How to Transfer Money from Canada to Thailand
Canada to Thailand Guide
Summary
Canada and Thailand share strong ties in trade, investment and tourism, requiring high levels of foreign exchange conversions. There are no restrictions for Canadians who want to transfer money from Canada to Thailand. Thailand is a popular tourist destination for Canadians with a small number of Canadians choosing to reside there.
Visas, work permits and residency
Over 5,000 Canadian citizens currently reside in Thailand, and approximately 230,000 Canadian tourists visited Thailand in 2013, an increase of 5% from 2012. Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit Thailand if they have a valid passport, with at least six months remaining before expiration, and a confirmed airline ticket that leaves Thailand within 30 days. If planning to stay longer than 30 days, a tourist visa is required.
Canadian citizens who wish to apply for permanent residency in Thailand must meet a number of requirements before it can be granted. A current non-immigrant visa is required at the time of application, and the holder must have had this visa for at least three years. Canadian citizens seeking permanent residency in Thailand must also meet one of the categories for residency, which can be based on type of work, investment, humanitarian or academic reasons. For more information on permanent residency, please visit the Thai Embassy website.
Once an application for permanent residency has been approved, the applicant must register at their district administrative office, also known as “Amphur” offices, and obtain a house card to receive their residence certificate. After the residence certificate is received they can register and apply for an alien book at the local police station. Re-registration is required each year for foreign residents.
Buying property in Thailand
There are no restrictions on land ownership by foreigners, though there are quotas for foreign-owned condominiums, the most common type of real estate purchase in Thailand. This quota limits the total purchase of condos by foreigners in a building to 49%. To purchase a condo, international buyers are free to transfer money to Thailand either through a Thai bank account or an escrow account in the name of the attorney managing the purchase. Transfer documents must show that the currency transfer will be used for the purchase of the condominium.
Canadian citizens who wish to lease land can enter into a leasehold, a type of land lease purchase. Land leases are available for a maximum time period of 30 years. If leasing land or property for at least three years, the agreement must be registered with the Thai Department of Lands, and land taxes will be assessed on the property. Canadian citizens who wish to buy land in Thailand may do so, though there are a number of conditions that must be met before the transaction can be approved. The buyer must bring a minimum amount of money into Thailand for investment purposes, and must be granted permission from the Thai Ministry of Interior.
Taxation
Canadian residents living abroad must declare their earnings and file tax forms annually. They must pay Canadian taxes on any earned income they receive while working in Thailand. However, Canada and Thailand have signed a bilateral tax treaty that will offset taxes paid in one country, to avoid double taxation.
Voting
Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years old can vote in a Canadian Federal Election no matter where they are in the world. However, citizens are only permitted to vote abroad for the first five years after leaving Canada. To renew an expired voting status after five years, citizens must return and resume residency within Canada before being permitted to vote again in Canadian Federal Elections.
Studying in Thailand
There are a number of long-standing cooperation agreements between Canadian universities and Thai academic institutions. Canadian citizens planning to study full-time in Thailand can apply for a one-year non-immigrant education visa. Canadian students must be at least twelve years of age and are eligible to enroll for a six-month, nine-month, or one-year course. Canadian students may make unrestricted international money transfers to Thailand to help cover the costs of their studies.
Healthcare
Thailand has three types of health services: government-run healthcare, non-profit health organizations and private medical services. Canadian citizens living in Thailand are not covered by any of the government-funded healthcare services. If working in Thailand, Canadians will generally be covered by their employers’ healthcare plan. Those Canadians not working should take out a private healthcare plan. If traveling in Thailand, obtaining travel insurance before entering the country is advisable.
Importing from Thailand to Canada
Canada and Thailand work closely together on a number of international alliances and agreements, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum, which focuses on security issues throughout the Asian region. They are also partners in the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 2012, the prime ministers of both countries announced the launch of formal discussions for a Canada-Thailand Free Trade Agreement, with the goal of increasing investment opportunities and exports between the two countries. Currently, Thailand is Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, with two-way trade topping $3.5 billion in 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the money transfer companies shown above safe to use?
Yes, all the companies are safe and fully-regulated money transfer services.
Each are authorised and regulated by the relevant authority such as the Financial
Conduct Authority(FCA) in the UK, FinCEN in the US, FinTRAC in Canada or ASIC in Australia.
How long does an international money transfer take?
The speed of delivery will depend on where the money is being from and to and how
you are sending and receiving the money. Transfers sent using bank to bank transfers
can depend take anywhere from minutes to days and you should check the time estimates
from the relevant provider. Debit and credit card payments sometimes allow for faster
transfers for smaller amounts.
How do I use FXcompared?
First review the comparison results (such as for a table above) for a given amount
of money sending from Canada to Thailand. Then select a provider based on
factors such as price, speed, their rating and click the green button to be taken to
their website. From there, you can register and sign up for an account. Once you have
done that and the provider has verified your identity to ensure the money can be send
safely, you will be ready to transfer money.
What payments methods can I use to send money overseas?
The results shown above are typically for bank to bank transfers. It is possible
via some providers to pay in your funds for the transfer via cash, debit or credit
cards as well but this is usually reserved for smaller amounts. Some providers also
give you different options for how the money will be received - to a bank account
(most common), to a debit card, to cash or to a digital or mobile wallet.
What if the price shown above isn’t exactly what I am offered when I try to transfer money?
There can be a number of reasons why the final price you are offered may be different
to that shown in the table above. Exchange rates between two currencies change all
the time and is the most common reason. Additionally, some providers offer different
pricing depending what method you are using to send funds or how the funds will be
received. Others may offer you a premium service for faster payments. In some cases
FXcompared has a special rate with a provider and this is reserved for first time
customers who sign up to the provider starting from FXcompared’s website.
As prices do change often, be sure to confirm the total cost with the provider
before transferring money.
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