Wise.com will ask me "confirm your nationality" only when sending to Thailand

[Dictator]

I've had a Wise account for years. The country of residence - Thailand. I don't remember if I had to confirm it by utility bill.
The passport of Russia.

When I send money to a bank in any country where I have accounts in, there'll be no issue.

Whereas whenever I try to send to Thailand, on the last step I'll get asked "Confirm your nationality" with a dropdown list. Funny enough, there's no Russia in it. However, it may not even be they want my nationality but residency. Or something like this. Maybe even without anything additional - "simply select a country and that's it".

Previoulsy, a few years ago, I could send to Thailand and this question wouldn't pop up.

What can it be? An issue may be that once I select a country, then may want to ask me to verify it in some way.

 

[Sols]

It's probably some requirement imposed either by Thai regulations or by Wise's correspondent bank/payout partner‌ in Thailand.

If Russia isn't on the list, it's probably a hint that they can't‍ support Russian nationals sending money to Thailand.

 

[bibing]

Starting this year, all remits to foreigners living in Thailand are to be taxed (This‌ is a new Thailand law). Google it, this might be the reason

 

[Dictator]

Wise began to ask me about the nationalty around 2-3, perphaps 4 years‍ ago. And well before the sanctions of 2022

 

[Sols]

There have been sanctions against Russia since long before 2022. It has been considered high‌ or medium risk for a long time.

 

[Dictator]

I didn't say there weren't. But the fact that for several years I was sending‌ money to a Thai bank via Wise with no issues.

Moreover, despite the sanctions, Thailand‍ and Russia trade, and even SWIFT I think works. Thailand considers introducing the Russia the⁠ Mir card. So this pop-up in Wise is due to other reason.

 

[Meta]

Would you just ask Wise? I believe it's one of the cases when they may‌ explain their reasoning and it should not carry any risk to you.
Let us know‍ if you do.

 

[Wellington]

Thailand - Russia trade functions through Chinese Financial Rails (sitting in the middle)⁤ this is the case for a lot of countries.

It used to be for example.⁣

RUB sent -> converted to $ in SDNY -> sent to BoT -> Converted to⁢ THB -> deposited in account of end client.

Now it's

RUB sent -> Converted to︀ CNY/HKD -> sent to BOT -> converted to THB -> Deposited in account of end︁ client.

In some cases Caribbean Dollars are used as the conversion currency (my union pay︂ cc for example shows $ front end (dashboard) but each transaction is done in Caribbean︃ Dollars)

 

[Revoltec]

It is more probable that your Russian passport is creating problems here I think. They‌ wanna see that you indeed got a second residency

 

[Dictator]

Why then won't it raise an issue with withdrawals to a bank of any other country‍ on Wise too? Moreover, I have no russian address in the account, and have never⁠ had one.

 

[Alexmorgan]

Wise closed most of my friends accounts in GCC because they asked them to verify‌ that they have right to live in the residence country and they are not accepting‍ any documents

They just want to shut them selves down like Nokia did

 

[Dictator]

(Wise) - Prove me that you have the⁠ right to live in Kuwait
(A friend) - Yes, here're the documents
(Wise) - We⁤ won't accept any document. Shut down!

Like this?

 

[Alexmorgan]

Yes