Is a Retirement Visa a valid substitute for a Certificate of Residence?

It seems like the requirements for each are virtually identical. For example, one must prove that one does not have a criminal record. I did this in the US when I obtained my first Retirement Visa through the local police department.

Although the requirements seem to be the same, extending the Retirement Visa for an additional year is much easier than getting the initial Retirement Visa. So, while I provided the information needed for a Certificate of Residence when I first obtained my initial Retirement Visa 5 years ago, it would be difficult to redo at this time (availability of information - past marriages, etc).

The reason for the question is I wanted to obtain a Bangkok Bank multiple currency account and Bangkok Bank lists as a requirement either a valid Work Permit or a Certificate of Residence.

Thanks for any input.

All Thai people have an ID card and an entry in a blue house book (Tabien Baan)

To do official documentation in Thailand as a foreigner you need the same documents (or equivalent), while your passport will do well enough for the ID card, you still need to prove an address. Hence a certificate of residence. These are very easy to get, immigration don't care all that much. You can also use a yellow house book that are issued to foreigners under certain circumstances from your local Amphur office.

All that is needed for a certificate of residence is any rental agreement or a photocopy of the gfs ID and Blue house book with her signature on both copies. You can also use a blank rental agreement that you have filled in entirely yourself as Immigration don't check the details.

Police reports are not required for a certificate of residence - although Immigration do not like to issue them. All you need to do is visit your Embassy and obtain from them (your name/address on a paper they notarize). If you have a yellow home register that would be accepted. And if you visit a few bank branches you will likely find one that will open without any paperwork requirement.

I suspect you have have seen reference to Permeate Residence where there are many requirements (among them 3 years of extensions of stay) but that is not what the banks are looking for.

Police reports are not required for a certificate of residence - although Immigration do not like to issue them. All you need to do is visit your Embassy and obtain from them (your name/address on a paper they notarize). If you have a yellow home register that would be accepted. And if you visit a few bank branches you will likely find one that will open without any paperwork requirement.

I just did this recently to get a drivers license. Went to the American embassy. Stated my address with no proof (although I had taken my lease with me), swore that it was so. They certified it.