Can Someone Else Transfer the Condominium Purchase Funds on Behalf of a Foreign Buyer?

Concise answer

Possibly—but a payment from a spouse, relative, company or other third party does not automatically satisfy the financial-evidence requirements for foreign-freehold condominium ownership.

The receiving Thai bank and Land Office must be able to connect the transferred funds to the person who will be registered as the condominium owner. Additional evidence may be required to explain who sent the money, why it was sent and whether it is a gift, loan, company distribution or payment made on the buyer’s behalf.

The safest standard procedure is for the registered buyer to transfer the purchase funds from an overseas account held in their own name.

Detailed explanation

Most international buyers qualify for foreign-freehold condominium ownership by transferring foreign currency into Thailand and presenting acceptable banking evidence at the Land Office.

When someone other than the buyer sends the money, the transaction develops an additional question: do the banking documents sufficiently establish that the funds were transferred for the buyer’s condominium purchase?

The answer depends on the sender, payment structure, receiving bank and Land Office requirements.

1. The buyer should normally be the sender

The cleanest structure is for the buyer to transfer the money from a personal overseas bank account bearing the same name as their passport and purchase contract.

This creates a direct connection between:

• Registered buyer
• Overseas bank account
• International transfer
• Condominium contract
• Receiving bank record
• Foreign Exchange Transaction Form or equivalent evidence
• Land Office ownership registration

Wherever practical, this should be the preferred method.

2. A spouse may transfer the money

A spouse may be able to transfer purchase funds on behalf of the buyer, but additional documents may be required.

These could include:

• Marriage certificate
• Spouse’s passport or identification
• Written declaration explaining the transfer
• Gift declaration
• Loan agreement
• Confirmation that the funds are for the buyer’s condominium
• Certified Thai translations
• Evidence establishing whether the property or funds are personal or marital assets

The requirements may also depend on whether one spouse or both spouses will be registered as owners.

The proposed arrangement should be reviewed before the transfer is made.

3. A parent or family member may provide the funds

A parent or other family member may wish to contribute towards the purchase.

The transaction may need to be documented as:

• Gift
• Family loan
• Advance inheritance
• Payment made on behalf of the buyer
• Joint investment

The bank or Land Office may request evidence confirming:

• Identity of the sender
• Relationship to the buyer
• Source of the funds
• Purpose of the transfer
• Whether repayment is required
• Intended legal owner of the condominium

The buyer should also obtain appropriate tax and estate-planning advice in the sender’s and recipient’s relevant jurisdictions.

4. A foreign company may transfer the money

A company owned or controlled by the buyer may hold the funds intended for the purchase. However, company money is legally distinct from the buyer’s personal money.

The bank or Land Office may ask:

• Why the company is paying for a personally owned condominium
• Whether the payment is salary, dividend, loan or distribution
• Whether the buyer is authorised to receive the funds
• Whether the company or individual is the actual purchaser
• Whether corporate approvals are required
• Whether tax obligations arise

Documents may include:

• Company registration records
• Shareholder or director information
• Board resolution
• Loan or distribution agreement
• Evidence of the buyer’s relationship with the company
• Company bank statements
• Source-of-funds documentation
• Certified translations or legalisation

A buyer should not transfer company money to a lawyer, developer or seller until the proposed structure has been approved by the receiving bank and an independent lawyer.

5. A lawyer may receive the funds

A Thai lawyer may sometimes receive purchase funds through a designated client or trust-style account, subject to the lawyer’s procedures and the bank’s compliance requirements.

This can be useful when:

• Buyer does not yet have a Thai bank account
• Funds must be held pending due diligence
• Completion is being handled under a power of attorney
• Seller requires payment through a controlled closing process

However, routing the money through a lawyer does not remove the need for proper foreign-currency evidence.

The documentation should still identify:

• Foreign buyer
• Overseas sender
• Condominium being purchased
• Unit number
• Purpose of the payment
• Lawyer’s role in receiving the money
• Final payment to the seller or developer

The buyer should use an established independent law firm with appropriate client-money procedures.

6. Payment directly to a developer or seller

Many foreign buyers transfer their purchase instalments directly to the developer’s or seller’s Thai bank account.

This can be acceptable when the banking and contractual records clearly identify the foreign buyer and condominium purchase.

The buyer should obtain:

• Official payment instructions
• Bank account confirmation
• Developer or seller receipt
• Updated payment statement
• Copy of the inward-remittance record
• FET Form, credit advice or bank certification where applicable

If a third party sends the payment, the transfer reference should still identify the registered buyer and condominium unit.

7. The payment reference must be precise

A third-party transfer should not use a vague description such as “personal transfer” or “family support.”

A suitable reference may read:

Purchase of condominium unit [unit number] at [development name] on behalf of [buyer’s full passport name].

The sender should confirm the exact wording with the receiving bank, developer and lawyer before initiating the transfer.

The payment reference alone may not be sufficient, but it helps establish the purpose of the funds.

8. The buyer may need to prove the source of funds

Banks, developers, lawyers and Land Offices may request source-of-funds information as part of legal, banking or anti-money-laundering procedures.

Supporting evidence may include:

• Bank statements
• Employment income
• Business income
• Property-sale records
• Investment statements
• Inheritance documents
• Gift declaration
• Loan agreement
• Company dividend records
• Tax documents

The required evidence depends on the transaction and the parties involved.

A legitimate source of money does not automatically mean that the chosen transfer structure will satisfy the separate requirements for foreign-freehold registration.

9. The FET Form or equivalent evidence must support the buyer

The receiving bank should be asked how the registered buyer will be identified in the banking evidence when the sender is someone else.

The documentation may need to show:

• Third-party sender’s name
• Foreign buyer’s name
• Relationship between sender and buyer
• Condominium purchase purpose
• Development and unit details
• Foreign currency and amount
• Receiving account
• Transaction date and reference number

If the bank’s evidence identifies only the sender and does not connect the funds to the buyer, the Land Office may require further clarification or may not accept the documents.

10. Confirm the structure before sending the money

Third-party transfers should be approved in advance by:

• Receiving Thai bank
• Independent Thai property lawyer
• Developer or seller
• Phuket Provincial Land Office when appropriate

The buyer should obtain confirmation before paying a non-refundable reservation fee or contractual instalment.

Once the money has been sent, correcting the sender details, payment purpose or banking evidence may be difficult.

Greg’s professional perspective

A third-party payment can be entirely legitimate, but it adds another layer of explanation to the transaction.

The central question is simple: can the buyer prove that these particular funds were transferred for this particular condominium and belong to the person who will receive the title?

Before someone else sends money for a client, I recommend confirming:

1. How the third-party payment will be legally characterised.
2. What name will appear on the bank evidence.
3. How the buyer will be identified.
4. What supporting documents will be required.
5. Whether the receiving bank will issue suitable evidence.
6. Whether the Land Office will accept that evidence.

Where possible, transferring from the buyer’s own overseas account remains the cleaner and more secure route. If a third party must provide the money, the documentation should be settled before the transfer—not explained after it arrives.

Applicable date

Current as reviewed on: 17 July 2026

Thai foreign-exchange regulations, banking procedures, anti-money-laundering requirements and Land Office documentary requirements can change. This entry should be reviewed whenever the Condominium Act, Bank of Thailand regulations or Department of Lands registration procedures are amended.

Location and property types

Location: Phuket, Thailand
Primary property type: Registered condominium units
Ownership type: Foreign freehold
Buyer type: Foreign individuals receiving purchase funds from another person or entity

Verified legal and authoritative sources

• Condominium Act B.E. 2522 (1979), as amended — particularly Sections 19 and 19 ter concerning foreign condominium ownership and evidence of qualifying funds brought into Thailand.
• Thailand Department of Lands regulation concerning condominium ownership by foreigners — official procedures concerning foreign ownership and evidence submitted for registration.
• Thailand Department of Lands public registration guide — identifies the supporting documents required to register a condominium transfer to a foreign buyer.
• Bank of Thailand — official foreign-exchange regulations governing cross-border transfers and authorised financial institutions.
• Receiving Thai bank — responsible for determining how the sender, buyer, purpose and source of the funds will appear in the transaction evidence.
• Phuket Provincial Land Office — responsible for determining whether the banking evidence and supporting documents are sufficient for ownership registration.

Related questions

• How should a foreign buyer transfer money into Thailand for a condominium purchase?
• What is a Foreign Exchange Transaction Form and why is it important?
• Can a foreigner use money already held in Thailand to purchase a condominium?
• Can a married couple jointly own a condominium in Phuket?
• Can a foreign company purchase a condominium in Thailand?
• Can a foreign buyer complete a condominium transfer without visiting Thailand?
• What documents does a foreigner need to buy a condominium in Phuket?

Knowledge-catalog administration

Disclaimer

This entry provides general educational information and does not constitute legal, banking, tax, accounting or financial advice. The acceptability of third-party funds depends on the sender, relationship to the buyer, source of funds, receiving bank, transaction structure and Land Office requirements. Buyers should obtain transaction-specific confirmation from a qualified Thai lawyer, the receiving bank and the Phuket Provincial Land Office before allowing another person or company to transfer condominium purchase funds on their behalf.