Small transfers
Find the best way to send money to Australia
Compare 10+ companies that can send money to Australia from overseas.
Key takeaways
- Specialist providers typically add a 0.4% to 3% margin to the exchange rate, compared with roughly 3% to 6% at the big four banks.
- Xe Money Transfers, Wise and Revolut can deliver money to an Australian bank account within minutes.
- Australian bank accounts don't have an IBAN, so ask your recipient for their BSB, account number and SWIFT/BIC code.
For most people, the cheapest and fastest way to send money to Australia is a specialist online provider such as Xe, Wise or Revolut, which can deliver within minutes, while TorFX and OFX suit larger transfers thanks to low or no fees and dedicated account support. A bank transfer through your own bank is usually the most expensive option, because big banks typically add a 3% to 6% margin to the exchange rate.
Want to send money to family, friends or a business in Australia? Skip your local bank and use a specialist money transfer provider. They nearly always offer a better exchange rate and lower fees, so your recipient ends up with more Australian dollars. Back in 2019, the ACCC's foreign currency inquiry found consumers could have saved about $150 million in 2017-18 by using lower-priced suppliers.
Best ways to send money to Australia
The best option depends on how much you're sending, how fast it needs to arrive and how your recipient wants to receive it. Here's how the four main methods compare.
| Method | Typical cost | Speed | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist online provider (best for most people) | A 0.4% to 3% exchange rate margin, plus a fee from $0 to around $15 | Within minutes to 24 hours | Margins are lowest on major currencies such as USD, GBP and EUR and higher on less traded currencies such as INR. Examples include Xe, Wise, Revolut, OFX and TorFX. |
| Bank transfer through your own bank | A 3% to 6% exchange rate margin at big banks, plus an international transfer fee | Usually 2 to 5 business days | Convenient, but the most expensive way to move a meaningful amount. |
| Cash pickup | Usually higher than sending the same amount online to a bank account | Often within minutes | Best when your recipient has no bank account. The World Bank puts the global average cost of sending USD 200 across all remittance providers at 6.49% (March 2025). Australia Post no longer offers Western Union transfers at its Post Offices. |
| Mobile wallet | Varies widely by provider and corridor, so check the total cost before sending | Often within minutes | More common in remittance markets in Africa and Asia than in Australia, where most recipients receive money into a bank account. |
Compare money transfer providers for sending to Australia
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How we picked these
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.
Fees, margins and speeds change often, so get a live quote from the provider before you send.
Cheapest way to send money to Australia
The cheapest way to send money to Australia is usually a specialist online provider funded by a bank transfer, rather than your own bank or a card payment. In our comparison, TorFX and Xe Money Transfers charge $0 when you pay by bank transfer.
To compare the true cost, look at both parts of the price:
- Transfer fee. Some providers charge a flat fee, others a percentage. OFX, for example, charges a flat AU$15 on transfers under AU$10,000 and no fee above that, according to OFX.
- Exchange rate margin. Most providers add a margin to the mid-market rate. TorFX charges no transfer fee and builds its margin into the rate instead. Wise uses the mid-market rate and charges a fee on top.
Because providers mix fees and margins differently, the only reliable comparison is how many Australian dollars your recipient actually receives for the same amount sent.
How to work out the total cost
- Check the mid-market rate for your currency pair on a neutral source.
- Get a quote from each provider for the exact amount you want to send.
- Compare the AUD your recipient will receive, after all fees.
- The provider that delivers the most AUD is the cheapest, regardless of how it labels its fees.
For example, if you send the equivalent of A$5,000 with OFX, you'd pay the AU$15 flat fee plus OFX's exchange rate margin, which varies by currency and amount. If you send A$12,000, the flat fee drops to $0 but the margin still applies. Figures are indicative as at October 2026; check the provider for a live quote.
Fastest way to send money to Australia
Xe Money Transfers, Revolut and Wise can all deliver money to Australia within minutes, according to our comparison. Speed often comes at a price, so check the total cost before choosing the fastest option.
Actual delivery time depends on the amount, the currency, how you pay and the country you're sending from. Your first transfer can also take longer while the provider verifies your identity. Paying by card is usually faster than paying by bank transfer, but it can cost more.
Is it safe to send money to Australia?
Yes, provided you use a regulated provider. Remittance providers operating in Australia must be registered on AUSTRAC's Remittance Sector Register, which you can search by business name, ABN or ACN. AUSTRAC warns that if a business doesn't ask you for identification, it probably isn't registered. Registration is a legal requirement under the AML/CTF Act, not a government guarantee that a provider is safe.
Because you're sending money into Australia, your provider will also be regulated in the country you're sending from, so check its standing with that country's regulator too. Reading our provider reviews and recent customer feedback is another good way to check a provider before you sign up.
Sending large amounts of money to Australia
For large transfers, consider a currency specialist such as TorFX or OFX. Both charge $0 or a low flat fee on larger amounts and offer dedicated account support, and TorFX also offers a rate-match guarantee. Benefits of using a large transfer specialist include:
- Account manager. A dedicated contact can help you time and structure your transfer.
- Forex tools. Forward contracts and limit orders can help you lock in or target the AUD exchange rate you want.
- Phone support. Providers such as OFX and Qantas Business Money offer support over the phone.
- Higher limits. Some providers publish no maximum transfer amount, while others cap online transfers and handle larger amounts through an account manager.
There's no Australian legal cap on how much you can send to Australia. Any limit is set commercially by the provider you choose.
What your recipient needs to give you
To send money to an Australian bank account, you'll usually need your recipient's:
- Full name, exactly as it appears on their bank account
- Bank name
- BSB (a six-digit number that identifies the bank and branch)
- Account number
- Bank's SWIFT/BIC code
Australian bank accounts don't have an IBAN. If your provider or bank insists on an IBAN field, some Australian banks (such as Macquarie) advise combining the BSB and account number with no spaces or hyphens, but check with your recipient's bank first. Using the wrong format can delay or bounce the transfer.
How to send money to Australia from abroad
The process is the same whether you're sending from the UK, the US, New Zealand or elsewhere.
- Compare your options.Use the table above to find a provider that sends to Australia from your country and suits your amount and speed.
- Create an account.You'll need your name, address, contact details and photo ID. Sign-up usually takes minutes, but verification can take one to two business days.
- Add your recipient's details.Enter their name, BSB, account number and their bank's SWIFT/BIC code.
- Enter the amount and check the quote.Confirm the fee, exchange rate and how much AUD your recipient will receive.
- Pay and track your transfer.Fund the transfer and keep your reference number so you can track it.
Western Union and Australia Post: what changed
From 11:59pm on 13 October 2026, Australia Post stopped offering Western Union international money transfers through its Post Office network, according to Australia Post. You can still use Western Union online or through its other agents, and some licensed Post Offices may keep offering international transfers independently of Australia Post. Australia Post's domestic money order service isn't affected.
If your recipient relied on collecting cash at a Post Office, check the payout locations of your chosen cash pickup provider before you send.
Do you pay tax on money sent to Australia?
Generally no, if it's a genuine gift. According to the ATO, a gift of money from overseas doesn't form part of the recipient's assessable income, whether it comes from an Australian resident or a foreign resident. However:
- Any income the money earns once it's in Australia, such as bank interest, is taxable.
- Money that comes from a foreign trust, even if it's passed through another person, may need to be included in assessable income.
- The ATO may ask for evidence that a gift is genuine, such as a deed of gift or the donor's bank records.
If you're sending or receiving a large sum, or a trust is involved, speak to a registered tax agent. You can also read more about the tax implications of large transfers to Australia.
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