What is the best way to transfer money for a retirement visa and monthly pension drawdowns in Thailand?

Wise.

Trust No One !

If you haven't organised anything yet then open a Kasikorn account in Thailand and make Wise transfers. They use Kasikorn as an intermediary bank so it comes in as international. If they send it on to another bank then it flags up as domestic. This started on Sep 1st 25.

Western Union. Only 99p to transfer any amount.

Invest in precious metals

Is it just to transfer the money or do you need prove your monthly income for a visa?

If only moving money i transfer from my Australian bank to Wise and from there to KBank.

Even with charges, Wise's superior exchange rate beats the Aus bank free transfer but crappy rates.

In my personal experience, use Wise

I used a bank wire transfer using the SWIFT code to move large amounts of money like my 800,000 baht bank money for my visa and the money to buy my new car. I use Wise or Remitly for smaller amounts for every day living expenses.

Wise.

Wise

Where are you transferring it from?

From Canada it’s easy, up to $50,000 at once no problem

Exchange rates are better with WISE i lose about $120 with bank to bank transactions on a $1000 transfer i lose about $18 with WISE

Standing order from your bank in the country your from, to your bank account in Thailand.

from Australia it's nab

I've recently started using Xe, the transfers are instant with very low fees. Very happy with them

You can always transfer international directly from your USA bank to your thai bank but there are a few things to remember

Yes This is typically done via an International Wire Transfer using the SWIFT network.

​Since you are moving a significant amount ($26,000), there are a few technical and regulatory hoops you’ll want to be aware of to ensure the money arrives smoothly and you don't get hit with unnecessary fees.

​1. How to Initiate the Transfer

​Most major US banks allow you to do this, but they have different rules for "large" amounts:

​In-Person vs. Online: Many US banks cap online international transfers at $5,000 or $10,000. For $26,000, you will likely need to visit a physical branch or call your bank’s wire department to verify your identity.

​Information Needed:

​Recipient Name & Address: Must match your Thai bank records exactly.

​Thai Bank Name & Branch Address.

​SWIFT/BIC Code: An 8 or 11-character code identifying your Thai bank.

​Account Number: Your specific Thai account number.

​2. The "$10,000 Rule" (Reporting)

​Because the transfer is over $10,000, your US bank is required by law to report the transaction to the IRS/FinCEN (under the Bank Secrecy Act).

​Don't worry: This is a routine anti-money laundering (AML) procedure. You don't usually have to do anything extra, but the bank may ask you for the purpose of the transfer (e.g., "Personal Savings" or "Property Purchase").

​Tip: Do not try to "split" the transfer into three smaller amounts to avoid reporting; this is called "structuring" and is actually a crime. Sending it all at once is perfectly legal and much safer.

​3. Cost & Exchange Rates

​Wire Fees: Your US bank will likely charge a flat fee (usually $40–$50) for an outgoing international wire. Your Thai bank may also charge a small receiving fee (typically 200–500 THB).

​The "Hidden" Fee: The biggest cost isn't the flat fee; it’s the exchange rate margin. Banks often give you a rate 3–5% worse than the mid-market rate. On $26,000, a 3% difference is $780.

​Pro-Tip: If your Thai bank is Bangkok Bank, you can often use their New York Branch routing number to do a domestic ACH transfer, which can be significantly cheaper than a SWIFT wire.

​4. Receiving the Funds in Thailand

​When the money arrives, the Thai bank will ask for a Purpose Code. Common ones include:

​309: Transfer to own account (bringing funds home).

​401: Investment in property (important if you ever plan to sell and move the money back out of Thailand later).

​Important Note: If you are buying property, you must ensure the money arrives in USD and is converted by the Thai bank so they can issue you a Foreign Exchange Transaction Form (FETF), which is required for property registration.

​

I use Wise from UK to Bangkok bank. I asked wise to tag my account. Use long-term stay in Thailand as reason for transfer. I have now done 25 transfers and all show as international or FTT

I’ve been trying to figure this out also. Wise has some advantages, but getting the transfer marked as international (funds from USA) can be problematic. They go through a Thai bank. I think it’s Kasikorn. I have Krungsri bank. Did my initial transfer with wise. Went to my bank and asked for a confirmation letter of international transfer. They refused to do it.  I think I will be sending funds from my Schwab account going forward.

Wise no longer offers this option on its drop down menu for USA transfer to Thailand

Transfer by wise. Then ฿65k per month using Wise so first months transfer is ฿865,000

Is it not better to get your pension sent directly to your Thai bank ?

I’ve been using Wise for transfers for years, always received the best exchange rate,

Wise I use to send to Thai GF

Wise all the way get interest and much more from them than you would with a majority