How do international money orders work?
Sending money orders overseas may not be your best option when sending money internationally.
Key takeaways
- International money orders are generally no longer offered by Australian providers.
- Dedicated money transfer services offer faster transfers, often within minutes, with lower fees.
- Compare various services to find competitive exchange rates and flexible options for your transfers.
An international money order is a way to send money to someone overseas, normally via a postal service or bank.
However, since the rise of money transfer services, international money orders are no longer really offered in Australia.
In Australia, international money orders were normally handled by Australia Post, but instead it now offers international money transfers via Western Union.
You can compare your other options for sending money internationally below.
What is an international money order?
A money order is effectively a type of cheque that represents as a international bank-to-bank transfer.
Unlike a regular cheque, you pay for the money order upfront. The recipient can then cash in the money order with their own bank or post office, or sent directly to their bank account.
How does an international money order work?
Say you want to send US$100 to someone in the United States.
You would request an international money order for this amount. You pay the equivalent value in Australian dollars and the money order is then sent to the recipient in the US, normally by mail.
The recipient then cashes the money order at their bank or post office.
Why use an international money order?
There are a few potential benefits to using an international money order:
- It can be safer than mailing cash.
- The recipient doesn't necessarily need a bank account.
- The order can't bounce like a cheque as it's paid for in advance.
- You can track the status of the money order internationally.
However, with the advent of international bank orders and dedicated money transfer services, international money orders are likely to be a much slower and more expensive option.
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How to use an international money order in Australia
In Australia, international money orders were traditionally available through Australia Post, but are no longer offered.
Instead, it offers an international money transfer service via Western Union.
Using this service you can send money to more than 200 countries directly to your recipient's bank account, mobile wallet or as cash that they can pick up from a Western Union agent or store.
What are the drawbacks of using an international money order?
An international money order is rarely the cheapest or easiest way to send money overseas.
There are a few key drawbacks to using an international money order, especially in comparison to a money transfer service.
These include:
- You and your recipient may both need to pay fees.
- There's normally Low sending limits – it's a hassle to send more than $10,000 with a money order.
- You likely won't get a particularly competitive exchange rate.
- Refunds or cancellations can be expensive and time-consuming.
- Money orders may not be accepted in some countries.
- The money order often needs to be sent physically.
- The recipient may need to provide ID in order to cash the money order.
How do I cash an international money order?
Money orders can be cashed in the same way as a cheque, but cashing locations may be restricted depending on where you live.
Follow these steps to cash an international money order:
- Find a location. Before receiving an international money order sent to you, verify that a local post office will be able to cash it.
- Endorse the money order. You must sign the back of the money order before it can be cashed, but wait to sign it until you're about to hand it over to the cashier.
- Provide identification. Your ID will need to match the name on the money order and be government-issued, such as a passport, driver's licence or military card.
- Pay associated fees. Unfortunately, you may have to pay fees and agree to poor exchange rates to cash your international money order. You may be able to have these charges deducted from the money order total. Ask the cashier if this is an option.
- Count your cash. Verify that the amount of money you received is correct before you leave the counter. Any missing money is not the responsibility of the cashier if you notice the mistake after finalising the transaction.
Frequently asked questions
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