Find the best way to send money to Ethiopia

Learn how to send money to Ethiopia from Australia in our step-by-step guide.

Looking for a way to send money to family, friends or a business in Ethiopia (or even to your own bank account overseas)? According to MoneySmart, you should avoid Australian banks and go with a money transfer specialist to get better ETB exchange rates and lower fees on international transfers.

Based on the providers we've compared, Send Payments is among the cheapest, with competitive exchange rates and fees starting from $0. Need a really fast transfer? Remitly can get money to your recipient in Ethiopia within minutes.

Best ways to send money to Ethiopia from Australia

The best way to send money to Ethiopia depends on your payment method, how you want your money to be received and how fast you need it to arrive.
  • Online money transfer provider. When buying Australian dollars or Ethiopian birrs money transfer specialists typically offer better rates and cheaper fees than a local bank.
  • Bank transfer. Bank transfers are an easy way to send money to Ethiopia but they charge extra for the convenience and are often slower than other methods. AU banks 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 you've sent when they collect it from their agent location in Ethiopia.
  • 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.
  • Home delivery. If your recipient may struggle to get to a cash pickup location, you may be able to opt for door-to-door cash delivery.

Compare the best money transfer companies to send money to Ethiopia

1 - 7 of 7
Product AUFMT Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
Within minutes
$0
Revolut allows your business to move money around the world quickly and cheaply with 25+ currencies and no maximum limit transfers. Plan fees apply.
24 hours
$0
Send provides no Send payments fee transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.
Send Payments
Send Payments logo
24 hours
$0
Send provides no Send payments fee transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.
Within minutes
From $0 to $5
Send money instantly to friends and family in over 45 countries using just your mobile number.
24 hours
$0
Send provides no Send payments fee transfers via its 24/7 multi-currency payments platform with real-time quotes.
Remitly
Best Rated Brand
Remitly logo
Within minutes
From $0
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Within minutes
From $1.99
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
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Cheapest way to send money to Ethiopia

As reported by the ACCC, bank transfers are typically the cheapest way to get your money to Ethiopia. Send Payments and Remitly have some of the lowest bank transfer fees of the brands we've compared.

Remember, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer to Ethiopia and this has a couple of elements:
  • Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your Australian bank, 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 to add a margin to the mid-market AUD/ETB exchange rate.

Certain providers may give the mid-market rate but add fees on top and others will have low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many Ethiopian birrs your recipient will end up with.

Fastest way to send money to Ethiopia

Actual transfer times from Australia to Ethiopia can depend on several factors including transfer amount, payment method and currency.

Here are some of the fastest average transfer speeds to Ethiopia:
  • Rocket Remit — within minutes
  • Remitly — within minutes
  • MoneyGram — within minutes

Safest way to send money to Ethiopia

The safest way to get your money to Ethiopia 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 both Australia and Ethiopia.

A great way to dive deeper is by reading our reviews of each transfer service and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot and similar platforms.

Large money transfers to Ethiopia

If you need to make a sizable money transfer to Ethiopia, consider using a provider such as Send Payments to secure a better ETB exchange rate and benefit from its expertise handling larger transactions.

Using a large transfer specialist can have the following advantages:
  • Tax guidance. Large transfers to Ethiopia may have tax implications for you or your recipient. A transfer specialist can help get you up to speed on the Australian Taxation Office's latest advice.
  • Foreign exchange tools. Advanced tools such as forward contracts, limit orders and stop-loss orders can help you lock in the ETB exchange rate you want.
  • Account manager. Some money transfer providers assign a personal account manager who can offer advice and help facilitate transfers.
  • Phone service. If you want to talk your transfer through with someone, providers such as Send Payments and Send Payments can provide support over the phone.

How to send money to Ethiopia from Australia

To send money to Ethiopia, you'll need the necessary documentation, your recipient's details and a way to pay.

  1. Compare your options.
    Use our table to find a money transfer provider that sends funds to Ethiopia. One may be better for cash pickups while another may suit a bank transfer. Once you've found the best one for your requirements, click "Go to site".
  2. Create an account.
    You'll need to give your name, address, contact details, proof of ID and method of payment.
  3. Provide your recipient's details.
    Enter your recipient's name and contact information. If you're sending straight to their Ethiopian bank account, you'll need the account number, SWIFT or IBAN plus their bank branch's address.
  4. Enter your transfer amount.
    Check you're happy with the fees, exchange rates and transfer speed, then enter the amount you wish to send. Double-check the total Ethiopian birrs your recipient gets.
  5. Complete your transfer.
    Send your money transfer to Ethiopia. Keep your transaction reference number safe so you can track your transfer. Your recipient may need it too.

How to choose a money transfer company for Ethiopia

When selecting a provider to transfer money to Ethiopia, here are the main factors to consider:

  • Exchange rates. Banks and transfer services use the mid-market rate to trade with one another. However, not every money transfer provider offers the mid-market rate so compare the ETB you're offered to the mid-market rate to calculate the margin.
  • Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of the transfer amount? A provider offering to transfer your money to Ethiopia for a flat or low fee might work out better if you're sending a large amount.
  • Transfer type. Does your recipient have an Ethiopian bank account or is cash pickup 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 MoneyGram offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services offer the best value.
  • Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service. For example, Rocket Remit has a transfer limit of $1,000 while MoneyGram allows transfers up to Varies.
  • Discounts. Providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up. Others may give a discount for transferring more than a specific amount of Ethiopian birrs.

Frequently asked questions

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    SuleymanApril 7, 2017

    Can you help me to find and collect my money i earned from different sites and transfer to my country ethiopia banks?

      AvatarFinder
      HaroldApril 7, 2017Finder

      Hi Suleyman,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      Our company finder.com.au is a financial comparison website and general information service designed to help consumers to make a better decision. Please note we do not represent any company we feature on our pages.

      With this in mind, I’m afraid we can’t directly help you transfer your money. What you can do is find money transfer service providers who can do the transfer. Regrettably, we don’t have a specific page that lists providers based in Ethiopia.

      However, if you are in Australia and want to send money to Ethiopia, you may want to check our page about sending money to Ethiopia.
      I hope this information has helped.

      Cheers,
      Harold

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