How to Send Money to/from Thailand

Wise typically charges 0.5–1.5% with the real mid-market exchange rate, making it the cheapest for most transfers. Western Union charges 3–8% plus a poor exchange rate markup. Traditional bank wires cost 400–750 THB per transfer plus intermediary bank fees and use below-market rates. For a $1,000 transfer, you could save $30–70 by using Wise over Western Union.

Wise and DeeMoney transfers typically arrive within 1–2 business days. Revolut and N26 take 1–3 business days. Traditional bank wires take 3–5 business days due to intermediary banks. Western Union can be near-instant for cash pickup but 1–3 days for bank deposit. Weekends and Thai public holidays can add extra days.

For large transfers, Wise remains the top choice due to its percentage-based fee structure and real exchange rate. For very large amounts (over $50,000), a direct bank wire may be competitive since the flat fee becomes proportionally smaller. DeeMoney is excellent for amounts up to 2 million THB. Always compare rates on the day of transfer as they fluctuate.

Wise and Revolut are ideal for small transfers because their percentage-based fees keep costs low on smaller amounts. DeeMoney's flat fee of 250–500 THB makes it less economical for very small transfers. Avoid Western Union and PayPal for small amounts as their fees and poor exchange rates eat into a larger portion of the transfer.

Most transfer services let you send in your home currency and the recipient receives Thai Baht directly into their Thai bank account. Wise, DeeMoney, and bank wires all deposit THB. Some services like Revolut may require you to convert to THB within the app first. Always select THB as the receiving currency to avoid double-conversion fees.

Thailand does not tax incoming international transfers as income if the funds were earned abroad in a previous tax year. However, since 2024, funds earned abroad and remitted to Thailand in the same tax year may be subject to Thai income tax. Transfers over 50,000 THB may trigger anti-money-laundering reporting. Keep records of all transfers for both Thai and home-country tax authorities.