K. photo driving licence was required. I was OK as my UK driving licence has not expired but my British wife wasn’t as her U.K. driving licence has expired.

So despite providing all of the other required documents including a yellow house book, pink Thai ID card and title deeds to our freehold condominium my wife wasn’t able to open a Kasikorn bank account. She tried two different Kasikorn branches with both refusing to open an account for her.

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by skorts

Last September I went into my bank to open a second bank account. I provided my US passport, pink ID card and yellow book. I had no problems opening another account but was told I could not open a third account which is ok with me. I use one account for daily activities and the second one holds my 800k for my retirement extension. No questions about any ID from my home country other than my passport. I use Bangkok Bank which tends to have a bad reputation but I’ve had an account with them for many years without any issues.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Yes sadly there are many credible reports of Thai banks requiring home country drivers licenses to open a new account.

Good that I have held my bank accounts for over 16 years as Kentucky refused to renew my Driver's License years ago since I was not able to personally able to pick it up. Whether officially recognized or not, my only global residence is Thailand.

People seem confused about this,

Nobody is saying that ALL Thai banks or ALL branches of Thai banks are requiring home country ID.

Also if you're experience is more than a year old it it totally irrelevant.

HOWEVER, it is fact that this has been happening sometimes at some banks.

If you go in tomorrow to your Thai bank branch to open a new account or some other major business and it's not required, that is not in any way any kind of proof that it never happens.

We know for a fact that it does.

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Jingthing

Considering where things have been going with requests for secondary ID (or more), I think it makes sense to get your hands on any forms of ID (while) you can. So if you can get a home country ID card and/or driving license while residing in Thailand (or before moving to Thailand), go for it.

3 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Good that I have held my bank accounts for over 16 years as Kentucky refused to renew my Driver's License years ago since I was not able to personally able to pick it up. Whether officially recognized or not, my only global residence is Thailand.

The worry and the worry is legit is that some banks may start requiring home ID for other kinds of major business other than account opening.

I'm in a similar boat.
I have an expired US state license and wouldn't expect that to be of much use. but I'm not throwing it away, and of course the US has no national ID card other than passport.

A while back I was involved in a major scene at kbank when they strongly insisted I needed to provide a US address related to require US tax forms. This was about a long held account.

I refused to give them a US address as I've lived here so long, don't have a US state ID, and have filed IRS taxes using my Thai address since I moved here.

They fought me hard but they were basically trying to force me to make a false statement to the IRS.

They relented but I suppose I did risk them closing my acount for non-compliance.

Several members have quoted they have opened bank accounts in the past without any problems, but they have not commented on trying to open an account since the beginning of this year. As with most things here in Thailand, the rules change like the seasons.

As @soisanuk indicated earlier “The Bank of Thailand instructed Thai banks in December 2025 to be more diligent in the "know your customer" area. As a result, starting around Jan 2026, Kasikorn instituted the policy and other Thai banks soon followed of requiring your passport and a second form of photo ID from your home country showing an address there - if you have a current home country driving license, that will suffice”.

I tried to open an account with Kasikorn in early February (this year) and was confronted with their 'new' requirement to produce a government issued id from my home country which showed my home address e.g. id card or driving licence.

The UK government does not issue id cards to its citizens and as a non-UK resident I’m not officially allowed to hold a UK driving licence, as pointed out by @BritManToo earlier.  

I tried several branches and their HQ in BKK .  All insisted that this was the banks requirement. HQ informed me that had I come in the week before to open a new account this new requirement was not in force and they would have gladly opened an account for me subject to their normal requirements.

FYI... I'm given to understand that this new requirement only applies new account application and that it does not affect/apply to existing account holders.

I attached below details from KBank's web page re: Personal Accounts, which confirms their 'new' requirment.

https://www.kasikornbank.com/en/personal/account/pages/savings.aspx

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by 007 RED
Typo

Wow, the situation is even much more dire than I thought. When I made my previous post on this topic, I thought my last account opening experience was already pretty bad, but having read other people's posts made after mine, saying that the Thai banks are now actually requiring a second photo ID from another country, such as a DL or national ID, and seeing that as an actual guideline in print from Kasikorn Bank is quite discouraging.

It would be impossible for me to produce a photo ID from my own country other than my passport at this point. I guess I was lucky when I opened my last account 12 to 18 months ago because at that time they would still accept a printed document from another financial institution to verify your home address, which is actually a pretty standard requirement at banks in other countries. I don't think I've ever heard of banks outside of Thailand requiring at least two forms of photo identification from your own country. And to think that they wouldn't accept a Thai National ID card and a foreign passport together to open a bank account in Thailand is pretty discouraging as well.

I feel lucky now that I got that account open when I did because it sounds like I won't be able to open any more bank accounts in Thailand in the future. I don't anticipate needing any more because, to be honest, I have five in total already at four different Thai banks. Two of the banks I don't even use anymore, but I've always kept the accounts active anyway, just in case they might ever be needed again, because I had a feeling that in the future it would eventually become harder and harder for foreigners to open bank accounts in Thailand. So I kept them open knowing hard it can be to open one, and I guess I'll continue to keep them open for that reason.

So in hindsight, it seems I'm pretty fortunate that I have accounts at all the major Thai banks in case I might need them again. But this is really just bad news for people who have lived here long term and can no longer open a new bank account if they need one. I never thought it would come to something like that.

I still think that if you are an existing customer at a Thai bank with an account there already and you're trying to open another one, if you have enough documents to prove an overseas address, they might let you through without producing a foreign ID card or a foreign driver's license. But that doesn't help people who don't yet have an account at the bank they're trying to open one with.

This is just one of those sad, shake your head situations. Perhaps in the future things will loosen up again because there have been times over the years that I've been here when it also became almost impossible for foreigners to open bank accounts, unless they did so at the Head Office branch of the bank or unless they had a work permit, or maybe both were needed. At one time, I remember those were the only options for opening an account.

I remember that because one of my existing accounts, which has been open the longest of the five I have, was opened back in 2003. I remember having to go to the Head Office branch to open that account because I couldn't open it at any of their other branches, but I can't remember if I had a work permit at that time or not.

I've actually had accounts in Thailand going back to the very early 90s, many of which I have since closed, and some were at banks that no longer exist in Thailand. I even remember my very first account opening in Thailand, which was at Bangkok Bank circa 1992. At that time, I literally opened it with a deposit of 100 Baht, my passport, and a tourist visa. Those were the days when they still placed your name into your new bank book with a typewriter.

Oh, how things have changed over the years in Thailand, haven't they?

KBank one of options for new account: A valid foreign driver’s license (in my case CA) + original lease agreement.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by OneManShow

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

The worry and the worry is legit is that some banks may start requiring home ID for other kinds of major business other than account opening.

What "other kinds of major business" do you have in mind?

1 minute ago, OJAS said:

What "other kinds of major business" do you have in mind?

New ATM card.

New bank book.

Coming in if account blocked for any reason.

Many more.