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Senegal is amongst the most stable democracies in Africa. It is a founding member of the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS). The Senegalese population in Australia is small, but has witnessed consistent growth over the years. As per the 2006 Australian census, 198 Senegalese-born people lived in Australia, with the number increasing to 337 in the 2011 Census.
Trade of merchandise between these two nations in 2014-2015 stood at over $16 million. Trade in services during the same period accounted for $3 million. The High Commission in Ghana represents Australia in Senegal, and the Senegalese Embassy in Tokyo finds accreditation to Australia.
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While there aren’t too many instances of people sending money to Senegal from Australia, you still get a number of options to choose from. Go through this guide to pick one that works best for you.
AmadouDiome moved to Australia because of work, while his parents and younger brother continue living in Senegal. Since they depend on him financially, he’ll have to send them money from time to time. Given his income, he feels he can afford sending around $1,000 every month.
He first turned to his bank to go through with the transfer, only to learn that since the West African CFA franc is an exotic currency his bank does not carry out fund transfers to Senegal. Instead of turning to other banks, he chose to compare money transfer companies using the Internet. This is what he found.
| Money transfer service 1 | Money transfer service 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | $1 = XOF413.1809 | $1 = XOF413.75 |
| Transfer fee | $60 | $0 |
| Amount received for $1,000 | XOF388,391.00 | XOF413,750.00 |
| Transfer time | Instantly | 1-3 days |
| Transfer options | Cash pickup | Bank account |
| Difference of | XOF25,359.00 |
The fact that Amadou chose the second money transfer company over the first comes as no surprise. Not only did it get the money directly into his father’s bank account, his father also stood to receive more money. The longer turnaround time did not bother him, since there was no urgency involved.
When you decide to send money to Senegal you get various options to choose from. Picking one requires that you pay attention to different aspects.
You get various options when sending money to Senegal from Australia.
Receiving money from Senegal in Australia gives you multiple options.
If you find yourself without your wallet when in Senegal, report your credit and debit cards as lost or stolen as soon as you can. Think about reporting the matter to the local police as well. Then, you can consider getting some emergency money in different ways.
Western Union and MoneyGram have a number of cash pickup centres in Senegal. Collecting money from any of these centres requires that you present an acceptable form of ID such as your passport or driver’s license. If you plan to collect a large sum, consider calling in advance to check for availability of funds. Here are some cash pickup centres in Senegal.
Instances of crimes such as bag snatching, pickpocketing and scams are common, especially in large crowds. There are reports of robberies and muggings in the restaurant district of Dakar, the restaurant area of St Louis, Leopold Senghor International Airport and Corniche d’Ouest. Foreigners can become victims of criminals, with the risk increasing after dark.
It is important that you exercise due caution about personal safety. Avoid walking along dark streets or isolated areas at night.
Public demonstrations are common in this country. Avoid political rallies and large gatherings because they can turn violent. Refrain from travelling to Senegal’s border with Guinea because of conflict and military activity.
Back to topThe steps you have to follow along with the information you have to provide depend on the method you choose.
