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How to send money to Thailand
Send international transfers to Thailand by comparing options to get the best deal.
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When you need to send money to Thailand, it can be difficult to know the best way to get the most out of converting your dollars to Thai baht. Whether you want to use a money transfer service or going through a bank, this guide will help you get your money where it needs to go.
Send money to Thailand with OFX
No-maximum limit transfers with competitive exchange rates for 100+ currencies.
- Support for 55+ major and exotic currencies
- Competitive rates and no transfer fees
- Multiple transfer options include forward contracts and limit orders
How to send money to Thailand from the United States
Use our comparison table to see how much your transfer to Thailand could cost:
- Enter the amount you want to send to Thailand.
- Select the option with the best rate and transfer speed for your transfer.
- Click Go to site to sign up and complete your transfer.
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
What's in this guide?
How to send money to Thailand through an online service
Sign up and send money with a digital money transfer specialist in four steps:
- Sign up for a free account. Pick a provider and sign up for a free online account using your contact information, proof of ID and preferred payment method.
- Provide transfer details. Submit your recipient’s contact information and pick a delivery method. If transferring to a bank, you’ll need their Thai bank account details.
- Confirm transfer details. Double-check your payment method, expected fees and destination.
- Save your receipt. Record your receipt’s confirmation number to track the progress of your transfer to Thailand. Some money transfer providers send a text or email when your transfer is complete.
What are the ways that I can send money to Thailand
- Bank transfers. Many major US banks will allow you to send money to Thailand.
- Money transfer providers. Providers like WorldRemit and TransferWise can help you quickly and easily transfer your money online.
- Providers with cash pickup. Western Union and MoneyGram allow you to send funds for cash pickup at agent locations.
- PayPal. Electronic payment giant PayPal allows you to send money from the US to Thailand.
- Checks and money orders. Although not a quick option, you could send an international check overseas, obtained from your bank or US Postal Service.
What’s the best way to send money to Thailand?
Online money transfer providers typically offer the strongest exchange rates and lowest fees on money transfers to Thailand. Some offer cash pickup in as little as a few minutes, while others seamlessly transfer to bank accounts. Sending money through PayPal or your bank is also an option, but you’ll typically face higher fees and weaker exchange rates when going that route.
Digital money transfer services
Companies like XE and OFX specialize in foreign currencies, making them some of the most cost-effective transfers. Most offer transfers directly to your recipient’s Thai bank account, often in as little as a day or two.
Cash transfers
Services like MoneyGram and Western Union allow you to transfer cash for pickup at a local branch in Thailand— often in 15 minutes. While it’s a fast way to send money, you’ll pay for the convenience in weak exchange rates and high fees.
Banks
Thai baht are not a popular currency, but your local bank may be able to exchange them. If your bank supports Thai baht, beware of high fees and wide margins on the exchange rate compared to digital and other options when sending a wire transfer to Thailand.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending $1,500 to Thailand
Let’s say you need to send $1,000 to family in Thailand. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of May 19, 2020.
| Digital money transfer service | Cash transfer | Bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | $0 | $3.99 | $25 + additional correspondent bank fees |
| Exchange rate | 1 USD = 31.589 THB | 1 USD = 31.71 THB | 1 USD = 29.85 THB |
| Transfer speed | 1-2 day | Minutes | 2-5 days |
| Amount received | THB 47,383 | THB 47,438 | THB 44,028 |
| Verdict |
|
|
|
The bank option ends up being both the slowest and gets the smallest amount of money to your recipient in Thailand. If you go with the cash transfer service, your recipient ends up with THB 3,410 more than the bank offers. The cash option will also get your money there the fastest, often in a few minutes or less.
How to get the most out of your money transfer to Thailand
Weigh costs and fees against convenience to learn how to compare money transfer providers that send to Thailand to best meet your needs:
- Exchange rates. The USD-THB relationship fluctuates often, so using a service that allows you to lock-in exchange prices may help you save money down the line if the Thai baht rises against the US dollar.
- Transfer fees. Transferring money overseas nearly always requires fees, but they might be hidden in the exchange rate. When sending large amounts, it may be cheaper to pay a flat fee to secure a stronger USD-THB exchange rate.
- Transfer limits. How much you can send varies by company, and different amounts can attract higher or lower fees. Shop around for the best deal on the amount of Thai baht you’re sending to Thailand.
- Turnaround. Transferring money through a local bank can take a business week or longer. If you need the funds delivered quickly, seek out a digital specialist that offers instant transfers to Thailand.
- Sending limits. Comparing prices for one large transfer instead of many small transfers is typically easier, so picking the service you use based on how much you’re sending is a valid strategy for saving money.
- Transfer methods. Whether you want money sent to a Thai bank account or picked up as cash at a local agent, narrow down a company that matches your preferred delivery method.
Emergency cash transfer
When urgency trumps cost to get your money to Thailand quickly, look for money transfer companies that support cash pickup in minutes. You can pay with a credit or debit card for fast pickup, but fees are higher than other methods.
How to send money to Thailand without a bank account
Cash transfer services can help you if you’re unbanked or marginally banked. If you don’t have a bank account, look for a local company that supports storefronts for cash payments. These services include agent locations in other countries that allow your recipient to pick up cash without a bank account.
Thailand’s exchange rates explained
The exchange rate determines how much one country’s currency is worth in another country’s currency. When a country’s currency is strong, it yields more money when exchanging it in a country with a weaker currency. Thailand’s exchange rate is flexible compared to the US dollar. Because both are relatively stable, the USD-THB relationship typically doesn’t make sharp movements. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.
Track how the Thai baht trades against the US dollar in our historical rate chart.
Can you Venmo Thailand?
No. Venmo, Cash App, Zelle and similar services are all restricted mostly to the US. Cash App and Venmo do not work between Thailand and the US. You’ll need to use a dedicated money transfer service, a bank transfer, a PayPal transfer or something similar to send money to Thailand.
Documents needed for sending to and receiving money in Thailand
To send money to Thailand from the US, you’ll need government-issued ID and other documents, while documents needed to pick up money in Thailand may be different by company.
Documents to send money from the US
To send money from the US to Thailand, you’ll need documentation and details that include:
- Identification. Most services require a driver’s license, passport or other government-issued ID. Some services allow you to send transfers without ID, but they may require your SSN.
- Payment method. Your service may accept credit or debit cards, cash, bank accounts or personal checks.
- Recipient information. Submit your recipient’s name as it appears on their ID, along with their phone number, Thai bank account and routing number.
Documents to receive money in Thailand
To pick up money in person, documentation can include:
- Transfer number. The person sending you money can forward the transfer’s confirmation details — called a PIN, a MTCN, a reference number or a tracking number, depending on the company.
- Government-issued ID. A Thai Passport, Thai ID or similar official ID may be required to pick up your transfer..
- Amount sent. You may need to know how much was sent, usually within 10% of the total.
- Sender’s information. Take along your sender’s full name, the sending country and their address, if known.
What to watch out for
Sending money to Thai relatives or family members in Thailand may be subject to taxes on the money transfer, but it depends on a lot of variables. In general, any large transfers being sent from the US to Thailand should be filed with the IRS to avoid any penalties. To learn more about what penalties you may face by failing to file your transfer, read our guide on large transfers to Thailand.
Bottom line
Sending your hard-earned money to Thailand shouldn’t cost a fortune. Compare money transfer companies that specialize in foreign transactions for the strongest rates, lowest fees and flexible delivery. For transfers to other countries, rely on our country specific guides the next time you need to make a transfer.
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Ask an Expert
friends suggested me to use bitcoin and send it to thailand. i used a service called cryptobaht.io and it worked great, the money arrived like 10 minutes later on the bankaccount of my girlfriend, however i wonder if this is legal? for my understanding i send this company bitcoin and they send out the thai baht to my girlfriend, but if they decide to scam me i can’t do anything against it because bitcoin is totally private and anonymous?
anyways, the service worked great, but maybe in future i will try something else. i read about transferwise and it takes 2 days or something like that till the money arrives, seems that bitcoin is way faster.
Hi Jerome,
Thanks for leaving a question on our page.
It’s great to know that cryptobaht.io worked great for you. As of this writing, we don’t have any information about them, therefore, we aren’t able to let you know if it is a legitimate company.
You may read about bitcoin scams on this page. Note that the page is for US customers so there might be other bitcoin scams not known about in Thailand and it would help if you can read about them more in other helpful websites in Thailand.
Also, kindly note that while you can send money through Bitcoin, this is a different platform than Transferwise.
Hope this helps! For any further questions, feel free to reach out to us again, we’re here to help.
Cheers,
Nikki
The safest way to send $1000 US to Thailand
Hi Gail,
Thank you for reaching out to finder.
All the providers listed above are safe and legitimate. You may compare each provider by the speed of transfer and method. The quickest transfer speed is the same day which are for WorldRemit and Pangea.
I hope this helps.
Let us know if there is anything else that we may assist you with.
Cheers,
Ash
I want to transfer USD to Thailand bank account from India using equivalent INR from my credit card.
How can I do that?
Hi Shobhit,
Thank you for your inquiry.
You may want to try to directly transfer the funds from India to Thailand it will cost less when in terms of currency exchange. You may find the options here helpful.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold