How Much Australian Money Should I Take To Thailand

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Whether you want to use a money transfer service to send money to Thailand or you think you'd rather go through a bank, this guide will help you get your money where it needs to end up.

Send money to Thailand with Azimo

Azimo sends money directly to a bank account or over 280,000 cash pick-up points. It also has fast transfers to 50+ countries.

Compare services that send money to Thailand

You can use the table below to compare services and products that let you transfer money to Thailand.

Using the table headings, you can compare minimum transfer amounts, fees and more. If you'd like to know more about a product, click "More info". If you want to open an account, click "Go to Site" to get started.

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 specialise 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 aren't a massively popular currency, but your local bank may be able to exchange them. If your bank does support 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 €1,500 to family in Thailand. Here's what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of 16 November 2020.

	Digital money transfer service	Cash transfer	Bank transfer
Fee	€0	€2.99	€20 + additional correspondent bank fees
Exchange rate	1 EUR = 35,54 THB	1 EUR = 35.26 THB	1 EUR = 34.71 THB
Transfer speed	1-2 day	Minutes	2-5 days
Amount received	THB 53,314	THB 52,829	THB 52,077
Verdict	Best value	Fastest	Slowest and most expensive

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 1,237 more than the bank offers. The cash option will also get your money there the fastest, often in a few minutes or less.

What are the other ways that I can send money to Thailand?

Bank transfers. Many major Irish banks will allow you to send money to Thailand.
Money transfer providers. Providers like WorldRemit and Wise 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 Ireland to Thailand.
Cheques and postal orders. Although they're not a quick option, you could send a cheque or postal order.

How to send money to Thailand through an online service

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.

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 EUR-THB relationship fluctuates often, so using a service that lets you lock in exchange prices may help you save money down the line if the Thai baht rises against the euro.
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 EUR-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, look for 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.

How to send an emergency cash transfer to Thailand

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.

Services that send the fastest money transfers.

How to send money to Thailand without a bank account

If you don't have a bank account, you can still use cash transfer services to send money to Thailand. Similarly, a recipient can get the money with a cash transfer if they don't have a bank account. These services are widely available around the world and although they'll typically not be the cheapest available, they can be fast and convenient.

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. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.

Documents needed for sending to and receiving money in Thailand

To send money to Thailand from Ireland, 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 Ireland

To send money from Ireland to Thailand, you'll need documentation and details that include:

Identification. Most services require a driver's licence, passport or other government-issued ID.
Payment method. Your service may accept credit or debit cards, cash, bank accounts or personal cheques.
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.

Bottom line

It shouldn't cost a fortune to send money to Thailand. Compare money transfer companies that specialise 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.

Zak Killermann is a writer at Finder who's been specializing in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology for four years — covering everything from ICO booms, crypto winters, memecoins and more. He's mined and minted cryptocurrencies, and remembers the days when DOGE was just for fun. Zak's focus is in breaking down technical concepts (like yellow papers) for the average folk to digest on their morning commute. Before diving into all things crypto, Zak contributed to Finder's money transfers vertical.

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