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Is using Wise for my 800,000 THB transfer considered an international transfer for the Non-O (Retirement) visa?

Thailand Non-O visaRetirement visaWise money transferInternational bank transferImmigration regulationsBank account in ThailandTransferring funds for visa purposes
Dec 21, 2023
a year ago
Cole *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi guys, I’m just about to do the 800,000 THB transfer in to my Bangkok Bank account for the initial 90 day Non-O (Retirement) visa.

Would like to know if it’s considered an international transfer if I’m using Wise? I’ll be transferring the money from my home country via Wise and I’ve read that there’s a requirement to show the funds came from overseas.

Thanks in advanced!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The transfer of 800,000 THB for a Non-O (Retirement) visa via Wise is generally considered an international transfer when the correct reason is specified. Users recommend selecting 'funds for long term stay' in the transfer options to ensure proper documentation as an international transaction. If an issue occurs where the transfer is not recognized as international, obtaining a Foreign Exchange Form (FET) from the bank may be necessary. It is advised to consult with your bank or Wise for guidance and possibly perform a small test transfer prior to the full amount to mitigate risks.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Bill ********
It will be sited in your bank book as FTT.
a year ago
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Bruce *****************
I just did 3 transfers...in the far left hand side of my passbook which you should update if its a thai bank it will have FTT....this is all you need to show the funds have come from overseas
a year ago
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Graham ******
You use the last option in the drop down menu for the "Reason for Transfer" (or whatever) :
a year ago
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Sean ********
I used Wise for my 800k baht transfer to my Kasikorn account. Make sure you select "funds for long terms stay in Thailand" and when you go to do your initial 90 day non-immigrant O application you need to go to your bank the day of (the form they give you can't be more than 24 hours old from when you go to immigration ) where they will certify that the funds did come from Wise and with that the international transfer.
a year ago
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Hans *************
you don't need
*****
0 for 90 day report
a year ago
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Paweł ***********
@Hans ************
 try to understand before you comment, he is not doing TM30 report, but initial retirement visa.
a year ago
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Sean **********
@Paweł **********
 agreed, however the 90 day report is not the TM30. I believe it is TM47
a year ago
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Paweł ***********
@Sean *********
 true, TM30 is for landlord and hotels. My bad.
a year ago
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Paweł ***********
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Bryan ********
My money came from my wife’s Thai bank account and they didn’t question it
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Bryan *******
 Was that for the initial 90 day Non-O Visa or was it for the 12 month Extension of Stay?
a year ago
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Bryan ********
@Graham *****
 I arrived on 90 day then once I had opened a bank account I transferred from my wife’s Thai bank account. As many have stated it may depend on the individual person at immigration to accept.

For example ( this is a bit off topic) When we arrived in Bkk airport my wife and 12 yr old son have Thai passport. I had uk with 90 day evisa printed and expecting 90 days stamp. The immigration officer said to my wife “ you and your son are ok but for your husband I will need some whiskey “

She told him to get lost and he stamped my for 90 days.

What I’m trying to say is you never know what to expect.

We found immigration at the office out of town in Hua Hin extremely helpful. The one in town in Blueport not at all helpful. Many banks told us not possible to have a bank account but opened at another BKK bank on same street. If you dress smart ( I don’t normally) and be very polite it seems to go a long way with Thai officials
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Bryan *******
 OK, for the extension the 800k does not need to be an international transfer (unless it's a local requirement)
a year ago
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Graham ******
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Ruth *******
I’m curious where you’re located and how you got an account. Would you mind pm’ing me? I’m still struggling with that step. I have lots of people telling me what they did, but it was long ago.
a year ago
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Ruth *******
Still hoping
@Cole ****
 might respond.
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Ruth ******
 do u mean to set up a Wise account? I'm based in Ireland but set mine up 4 or 5 years ago
a year ago
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Ruth *******
@Nigel *************
 no. I meant the local bank.
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Ruth ******
 ahh okay. That is a bigger problem for sure but not impossible.
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
@Ruth ******
 it is very hit and miss. It's a case of trying as many banks as you can until you find one, but if not I read it costs about 3,000 baht with an agent so if you are struggling maybe it is worth that amount.
a year ago
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Ruth *******
@Stuart **********
 I asked the OP where he is and what his experience was
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
@Ruth ******
 indeed you did.
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
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Bent *************
For big amounts Wise is way too expensive!
a year ago
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Anthonie *******
@Bent ************
 what is cheaper?
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Bent ************
 please explain this. Wise is much cheaper than doing a Bank Transfer
a year ago
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Damo ***********
@Nigel *************
 and cheaper than WU.
a year ago
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Damo ***********
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Damo ***********
@Bent ************
 are you able to back up your statement there? What are you comparing the Wise rates/fees to?
a year ago
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Damo ***********
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Brooke ***********
I’d keep your money in the West…safely invested earning a minimum of 5-6% ROI. You can easily afford a “visa agent” with the income and retain your capital. Less hassle, no line waiting, no language/translation issues. 🥳
a year ago
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Arisara *********
@Brooke **********
 good idea and better for regular income.
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
@Brooke **********
 and keep paying the agent year after year, instead of swapping to the monthly income method in the second year🤔
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
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Keith ************
As others have said, the last item in the drop-down menu is "Funds for long term stay in Thailand." Choose that one.

Chances are very high it will be tagged correctly as a foreign transaction. If not, you might have to get some extra paperwork, but it's not a disaster. I've been doing transfers that way for years and only once has it been tagged incorrectly. And immigration (in my case) didn't care.
a year ago
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Nick ************
Transfers to Bangkok bank using funds for long term stay is the most reliable. You could also email Wise and ask them to tag your account so that transfers are more likely to show as international. Wise will only transfer more than
*****
baht to 3 Thai banks Bangkok bank being one one of them.
a year ago
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Ken ******
i am not sure, but next year, if shown up not as international transfer, maybe one has doubt, going to be affected by new tax law?
a year ago
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Ken ******
anyone sent via western union? and which better rate and shkw up as international transfer?
a year ago
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Nick ************
@Ken *****
 western union have made some changes to their rates recently but you can compare rates on Wise app. Wise is a more straightforward process.
a year ago
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Nick ************
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Ken ******
@Nick ***********
 what if lower than
*****
?
a year ago
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Nick ************
@Ken *****
 wise will transfer less than
*****
baht to any Thai bank as far as I am aware. I made three to Krungthai in 30 minutes from UK with no issues. Fastest was 7 seconds.
a year ago
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Nick ************
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Chris ****
Do a small transfer and take your bank paperwork to immigration and ask “is this entered correctly - I will do remaining balance the same way”? And bring a Thai person with you. Or just do the transfer the best way you have available already. But if worried - do a test.
a year ago
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Sam ********
Wise is great to send money over but they use Bangkok Bank as their intermediary. And they send their funds to you while yours settles. That’s why their transfers happen quickly. But the result of this is that it shows funds came from Wise in Bangkok, not overseas. Happened with buying a property. Could not use them. Maybe the immigration officer will look the other way but I would not risk it because you would have to send another 800k over.
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
@Sam *******
 I used wise to transfer my 800k, no problem if you use the correct reason (long term stay in Thailand).

I think it's different when buying property.
a year ago
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Sam ********
@Stuart **********
 but is it worth the risk. Immigration is so finicky. Image they reject it and you have to send over another 800,000. Not cool
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
@Sam *******
 yes it's definitely worth the risk. Use the correct reason for transfer and immigration will be no problem.
a year ago
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Melissa *********
@Stuart **********
 worked for me with krabi immigration.
a year ago
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Melissa *********
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Chris ****
@Sam *******
 true about with property - was advised by two banks not to use Wise for real estate purchase due to concerns of showing clearly the money was coming offshore.
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Sam *******
 this is just not true at all ........if you choose the last option on the drop down box it shows as an international transfer.
a year ago
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Nigel **************
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Russell *******
a year ago
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Russell *******
When you make the transfer with Wise a drop down box should appear with a choice of reasons for transfer. Choice payment for long term stay in Thailand , or its something along those lines. I think I might of read that it has changed. If the drop down box doesn't appear I would message Wise for advice. You will need this, not so much for your non O but if you want to transfer the money back overseas . It's called a FET system.

Hope that makes sense and is helpful
a year ago
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Nigel **************
@Russell ******
 I transferred money today and the drop down box appeared as usual. Choose the very last option "funds for long term stay in Thailand" and it appears as an incoming transfer from abroad in your bank book.
a year ago
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Russell *******
@Nigel *************
 OK that's all good then . Thanks
a year ago
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Russell *******
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Colin **********
If it doesn't you can ask the bank for a "foreign exchange form" FET, this documents the transaction, it cost a few hundred THB.
a year ago
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Andy ********
It depends on which immigration office you use. I transferred mine using Wise. If you select "funds for long term stay" as your reason for the transfer then it usually shows as coming from overseas but i believe its not guaranteed.
a year ago
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Peter *********
@Andy *******
 only if transfer on a Wednesday it will work lol 😆
a year ago
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Andy ********
@Peter ********
 lol..... i got my account tagged by Wise and it comes through as a foreign transfer every time now 🙏
a year ago
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Andy ********
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