How long does it take to transfer money from the UK to Thailand?
Transferring money from the UK to Thailand typically takes between **instant delivery and 5 business days**. The speed depends primarily on the funding method (how you pay) and the payout method (how the recipient receives it). ### Fast-Track Summary by Service Provider Based on current benchmarks from Wise, Ria, and major UK institutions, here are the expected delivery windows: * **Ria Money Transfer:** **15 minutes to 3 hours** for debit/credit card payments; up to **4 business days** for bank-funded transfers. * **Wise (formerly TransferWise):** **Within 24 hours** for most GBP to THB transfers. However, if using SWIFT (often for very large amounts), it can take **1–6 business days**. * **OFX:** **1–2 business days**. * **Xoom (a PayPal service):** **Minutes** for cash pickup; bank deposits usually arrive in **under 24 hours**. * **High Street Banks (Barclays, Lloyds, Santander):** **1–5 business days**. ### Delivery Speed by Transfer Method The method you choose is the single greatest factor in determining how long your recipient in Thailand will wait. #### 1. Instant to Same-Day (0–24 Hours) * **Cash Pickup:** Services like Western Union or Ria allow funds to be ready at physical agents in Thailand within minutes of the UK sender completing the transaction. * **Card-to-Bank:** Using a UK debit or credit card to fund a transfer via an app (like Wise or Remitly) often results in the Thai Baht reaching the recipient's bank account (e.g., Kasikornbank, Bangkok Bank) on the same day. #### 2. Standard (1–3 Business Days) * **Online Specialist Bank Transfers:** When you fund the transfer via a standard UK bank transfer to the provider's UK account, expect a 24-48 hour turnaround. #### 3. Slow (3–6 Business Days) * **Traditional Bank-to-Bank (SWIFT):** Sending money directly from a UK bank account to a Thai bank account without a specialist intermediary usually takes the longest. This is due to intermediary banks and manual clearing processes. ### Critical Factors Delaying Your Transfer To ensure the fastest delivery, be aware of these specific bottlenecks: * **The "Thai Work Day" Gap:** Thailand is **7 hours ahead** of the UK (GMT+7). If you initiate a transfer late Friday afternoon in London, it is already Saturday morning in Bangkok. Most Thai banks will not process the incoming transfer until Monday morning. * **Security Reviews:** Transfers over **£5,000** or 250,000 THB are subject to stricter AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks. According to Wise, large transfers may require additional documentation (proof of source of funds), which can add **1–2 business days** to the timeline. * **Bank Holidays:** Both UK bank holidays and Thai holidays (such as Songkran in April) will pause the "business day" countdown. ### Actionable Advice for Fastest Delivery 1. **Fund with a Debit Card:** It is significantly faster than a bank transfer, though it may carry a slightly higher fee. 2. **Send before 08:00 GMT:** Initiating the transfer early in the UK morning allows it to be processed during Thai banking hours on the same calendar day. 3. **Use a Specialist Provider:** Avoid using high-street banks for Thailand transfers. Services like **Wise** or **OFX** utilize local bank accounts in Thailand, meaning they pay out the THB locally rather than sending it internationally, which bypasses the slow SWIFT network. 4. **Verify the Recipient's Details:** Ensure the recipient's name matches their Thai ID exactly. Thai banks are notoriously strict; a minor spelling mismatch can lead to the transfer being held for 3–5 days before being rejected. *Sources: wise.com, riamoneytransfer.com, ofx.com, xoom.com.*