Ask question

What are the best ways to transfer money to Thailand to fulfill visa income requirements?

International Money Transfer Visa Requirements Thai Banks Bangkok Bank TransferWise Marriage Visa Proof of Income US Bank Transfers Wire Transfers Expatriate Finances

Jan 24, 2019

6 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Good morning, I want to create a paper trail showing my money is coming from outside of Thailand.  This is visa related because in the future I may be asked to "prove" I am not working upon entering the country.  In addition I would like to fulfill one of the requirements for a marriage visa and have that available to me.

Up until this point I have be withdrawing cash at the ATM and depositing cash in my BKK Bank account.  I would like to start doing a monthly transfer from my American bank.  As far as I can tell BKK Bank stopped allowing this recently.  What are my options to transfer money that fulfill the proof of income requirements?  Thank you very much.

2,202

views

2

likes

54

all likes

23

replies

0

images

15

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

A community member seeks advice on establishing a paper trail for income from outside Thailand, particularly for visa-related matters. They want to shift from ATM cash deposits to monthly transfers from a US bank but have heard Bangkok Bank no longer allows this. Responses suggest using services like TransferWise, which shows transfers as international, thus fulfilling the visa proof of income requirements. Others mention that while some banks label these transfers differently, they still provide documentation that can assist in immigration processes. The conversation highlights various methods of bank transfers and their implications on visa matters.

Robert *******

I still don't see how different types of sending money into a Thai bank account is Thai visa related. The paper trail you need to proof that you have enough money to support your stay inside Thailand is very simple. Thailand banks do use bank books. You can update them at a ATM like machine

****

a day. You need a letter from the bank that it is actually your account and that the minimum sum is coming in every month. That is the requirement from Immigration and that is visa related. How you like to bring the money into your Thai bank account is not. Good luck.

Like

Reply

Kent ********

Ummm think this might be a crazy question but can I set up a Bangkok bank account from here in the states...?... thanks

Like

Reply

Ivan ************

No, you can't. But if you wanted to apply for a visa that has financial requirements (like a "retirement visa") if you were applying from the United States you could show money in a US account, there is no need for it to be in a Thai account.

Like

Reply

David *******

good luck with that one in the branch when opening account they photo copy passport house book if u have one then use a tree of paper for printing off many copies of many documents to sign then set up your pin. Just your usual thai red tape. That is provided they let you open one lol

Like

Reply

Reply to

David *******

Reply

Joe ***********

Brian - Just relax as others have pointed out only ONE method of funds transfer has been discontinued. You can use standard wire and SWIFT code. Or use TransferWise and/or the Borderless Account TransferWise offers. I have a friend who has been using TransferWise from his U.S. Bank to Bangkok Bank... After just two transfers the transfer time is down to 1.5 days at a very reasonable rate.

Like

Reply

Wannikea *********

Incoming wire transfers from foreign accounts can be tracked as such by asking for the customer advice document regarding each incoming transfer. It will list everything regarding that transfer, sender, payee, company name, amount, amount in baht, time, originating bank, etc etc. This can be requested from your banks central office and sent to your local branch by fax.

Like

Reply

Marty *********

Wannikea Wanblee That sounds plausible. However, it does mean that you need to be proactive to get records indicating that the money is of foreign origin. Ideally the bank should provide a letter just stating you meet the monthly income requirements. That is what I get for my banked 800,000 baht when I used that for my 1 year extension.

Like

Reply

Wannikea *********

Likely because Bangkok Bank is Thailand's central bank, incoming funds go there first then allotted to the recipient bank, hence seen as Thai to Thai likely. The customer advice statement/document shows the actual wire transfer details, for me to my SCB account.

Like

Reply

Marty *********

My US wire transfers to Kasikorn are labeled Domestic Transfers when viewing the online statement on the Kasikorn website. So yes, going to bank to see if the transfer is recorded differently is something I would advise people to do.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Marty *********

Reply

John *****

But Transferwise into Bangkok Bank is ok, shows as foreign transfer, a friend did it last week and ok.

Like

Reply

Ivan ************

Bangkok Bank specifically it comes up as "International Transfer". Not other banks. I have done it into Bangkok Bank several times.

Like

Reply

Billy *******

I wish i knew that for sure i use saim bank TW sent it threw TMB first.shows up 3rd party.ATS ? How many times have you done this?

Like

Reply

Reply to

Billy *******

Reply

Billy *******

Transferwise shows up as ATS that's a Local Transfer they use 3 Thai bank partners.I will ask immigration if the paper Trail will be excepted but probably not

Like

Reply

John *****

I think if I remember Tod's recent post, Transferwise into Bangkok Bank shows as a foreign exchange transaction but into all other accounts it looks like a domestic transfer.

I know using Transferwise to K Bank it looks domestic and not foreign as you want / need.

Like

Reply

Marty *********

Check the website for your US bank. They will allow you to set up wire transfers to your Thai bank. You can call their help line too. I wire transfer from Bank of America to Kasikorn. You just need the SWIFT number of the Thai bank. I find hard to believe Bangkok bank won’t receive wire transfers.

Like

Reply

Brian *******

Same here. BB but after Apr no longer expected to work. Have tried and tested Transferwise. Works fine. Can even indicate exact $$$ or Baht amounts. fees and exchange rates used are reasonable and are shown upfront before you push the GO button. Takes 24-48 hrs. Can use your US checking or Credit card. Can use bank to bank, wire transfer or Credit card. When the money landed in my Bangkok Bank acct it was listed as International Transfer..... Which is what the are looking for.

Like

Reply

Doug ********

fellow St. Louis guy. Go cards!

Like

Reply

Reply to

Doug ********

Reply

Robert *********

I use transferwise from Aust

Like

Reply

Ivan ************

I have an account with Bangkok Bank and TransferWise definitely shows up as international. As Ron says may not with another bank but they do with Bangkok Bank.

Like

Reply

Robert *********

Transferwise also issue a statement of your transfers, no-one yet knows what will or will not be accepted, but I am pretty sure between my bangkok bank statement and the transferwise statement I should have my bases covered.

Like

Reply

Ron ******************

Some people reported that some transfers showed int and some as local. As I understand it is that if they use Bkk bank to clear the funds abroad and if your account is with Bkk bank it shows as international. If your Thai account is with another bank the funds are clear with Bkk bank abroad but then transferred inside Thailand from Bkk bank to your bank which shows as a local transfer.

Like

Reply

Steve **********

Using Transferwise into a Bangkok Bank works and shows as an international transfer. There is a question of whether or not such transfers will reliably be coded as international. Some have reported that they can show up as a local transfer.

Like

Reply

Brian *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I was under the impression this does not provide the proof of origin required.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Brian *******

Reply

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

What are the most cost-effective methods to transfer funds to Thailand for retirement?

86 comments

3 months ago

What are the best methods to transfer money to Thailand while avoiding high fees?

74 comments

6 months ago

Can I use monthly bank transfers to qualify for a Thai visa if I earn a minimum income in my home country?

44 comments

6 months ago

What are the best options for transferring money to Thailand for a long-stay visa?

50 comments

a year ago

Is Wise acceptable for transferring funds for the 65k monthly income method on a Non O visa in Thailand?

16 comments

a year ago

Do I need to show my income transfers as overseas transfers if converting to the 40k monthly income visa method in Thailand?

15 comments

2 years ago

How can I prevent Immigration rejection when using overseas transfer funds for retirement in Thailand?

34 comments

2 years ago

Are the main Thai banks similar in handling documentation for international income for retirement or marriage visas?

9 comments

2 years ago

Can I transfer money directly from my US bank to Bangkok Bank for a retirement visa?

9 comments

2 years ago

Can I use Wise to transfer money to my Thai bank account for the 40K monthly income visa method?

11 comments

2 years ago

How can I make sure my Wise transfer to Thailand appears as an international transfer for immigration purposes?

38 comments

3 years ago

What is the best way to transfer 800,000 THB from the USA to Bangkok Bank for a visa?

36 comments

3 years ago

How can I ensure my Wise app transfers meet Thai immigration requirements for a retirement visa renewal?

50 comments

3 years ago

How does Wise work for international transfers to Thailand, and will it be accepted for the NON-O visa requirements?

36 comments

3 years ago

What should I do if my bank transfers for my retirement visa don't show as coming from abroad?

12 comments

4 years ago

How can I transfer money from a US bank to a Thai bank to validate my 'O' visa extension?

1 comments

5 years ago

How can I prove my international money transfers for a retirement visa extension in Thailand?

9 comments

5 years ago

How can I satisfy Thai Immigration's requirement for monthly money transfers without using the 800,000 baht option?

8 comments

5 years ago

What are the challenges of using TransferWise for international transfers to Thailand regarding immigration requirements?

20 comments

5 years ago

Can I deposit 800,000 THB now to meet my visa renewal requirements in Chiang Mai?

2 comments

6 years ago

Can I use monthly transfers from my US$ account in Thailand to meet the foreign income requirement for my visa?

8 comments

6 years ago

Which bank transfer services are acceptable for confirming income from abroad for Thai visa applications?

0 comments

6 years ago

What should I do if I can't get the required bank letter for my Non-O visa application in Thailand?

40 comments

6 years ago

How can I prove a fund transfer for a Non-O visa application in Thailand when using Transferwise?

48 comments

6 years ago

What are the best methods to transfer funds internationally for a 90-day Non-Immigrant O Visa in Thailand?

47 comments

6 years ago

Data protection policy Terms and conditions Disclaimer Privacy policy Refund policy

The asq:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.