Sending money to Puerto Rico doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. If you need to transfer funds to friends and family on the Island of Enchantment from Australia, you’ll want to compare your options to find the fastest services with the lowest fees available.
Read on to find out the best way for you to transfer money to Puerto Rico.
Send money to Puerto Rico with WorldRemit
WorldRemit International Money Transfers
Send money online within minutes
Large range of destinations
Able to send to cash pickup locations
Send money to Puerto Rico with WorldRemit
Use promo code 3FREE to send your first 3 transfers with no fee.
An online money transfer service with cash pickup, bank account to bank account and airtime transfers available.
A territory of the USA, Puerto Rico uses the US dollar as its official currency.
Find the cheapest, fastest money transfer to Puerto Rico
Use our comparison calculator to assess transfer fees, exchange rates and other details for sending funds to Puerto Rico. Note that WorldRemit only does mobile credit top-ups in Puerto Rico, and both MoneyGram and Western Union only send to cash pickup locations.
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
Ways to send money to Puerto Rico from Australia
Online transfer provider. There is a range of money transfer companies out there than can get your money to Puerto Rico safely, whether to a cash pick-up location or mobile wallet.
Through your bank. Not all Australian banks can help with your transfer to Puerto Rico, so it's best to ask.
Cheques and money orders. Although it's a slower option, you can buy an international cheque from your local post office or bank to mail to family and friends in Puerto Rico.
In an emergency situation, sending money to Puerto Rico can be expensive. Bank transfers are not ideal for emergency transfers, because of their comparatively longer processing times.
However, most independent providers allow you to send expedited payments with additional processing fees. Using a credit card can also save time, but expect higher fees with some providers for this method of payment.
What's the difference between sending with a bank and money transfer provider?
While you could choose the convenience of walking into your local Australian bank for a money transfer to Puerto Rico, you may pay a steep transfer fee to do so. You also may not get a very good exchange rate. Banks and most money transfer companies add on a margin to the exchange rate to cover their own fees, and this is in addition to the transfer fee. As a whole, banks tend to have a much larger margin, meaning you could be losing out.
With an online money transfer specialist, you'll often pay a lower fee with a better exchange rate, and have more delivery options.
How to send money to Puerto Rico
Regardless of how you choose to send money to Puerto Rico, you’ll usually need to set up an account.
Most banks and money transfer providers will require your name, contact information and government-issued ID. Next, you’ll provide the recipient’s name and contact information, how much you’re sending and how the recipient will receive it. If you’re sending a bank transfer, you’ll also need to provide the recipient’s bank name, SWIFT code and account number.
Once you’ve completed your transfer, the provider will confirm your transaction with a reference number. Use this reference number to track the progress of your transfer to receipt.
How can I compare money transfer providers?
Fees. Fees can vary by provider, but your local banks will often charge more than you’ll pay with an independent money transfer specialist.
Exchange rates. The exchange rates each company quotes you may not be the same. Compare against each other to find the best one, keeping in mind the different fees as well.
Transfer options and speeds. Do you need to schedule your transfer online, by phone or in person? Confirm each provider’s method of payment and ask how long it will take for delivery.
Minimum amounts. If a provider imposes a minimum limit on transactions, make sure this limit isn’t too high for your needs.
Pick-up methods. Some providers allow for bank deposits only, while others may also offer the ability for your recipient to pick up your funds in cash.
Customer service. Confirm whether customer support is available 24/7 by phone, email or live chat, if you encounter a problem.
Tips for picking up cash in Puerto Rico
When picking up cash in Puerto Rico, take a Spanish-speaking friend with you, if you don’t know the language. Only about 20% of those living on the island speak English and you can make expensive errors simply by not speaking Spanish. Never flash your cash when travelling and avoid dark secluded areas.
Bottom line
Whatever your reason for sending to Puerto Rico, avoid unpleasant surprises like high fees by comparing your options before you get started. To get the best value for money, look at the features of competing services before selecting a company to go with.
Adrienne Fuller leads the publishing team over at finder.com. She has one goal: to deliver the accurate and transparent information she wishes she had when she made some of life's important financial decisions. When she's not helping folks save money, she's hiking with her two Catahoulas around her home in San Diego.
TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply. Send money overseas in 30+ currencies with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
Better exchange rates for Finder customers. Send 60+ currencies at competitive rates and no fees. If you find a better eligible quote, WorldFirst will beat it.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of major banks, insurers and product issuers.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product. You should consider whether the products featured on our site are appropriate for your needs and seek independent advice if you have any questions.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or "Advertisement" are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options and find the best option for you.
The identification of a group of products, as 'Top' or 'Best' is a reflection of user preferences based on current website data. On a regular basis, analytics drive the creation of a list of popular products. Where these products are grouped, they appear in no particular order.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
