OVZA
New Horizons Paraguay
Ticker tape by TradingView

Reliable banks in non-CRS countries that allow remote opening for foreign citizens

Status
Not open for further replies.
AFAIK, the situation varies‍ over time; but in principle it is really difficult. All it depends on the appetite⁠ of Turkish banks to bear the risks. Try to search here at forum(s), it was⁤ mentioned/discussed several times, IIRC. But I am afraid that for you, as for the Serbian⁣ resident with a Chinese passport, it will be difficult even to open an account in⁢ TRNC without having some substance there.

Just a remark – it is not my business;︀ but what the kinda hellish stuff you are dealing with as a freelancer, if it︁ is worth such complications, on condition that financial amount for taxing is insignificant? Helping Martians︂ to prepare invading the Earth or what? 😉 (If you were in child pornography or drug︃ trafficking, the financial amount definitely would not be insignificant...)
 
But if i understand correctly the︎ deposit that Paraguay takes for providing their residency should provide option for banking there isnt️ it? However that anyway makes us a resident and not a non resident.
 
True. In fact, I have been⁠ meaning to apply for residency in Paraguay but there are no diplomatic relations between our⁤ countries (I am a Chinese citizen-PRC) and the two countries are not on good terms.⁣ To make matters even worse, China is not a member of the Hague Apostille Agreement.⁢ So I do not even know how to authenticate the necessary documents, such as a︀ notarized copy of birth certificate endorsed by the Paraguayan Consulate in the country of origin︁ and legalized in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay.
 
It might be a⁠ problem but not the crucial one, see below.
This formally should not be any problem,︁ there are many countries that did not sign the apostille agreement, including i.e. Canada, Malaysia,︂ Indonesia, ... AFAIK. There is a clear mechanism for that, involving usually Ministry of Foreign︃ Affairs of an issuing country (or some other governmental office); ask a lawyer competent re:︄ China. But I understand that there can be a practical problem, as in this process︅ must deal with the Chinese institutions and you are in Serbia.
And furthermore, AFAIK, it︆ is not possible to apply for a PG residency without visiting a country, with a︇ visa. (It does not seem surprising to me.)
 
Normally the following process is carried out in place of the apostille: 1.︀ Documents certified by Chinese local notary offices, 2. Certification of the Consular Department of the︁ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, 3. Certification of the Embassy of the respective country.︂ It seems impossibke to get the 3rd step done since there are no diplomatic relations︃ between the two countries.

In practice, visiting the country could be problematic too since it's︄ really difficult for Chinese citizens to even get a tourist visa there since we need︅ special clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or something.

So I was thinking maybe︆ I could get a lawyer in Paraguay to deal with the application process and only︇ go there to get the ID after the approval of the residency. Would this be︈ possible as far as you know?
 
I think you have to go︃ twice ,once for application second time for collection.Maybe the second time can be avoided through︄ the lawyer
 
Not inevitably. It is often so that if the country A has⁠ no diplomatic relations with the country B; then country A asks (and makes an agreement⁤ with) a country C, who has diplomatic relations with the country B, to represent their⁣ interests in the country B, at least for consular affairs. A simple question directed to⁢ Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs can resolve the problem.
Yes, it can happen 🙁

I also think so. Do not forget that for an application for a residency you need︇ an address of stay, etc. But generally, paraguayan immigration lawyers (yes, there is such a︈ specialisation) are competent and friendly (and not horribly expensive, AFAIK – just by coincidence, I︉ know something about Paraguay); so you can easily ask. Internet does magic... sometimes.
 
Well... what does it mean “low level banks and countries“? 🙂 (For example, I personally‍ do not count all Paraguayan banks as low-level...)
( Generally: All it is as good,⁠ as it gets 😉 )

Maybe more importantly:

Just accidentally, I have just found that among⁤ Balkan countries, also Bosnia and Herzegovina did not enter AEOI/CRS system. (I always thought that⁣ they did and I did not verified it, as I had not been so interested,⁢ now I am a little bit more 😉 )
So
1) @WinterSun, isn't it an︀ option for you?
2) @Sols, could you share your opinion re: Bosnia and Herzegovina?︁ (Sorry for bothering you but you really seem to be knowledgeable at this field 🙂 )
 
A lot like Serbia but worse. It has recently been on US and‍ EU watch lists for money laundering and subject to sanctions related to the regional wars.⁠

The banks have even less experience dealing with non-residents, whereas in Serbia the banks have⁤ at least some understanding of non-residents.
 
That's hard to answer. There are basically two categories of banks in Serbia: big‍ foreign banks (that dominate the market) and smaller, local banks.

The big banks, if you⁠ are lucky and get the right person handling your case, will sometimes take non-residents without⁤ flinching. They have the compliance tools to onboard you with ease.

The smaller banks might⁣ have a higher risk appetite (out of desperation) but quality of services are often lacking⁢ or outdated, and fees tend to be higher.

If you are not resident in Europe︀ or Russia, though, your chances of success are near zero.
 
Thank you. That sounds reassuring.

An address of stay seems difficult to get without physical presence.︂

Do you happen to know any competent and affordable paraguayan immigration lawyers?

Bosnia and Herzegovina could be an option in this respect but from my friend's︋ experience, it's almost impossible to move funds out of there without visiting the banks in︌ person. So I will only leave it as a last resort.

As to Serbian banks,︍ I have had the most frustrating experiences ever with them. Many banks don't open accounts︎ for non-residents. Even if they do, you can only get non-resident accounts with or without️ cards depening on the banks. You can't send or receive funds internally. You have to‌ go through international bank transfer via swift system even when transferring funds between your own‍ accounts in the same bank or deposit cash into your own account. It's such a⁠ nightmare to say the least.

And they have︇ got the most weird rules about the definition of residents. You can only be considered︈ a resident after staying here for more than 1 year even though you have a︉ resident permit.
 
Sorry, but you talk (sorry to say) bulls**t.
At most big︂ banks (Intesa, Unicredit, OTP...) have branches in Belgrade where minimum one person has focus on︃ foreign customers.
Open an account is so easy. You need only your passport, the white︄ paper (registration from your hotel at police), proof of address (for example bank statement of︅ other current account) and half hour time - thats all. After half hour you have︆ your multi currency account (Dinar, EURO, Dollar....) and online banking.
Of course you can transfer︇ between your own accounts at same bank without additional costs and for transfers from and︈ to Serbia you will use SWIFT - so simple, so easy.
Also "cash in" is︉ for free - only between 500 and 600 Dinars maintance every month.
Oh - of︊ course you get cards - for example Mastercard Platinum and Dina Card (for local payments︋ in Serbia)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

JohnnyDoe.is is an uncensored discussion forum
focused on free speech,
independent thinking, and controversial ideas.
Everyone is responsible for their own words.

Quick Navigation

Forums

User Menu

Login
Community platform by JohnnyDoe © 2025 JohnnyDoe
Top Bottom