To send money to Thailand for less, use a specialist transfer service rather than a high-street bank wire. On 14 November 2026, 1,000 pounds became about 44,430 to 44,490 THB with the cheapest services and as little as 42,450 THB with a UK bank. On 1,000 dollars the gap was smaller, with a US bank wire last again. Prices, fees and rules on this page were checked on 14 November 2026.
Cheapest way to send money to Thailand: £1,000 and $1,000 compared
From the UK: what £1,000 became in baht
| Service | Fee | Rate (THB per £1) | Baht received |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-market rate, for reference | None | 44.78 | 44,782 THB |
| Instarem | £0 | 44.49 | 44,487 THB |
| Revolut, Standard plan, weekday | £0 on weekdays, 1% (£10) at weekends | 44.48 | 44,478 THB |
| Wise | £7.77 | 44.78 | 44,434 THB |
| HSBC UK, bank transfer | £0 | 44.16 | 44,164 THB, less the Thai bank's fee |
| MoneyGram | £1.99 | 43.81 | 43,723 THB |
| Remitly | £0.99 | 43.71 | 43,667 THB |
| Western Union | £0.99 | 43.62 | 43,579 THB |
| Barclays, bank transfer | £0 | 43.57 | 43,567 THB, less the Thai bank's fee |
| Lloyds, bank transfer | £9.50 | 43.14 | 42,733 THB, less the Thai bank's fee |
| Santander UK, bank transfer | £25 | 43.54 | 42,453 THB, less the Thai bank's fee |
The fee column misleads on its own. Barclays charged nothing and still delivered 867 THB less than Wise, because its exchange rate sat 2.7% below the mid-market rate. Santander, with a £25 fee and a weaker rate, delivered about 1,980 THB less, roughly £44 on a £1,000 transfer.
Revolut's quote was taken on a Saturday. Its Standard plan adds 1% to currency exchanges at weekends, so the same 44,478 THB cost £1,010 that day. Send on a weekday, within your plan's monthly allowance, and the extra fee disappears.
From the US: what $1,000 became in baht
| Service | Fee | Rate (THB per $1) | Baht received |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-market rate, for reference | None | 33.88 | 33,883 THB |
| Revolut, Standard plan, weekday | $0 on weekdays, 1% ($10) at weekends | 33.67 | 33,670 THB |
| Instarem | $0 | 33.61 | 33,613 THB |
| Wise | $14.05 | 33.88 | 33,407 THB |
| Western Union | $1.99 | 33.43 | 33,361 THB |
| Remitly | $1.99 | 33.42 | 33,353 THB |
| WorldRemit | $2.99 | 33.37 | 33,274 THB |
| Wells Fargo, wire in baht | $0 | 32.79 | 32,790 THB, less the Thai bank's fee |
| OFX | $5 | 32.79 | 32,622 THB |
From the US the spread is narrower. Revolut, Instarem, Wise, Western Union, Remitly and WorldRemit were within about 400 THB of each other on $1,000, around 12 dollars, and OFX gave about 1,050 THB less. The big loss comes from a bank wire converted by the US bank, at 1,093 THB below the mid-market amount on Wells Fargo's quote. Wise's fee was the highest of the group, but it converted at the mid-market rate. Its quote estimated two days for the money to arrive, against seconds for the same transfer from pounds.
On delivery times, Western Union says money sent to most major Thai banks usually arrives the next banking day. Remitly gives no fixed time on its Thailand page. Each service shows its own estimate before you pay.
Ways to send money to Thailand: bank wire, transfer services, cash
Bank wire (SWIFT)
A wire from your own bank is simple and suits large sums, but it is usually the dearest route. UK banks often charge no fee online and earn on the exchange rate instead, 1.4% to 3.7% below the mid-market rate in the quotes above. In the US, a wire sent in dollars costs about 40 to 45 USD at the large banks, a guide published on 1 November 2026 reports, before any intermediary bank's charge.
Sending in dollars or pounds rather than baht moves the conversion to the Thai bank, which applies its own buying rate for transfers. It also gives you a proper international transfer on record, which matters for a condo or a visa, as explained below.
Thai banks in the UK and the US
Bangkok Bank runs two shortcuts. From the UK, you can pay its London branch by Faster Payments or BACS, in pounds or in baht, for credit to a Bangkok Bank account in Thailand. From the US, its New York branch accepts transfers sent through the US ACH system in the international (IAT) format, using the routing number 026008691.
The New York fees are low for small sums: 5 USD plus 100 THB on 100 to 2,000 USD, and 10 USD plus 100 THB up to 10,000 USD. The baht are credited at Bangkok Bank's buying rate, usually within one or two working days. Not every US bank offers IAT transfers online, so ask yours first.
Wise, Revolut, Remitly, Western Union and other transfer services
These services convert your money and pay it out from a local account in Thailand. Wise and Instarem send to bank accounts. Revolut works from its own app and account. Remitly, Western Union and MoneyGram also offer cash pickup, which helps when the person you are paying has no bank account.
One detail matters for expats. Wise states that it pays Thai recipients through its Thai banking partners, so the transfer arrives as a local baht payment. The Thai bank does not record it as an international transfer, and Wise says it cannot issue a confirmation letter of international transfer. That is fine for rent or family support, and a problem for a condo purchase or a visa file.
PayPal, Zelle and Venmo
Zelle only works between US bank accounts and Venmo only between US users, so neither reaches Thailand. PayPal does, but its quotes recorded on 10 November 2026 gave 42,443 THB for £1,000 and 32,295 THB for $1,000, the lowest amounts in the comparison.
How to send money to a Thai bank account
Every service asks for the same details. Get them in writing from the recipient, copied from the bank book or the banking app, never retyped from memory.
- The account holder's full name, exactly as the Thai bank holds it. Thai banks and transfer services check that the name matches the account number.
- The bank's name and the account number, usually 10 digits.
- The SWIFT code for a bank wire. The codes of the five largest banks are below.
- A purpose for the transfer. Banks ask for it, and it becomes evidence later for a condo or a visa.
| Thai bank | SWIFT code |
|---|---|
| Bangkok Bank | BKKBTHBK |
| Kasikornbank (KBank) | KASITHBK |
| Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) | SICOTHBK |
| Krungthai Bank | KRTHTHBK |
| Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya) | AYUDTHBK |
Foreigners moving to Thailand usually need a Thai account of their own, for rent, bills and the visa. A landlord will also expect the deposit when you rent a condo or a house in Thailand, often two months plus one in advance, which is the first large transfer for many new arrivals.
Wire transfer to Thailand fees on the receiving side
A SWIFT wire usually costs twice. After your bank's charge, the Thai bank deducts its own fee when the money lands: 0.25% of the amount, at least 200 THB and at most 500 THB per transfer. In practice you pay 200 THB on anything up to 80,000 THB and the 500 THB cap from 200,000 THB.
| Thai bank | Fee on an incoming international transfer | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Krungsri | 0.25%, minimum 200 THB, maximum 500 THB | Bank's page, read on 14 Nov 2026 |
| Kasikornbank | 0.25%, minimum 200 THB, maximum 500 THB | Bank's fee schedule, dated 2021 |
| Bangkok Bank | 0.25%, minimum 200 THB, maximum 500 THB | Bank's savings page, undated |
| Siam Commercial Bank | 0.25%, minimum reported at 200 or 300 THB, maximum 500 THB | Reported, two SCB pages disagree |
Transfer services that pay out locally, such as Wise, Remitly or Western Union, usually avoid this fee because the money arrives as a domestic payment. One intermediary bank on a SWIFT wire can also take its own cut, which is why the amount received is sometimes a few hundred baht short.
FET form and proof of funds for a condo or a retirement visa in Thailand
The Foreign Exchange Transaction form, or FET, is the bank's record that foreign currency entered Thailand and was converted into baht. Krungsri states that recipients of 50,000 USD or more must provide one under Bank of Thailand rules. Its older name, Tor Tor 3, still circulates. Wise says the paper form was discontinued in 2017, yet banks keep issuing it, so ask your branch which document it gives.
Buying a condo: the full price must come from abroad
A foreigner can own a condo unit in freehold only if the building's foreign quota, 49% of the floor area, is not full. Under the Condominium Act, the foreign buyer must also prove that the price was brought into Thailand in foreign currency, or paid from a foreign currency account or a non-resident baht account in Thailand.
In practice, send pounds or dollars, in your own name, with a reference such as "purchase of a condominium unit" and the project name. The Land Office then wants the FET form, or for smaller transfers a credit advice or confirmation letter from the bank, lawyers report. Money that arrives already converted into baht cannot get an FET. Wise itself says its payments do not register as international, so check with your lawyer before paying a condo through a transfer app.
Keep every document. When you sell the unit, the original FET helps you take the money back out of Thailand.
Retirement visa and DTV: show where the money came from
The Thai retirement visa asks for 800,000 THB in a Thai bank or an income of 65,000 THB a month. US, UK and Australian retirees now prove that income with transfers arriving from abroad each month, and law firms put the requirement at twelve months of statements for a renewal. 65,000 THB was about £1,450 or $1,920 at the rates of 14 November 2026, comfortably above a monthly budget for a couple in Thailand. Leave a margin for exchange swings all the same.
Two points follow from the Wise rule above. The transfers should show as international, so a bank wire or a Thai bank's foreign branch is safer for the visa. Bangkok Bank says its branch where your account is held can issue a confirmation letter of international transfer for immigration. The DTV for remote workers looks at 500,000 THB of savings in statements instead, and the embassy decides which accounts it accepts.
Money transfer limits in Thailand and what you must declare
We found no Thai cap on the amount you can transfer in from abroad. The limits you meet come from the services and the paperwork.
- Per transfer, through Wise: 2,000,000 THB into Bangkok Bank and Kasikornbank, 1,499,999 THB into SCB and 500,000 THB into other banks, when paid from an outside bank account.
- From 50,000 USD in one transfer, the Thai bank deals with the FET form.
- Cash at the border: foreign currency above 20,000 USD or its equivalent must be declared to customs when you enter or leave, according to the Thai government portal and Thai embassies.
- Inside Thailand: banking apps ask for a face scan on transfers above 50,000 THB, or above 200,000 THB in a day, under a Bank of Thailand rule in force since 2023.
Carrying cash to change at a counter such as SuperRich is possible for small sums, but large amounts in banknotes leave no bank trail for a condo or a visa. A transfer is safer and easier to prove.
Tax on money brought into Thailand since 2024
Thailand taxes residents on foreign income only when it is brought into the country. You are a tax resident once you spend 180 days or more in Thailand in a calendar year, whatever your visa. Two Revenue Department instructions, Por. 161/2566 and Por. 162/2566, changed the timing rule from 1 January 2024.
- Foreign income earned from 2024 onwards is taxable in the year a tax resident brings it into Thailand, whatever year it was earned.
- Income earned before 1 January 2024 is not taxed when you transfer it later. Keep the records that show the date.
- Savings and capital are not income. The difficulty is proving which part of a transfer is old savings and which is new income, so separate accounts help.
Rates run from 0% to 35%, and the first 150,000 THB of net income is exempt. Take a resident who brings in 600,000 THB of a 2026 foreign salary, 50,000 THB a month, well above the average salary in Thailand. After the 100,000 THB employment deduction and the 60,000 THB personal allowance, the rough bill is about 21,500 THB, before any credit for tax paid at home under a tax treaty.
A draft to exempt income brought in during the year it is earned or the next one was still not law in mid-2026, law firms reported. Holders of some Long-Term Resident visas already have an exemption on foreign income. The rules are complex and treaties change the outcome, so speak to a tax adviser who knows both countries before moving large sums.
Scams to avoid when sending money to Thailand
- Someone you have never met asks for money, for a visa, a ticket, a hospital bill or a parcel stuck at customs. That is the classic romance scam. Do not send.
- A fee to unlock a larger sum, such as a prize, an inheritance or a frozen investment. Real payouts never ask you to pay first.
- A caller from "the bank" or "the police" asking you to move money to a safe account. Hang up and call the bank's number yourself.
- A name that does not match. If the app shows an account holder's name that is not the person you meant to pay, stop. Payments to the wrong Thai account are hard to recover.
In Thailand, the police online scam hotline is 1441. Report the transfer to your own bank at once, because a quick freeze is the only real chance of getting the money back.