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I want to open a Charles Schwab INTERNATIONAL account

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I am US citizen but no longer have any address in the US .    Has anyone gone through the process of obtaining

an international account using a Thai address ?    I HAVE  read their website requirements ,  but if anyone has 

successfully gone through the process please post and let me know your experience ,  and any suggestions welcome.

I have NO bills, etc with my Thai address,   but do have a Yellow book and also proof of address by matter of SS letters to said address.

I am seriously thinking of opening a Schwab International account. I have called them and talked to them about what is involved in opening an account. I have no bills with my name on them but they said a bank statement with my name and address, even if it is in Thai, would be acceptable. They have Thai translators. 

  • Author
On 11/20/2025 at 9:56 AM, khaepmu said:

I am seriously thinking of opening a Schwab International account. I have called them and talked to them about what is involved in opening an account. I have no bills with my name on them but they said a bank statement with my name and address, even if it is in Thai, would be acceptable. They have Thai translators. 

 

thanks.   what phone number did you use to call them ?

Just google Schwab International. They provide you with telephone numbers.

Rumak

 

Did you get it done?

 

I did a few years ago.  No big deal.  Just followed their paperwok instructions which were straitforward then transferred money to them.  They confirmed paperwork accepted before money was sent..  I spoke with them about proof of address and ended up sending them a copy of a bank statement.  Your SS letters would probably work.

 

Do you have any specific questions or issues?

 

  • 3 months later...

Schwab international accounts have no way to have benificaries on the brokerage accounts, just your retirement accounts. Just beware if you plan to leave anything to a Thai person the accounts will have to go through probate. After about 15 years of stressing about this i just learned and completed setting up a legal California trust in Bangkok with Stephen Lou lawyer. for about $2000. I am thrilled with the service and result.

On 11/19/2025 at 6:40 PM, rumak said:

I am US citizen but no longer have any address in the US .    Has anyone gone through the process of obtaining

an international account using a Thai address ?    I HAVE  read their website requirements ,  but if anyone has 

successfully gone through the process please post and let me know your experience ,  and any suggestions welcome.

I have NO bills, etc with my Thai address,   but do have a Yellow book and also proof of address by matter of SS letters to said address.

Edit: I did this Q3 2024. Account was done and dusted in October 2024.

TL;DR: You can do it. It's always a faff setting up brokerage accounts. They either front-load the hassle at the outset, else get you with the extra bureaucracy afterwards.

I opened two Schwab International accounts. I am neither a Thai citizen, nor a USA citizen.

  1. Joint Tenants With Right of Survivorship (JTWROS) [my wife and I. To help with access to funds if I come over all dead or something and probate gets in the way...]

    "Your share of the account will pass to a surviving owner in the event of your death."

  2. A separate account for me only. I use this one for active trading. The JTWROS above is for parking "excess" cash, divi yielding and core positions I want to hang on to.

One was a joint account () for myself and my wife. The other is in my name only.

I opened them when in Thailand.

Docs I certainly gave:

  1. A (redacted) bank statement.

  2. It seems I wrote a handwritten note to confirm my wife and I were cohabitants.

I can't remember if I had to supply a utility bill as well.

All the brokers' interfaces are horrible. They simply irritate me in different ways. A bit like Android vs PhoneOS. They get the job done, but you end up hurting in different places afterwards.

Pros:

ThinkOrSwim for backtesting

Cheap trading

Cheap options trades

You can earn income by letting them lend your shares

Can sync with a Wise account

Cons:

Can only hold USD

You can earn income by letting them lend your shares

They are a USA-based outfit and so they take days to process cash transfers. They messed up a Wise transfer. Their team hasn't a clue where your money is if it is not with them because they don't have visibility on your money. Just like you...

29 minutes ago, poobear said:

Schwab international accounts have no way to have benificaries on the brokerage accounts, just your retirement accounts. Just beware if you plan to leave anything to a Thai person the accounts will have to go through probate. After about 15 years of stressing about this i just learned and completed setting up a legal California trust in Bangkok with Stephen Lou lawyer. for about $2000. I am thrilled with the service and result.

Not if you set up a Joint Tenants With Right of Survivorship (JTWROS) - "Your share of the account will pass to a surviving owner in the event of your death."

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