- Recent statements showing the accumulation of funds
- Sale contract and completion statement for property or business proceeds
- Inheritance, dividend, bonus, investment-sale or loan documentation
What makes up the full international transfer cost
- For a home purchase, relocation reserve or investment move, compare the amount delivered after every fee, the evidence each institution will request and what happens when a payment is reviewed.
Test with a small transfer before the deadline becomes expensive.
Three routes, three different jobs
| Route | What it is designed to do | Cost structure | Critical limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Convert and send supported currencies through a payment account | Displayed conversion fee, generally based on amount and currency pair; mid-market-rate claim; some large-volume discounts | Country, currency, amount and funding limits vary; large transfers can trigger source-of-funds review |
| Interactive Brokers FX | Execute currency trades inside a brokerage account | Published spot-FX commission tiers plus market spread; minimum commission per order | It is a brokerage, not a general remittance service; funding, withdrawal holds, account-name rules and available currencies can change the route |
| Bank SWIFT wire | Send bank-to-bank payments across the correspondent network | Sending fee, exchange-rate spread, correspondent deductions and possible receiving fee | The final delivered amount may be uncertain unless fee handling and intermediary route are confirmed |
For a deposit or larger payment, prepare the records in How to Transfer $50,000–$500,000 Abroad: Bank Checks and Documents before instructing the transfer.
Why a low fee can hide a poor exchange rate
Compare the quote again when the payment is executable
An indicative rate seen on Monday is not the delivered amount available on Thursday.
Ask when the rate is fixed, how long it remains valid and what happens if funding arrives late.
Record sending currency, receiving currency, explicit fees, expected deductions and arrival date on the same quote sheet.
Avoid comparing one provider’s before-fee rate with another’s after-fee total.
For a property deadline, allow for document review and bank cut-off times. A weekend, public holiday or intermediate-bank query can alter timing.
Ask who traces a delayed payment and how you can reach that team.
Keep the provider choice separate from the tax analysis.
The amount moved can include original savings, sale proceeds and taxable gains, each with a different evidence trail.
A cheap payment method does not make the underlying money tax-free or remove source-of-funds checks.
Use the transfer comparison for delivery cost and reliability, then obtain the route-specific tax analysis for the money being delivered.
Resolve the decisions that affect the payments you cannot easily recover.
- 1Confirm the requirements
Write down which documents, permissions and quotes you still need.
- 2Map the payment dates
Match bills and deposits to when your money will actually be available.
- 3Keep a fallback
Allow for delayed pay, pending paperwork and a change of plans.
For this part of your move, see How to Manage Income and Bills in Two Currencies.
How to compare quotes and preserve the money trail
Measure the delivered amount
Capture quotes at the same time for the same source currency, recipient currency and delivery date.
Record the market reference rate, quoted exchange rate, explicit fee, amount expected to arrive and any fee that may be deducted later.
A low transfer fee can hide a wide exchange-rate spread; a tight FX conversion can be outweighed by funding and withdrawal charges.
Wise says its sending fee depends on the amount, payment method and currency pair and that it uses the mid-market rate.
Treat the calculator shown for your country and route as the current price; do not copy an example rate from another country.
- Interactive Brokers publishes spot-currency commissions beginning at 0.20 basis point of trade value for the lowest volume tier, with a USD 2 minimum or currency equivalent.
That is the trading commission, not a promise about the entire movement from Bank A to Bank B.
Include the incoming transfer, settlement, withdrawal and any intermediary bank.
Do not use a brokerage as a disguised transfer service
It is not a drop-in substitute for Wise. Its official funding page says third-party deposits are strongly discouraged and generally rejected.
Deposit instructions vary by currency and are generated in the client portal.
Withdrawal holds can apply, and a withdrawal to an account not in your name can require extra review or be unavailable.
Account purpose matters.
Before funding a brokerage solely to convert and withdraw currency, ask the broker whether that activity is permitted for your entity and account type.
Save the answer. The attractive FX commission does not override the account agreement or compliance review.
Understand what SWIFT does—and does not set
SWIFT is the messaging network used by banks; it does not set the exchange rate or the fees charged by your sending bank, correspondent banks or receiving bank.
Ask the sending bank for an all-in quote and whether the fee instruction is OUR, SHA or BEN.
In broad terms, OUR means the sender requests to bear charges, SHA splits them and BEN deducts them from the beneficiary amount, but treatment can vary along the route.
- Obtain the receiving bank’s full instructions, including beneficiary name, IBAN or account number, SWIFT/BIC, bank address, payment reference and any intermediary details.
Verify them through a second channel to reduce invoice-fraud risk.
Prepare the compliance file before sending
Large legitimate payments are still reviewed.
The provider may ask how the money was earned, why it is moving, who receives it and whether names match.
Wise warns that large transfers often receive manual checks and advises customers to prepare evidence.
A bank or broker can ask similar questions under its own regulatory obligations.
Source and purpose pack
- Recent statements showing the accumulation of funds
- Sale contract and completion statement for property or business proceeds
- Inheritance, dividend, bonus, investment-sale or loan documentation
- Tax returns, payslips or audited accounts where relevant
- Recipient invoice, purchase contract or own-account statement
- Identity and address documents with consistent names
- Written explanation of the transfer purpose and relationship to the recipient
- Provider quote, payment instructions and support reference
Sequence the transfer around the deadline
Do not send the full amount as the first transaction to a new beneficiary.
Verify bank details independently, send a small test, confirm receipt, then send the remainder with time for review.
Avoid a Friday, public holiday or final-day completion when a manual check would create breach penalties.
If the currency rate matters, separate execution risk from payment risk.
A guaranteed rate is useful only if funds reach the provider within the required window.
A brokerage trade can execute quickly while withdrawal remains subject to settlement or holding rules.
Use a decision scorecard
| Decision | Usually stronger route | Verify first |
|---|---|---|
| Transparent consumer quote for a supported corridor | Wise | Country availability, amount limit, funding method, discount tier and document review |
| FX conversion inside an established investment relationship | IBKR may be efficient | Account purpose, deposit/withdrawal route, same-name rule, hold period and currency availability |
| Property closing or payment requiring conventional bank proof | SWIFT wire may fit operationally | Exact beneficiary instructions, fee code, intermediary deductions, daily limit and trace process |
| Exact amount must arrive by a hard deadline | No automatic winner | Delivered amount, rate validity, cutoff, compliance pre-clearance and contingency day |
The safest answer can be more than one route.
A small test through the proposed provider can reveal name mismatches or receiving-bank issues, while a bank wire remains the contingency for a time-critical balance.
Do not split a transaction to evade reporting or review thresholds; split only for operational testing or risk management and keep the full explanation.
General education only. Providers, supported corridors, fees, limits and compliance requirements change.
Confirm the live route before moving funds.
Keep the transfer evidence described in Thai banking and remittance records alongside your income records.
Learn More
Source review: consult the linked authorities for current requirements; provider acceptance and quotes may differ. Last editorial update: October 2026.
Our guides are prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the publisher. How we work →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the best exchange rate always the best transfer?
No. Compare the delivered amount after charges, timing, eligibility and support.
Wise’s guidance illustrates how fees depend on the actual payment; obtain current quotes rather than relying on a permanent ranking. Wise: sending-money fees.
Can a small test transfer guarantee a large one clears?
No. It helps verify recipient details but a larger payment may require additional review.
Discuss documentation and deadlines separately, and avoid artificial splitting intended to evade controls. Wise: sending-money fees.
Should I use a broker account just to send property money?
Only if the provider’s permitted-use and funding rules genuinely fit. Investing, currency conversion and personal payment services are not interchangeable.
Confirm ownership and withdrawal requirements before routing money through an investment account. Wise: sending-money fees.