The short answer

International payments usually reach a Thai business account by SWIFT. The Thai bank charges a small receiving fee — typically 0.25%, capped at ฿500 — and the sender's and any intermediary banks may take their own fees. The biggest cost is often the exchange-rate margin when currency is converted, so it pays to decide who converts, and where. For payments of US$50,000 or more, your bank issues a Foreign Exchange Transaction (FET) form recording the purpose — keep it, as it can matter later. You can hold dollars, euros and other currencies in a foreign currency deposit (FCD) account and convert when it suits you. Since January 2026, Thai residents' foreign-sourced funds of under US$10 million no longer have to be brought back to Thailand. For regular or larger payments, a specialist such as Vita Capital offers competitive rates, named collection accounts and forward contracts.

How an international payment reaches your business

When a customer, partner or parent company abroad pays your Thai business, the money usually travels through the SWIFT network:

1. The payer sends the payment from their bank, using your account details and your bank's SWIFT code.
2. Intermediary banks may pass it on — especially for less common currency routes — sometimes taking a fee along the way.
3. Your Thai bank receives it and charges its receiving fee.
4. Currency is converted — either by the sender's bank before it leaves, or by your Thai bank when it arrives, unless it goes into an FCD account.
5. The money is credited to your account, usually within a few working days, with a credit advice showing the details.

Who pays the fees?

Every SWIFT payment carries a charge instruction:

• SHA (shared) — the sender pays their bank's fee, you pay yours. The most common option.
• OUR — the sender pays all fees, so you receive the full amount.
• BEN — you pay all fees, deducted from the amount.

If you need to receive an exact amount — for example, to settle an invoice in full — ask your customer to send with OUR. Our guide to SWIFT transfers to Thai bank accounts explains the process in detail.

What Thai banks charge to receive a payment

Examples of published receiving fees for international payments credited to an account.

Krungsri tariff effective 1 July 2026; Bangkok Bank and SCB as checked October 2026. Fees apply to payments credited to a baht or FCD account; intermediary and sender fees are separate. Because the fee is capped, any payment above about ฿200,000 pays the ฿500 maximum at Krungsri and Bangkok Bank.

The real cost: the exchange rate

Receiving fees are small and capped. The cost that really adds up is the exchange-rate margin — the difference between the rate you're given and the mid-market rate you see on the news.

According to Wise's August 2026 review, reported margins at UK banks range from around 1% to 3.55%. On a £100,000 payment, that's between £1,000 and £3,550 — or roughly ฿44,000 to ฿157,000 at ฿44.38 to the pound. For a business receiving regular payments, those margins can add up to a significant share of profit over a year.

Who converts, and where?

• The sender's bank converts — you receive baht, but at their rate.
• Your Thai bank converts — you receive foreign currency that the bank changes to baht at its rate.
• You hold it in an FCD account — and convert later, when the rate suits you.
• A specialist converts — such as Vita Capital, at a quoted, competitive rate, then pays your Thai account.

For regular or larger payments, comparing a quoted rate from a specialist against your bank's rate is one of the simplest ways to improve your margins. Our guide to transfer fees and FX margins explains how margins work.

Timing your conversions

Exchange rates move every day, and for a business with regular foreign income, when you convert can matter as much as where. A few tools help you take control:

• Spot conversion — convert at today's rate, as soon as the money arrives. Simple, and right when you need baht now.
• Holding in an FCD account — keep the foreign currency and convert when the rate suits you, or use it to pay foreign suppliers.
• Limit orders — set a target rate and let it convert automatically when the market reaches it. Vita Capital offers limit and stop-loss orders for business clients.
• Forward contracts — fix today's rate for money you'll receive in the future, so you know exactly how much baht an invoice will bring in.
• Regular conversions — converting a fixed amount at set intervals smooths out the ups and downs.

The right mix depends on how predictable your income is and how much a currency move would affect your profit. A business that quotes prices in baht but is paid in dollars, for example, may want to fix the rate on large orders as soon as they're agreed. Vita Capital's corporate team can talk you through the options and set them up with a dedicated relationship manager.

The FET form and why it matters

When foreign currency of US$50,000 or more (or the equivalent) arrives and is converted in Thailand, your bank issues a Foreign Exchange Transaction (FET) form. It records the sender, the receiver, the foreign currency amount, the exchange rate, the baht amount and — most importantly — the purpose of the payment.

Why it matters for a business

• It proves where the money came from — useful for accounts, audits and tax.
• It records the purpose — sales income, a loan, share capital or intercompany funding.
• It can matter later — for example, when repaying a loan or returning capital to an investor abroad, the original paperwork helps show the money came in for that purpose.

Below US$50,000

No FET form is issued automatically. Keep every credit advice, and ask your bank for a confirmation letter listing the payments, amounts, conversion and purpose if you need one.

The simplest habit: always ask the payer to include a clear payment reference — the invoice number, "loan from parent company", "capital injection" — so the purpose is recorded correctly from the start.

Holding foreign currency: FCD accounts

Thai banks offer foreign currency deposit (FCD) accounts, which let your business hold US dollars, euros, pounds and other currencies in Thailand. For a business with foreign income or foreign costs, an FCD account brings real advantages:

• Choose when to convert — rather than accepting the rate on the day a payment arrives.
• Pay foreign suppliers — from currency you've already received, without converting twice.
• Natural hedging — matching foreign income with foreign costs reduces your currency risk.
• Same receiving fees — Krungsri, for example, charges the same 0.25% (min ฿200, max ฿500) for payments credited to an FCD account.

Be aware of charges when you withdraw: Krungsri, for example, charges a "commission in lieu of exchange" of 0.125% (minimum ฿1,000) when foreign currency is withdrawn from an FCD account to send abroad. Ask your bank for its full tariff.

New rules for foreign income from January 2026

Thailand has made life much easier for businesses earning abroad. Thai residents — including Thai companies — have long been required to bring foreign-sourced funds back to Thailand and convert them to baht or place them in an FCD account within 360 days, unless the amount was below an exemption threshold.

In January 2026, that threshold was raised tenfold, from under US$1 million to under US$10 million:

• From 20 January 2026 — for export proceeds.
• From 27 January 2026 — for all other foreign-sourced funds.

For most small and medium-sized businesses, this means foreign income below US$10 million can stay abroad — for example, in a foreign account used to pay overseas suppliers — giving far more flexibility in managing currency. Larger amounts still need to come home within the time limit. Your accountant or lawyer can confirm how the rules apply to your business.

Where to start

Better rates on business payments — and the right cover for your business.

Ways to receive international payments

The main options for a Thai business, side by side.

A general guide. Fees and services vary by provider; confirm current terms before you choose.

Different types of business payment

Customer payments

Invoices paid by overseas customers. Make sure every invoice shows your company name exactly as on the account, the account number, the bank's name and SWIFT code, the currency and the invoice number as a reference.

Intercompany funding

Money from a parent company or group company abroad, for working capital or expenses. Record the purpose clearly — for example, as a loan with a written agreement — so the paperwork supports repayment later.

Share capital and investment

Capital paid in by shareholders when a company is set up or expanded. Clear records of foreign capital coming in, including the FET form, help when dividends or capital are later paid back out.

Loans

Loans from abroad should be documented with a loan agreement, and the purpose stated on the payment. This makes repayment straightforward when the time comes.

Commissions, fees and royalties

Payments for services, introductions or intellectual property. Your accountant can confirm the tax treatment and any withholding that applies.

Getting your invoicing right

Most delays and extra fees come from incomplete or inconsistent payment details. A well-designed invoice avoids them:

• Your company's registered name — exactly as it appears on the bank account.
• Your bank's full name and address.
• The SWIFT/BIC code — for example, BKKBTHBK for Bangkok Bank or AYUDTHBK for Krungsri.
• Your account number — and whether it's a baht or FCD account.
• The currency — and whether you'd like the payer to send in that currency.
• A payment reference — the invoice number.
• The charge option — ask for OUR if you need the full amount.
• A warning about changed details — tell customers you will never change bank details by email alone.

If you use a Vita Capital named collection account, your invoice simply shows those details instead.

Which currency should you invoice in?

Invoicing in baht

Your customer takes the currency risk and conversion cost — simple for you, but some overseas customers may prefer their own currency.

Invoicing in the customer's currency

Easier for your customer, and often helps win business. You take the currency risk between invoicing and payment, and decide when and how to convert.

Invoicing in US dollars

A common choice for international trade, especially in Asia. Works well if you also pay suppliers in dollars.

If you invoice in foreign currency, a forward contract can fix the rate you'll receive when the customer pays, so your margin is protected. Our section on corporate FX and risk will explain forwards and budgeting in detail.

Common problems and how to avoid them

The payment arrives short

Usually because intermediary or receiving fees were deducted. Ask payers to use OUR, or build fees into your invoices.

The payment is delayed

Often because the name, account number or SWIFT code doesn't match. Check details carefully, and ask the payer for the payment's tracking reference (UETR) so it can be traced.

The bank asks for documents

For larger payments, your bank may ask about the purpose. Keep invoices, contracts and loan agreements ready.

The rate was poor

Compare the rate you received with the mid-market rate on the day. If the gap is large, it's worth getting a quote from a specialist.

Our guide to what to do when an international transfer is delayed explains how to trace a payment.

Protecting your business from payment fraud

One of the most common frauds against businesses is invoice redirection: a criminal impersonates you or your supplier and asks for payment to a "new" bank account. Protect your business and your customers:

• Never change bank details by email alone — and tell customers you won't.
• Confirm any change by phone — on a number you already have.
• Secure your email — with strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi when accessing business banking.
• Use escrow for large or first-time deals — so money moves only when conditions are met.

Three real-world examples

These are illustrations, not real businesses.

A Phuket dive centre paid by European agents

Agents in Europe pay commissions and bookings in euros. The dive centre opened an FCD account so it can hold euros and convert them when the rate suits, paying the same capped receiving fee.

A Bangkok software company with UK clients

The company invoices UK clients around £100,000 a month in pounds. By using a Vita Capital named collection account instead of letting each client's bank convert, it compares a quoted rate each month — and with reported bank margins of 1% to 3.55%, the saving can run to thousands of pounds a month.

A Chiang Mai manufacturer funded by its parent

The Thai subsidiary receives working capital from its parent in Singapore. Each transfer is documented with a loan agreement and a clear reference, and the FET forms are filed with the accounts — making repayment simple later.

Your business payments checklist

• Company name matches the bank account exactly.
• Invoices show the bank, SWIFT code, account number and currency.
• Payers include the invoice number as a reference.
• The charge option (SHA or OUR) is agreed.
• An FCD account is open if you receive or pay foreign currency.
• FET forms and credit advices are filed with your accounts.
• Loans and capital are documented with agreements.
• You compare your bank's rate with a specialist's quote.
• Bank details are never changed by email alone.

Questions to ask your bank and FX provider

1. What is your receiving fee, and is it capped?
2. What exchange rate do you use, and how does it compare with the mid-market rate?
3. Can we open an FCD account, and what are the charges?
4. What documents do you need for larger payments?
5. How long do payments take to be credited?
6. Can we fix a rate in advance with a forward contract?
7. Do you offer named collection accounts in our customers' currencies?
8. Who will we deal with — a dedicated contact or a call centre?

Top tips

• Focus on the rate, not the fee — the margin costs far more.
• Open an FCD account if you have foreign income or costs.
• Get the paperwork right — references, FET forms and agreements.
• Ask for OUR when you need the full amount.
• Use a specialist for regular or larger payments.
• Fix rates when you invoice in foreign currency.
• Use escrow for large or first-time deals.
• Protect against invoice fraud.

How we researched this guide

This guide draws on Krungsri's International Payment tariff (effective 1 July 2026) and SWIFT remittance terms; Bangkok Bank and SCB fees (checked October 2026); ThaiLawOnline's guide to the FET form (August 2026, updated September 2026); Baker McKenzie on Thailand's repatriation exemption (February 2026); Wise's review of UK bank margins (August 2026); and Vita Capital's published corporate services. Checked 14 October 2026. Bank fees and rules change; confirm current terms with your bank, and take advice from your accountant on tax. This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice.