Easiest way to send small sums of money to a Canadian Bank from my Bangkok Bank

[vanbrit548]

I want to send a relatively small amount of money from my Bangkok Bank account (30,000 baht or less) to my Canadian Royal Bank account to pay my (Canadian) Credit card bill. What is the simplest (and cheapest) way? I may do this a few times a year but not on a regular basis. The Bangkok bank website states you have to provide documentation as to the source of the funds...seems a bit of overkill if i am just sending it from my Bangkok Bank savings account. Money that i brought to Thailand for my retirement, i don't have a salary in Thailand. Simplest ideas please

[Pib]

Yeap, when it comes to transferring money into Thailand it is the Land of Smiles; but when trying to transfer money out it turns into the Land of Frowns. You'll just have to visit your local Bangkok Bank and satisfy their paperwork needs. And assuming you have Bangkok Bank ibanking the only type of outbound international transfer you can setup as a farang is for salary repatriation if you have a Work Permit (which you don't)...see this Bangkok Bank webpage regarding outbound international transfers for ibanking.

Unfortunately, all Thai banks pretty much follow the same rules for outbound international transfers....I expect Bank of Thailand regulations is the driver. Yeap, generally the Land of Frowns when you want to send money out of Thailand. Best to have/keep a home country bank account to pay your home country bills.

[sas_cars]

If you don't have work permit, the only way you can remit back is either show evidence that you brought it in the first place, or if you purchase something from overseas and have an invoice for that. You take this invoice to the bank along with you passport and make the wire transfer. If your credit card bill has banking details for its payment, then I guess it can be used in lieu of invoice

[bdw]

Since 1997 it's been so difficult to send money OUT of the LOS that I had a Thai colleague in 1999 who would give me money to transfer to his trading account in the USA.

That's how bad it is, even a Thai can't send money out w/o a valid reason, like paying tuition for their child's college, or paying their rent.

In those cases the bank wants to see a receipt or invoice. I had a Belgian friend who would send money to his daughter in Europe, and he would need her to have whatever biller make an invoice to show the Thai bank.

Maybe if you can show a bill for that credit card to the bank they'll be satisfied?

[keeniau96]

Several times I have done such outbound transfers it was a fairly simple matter of filling out one-page form at the bank. Limit used to be US$20k but now 50K; above the limit had to provide documentation eg. buy house, daughter education, etc. Small sum you just put is plausible reason on the one-page form eg. pay credit card bill. Usually done at the bank's forex desk not regular cashier.

[beechguy]

If you don't have work permit, the only way you can remit back is either show evidence that you brought it in the first place, or if you purchase something from overseas and have an invoice for that. You take this invoice to the bank along with you passport and make the wire transfer. If your credit card bill has banking details for its payment, then I guess it can be used in lieu of invoice

Nonense, I just sent a couple of 60K Baht, from the Bangkok Bank on Suhkimvit, one page form with basic information.

[thairookie]

I transferred nearly 2 million baht (changed to USD) to overseas without much of a hassle. I just had to tell the bank officer my reasons, and I wasn't required to produce any documents. The money came from the sale of my condominium.

As for your case, the amount is small, and I have a suggestion. Your Bangkok Bank Bualuang Card, if I am not wrong, is also a Visa Debit card. Use your Bangkok Visa Debit Card to pay for your Canadian Visa Card bill.

[Rogue33]

Keeniau96 answer is right. Just go to a Bangkok Bank branch and tell them you want to do a wire transfer to your Canadian bank account to pay your credit card bills. They will ask you to fill a one page document and that's it. I did some transfers in the past and it's a fairly easy process if the amount transferred is less the 50k' $. When I did it I remember they asked me if I had a work permit but they didn't request it after I told the bank employee the amount and the reason I wanted to transfer money.

[vanbrit548]

Thanks everyone for the useful tips. Very informative.

[Canada]

What about trying to pay a 600,000 + baht balance??

All the money was cash advanced here in Thailand. Would a Visa statement be enough to prove that the money being paid back actually originated overseas?

Thx.