Hello all,

 

I am new to Pattaya, no where near the age of retirement, and my ultimate goal is to open a checking account and possibly be a resident. I'm renting a condo now with the contract ending December, and was wondering if that will help me in order to get drivers license & checking account...? I am living here with no visa but I go home every 40 days or so back to the states. Was under the impression most banks will ONLY let you open a SAVINGS ONLY account with no visa. My ultimate goal is once I find a condo I want, get online and simply wire money to myself and not deal with outrageous fees. Also I was told obtaining a drivers license would help me get checking account and some banks would allow you to with only a passport. This is JUST hearsay hence why I am on here.  I'm not sure what hoops I have to jump in order to :

1) get drivers license

2) get checking account via Thai bank

3) obtain work permit if needed

 

I really really appreciate you talking the time to read this and hopefully any insight that will help me with all of this. Thanks a lot as I am new to forum as well. I am going to Cambodia soon, not sure if that will help me, if there's anything I should do "out of country" THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR HELP

Edited August 7, 20169 yr by Bdavitt187

There is no need to get a "checking" account unless you want to write checks to pay for things.  A regular savings account is all you need and it will come with ATM/Visa card, online banking, and you can send deposits to it from overseas no problem at all.  If you can get one without a visa of any kind might not be easy, probably will take a trip to a few banks before you succeed.

For driving licence read pinned topic

Topic title is outdated. Now temporary licence is valid 2 years.

This is the only licence possible with exempt stamp and tourist visa.

Edited August 7, 20169 yr by thaitero

As stated, you don't need a checking account and you probably won't get one anyway.

 

Checks are used rarely by private individuals in Thailand.

 

Stick with the savings account - you will be good to go with that. 

What type of visa(s) do you have or plan to get to be able to continually enter and stay in the Kingdom?

It is almost impossible to get a savings/checking account unless you have a work visa....OR your Thai gf knows the manager at the bank .


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For license...
Get letter of residence from immigration and a guarantee from your condo.
Take your USA drivers license and they will give you a motorbike license AND a separate car license. No test no exam NOTHING. It is actually so much easier for us, Americans, that it is for type people. Or at least me and now, maybe I was lucky


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13 minutes ago, Bdavitt187 said:

It is almost impossible to get a savings/checking account unless you have a work visa....OR your Thai gf knows the manager at the bank .


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What is a work visa? No visa allows you to work.

A Thai can be reference for you to open account. If they already have an account at the bank where you are applying at it their reference would be more likely be accepted.

(You should look at the date this topic was posted.)

g'daya folks,

 

check out these banks in patty big c klang karsikorn bank, bangkok bank, uob bank naklua road

 

wbr

roobaa01

The thread mixes all kind of topics in one thread...

Difficult to handle.

 

On 7.8.2016 at 5:37 PM, Bdavitt187 said:

no where near the age of retirement, and my ultimate goal is to open a checking account and possibly be a resident.

To me this looks like the first point to think about and being discussed in the Thai visas subforum where you have placed the thread:

How can you manage to stay as a resident (permanent) without being "retired", nor having Thai wife/children?

Not many options that I know except you want to throw a lot of money (5 yr elite visa, 500'000 Baht)?

"Permanent" meaning that you DON'T have to leave the country every 90 days at latest.

 

Work permit: this is strictly bound to a specific job/contract.

Do you really want to work here?

 

Questions about bank account and drivers license come after that.

Savings account is perfectly OK for transferring/wire money and gives a Thai ATM card.

No urgent  need for current/checking account.

Best discussed in the Banking forum (also tons of information there).

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/13-jobs-economy-banking-business-investments/

 

Driving license: tons of threads and pinned topics in the Motor forum.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/78-thailand-motor-forum/

 

For the banking and driving license question you will also likely get Pattaya specific information in these two forums (as already happened).

Have a contact at bkk bank in Pattaya who will open a bank account for you you will need a certificate of residence from immigration  as you have a rental contact  thats no problem if you want details pm me.

 

What is a work visa? No visa allows you to work.
A Thai can be reference for you to open account. If they already have an account at the bank where you are applying at it their reference would be more likely be accepted.
(You should look at the date this topic was posted.)

A work visa is exactly what it says. I do a lot of work abroad, and the government makes you get a visa for that particular country to work legally. You have to be sponsored by a company therefore you get paid and you can put your money in the local bank. What it boils down to is who you know if you have no visa


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