Buying guide

Which visa do you need to buy a condo in Thailand?

Last checked 29 September 2026 · 5 min read · English

Two of the most common questions from overseas buyers: do I need a special visa, and do I need a Thai bank account? The short answers are no and no. Here is why, and what you do need instead.

Any visa can buy

Condo ownership is not linked to your visa. The Condominium Act asks two things of a foreign buyer: that the building has foreign quota left, and that the purchase money comes from abroad in foreign currency. It does not ask what visa you hold.

If you go to the Land Office yourself, bring your passport and make sure you are in Thailand legally that day: a tourist visa or visa-free stay is fine, an overstay is not. If you can't be here, a trusted representative can sign for you with the Land Office's power-of-attorney form, signed in front of a notary and legalised by the Thai embassy if you sign it abroad.

Buying a condo does not give you a visa, with one exception: a home of ฿3 million or more bought from a Thai seller can support the property long-stay visa.

You don't need a Thai bank account

What the Land Office needs is proof that the money came from abroad, and your name must appear on it as the sender or the receiver. The simplest way does not involve a Thai account at all:

1. Get the seller's or developer's account details in writing, checked by phone with a person you know. Never act on changed bank details sent by email alone.
2. Send foreign currency from your own bank account abroad, in your own name, directly to that account.
3. Write the purpose on the transfer: "Purchase of condominium unit [number], [building], Bangkok".
4. The receiving Thai bank issues the remittance certificate showing you as the sender. The seller or developer passes it to you for the Land Office.

Large developers handle this every day and often send the certificate automatically. For a resale, agree in the contract that the seller will request it from their bank before the transfer day.

Why a tourist can't usually open an account

Thai banks set their own rules, and most ask for a long-stay visa, a work permit or a letter from a Thai employer before opening an account for a foreigner. On a tourist visa or visa-free entry, most branches will say no. Policies differ by bank and branch, but you should plan the purchase on the assumption that you won't have an account.

Visa by visa

After you buy, without a Thai account

• Common fee: most buildings bill it once a year or every six months. Pay by international transfer to the juristic office's account, or ask the juristic office which payment methods it accepts.
• Renting it out: rent can be paid to your overseas account, or collected by a property manager you appoint.
• Selling later: keep the remittance certificate. It shows the money came in from abroad and supports sending the sale proceeds back out.
• Later on: many owners open a Thai account once they hold a long-stay visa, simply for convenience.

General information, not legal or banking advice. Bank policies vary by branch and change over time; confirm with the receiving bank and a Thai property lawyer before you transfer.