My Wife and I are retiring in Phuket in a couple of years we currently live in Australia.

we would like to open a Bank account in Phuket at Christmas and would like to know what we need to do this?

what visa is required,what paperwork is needed and how much this would cost us.

I have been told O Type non immigrant visa is required .

Hope someone can help us that has been through this or knows someone who has.

regards Desmond O'Driscoll from OZ.

Generaly any visa will suffice although banks and personnel attitudes can vary greatly.

If you have a Type O visa that would be better and ideally proof of accomadation, rental agreement rather than a hotel.Your passports will be needed.Dependant on the bank they may charge you anything between 300 - 700 baht for the ATM/debit card when the account is opened.

The banks can vary greatly so if one says no dont be put off just try another until you get what you need. Sometimes the staff will not understand and sometimes they just cant be bothered, this is the joys of Thailand.

The key is to be persistant and try the larger branches rather than the smaller ones. Kasikorn and Bangkok Banks seem to be the favourites amongst ex-pats.

You will be asking for a "savings" account.

General guidance and hope it helps.

Edited July 31, 201114 yr by CharlieH

Have a look here.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/260738-opening-a-new-bank-account-in-thailand/

Generaly any visa will suffice although banks and personnel attitudes can vary greatly.

If you have a Type O visa that would be better and ideally proof of accomadation, rental agreement rather than a hotel.Your passports will be needed.Dependant on the bank they may charge you anything between 300 - 700 baht for the ATM/debit card when the account is opened.

The banks can vary greatly so if one says no dont be put off just try another until you get what you need. Sometimes the staff will not understand and sometimes they just cant be bothered, this is the joys of Thailand.

The key is to be persistant and try the larger branches rather than the smaller ones. Kasikorn and Bangkok Banks seem to be the favourites amongst ex-pats.

You will be asking for a "savings" account.

General guidance and hope it helps.

,, hi you have to keep a min of 3,000bt in account or you will get bank charge,i fond out this to my cost to late,

When I got mine in Bangkok I was on Non-o and they wanted a Thai address but could not be hotel. If you are staying in hotel just give address and donot include the hotel name.