Thailand answers, banking and money
Can I send money to Thailand with Revolut, PayPal, Western Union or Zelle?
We read each service's own page on 2 October 2026. Prices move with the exchange rate, so treat the figures as a snapshot.
Service by service
| Service | To a Thai bank account | Speed its own page gives | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revolut (UK) | Yes, with the account number and BIC or SWIFT code | Generally within minutes from GBP to THB, although the quote we were shown said the transfer should arrive by the next day | Fee shown for 1,000 GBP on the Standard plan: 1.50 GBP, marked as illustrative; no extra exchange fee on weekdays inside your plan's limit |
| Wise | Yes | 74 percent of transfers in under 20 seconds, 95 percent in under a day | Fee shown for 1,000 EUR: 8.96 EUR, at the mid market rate; up to 2,000,000 THB per transfer to Kasikorn or Bangkok Bank, 1,499,999 THB to SCB, 500,000 THB to other banks |
| Western Union (UK) | Yes, to most major banks | The next banking day when sent before its cut off time | Cash pickup within minutes at agent locations; it states that it makes money from currency exchange |
| PayPal | Not as a personal transfer | PayPal Thailand accounts cannot send or receive friends and family transfers, and a personal account needs a Thai national ID | |
| Zelle | No | Sender and recipient must both have US bank accounts |
Why we do not name a cheapest one
Each figure above is what a service says about itself, for a different amount and currency, so the table is not a ranking. Revolut's page carries a comparison that places Revolut ahead of its rivals, and we do not repeat one provider's numbers about another. The only fair test is the quote each app gives you for your amount on the day.
How to compare on the day
- Ask each service how many baht arrive for the amount you send, and ignore the advertised fee.
- Compare that figure with the mid market rate in currency check.
- Send on a weekday if you use Revolut, since its page limits the promise of no extra exchange fee to weekdays.
- Have the recipient's full name as the Thai bank holds it, the account number and the bank's SWIFT code.
When cash pickup is the answer
If the person receiving has no bank account, Western Union's cash pickup is the route that needs none.
The tax point
A transfer into a Thai account is money brought into Thailand, which can matter if you are a Thai tax resident. The Thai tax guide explains the residency test and the records to keep, and a Thai tax adviser is the person to ask about your own case. Paying a landlord from abroad is covered in our Thailand banking and money guide.
Sources
- Revolut, send money to Thailand from the UK (bank transfer with account number and BIC or SWIFT, generally within minutes, illustrative 1.50 GBP fee shown for 1,000 GBP on Standard on 2 October 2026, weekday exchange terms), accessed .
- Wise, send money to Thailand (8.96 EUR fee shown for 1,000 EUR, 74 percent of transfers in under 20 seconds and 95 percent in under a day, per transfer limits by Thai bank), accessed .
- Western Union, send money to Thailand from the UK (bank account transfers to most major banks on the next banking day when sent before the cut off time, cash pickup within minutes, revenue from currency exchange), accessed .
- PayPal Thailand, relaunch FAQ (no friends and family transfers on PayPal Thailand accounts, Thai national ID required for personal accounts, withdrawals to Thai bank accounts in THB), accessed .
- Zelle, can I use Zelle internationally (sender and recipient must have US bank accounts), accessed .
Facts in this answer last verified .
Read the full guide
- Banking and money in Thailand: who can open an account in 2026, Wise, PromptPay and ATM fees
Foreigners can open a Thai bank account in 2026 on a long stay visa, not a tourist entry or DTV. Documents, 220 THB ATM fees, PromptPay and Wise changes.
Free tool for this
- Currency Check
Euro, baht, dong and common currencies with a dated reference rate and explicit fees.