Comparing your transfer options can ensure that your 
next money transfer to Macedonia doesn’t cost any more than it should.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is located on the Balkans in Europe’s southeast. The landlocked country declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and is famous for its lake-covered landscapes and towering mountain peaks.
If you need to send money to the Former Yugoslav Republic for any reason, it’s vital that you shop around and compare what different money transfer providers can offer. Comparing your options now can save you a lot of money in the long run.
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Banks versus money transfer companies
Most people approach their bank when they need to send money overseas, which is completely understandable when you consider the convenience of sending funds from your own bank account. The problem, however, is that banks charge high transfer fees and offer some of the lowest exchange rates you will come across.
Sending money via your bank often ends up being much more expensive than it should, so it pays to shop around and compare your bank’s services with those offered by specialist money transfer providers. These companies concentrate solely on sending money overseas, so they offer far cheaper transactions than any of the major banks. Their fees are lower, their exchange rates higher and they offer safe and secure transfers.
Vesna Sends Money to Macedonia
Vesna left Macedonia in the late 1990s to move to Australia permanently, and although she’s settled here she still stays in regular contact with her parents in Skopje. She regularly sends them money to help them keep their heads above water during their retirement, and when their home is damaged following a storm, Vesna makes plans to send them an urgent transfer of $1,000 to pay for repairs. She compares her current bank to an international money transfer service to see which one can offer a fast and affordable transfer.
As you can see, Vesna’s parents can receive an extra €24.34 using the service.
| Australian big four bank | Money transfer company | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | 1 AUD = 0.6061 EUR | 1 AUD = 0.6171 EUR |
| Transfer fee | $22 | $60 |
| Transfer method | Online, phone or bank | Cash pickup transfer |
| Processing time | 1 - 3 days | 10 minutes |
| Amount received (in EUR) | €592.76 | €617.10 |
| Difference | €24.34 |
How do I compare transfer companies when transferring and receiving money via Macedonia?
- Exchange rates. Shop around to see what exchange rates are available among different providers. Be aware that better exchange rates will sometimes also come with higher fees attached.
- Transfer fees. You’ll usually need to pay some sort of fee each time you send a transfer, so compare the amounts charged by different providers. Some companies will also waive all fees on large transfers.
- Transfer methods. Consider the choice of transfer methods at your disposal: online, over the phone, in person at a branch, or using a smartphone or tablet app.
- Flexible options. Some companies let you get a better exchange rate by placing forward contracts and limit orders, while they may also offer you the flexibility of scheduling regular repayments in advance.
- Turnaround time. While some companies offer transfers in as little as a few minutes, these urgent transactions usually cost more to send.
- Transfer limits. Check to see whether the provider imposes minimum and maximum transfer limits on each transaction.
- Pickup options. While some companies will allow your beneficiary to collect the cash you transfer from their nearest branch, others will offer transfers in the form of bank account deposits.
- Customer service. It’s essential to investigate a company’s reputation for offering friendly and efficient customer service so that you can get a fast answer to your questions if you ever have a problem.
How do I send money to Macedonia from Australia?
- Specialist transfer companies. Shop around to see which specialist transfer companies will help you send money to Macedonia from Australia.
- Cash pickup transfer providers. Western Union and MoneyGram both have several locations in Macedonia.
- Bank transfers. Speak to your bank about the cost involved in sending a transfer to Macedonia.
- International guaranteed cheques. Posting an international guaranteed cheque to Macedonia is an old-fashioned and time-consuming transfer method.
How do I receive money from Macedonia in Australia?
- Specialist transfer companies. Do your research to find out which companies allow transactions from Macedonia to Australia.
- Cash pickup transfer providers. Start searching today for your nearest cash pickup transfer location.
- Bank transfers. Bank transfers are a secure but expensive way to send and receive money.
- International guaranteed cheques. Check how much your bank will charge you in fees when you cash an international cheque.
Emergency cash transfers in Macedonia
There are plenty of situations where you may potentially need to send a fast transfer to Macedonia, such as to help a relative settle an overdue debt. When you send an emergency transfer, however, make sure you’re aware that these transactions can be quite costly. High fees and lower-than-usual exchange rates apply, so double check all the details of your transaction before you decide to pay any money.
Cash pickup locations in Macedonia / Western Union / MoneyGram branches in Macedonia
As the two largest cash pickup transfer companies in the world, Western Union and MoneyGram both operate a number of cash pickup locations in Macedonia. Your recipient will need to take a transaction ID number and photo ID when they go to collect any funds, while phoning to confirm a location’s opening hours is also recommended. Some popular cash pickup locations are listed below
Western Union
Skopje
Nova Centrala
Orce Nikolov 54
Skopje, 1000
+389-2-3167636
Open 8am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Fus Lermontova
Lermontova 3
Skopje, 1000
+389-2-3290347
Open 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday, open 8am to 2pm SaturdayBitola
Biteksimo Kom
Petar Petrovic Njegosh Br.12
Bitola
+389-47-254877
Open 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm SaturdayOBSG
Dobrivoje Radosavljevic 3
Bitola
+389-47-203205
Open 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 1pm Saturday
MoneyGram
Skopje
Kapital Bank AD
Bul. Jane Sandanski N.
Loc. 26-1 6
Skopje, 1000
22403001
Open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm Saturday
Big Gan
Lok 18
Str Jhon Kenedi No. 5
Skopje, 1000
25201838
Open 8am to 10pm seven days
Bitola
Grashe
Dalmatinska 25
Bitola, 7000
47232399
Open 8am to 9pm seven days
Euro Pop 87
Str. Boris Kidric 24
Bitola, 7000
4760964
Open 8am to 9pm seven days
Tips for picking up cash in Macedonia
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises Australian visitors to Macedonia to exercise normal safety precautions. When picking up cash, keep a few basic safety tips in mind:
- Don’t go alone - take a friend with you
- Stay aware of your surroundings and keep an eye out for anyone acting suspiciously
- Only visit a cash pickup location in an area where you feel safe
- Don’t display your cash in public
- Don’t carry the money around with you for any longer than necessary
What are the steps to send money to Macedonia?
Although transfer methods differ from one company to the next, you will generally need to:
- Register for a free account. This is usually done online and you will need to supply your name, contact details and proof of ID.
- Provide transaction details. The next step is to provide information about how much money you’re sending, in which currency, and where the money is going.
- Finalise your transaction. After reviewing the exchange rate and fee that will apply to your transfer, pay the necessary funds and use the receipt you are given to track the progress of your transfer.
