How to Send Cash Abroad?
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Author: Artiom Pucinskij
Fact Checker: Elliot Laybourne
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Table of contents
To send cash abroad, you'll need a reliable money transfer provider offering cash transfers. For example, Western Union or MoneyGram are popular choices.
Sending money as cash can be beneficial for several reasons. It’s useful if the recipient doesn’t have a bank account, requires funds urgently, or if you’re sending a cash gift.
Here we'll look into the process of sending cash abroad, the reasons to do it, and how to receive cash from abroad.
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Sending cash abroad: step-by-step
There are various ways in which you can send cash to someone including postal deliveries or giving the cash to someone who is traveling to the recipient’s location.
However, the more practical and convenient way to send cash is through a remittance company such as Western Union, MoneyGram, or others.
While the process may differ slightly across money transfer companies, the basic steps remain the same.
The steps for sending cash through a remittance company include:
Choose a money transfer/remittance provider
Do some research based on your cash transfer needs to .
When looking for a provider, here are a few things to consider:
Location: Look for a provider that has agents in your location as well as where the recipient lives.
Fees & rates: Check out their fees and the exchange rates. Ensure you compare services to find the best rate.
Payment methods: Check that the provider supports your chosen payment method (as you don’t have to pay with cash even if that’s how your recipient will collect the money).
Fill out their form
Once you have chosen your provider, you can make a transfer through them online, via phone, or by visiting an agent's location.
You will be asked to fill out a form, wherein you will enter your details and the recipient’s details.
Once filled, you will submit the form to the provider.
Provide proof of ID
You will have to provide a government-issued ID such as a passport or driver’s license before you can transfer money.
This is to comply with anti-money laundering legislation.
Pay for your transfer (including fees)
You will need to fund your transfer, which also includes paying a fee to the transfer provider.
Most providers have a fee structure based on the amount you wish to send and you pay a higher fee for sending larger amounts.
You will also be charged a margin on top of the mid-market exchange rate if your transfer involves a currency conversion.
Send money and get a receipt
Once you make the transfer, the provider will give you a receipt that mentions a transaction ID. Make sure you save this receipt for future reference.
Inform the recipient
Share the transaction ID with the recipient and inform them about the amount you have sent.
They will then be able to go and collect the cash from a designated pickup location.
Is there a maximum limit on the amount of cash I can send at a time?
Yes, there is a limit on the amount of money you can send at a time.
The limits are lower when you are sending cash than when you are making bank transfers.
These limits vary from provider to provider, but in general, the limits for sending cash are in the $1,000s for individual transfers, with weekly and monthly limits also being common.
Receiving cash from abroad
Once somebody has sent you money, the cash will be available for pickup within minutes.
You will have to visit the nearest agent location and pick up the cash using the transaction ID sent to you by the person who has transferred your money.
You can find the relocations of Western Union here and MoneyGram here.
You will usually also have to provide some form of ID to prove you’re the intended recipient of the cash.
What about cash delivery?
If you’re unable to reach a pickup location, then in some countries it is possible to have cash delivered to your doorstep.
Arrange this with the person sending you the money before they make the transfer if you want to use this option.
If you want to get the cash home delivered, check whether the service is available where you are and what the home delivery fee is.
Reasons and benefits of sending cash
People send cash to others for various reasons, as sending cash comes with a selection of advantages over other money transfer methods.
Some speculate that cash will 'die out' but many reports show an increase in cash transactions worldwide. For example, in the UK there's twice as much cash as there was last year according to BoE.
This simply implies that cash is not going anywhere and remains a popular way of making payments.
Here's a roundup of key reasons and benefits for sending money abroad.
If you/your recipient doesn't have a bank account
Online bank transfer is an option if either the sender or recipient has a bank account.
In this scenario, however, you can still send cash and your recipient will be able to pick it up at a designated location.
Your recipient requires cash urgently
Online bank transfer can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days depending on where the money is coming from and going, the amounts and currencies involved, and a variety of other factors.
This can be inconvenient if you need to make a transfer quickly, and in this case, it can be better to send cash payments.
Typically cash is available to be collected by your recipient within minutes of you funding the transfer.
You are sending a cash gift
Sending cash is a nice way to give a gift to a friend, family member, or loved one.
People often feel it is more personal than simply depositing money into a bank account, and there are many services you can use to send cash gifts.
You prefer dealing in cash
Some people are just more comfortable dealing in cash and they may not prefer making online bank transfers or e-wallet transfers.
It's common in the destination country
Many countries are becoming cashless every year, however, many still prefer to use cash. Recent reports show that Indonesia, Pakistan, and Nigeria still prefer to deal with cash. If you're sending money to these destinations, you might want to consider cash transfers instead of online transfers.
Is sending cash safe?
While sending cash physically to a location may not be a great idea as it could get stolen or lost, sending cash through a remittance provider is a very safe option.
The companies that handle these transfers are regulated by the financial authorities in the countries in which they are registered.
They handle millions of transactions each year, meaning you can certainly trust reputable providers with your money.
Moreover, have multiple layers of security to ensure that your money reaches the recipient safely without delays or hassles, such as requiring ID documents both when sending and receiving money.
Cash transfer costs & fees
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as there could be several costs involved in sending cash from one location to another.
The fees will also vary based on whether the cash is being sent domestically or internationally.
Sending cash domestically
If you want to send cash to someone within the same country, you will need to pay a fixed fee on your transfer.
The fee will depend on the service provider you choose, the amount of cash you want to send, and the delivery method you choose, and is usually below $10.
Alternatively, if available, we'd suggest using P2P apps to send money locally, as they are likely to be free as long as you and the recipient have the application.
| Name | Score | Visit | Disclaimer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1 Wise Read Review | 9.2 | Visit wise.com | |
 | 2 Revolut Read Review | 8.5 | Visit revolut.com | US Disclaimer: Revolut is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Fees may apply. See revolut.com/en-US/ for details. |
 | 3 Cash App | 8.2 | Visit |
Sending cash internationally
For sending cash to another country, you will have to pay different costs.
One component of the cost is still the fixed transfer fee, which will depend on the service provider you choose, the amount you wish to send, and where you want to send it.
In addition to a fixed fee, remittance companies will also charge a mark-up on the exchange rate for any transfer that involves a currency conversion.
Beware of the exchange rate markup
Many people are not aware of how this cost component works and often think that all they are paying is the transfer fee.
The reality is that a small margin (usually 2-5%) is charged on top of the interbank exchange rate (the rate you see on search engines) when making a transfer.
This could be a sizeable amount depending on the amount you are sending, so it’s always important to check what the exchange rate you’re getting is before you make a transfer.
How long does it take for cash to be delivered?
In most cases, cash will be available within a few minutes.
However, depending on the currencies available and where the money is going, it may take 1-2 days for the cash to reach the destination, especially when using a bank.
The best way to send cash quickly (almost instantly) is through a money transfer company. They normally operate on a P2P basis, meaning they don’t have to wait for the money to be physically sent.
Instead, the money is only swapped between different accounts held by the company at both ends of the transaction.
So, the cash is available at the recipient’s location instantly. The only time spent is for you to get to the agent's location.
Sending cash by post
It's advisable to NOT send cash in the post.
While it is not completely illegal to send money via mail, it is not advisable to do so.
Sending $5 or $10 bills tucked inside birthday cards is not illegal but it’s not advisable to send larger amounts in the post.
If you wish to send larger amounts through the mail (which in any case is not ideal, check our guide to large transfers instead), it is a better idea to use international money orders as these are more secure.
With money orders, you can get a money order of the required denomination from the post office and mail it to the recipient. The recipient can then have it cashed and it's much safer than sending cash.
However, this will still be more expensive and usually slower than simply using a money transfer provider to send cash.
Help & FAQ
Get answers to the most common questions asked when sending money abroad. Covers costs, fees and the best way to compare.
Let's recap: Sending cash abroad
If the recipient doesn't have a bank account, needs cash immediately, or you want to send a cash gift, using cash transfers is a good option.
Using a money transfer company is your best option, as they can arrange for your recipient to collect cash from a pickup point within minutes or even instantly.
Some providers also offer cash delivery, but this is limited to certain countries and usually costs extra.
You will need to pay a fixed transfer fee, and for international transfers, a margin on the exchange rate. These costs can add up, so always check the fee structure before sending.
To keep costs low, choose the right provider using our money transfer comparison tool.
Find the best provider for your cash transfers
Sources & further reading
The Best International Money Transfer Companies
Using your bank for international wire transfers is expensive due to poor exchange rates and high fees.
Best Money Transfer Apps in India
Below, I’ll go over these in a bit more detail.
Transfer Money From Overseas to Australia: Tax Implications
In general, if you receive any income from abroad while in Australia and fall within the AU tax brackets, you will need to pay tax.
Sending Money Abroad
Ideal for sending money internationally, money transfer services have made huge strides in the past couple of decades to make sending your money abroad cheaper, faster, and easier than ever.
Send money with a debit card
Opting to send money online with a debit card is usually good for:
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