13 hours ago, John Drake said:

The Destination Thailand Visa that Immigration is giving out, good for five years, for things like attending muay Thai schools, cooking schools (after five years someone ought to really be able to make great Pad Thai), and being a digital nomad. Thai Immigration says it doesn't qualify as a long term visa and Thai banks will not let anyone get a bank account with that visa. But Wise says it qualifies them for a Thai Wise account.

Just one more thing: what I'm hearing from the DTVers on FB is that with a QR code they'll be able to receive payment for setting up a store or selling goods online or on the street or for doing other paid work. This allows a literal workaround for disregarding the work permit and enables working illegally.

31 minutes ago, QPRFC said:

What documentation did you need to provide to open a Remitly account?

And are you suggesting that they don't require a wet signature on any documents to open and activate an account on the sane day / immediately?

On 5/7/2026 at 5:38 PM, Jaggg88 said:

Wise have always done this, so they created a reason for the transfer 'funds for a long-term stay in Thailand'. It is the last option on the list. This transfer may take a little longer, but it is recorded as an international transfer. They also offer proof of a foreign exchange transaction receipt.

Thanks for the info. I have tried that setting—but the Wise deposit last month after April 15 no longer shows as FTT (foreign transaction). It’s a domestic transfer from KasiKorn Bank to Bangkok Bank. So I shall return to using my US bank account into Bangkok Bank New York branch, and then to my BB local branch. I will only use Wise for extra deposits, once I exceed the minimum Immigration requirement. FTT matters for me now.

On 5/6/2026 at 7:39 PM, QPRFC said:

What documentation did you need to provide to open a Remitly account?

And are you suggesting that they don't require a wet signature on any documents to open and activate an account on the sane day / immediately?

Selfie, and a selfie while holding passport , copy of a recent bank statement (U.S.) obviously your email and US phone# and Thai bank acct #

also I was told do not initiate a transfer with a VPN activated

On 5/7/2026 at 6:48 PM, Everyman said:

only people with active NON-IMMIGRANT visas with one year extensions will be allowed to have Wise Thailand accounts.

Wouldn't bank on this in the light of my experience with Wise a few months ago when they threatened to close my account unless I could prove to their satisfaction my right to reside permanently in Thailand - which, in practice, was completely impossible for me as a non-immigrant with annual retirement extensions! So I closed my account before they could do this, and am now feeling mighty relieved that I'll be spared all the nonsense they'll shortly be inflicting on their account holders with Thai addresses (as I used to be).

9 hours ago, OJAS said:

Wouldn't bank on this in the light of my experience with Wise a few months ago when they threatened to close my account unless I could prove to their satisfaction my right to reside permanently in Thailand - which, in practice, was completely impossible for me as a non-immigrant with annual retirement extensions! So I closed my account before they could do this, and am now feeling mighty relieved that I'll be spared all the nonsense they'll shortly be inflicting on their account holders with Thai addresses (as I used to be).

What information/documents was Wise asking for ?.

What reason was Wise rejecting the info you was forwarding ?

On 5/6/2026 at 11:54 AM, Isaan sailor said:

So now Wise suggests you go to your local bank and apply/request Credit Advice or a Letter of Confirmation of Foreign Source Income

When I did a transfer GBP to THB via WISE as I do every month for Immigration, there is an extra box appears after 'Long Term Stay in Thailand' asking if I want a Credit Advice paper.

The transfer statement always says Bangkok Bank on side two.

6 hours ago, dayo202 said:

What information/documents was Wise asking for ?.

What reason was Wise rejecting the info you was forwarding ?

Broadly along the lines of the following link:

https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-do-i-verify-my-country-of-residence

In particular, I was informed that my British passport was not considered acceptable for this purpose (it had to be a Thai one since Thailand was the country in which I had registered my Wise account with a Thai address). And neither was my latest retirement extension deemed acceptable in lieu of any current visa.

On the other hand, I was told that a Thai driving licence would (bizarrely!) have met Wise's requirement, even though I see that driving licences are now listed as unacceptable in their link. But, in any event, the one small problem in my case was that I didn't possess one of these.

Edited May 9May 9 by OJAS

20 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Thanks for the info. I have tried that setting—but the Wise deposit last month after April 15 no longer shows as FTT (foreign transaction). It’s a domestic transfer from KasiKorn Bank to Bangkok Bank. So I shall return to using my US bank account into Bangkok Bank New York branch, and then to my BB local branch. I will only use Wise for extra deposits, once I exceed the minimum Immigration requirement. FTT matters for me now.

You are not alone in having a Wise transfer classed as domestic rather than having originated from abroad - @mfd has reported a similar recent experience in this thread:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1388342-upcoming-changes-to-wise-operations-in-thailand/page/6/

Looks like it may no longer be possible to rely on a combination of the "Funds for long-term stay in Thailand" reason plus tagging of one's Wise account to guarantee an FTT (or similar) coding as required by IMM for those using the ฿65k monthly transfer option for their retirement extensions. Worrying times ahead in their case, I think - coming on top of all the other doo-dah which Wise will be shortly be inflicting on them and others using their services.

Edited May 9May 9 by OJAS

1 hour ago, OJAS said:

Broadly along the lines of the following link:

https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-do-i-verify-my-country-of-residence

In particular, I was informed that my British passport was not considered acceptable for this purpose (it had to be a Thai one since Thailand was the country in which I had registered my Wise account with a Thai address). And neither was my latest retirement extension deemed acceptable in lieu of any current visa.

On the other hand, I was told that a Thai driving licence would (bizarrely!) have met Wise's requirement, even though I see that driving licences are now listed as unacceptable in their link. But, in any event, the one small problem in my case was that I didn't possess one of these.

This is very concerning to all expats registered to a Thai address as virtually no-one will have a Thai passport.I assume you were unable to show an original visa issued in the UK maybe in a previous passport?

Edited May 9May 9 by chang50

21 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Looks like it may no longer be possible to rely on a combination of the "Funds for long-term in Thailand" reason plus tagging of one's Wise account to guarantee an FTT (or similar) coding as required by IMM for those using the ฿65k monthly transfer option for their retirement extensions.

Disagree slightly as I think the tagging, for those that obtained it, still seems to work but would be interested if the others with the problem have had their accounts tagged or have been relying on the "Funds for long-term in Thailand" method which I agree seems flaky recently.

33 minutes ago, OJAS said:

You are not alone in having a Wise transfer classed as domestic rather than having originated from abroad - @mfd has reported a similar recent experience in this thread:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1388342-upcoming-changes-to-wise-operations-in-thailand/page/6/

Looks like it may no longer be possible to rely on a combination of the "Funds for long-term stay in Thailand" reason plus tagging of one's Wise account to guarantee an FTT (or similar) coding as required by IMM for those using the ฿65k monthly transfer option for their retirement extensions. Worrying times ahead in their case, I think - coming on top of all the other doo-dah which Wise will be shortly be inflicting on them and others using their services.

I realized earlier today that I have what I hope will be sufficient for Immigration annual renewal: For several years, each time I make a transfer - usually 2 or 3 times a month - I have been keeping a copy of the Wise page acknowledgement of the transfer. It's entitled Transfer Confirmation and it shows under Transfer Overview the amount converted in AUD & the result in ฿ after deducting Wise's fee. And ALL of them show it correctly, even the 2 recent transfers and the one back in Feb this year which were not showing up in my BKKBK book as FTT.

So if I have a copy of that page for every transfer, I think that should be sufficient for Immigration. Fingers crossed.

On 5/4/2026 at 2:25 PM, scubascuba3 said:

For those registered with a Thai address

On 5/5/2026 at 12:43 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Although someone on Facebook reckons Wise will be looking at the app to see location of use

According to Gemini on concerns about this issue:

In short: Wise generally does not force an address change based solely on spending patterns.

Financial institutions typically define "residence" based on your legal tax residency and the documents you provided during sign-up, not on where you happen to be on vacation or a long-term trip.

However, there are a few nuances you should be aware of to avoid getting flagged:

1. Spending vs. Residing

Wise is designed for travelers and expats. Spending money in Thailand daily for 6 months is, on its own, indistinguishable from a long-term tourist trip. As long as you have a valid "Right to Reside" (like a passport or national ID) and a verified address in your home country, Wise will treat you as a resident of that country.

2. When Wise Will Ask Questions

Wise's automated systems might flag your account for an address "refresh" if they see certain behaviors that strongly suggest you have permanently moved:

The "Card Expiry" Trap: If your debit card expires and you try to have a new one shipped to a Thai address, Wise will immediately require you to update your profile to a Thailand address.

Log-in Location: If you only ever log in from a Thai IP address for years without ever returning to your home country, they may eventually ask you to re-verify your address.

Verification Triggers: If you hit certain high-volume transaction limits, Wise is legally required to "re-verify" you. If you cannot produce a recent utility bill or bank statement from your home country at that time, you'll be forced to switch to a Thai address or face account suspension.

3. The "Tourist" Protection

Interestingly, Wise's new Thai regulations (under the Bank of Thailand) have created a hurdle that actually "protects" you from a forced change. To officially have a Thai Wise Account, you must provide:

A Long-term Thai Visa (Non-Immigrant, DTV, LTR, etc.)

A Work Permit or a Yellow House Book.

Since Wise cannot legally register you as a Thai user on a Tourist Visa or Visa Exemption, they won't "force" you onto the Thai platform if you don't have those documents. They would sooner close the account for "inaccurate profile information" than move you to a Thai license you aren't legally eligible for.

If you are staying in Thailand long-term but want to keep your "home" Wise account, ensure you have a way to receive mail at your home country address (like a family member's house) and keep at least one utility bill or bank statement in your name linked to that address just in case they ask for a re-verification.

On 5/5/2026 at 5:11 AM, davb said:

PayPal does this. I have never indicated to them I am in Thailand and always maintained a US address, but I do use the app here. They categorized me as living in Thailand anyway and restricted some of my account features.

You may want to read the post above that I just made. Wise is designed for travelers and expats, so they are used to people spending in other countries for long periods of time. PayPal is not. Although PayPal offers debit cards, most people primarily use PayPal for transfers and online payments. Wise’s business mainly depends on expats and digital nomads who use their services while traveling, so the two companies operate with very different business models.

1 hour ago, OJAS said:

Broadly along the lines of the following link:

https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-do-i-verify-my-country-of-residence

In particular, I was informed that my British passport was not considered acceptable for this purpose (it had to be a Thai one since Thailand was the country in which I had registered my Wise account with a Thai address). And neither was my latest retirement extension deemed acceptable in lieu of any current visa.

On the other hand, I was told that a Thai driving licence would (bizarrely!) have met Wise's requirement, even though I see that driving licences are now listed as unacceptable in their link. But, in any event, the one small problem in my case was that I didn't possess one of these.

The more I think about this the more confusing it gets

2 hours ago, OJAS said:

Broadly along the lines of the following link:

https://wise.com/help/articles/3xConsbhr7buWkQuqDEQ5V/how-do-i-verify-my-country-of-residence

In particular, I was informed that my British passport was not considered acceptable for this purpose (it had to be a Thai one since Thailand was the country in which I had registered my Wise account with a Thai address). And neither was my latest retirement extension deemed acceptable in lieu of any current visa.

On the other hand, I was told that a Thai driving licence would (bizarrely!) have met Wise's requirement, even though I see that driving licences are now listed as unacceptable in their link. But, in any event, the one small problem in my case was that I didn't possess one of these.

This is confusing on the wise getting verified in Thailand page it clearly distinguishes between Thai nationals and foreign residents with different instructions for each.Nothing about everyone needing a Thai passport.How would you even have a visa say a non-o without your home country passport?

On 5/5/2026 at 9:28 AM, wil iam not said:

I have seen dates of 19th May, and 1st August mentioned. Which is it please?

Below should answer your question. Please note that this only applies to people who have a Thai address on their Wise accounts. For people who do not have a Thai address on their account, these dates are not relevant in any way.

19 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

Below should answer your question. Please note that this only applies to people who have a Thai address on their Wise accounts. For people who do not have a Thai address on their account, these dates are not relevant in any way.

Effed, my WISE is registered here.

8 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Effed, my WISE is registered here.

I believe you could change your Wise account address to an overseas address in the Wise app if you have an address in the same country as your passport was issued in and you have a bank statement from that country that is no more than three months old showing that address if they ask for proof of overseas residency.

On 5/4/2026 at 2:03 PM, Jimbolkb said:

did you all get the new wise announcements about the crazy new controls of our money, inside and outside of Thailand, by the bank of Thailand starting in June 2026 ?

To me, they do not seem crazy at all, and instead look like standard anti money laundering style central bank controls in 2026. A major driver of these changes could simply be pressure from the Bank of Thailand on Wise operations in Thailand due to Thai nationals holding Wise accounts, many of whom may now have overseas addresses on their accounts while actually residing in Thailand. Some of these users may also be using Wise debit cards in Thailand to spend income earned abroad without paying tax on that overseas income in Thailand.

As with the Thai tax law changes introduced in 2024 regarding the reclassification of foreign income for people residing in Thailand for more than 180 days per year, which appear to target mainly the types of Thai nationals described above, it seems that foreigners living in Thailand may be unintentionally affected by these new Wise rules, even though they were not the primary focus of the policy changes.

I can see Thai nationals who try to maintain an overseas address on their Wise accounts potentially being required to switch to a Thai address and a Thai Wise account in the future, unless they can clearly demonstrate with supporting documents that they genuinely reside outside Thailand. However, for many Thai people it may be difficult to justify overseas residency, even if they have documents showing they reside abroad, if they are actually spending money in Thailand from their Wise account on a daily basis.

Foreigners in similar situations are more likely to still be treated by Wise as tourists and will be required to provide evidence that they actually reside in Thailand if they want to change their Wise account address to a Thai address. So whereas Thai users might be encouraged to move to a Thai Wise account, foreigners could be assessed by Wise in a different way unless they can clearly prove Thai residency.

16 hours ago, chang50 said:

I assume you were unable to show an original visa issued in the UK maybe in a previous passport?

Unlikely that my long-expired non-OA visa would have done the trick in any event, I would have thought. However an unexpired non-OA visa would probably have been OK. But touch and go with a recently-issued non-O visa in view of Wise's minimum 90-day validity requirement.

Edited May 10May 10 by OJAS

14 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

Below should answer your question. Please note that this only applies to people who have a Thai address on their Wise accounts. For people who do not have a Thai address on their account, these dates are not relevant in any way.

Thanks for this clarification of all the various dates currently being bandied about by Wise!