Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the issue of bank accounts here in Thailand specifically bank accounts in the context of some recently discussed changes to the Thai Visa Exemption scheme.

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Chinese visa-free concession won't transform the tourist market. For those who are unaware, yes China and Kazakhstan have been added to Thailand's Visa exemption category for at least I believe until March of 2024. I believe February 29th of '24 this will end but temporarily through what we call high season here in Thailand, Chinese and Kazakhstan passport holders will be able to come into Thailand visa exempt. As discussed in other videos, I thought India might become part of this and as we have come to find no, in fact India has not been added to the Visa Exemption scheme. Now whether that may change in coming months remains to be seen but for now no, the only two countries that have been added to be exempt scheme, at least as of the time of this video, are China and Kazakhstan.

Quoting further: "The Thai Government's move is aimed at boosting the package tourist market from China. Almost all packages, often called zero-sum vacations because they are prepaid in full before departure, last for 2 weeks or less. This limit is unlikely to change as 15-day stays cannot be extended in Thailand except for a few days where a return air ticket can be shown at local Immigration. Holders of the 15-day permission cannot open Thai bank accounts or apply for a Thai driving license." So again first off, the thing to remember, this is a 15-day exemption, slightly different from the 30-day exemption that is granted to many Western passport holders, the Anglosphere, Europe etc., most of those folks when they come into Thailand can get a 30-day on-arrival stamp that provides lawful status, exempt from a Visa, but lawful status nonetheless for 30 days. Now what is being granted under this temporary exemption scheme for Chinese and Kazakh folks is a 15-day exemption. It is heavily restricted and one of those restrictions is folks that have that kind of Visa are not going to be able to come into Thailand and open up a Thai bank account. For those foreigners who are watching this video, watch this channel, banking can be a bit of a nettlesome endeavour here in Thailand and I would say that nothing has really changed in that regard for Chinese nationals coming into Thailand who are coming in on Visa Exemption status in the coming months, through this coming high season, going into 2024 here in the Kingdom of Thailand.