Best Way to Send Money to Thailand for Property Purchase in 2026

On a $200,000 property purchase wired to Thailand, the difference between using your bank’s SWIFT service and a specialist transfer provider is typically $3,000–6,000 in fees and exchange rate losses. The provider you choose also affects how reliably your FET form is issued — the legal document that determines your right to hold freehold title.

Here is a direct comparison of every realistic option, with real numbers.

Fee Comparison: $200,000 Transfer to Thailand

Provider	Transfer Fee	Exchange Rate Markup	Total Cost on $200K	FET Form?	Time
Traditional bank SWIFT	$25–50 flat	2–3.5% ($4,000–7,000)	$4,025–7,050	Yes	2–5 days
Wise (business or personal)	0.5–0.9% ($1,000–1,800)	Mid-market rate (0%)	$1,000–1,800	Yes (wire in USD/EUR)	1–3 days
OFX	0% fee	0.5–1.5% ($1,000–3,000)	$1,000–3,000	Yes	1–3 days
Revolut (business)	0.4% ($800)	0.4–0.8% markup	$1,600–2,400	Depends on setup	1–2 days
TorFX (UK)	0% fee	0.5–1.2% ($1,000–2,400)	$1,000–2,400	Yes	1–3 days
CurrencyFair	0.3% + flat	0.4–0.6%	$1,400–2,200	Yes	2–4 days

The bottom line: On a $200,000 transfer, using Wise or OFX instead of a traditional bank SWIFT saves you $3,000–5,000. On a $500,000 purchase, that gap reaches $8,000–15,000.

Why the FET Form Determines Which Provider to Use

Before choosing a provider solely on cost, understand the non-negotiable requirement: the transfer must arrive at a Thai bank in foreign currency and be converted inside Thailand to generate an FET (Foreign Exchange Transaction) form.

This means:

• You send USD, EUR, GBP, AUD — whatever your home currency is
• The Thai receiving bank converts it to THB
• The Thai bank issues the FET form documenting this conversion

Providers that convert to THB before the transfer reaches Thailand (some money transfer services do this to optimize their rates) do not generate FET forms. This will prevent freehold title registration.

Always confirm with your transfer provider:

“I am sending [USD/EUR] to a Thai bank account. The conversion to THB should happen at the Thai receiving bank, not before. Can you confirm this is how the transfer is structured?”

Wise, OFX, and traditional bank SWIFT all work correctly when you send in your home currency. Some regional or crypto-adjacent services may not — verify before using.

Wise: Best for Most Buyers Under $300,000

Wise has transformed international money transfers. For property purchases under $300,000, it is typically the best combination of cost, speed, and reliability.

How Wise works for Thai property transfers:

1. Create a Wise account (personal or business)
2. Select “Send to bank account”
3. Enter the developer’s Thai bank details (account name, number, SWIFT code)
4. Send in your home currency (USD, EUR, GBP)
5. Wise delivers THB to the Thai account within 1–3 business days

Wise fees on common transfer amounts (2026 rates):

• $50,000: approximately $450–550 in fees
• $100,000: approximately $800–1,000
• $200,000: approximately $1,400–1,800
• $500,000: approximately $3,000–4,000

Practical notes:

• For transfers over $100,000, Wise may request identity verification and source of funds documentation (payslips, bank statements, sale proceeds) — have these ready
• Business Wise accounts have higher limits than personal accounts
• Wise transfers to Thailand have been reliable since their THB corridor opened in 2019

OFX: Best for Larger Transfers and Rate Negotiation

OFX (formerly USForex) is a specialist FX provider that has handled property transfers for 20+ years. Their fee structure is different from Wise — no flat fee, but a slight exchange rate margin of 0.5–1.5%.

OFX advantages over Wise for large transfers:

• Dedicated currency specialist you can call — useful when timing large transfers
• Rate negotiation for amounts over $200,000 (you can lock in a rate directly)
• Forward contract availability: lock in today’s rate for a transfer up to 12 months ahead
• Higher transfer limits with easier verification for large amounts
• Better phone support during time-sensitive payments

OFX fees on a $200,000 transfer: typically $1,000–2,000 depending on the exchange rate deal negotiated. At market rates, often slightly cheaper than Wise for $200,000+.

For transfers over $300,000: Call OFX or TorFX directly rather than using the online tool. Their dealers can often offer 0.3–0.5% better rates than the online default, saving $1,500–2,500 on large transactions.

Revolut Business: Good but with Caveats

Revolut offers competitive rates and is popular with tech-savvy buyers. The caveats for Thai property specifically:

• Revolut personal accounts have monthly limits (typically £/€10,000 at mid-market rate, then markup applies) — insufficient for property payments
• Revolut Business has higher limits but requires a registered business
• Some Thai banks have reported delays processing Revolut transfers — not universal, but worth knowing
• Revolut’s conversion model must be confirmed: ensure they route foreign currency to the Thai bank, not convert to THB in Europe first

Verdict: Works for smaller installment payments ($5,000–$30,000). Not ideal for large single transfers or final handover payments where reliability is paramount.

Traditional Bank SWIFT: Expensive but Sometimes Necessary

Bank SWIFT is the most expensive option — typically $4,000–7,000 in fees + exchange rate costs on a $200,000 transfer. So why use it?

Reasons to use bank SWIFT:

• Your transfer provider’s online limits are too low for the amount
• The developer specifically requests a bank SWIFT for compliance documentation
• You need a confirmation letter on bank letterhead for Thai bank compliance
• The receiving Thai bank has issues processing transfers from specialist providers
• Time-sensitive: your bank can issue a SWIFT confirmation faster than troubleshooting a failed specialist transfer

How to minimize bank SWIFT costs:

• Ask your bank what their FX rate is vs. mid-market — negotiate for any transfer above $100,000
• Some private banks offer better FX rates to high-net-worth clients
• Use your bank for small transfers (reservation fees) where the percentage impact is lower

Documentation Required for Any Transfer

Regardless of provider, have these ready before initiating any property-related transfer:

Document	Purpose	When Needed
Passport copy	Identity verification	Always
Source of funds statement	AML compliance	Usually for $50,000+
Sales & Purchase Agreement	Purpose of transfer	For amounts over $100,000
Developer bank details	Recipient verification	Always
Reservation confirmation	Supporting transfer purpose	First transfer
Property purchase contract	Supporting documentation	Final payment

For amounts over $500,000, both Wise and OFX may request a source of wealth statement (asset/income documentation showing the funds are legitimately yours). This is standard AML compliance, not an accusation — prepare the documentation in advance rather than scrambling after the transfer is flagged.

Purpose of Remittance: Exact Wording Matters

Every international transfer to Thailand requires a stated purpose. Thai banks’ compliance departments see hundreds of transfers daily, and generic language triggers delays.

Use this exact format:

“Purchase of condominium unit [unit number], [project name], [address], Phuket, Thailand. Sales and Purchase Agreement dated [date].”

Avoid these vague descriptions:

• “Investment” — too broad, may trigger AML review
• “Personal transfer” — appears as a gift or loan, not a property purchase
• “Savings” — suggests wealth transfer rather than commercial transaction
• “Real estate” — acceptable but less clear than naming the specific project

If your provider’s description field is limited in characters, use: “Property purchase — [Project Name] Phuket Thailand”

Split Transfer Strategy: Managing Risk and Currency

For purchases above $200,000 or for installment-plan buyers, splitting transfers has two benefits:

Benefit 1: Exchange rate averaging. Sending $200,000 in four $50,000 tranches means you convert at four different rates — averaging out currency fluctuations rather than converting everything at one potentially bad moment.

Benefit 2: FET form granularity. Each transfer generates a separate FET form. When you present FET forms at the Land Department, having them match your payment installments exactly is cleaner documentation than one large FET form mismatched against multiple SPA payments.

Practical split structure for a $200,000 purchase:

• Wire 1: $5,000 (reservation)
• Wire 2: $45,000 (balance of contract signing)
• Wire 3: $50,000 (construction milestone payments combined or per stage)
• Wire 4: $100,000 (final handover payment)

This keeps each individual transfer at a level where verification processes are smooth.

Receiving Banks in Thailand: What Works Best

Your developer’s bank account is fixed — you cannot choose which Thai bank receives the transfer. But knowing which Thai banks process international transfers reliably is useful context:

Tier 1 — excellent international processing:

• Kasikorn Bank (KBank) — strong correspondent banking, fast processing
• Bangkok Bank — international division well-established
• SCB (Siam Commercial Bank) — commonly used by large developers

Tier 2 — generally fine but sometimes slower:

• TMBThanachart Bank
• Krungthai Bank

Tier 3 — occasionally delay-prone with foreign wires:

• Smaller regional Thai banks — transfers occasionally need manual review, adding 2–5 days

If your developer’s account is at a Tier 1 bank, standard transfer providers work seamlessly. For Tier 2 or 3 accounts, bank SWIFT may process more reliably than specialist providers.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Transferring THB from a European/US bank. Some banks let you choose the delivery currency. Always send in your home currency — not THB — so conversion happens at the Thai bank (required for FET form).

Mistake 2: Using a friend’s Thai bank account. The FET form must show the same sender as the property buyer. Transferring to a third party’s account, even a friend or agent, creates documentation problems for title registration.

Mistake 3: Waiting until the last minute. Wise and OFX deliver in 1–3 days, but compliance holds can extend this. For milestone payments due in the SPA, initiate transfers 7–10 days ahead. Bank SWIFT failures need time to troubleshoot.

Mistake 4: Not saving all transfer confirmations. Keep every SWIFT confirmation, Wise receipt, and OFX transaction record. When the Thai bank issues your FET form, cross-reference against these records to ensure accuracy.

Mistake 5: Transferring from a Thai bank account. Once funds are inside Thailand, transferring them between Thai accounts generates no FET form. Funds must originate from outside Thailand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wise safe for sending large amounts to Thailand? +

Yes. Wise is regulated in the UK (FCA), US (FinCEN), EU (multiple regulators), and Australia (ASIC). They process millions of transfers daily and have handled Thai property transfers reliably since 2019. For amounts above $100,000, Wise will request identity and source of funds documentation — this is standard compliance, not a risk signal.

What is the cheapest way to transfer $200,000 to Thailand? +

Wise and OFX are typically the cheapest, costing $1,000–2,000 on a $200,000 transfer. Traditional bank SWIFT costs $4,000–7,000 for the same amount. On a $500,000 purchase, calling OFX directly to negotiate a rate can save an additional $1,500–3,000 vs. the online default. The key is to send in your home currency and let the Thai bank do the THB conversion.

How long does Wise take to transfer money to Thailand? +

Wise typically delivers to Thai bank accounts within 1–3 business days. For first-time large transfers (over $100,000), expect 2–3 days as Wise completes enhanced verification. Subsequent transfers from the same verified account are usually faster. Always initiate 7–10 days before a payment deadline to allow for any unexpected delays.

Can I use Revolut to pay for property in Thailand? +

In theory yes, but Revolut has practical limitations for large property transfers. Personal accounts have low monthly limits at mid-market rates. Revolut Business works better but some Thai banks process Revolut transfers slower than traditional providers. For amounts over $50,000, Wise or OFX are more reliable choices. Revolut works fine for small reservation fees.

Do I need to show the developer my transfer receipt? +

Yes — your developer needs confirmation that each payment has been sent before they issue milestone acknowledgments. Send them your Wise/OFX transfer receipt or bank SWIFT confirmation immediately after each transfer. Also forward the FET form once you receive it (from their Thai bank) — this should be kept in your legal file for Land Department registration.

Can I send one large transfer for the full property price? +

Yes — one transfer covering the full price is fine, though it only works if your sales contract requires full payment at once (rare for off-plan) or for resale purchases. For off-plan, payments are contractually tied to milestones, so you transfer at each stage. A single large transfer also generates one FET form for the full amount, which is clean documentation — just ensure you are ready for enhanced source-of-funds checks on large transfers.

Read Also

• International Money Transfers for Thai Property — Full Guide
• How Payment Plans Work for Property in Phuket
• Currency Risk When Buying Property in Thailand
• Hidden Costs of Buying Property in Thailand
• Freehold vs Leasehold in Thailand

Get a Free Property Consultation

Tell us your budget and goals — our expert will contact you within 2 hours.

Your name *

WhatsApp / Email *

Your budget — Select budget — Under $100,000 $100,000 – $200,000 $200,000 – $500,000 $500,000 – $1,000,000 $1,000,000+

Your goal — Select goal — Investment / rental income Lifestyle / vacation home Full relocation Just exploring

Any questions or comments

I agree to the processing of my personal data and consent to be contacted by MORE Group.

Get Free Consultation — 0% Commission

Thank you! Our expert will contact you within 2 hours.

Something went wrong. Please try WhatsApp or email directly.