Find the best way to send money to Australia

Looking for a way to send money to family, friends or a business in Australia? Don't head straight to your local bank – compare specialist money transfer services instead. They nearly always offer better exchange rates and lower transfer fees so your recipient will receive more Australian dollars.

Best ways to send money to Australia from abroad

The best way to send money to Australia depends on your payment method, the amount and how fast you need it to arrive.

• Online money transfer provider. When buying Australian dollars, money transfer specialists typically offer better rates and cheaper fees than banks. Transfer specialists markup ranges from 0.4% to 3% and the markup is lower on major currency pairs (USD, GBP and Euro). More volatile currencies such as the INR attract higher markups.
• Bank transfer. Bank transfers are an easy way to send money but they charge extra for the convenience and are often slower. Big Four Banks like CBA and ANZ generally add a 3% to 6% markup onto exchange rates.
• Cash pickup. If you need your money to arrive fast, cash pickup gives your recipient instant access to the money sent to their agent location in Australia. Western Union, Ria and MoneyGram are popular but are more expensive than their online counterparts. Thanks to their partnership with Australia Post, Western Union has over 3,500 locations in Australia.
• Mobile wallet. Essentially an electronic wallet service, mobile wallets allow users to store, send and receive eligible currencies using their phone, often with fees attached. Wallets are more commonly used in remittance countries in Africa and Asia.

Compare the best money transfer companies to send money to Australia

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Product	Filter Values	Finder Score	Fastest Transfer Speed	Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
TorFX		Finder Score 8.7 Great	24 hours	$0	TorFX sends money overseas in 40+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000. Same-day transfers between AUD and NZD (under $100,000).	Go to site More info	loading
Revolut		Finder Score 8.7 Great	Within minutes	From 0.15%	Sign up and get a AUD$15 top-up. For new customers only. T&Cs apply. Send money with great rates and low fees in 40+ currencies. Plan fees apply.	Go to site More info	loading
Qantas Business Money		Finder Score	Within minutes	$0	Earn 1 Qantas Point on every $1AUD equivalent converted in foreign currency. T&Cs apply. Set up accounts in 11 different currencies and get rewarded for global business payments by earning Qantas Points.	Go to site More info	loading
Xe Business Transfers		Finder Score	Within minutes	$0	Xe has fast transfers, low fees and a range of foreign currency tools. Send money to 200 countries in 130+ currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
OFX		Finder Score 9.3 Excellent	24 hours	$0	OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 50+ currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
Xe Money Transfers		Finder Score 9.4 Excellent	Within minutes	$0	Xe has fast transfers, low fees and a range of foreign currency tools. Send money to 200 countries in 100 currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
Wise (TransferWise) Most Loved		Finder Score 8.9 Great	Within minutes	From 0.63%	Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
TorFX Business Transfers		Finder Score	24 hours	$0	TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply. TorFX sends money overseas in 30+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.	Go to site More info	loading
CurrencyFair		Finder Score 8.6 Great	Within minutes	€3	New customers get 10 fee-free transfers for the first 6 months. T&Cs apply. CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 20+ popular currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
CurrencyFair		Finder Score 8.5 Great	Within minutes	€3	New customers get 10 fee-free transfers for the first 6 months. T&Cs apply. CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 20+ popular currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
OFX Business Transfers		Finder Score	24 hours	$0	OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
Xe Large Transfers		Finder Score 9.3 Excellent	24 hours	$0	Xe has fast transfers, low fees and a range of foreign currency tools. Send money to 200 countries in 100 currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
Revolut Business		Finder Score	Within minutes	$0	Revolut allows your business to move money around the world quickly and cheaply with 30+ currencies and no maximum limit transfers. Plan fees apply.	Go to site More info	loading
Send Payments		Finder Score 8.4 Great	24 hours	$0	Send provides no Send payments fee transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.	Go to site More info	loading
TorFX		Finder Score 8.8 Great	24 hours	$0	TorFX sends money overseas in 40+ currencies, with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000. Same-day transfers between AUD and NZD (under $100,000).	Go to site More info	loading
Airwallex		Finder Score	Within minutes	$0	0% foreign exchange margin and $0 fees on your first $20,000 Streamline global payments across 150+ countries with fast settlements and competitive rates in over 60 currencies.	Continue More info	loading
CurrencyFair		Finder Score	Within minutes	€3	CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 20+ popular currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
OFX		Finder Score 9.1 Excellent	24 hours	$0	OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 50+ currencies.	Go to site More info	loading
WorldFirst		Finder Score	24 hours	From $0	Open bank accounts in Australia, the UK, US, Canada, Japan and Europe. Send and receive funds with zero fees for large sums, including same-currency supplier payments.	Go to site More info	loading
Send business		Finder Score	24 hours	$0	Send provides no Send payments fee transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.	Go to site More info	loading

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Finder Score for money transfer

We review money transfer providers for different features to assign them a score out of 10. The higher the score, the more competitive the product.

Read the full Finder Score methodology

Cheapest way to send money to Australia

Bank transfers are typically the cheapest way to fund your transfer to Australia. TorFX and Xe Money Transfers have some of the lowest bank transfer fees of the brands we've compared.

When you're hunting down the cheapest ways to send money, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer. This has a couple of elements:

• Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your local bank, some money transfer services charge either a fixed or percentage-based fee for making your transfer.
• Exchange rates. Another way money transfer providers make money is adding a margin to the mid-market exchange rate.

Providers such as Wise offer the mid-market rate but add fees on top. Others may have very low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many Australian dollars your recipient will end up with.

Fastest way to send money to Australia

Many online providers can offer transfers to Australia within minutes, although you're likely to pay a premium for the convenience.

Here are some of the fastest transfer speeds:

• Xe Money Transfers - within minutes
• Revolut - within minutes
• Wise - within minutes
• Instarem - within minutes

Actual transfer times can depend on several different factors including transfer amount, payment method and currency. Sometimes your first transfer can take longer than normal due to security measures.

Safest way to send money to Australia

The safest way to transfer money is using a provider registered with Australia's industry regulator, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). All of the companies we've compared in our table are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in Australia.

A great way to dive deeper is by reading our reviews and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot.

How to choose the best money transfer companies

When choosing a money transfer provider, it's important to consider the cost, how you want your recipient to receive the funds and the turnaround time. Here are other features to review:

• Exchange rates. Banks and transfer services use the mid-market rate to trade with one another. It is the best rate you can get. However, not all money transfer providers offer you this mid-market rate so compare the AUD you're offered to the mid-market rate and look for the smallest difference.
• Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer amount? For example, a provider offering to transfer your money to Australia for a flat or low fee might work out better if you plan to send a large amount.
• Transfer type. Does your recipient have an Australian bank account or is cash or cell phone top-up a better option? Each transfer type will have different fees. For example, instant cash pickups tend to be more expensive than bank transfers.
• Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can pay for an express delivery. Companies such as Ria Money Transfers offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services offer the best value and get your money to Australia faster and cheaper than banks.
• Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service. For example, Ria Money Transfers has a transfer limit of $5,000 while TorFX has no maximum transfer limit.
• Discounts. Some providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up. Others may offer a discount if you transfer more than a specific amount of Australian dollars.

Frequently asked questions

• How can I pay for my transfer to Australia?

  The most common payment methods include bank transfer, credit card and debit card. How you pay can influence how quickly your money arrives and the total cost of your transfer, so consider both when deciding.

• What details do I need to send money to Australia?

  • Photo identification: Most providers require a driver's license, passport or another government-issued ID.
  • A way to pay: Your options depend on the provider's services. Popular methods include cash, debit or credit card and bank account transfers.
  • Recipient information: You'll need their name (matching their ID) plus contact details. If sending to an Australian bank account, you'll need their account number, SWIFT and branch details.

• What is required to receive money in Australia?

  • Transfer number: The reference number – sometimes called a PIN, MTCN or tracking number.
  • Government-issued ID: An official ID, such as a passport or driver's license.
  • The transfer amount: To know how much has been sent, usually to within 10% of the total.
  • Sender information: The sender's name and address and the transfer's country of origin.

• How much money can I send online to Australia?

  This depends on the provider you choose as each will have its own sending limit. For example, services such as Xe Money Transfers and Revolut allow you to transfer as little as $1 while others will have a significantly higher minimum threshold.

  Remember that some providers will have maximum transfer amounts as well, either as a result of Australian tax policies or because their service is more limited. If you need to send a large transfer, look for a provider that has higher or no sending limits.

• How long will it take for my money to arrive in Australia?

  The turnaround time for a money transfer to Australia depends on the provider and how you pay for the transfer. Expect your transfer to arrive within minutes if you pay using cash or with a debit or credit card. Paying by bank transfer can take longer – usually 2–5 days.

• Can I send money to Australia without a bank account?

  Yes, you can still send a money transfer if neither you nor your recipient in Australia has a bank account. Look at cash transfer providers such as Xe Money Transfers where you can pay with cash and your recipient can collect it as cash or as mobile phone reload on the other end.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

Tim Falk is a writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio