Mozo’s time-saving international money transfer comparison table makes it easy for you to transfer money overseas. No need to check out multiple websites, compare today’s exchange rates and fees for your international money transfer in the table below.
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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice International money transfers Awards
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Simply put, an international money transfer (IMT) is any transaction you make from one country to another. Unlike a domestic money transfer which takes place locally, an IMT involves a sender moving funds across national borders to a destination of their choice, for instance, from Australia to the US. Usually those funds are deposited into a recipient’s or the sender’s own foreign bank account, or they can be retrieved at a bank branch or remittance centre overseas (this is known as a ‘cash pick-up’).
IMTs can consist of small or large amounts, ranging from a couple hundred bucks to millions of dollars, and they can be one-off or done on a regular basis, depending on the purpose of your transfer.
There are a whole range of reasons why you might consider an international money transfer, including:
Gifting cash to family and friends abroad
Providing emergency funds to loved ones in need
Transferring part of your income back home (if you’re an expat)
Paying overseas bills, such as mortgage repayments and tuition fees (if you’re an international or exchange student)
Financially preparing for a retirement abroad.
With the wonders of modern technology, transferring money overseas has never been simpler. But while there are many ways to transfer money overseas, being careful about what provider you transfer with could save you a pretty penny.
In Australia, there are different types of providers available for sending money overseas. The right option for you will depend on factors like whether it’s a one off or regular transfer, how much money you need to transfer in any one hit, where you are sending your funds to, and how quickly you need to transfer money.
You’ve got a choice between:
Specialist international money transfer providers: These companies are listed in our comparison tables above. Unlike banks and credit unions, specialist IMT providers have built their whole business around transferring funds around the globe, so they have a lot of expert knowledge in this area. Plus, they generally offer sharper exchange rates and lower fees than the options below. Most of their platforms are online, so you can make transfers anytime of the day or night. With many IMT specialists like OFX, TorFX and WorldFirst, there are no maximum limits to how much you can transfer, but a minimum limit ranging from $50 and $10,000 can apply, depending on the provider.
Banks and credit unions: Most banks and credit unions will have money transfer facilities. They will usually charge more if you go to the branch to do a transfer than if you did it yourself online, and their exchange rates and fees also tend to be less competitive than specialist IMT providers. Often the maximum amount you can transfer online is subject to your ‘pay anyone’ limit, although you could potentially increase that threshold by visiting your local branch and requesting a raise there. At Mozo, we compare international money transfers offered by the big four banks: ANZ, NAB, Westpac and Commonwealth Bank.
Cash transfers via PayPal or Western Union: For smaller transfers, you may consider services like PayPal and Western Union. With Western Union, you can send up to AUD50,000 each time, while the maximum amount per transaction for PayPal is AUD60,000 (the cap may change depending on your currency). However, both options can get expensive, as they come with weaker exchange rates and higher fees than other money transfer options. That said, if you are looking for speed and convenience, transactions between PayPal accounts take place almost instantly, while for Western Union, funds via cash transfer could reach the recipient within minutes. With Western Union, you can either deposit money into your recipient’s bank account or arrange for a cash pick-up.
When sending money overseas, two of the most popular options in Australia are using a specialist IMT provider or making an international bank transfer.
IMT specialists are independent from banks, and have some of the best exchange rates and fees on the market. In fact, all of the winners of our long-standing Mozo Experts Choice Awards for best value International Money Transfer are IMT specialists like SendFX, WorldFirst and InstaReM. They don’t offer face-to-face service, but their phone and online service options are often fee-free, and many also provide their customers with a personal account manager who can talk you through your money transfer options and answer any queries or concerns.
Meanwhile, international bank transfers happen with your existing Australian bank account, so you won’t need to set up any additional accounts. Banks may charge higher fees and offer lower exchange rates than IMT specialists, but they usually have the option of in-branch customer service, where a banker can assist with the transfer process (though there are often fees attached to this).
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing between a bank or an IMT specialist for your money transfer, as the decision should be based on what pros and cons work best with your individual circumstances.
For instance, while banks are convenient to access and offer face-to-face customer service and assistance, you might not get a competitive exchange rate and may have to pay a high transfer fee.
So if you care about getting your money’s worth, sticking with your existing bank won’t be enough. When you’re sending tens of thousands of dollars overseas, even a small difference in the exchange rate could mean hundreds of dollars lost or saved. So for large or regular transfers, it may be financially wiser to shop around for an IMT specialist, as they typically offer better rates and are often fee-free.
However in most cases, IMT specialists are 100% online and can only be reached by phone or live chat, so they may not suit customers who prefer to do all of their banking in person.
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to transfer money overseas, Mozo has you covered. We make searching for the right international money transfer provider easy, comparing a range of IMT specialists and big banks side-by-side, so you can clearly find up-to-date exchange rates and any fees that may be hidden in fine print.
For a more personalised quote, get started by entering the amount you want to transfer, and your start and end currencies. Hit ‘Go’ for an estimate of how much you’ll get in the currency of your choice, as well as information about transfer speeds and transfer limits.
The Mozo Experts Choice Awards for International Money Transfers are another great place to start your search. Every year, Mozo’s money experts hold these awards to help Australian consumers find the cheapest IMT providers around. They spend hours assessing a broad range of providers, including banks and non-bank specialists, in order to reveal which ones have the most competitive exchange rates and fees in the market.
Head over to our Mozo Experts Choice International Money Transfer Awards page for a full list of winners.
If you opt to go with an specialist international money transfer provider and this is your first time sending money overseas, you may be unsure of how to create an account and make a transaction. The good news is, it's quite straightforward and there are usually only a few steps involved:
You’ll first need to set up an account with your chosen provider. This is usually a quick process and can be done online. Some IMT providers promise this step won’t take more than a few minutes, but to save yourself any further hassle, make sure to have your personal identification documents (such as your driver’s licence and passport) by your side before you sign up. This information will help the provider verify your identity.
Once the provider has verified your identity, you’ll be issued with an account and account number. You’ll have the option to transfer funds to this account from your bank account in your local currency. You can also receive funds from overseas into this account.
When it is time for you to make an overseas transfer, you can simply go onto the platform, select the currency you want to transfer and the amount, and agree on the exchange rate and fees. Then you’ll need to provide the account details of the recipient, including:
Their full name and address
Their account number or IBAN (International Bank Account Number)
Their bank’s name and address
BIC/SWIFT code (the bank’s unique identification code, which should be available on its website)
Once the funds are cleared, your money will be sent to your recipient. It can take up to five business days for the money to appear in the recipient’s bank account, but in many instances, it should take less than 24 hours if you’re sending in a major currency like the USD or EUR. To be on the safe side, it’s best to double check the timing with your provider before making your transfer.
Some IMT specialists also offer real-time tracking, which means you’ll be able to see where your money is at all times. You should be able to track your transfer online or over the phone, with the confirmation number you would have received from your provider after completing your transaction.
Yes! Not only can you transfer your money online, but it’s also usually cheaper than over-the-phone and in-person transfers, as the latter two options come with higher fees.
In fact, many IMT specialists like XE, Worldfirst and OFX, whose business solely focuses on sending money overseas, will encourage you to transfer through their specialised website or app. This option is generally free, helping you get better bang for your buck. Meanwhile, with the big banks, online transfers can go up to $12, while in-branch transfers can cost as much as $32.
If you want to do the maths yourself, our comparison table above shows how much each IMT provider in our database charges for different transaction methods.
International money transfers can take up to five business days to be delivered so if your recipient hasn’t received your transfer after this period, it could be worth tracking your transfer with your confirmation number. This will show you if the transfer was delayed and allow you to make sure you’ve entered the correct details. Getting in touch with your IMT provider could also provide you with an update or more information on the status of your transfer.
Another potential reason your international money transfer hasn’t been received is because your provider is performing a security check to make sure all transfers are legitimate.
If it’s been over a week and your transfer still hasn’t been delivered, you might want to consider cancelling the transfer. This can be done either online or by calling your IMT provider directly, and while you should receive a full refund, you may have to pay a cancellation fee.
For more information, check out our guide to what happens if your overseas transfer isn't received.
If you go with a reputable international money transfer provider, your money should be in safe hands. Both banks and IMT specialists must undergo regular audits and they are also regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to ensure they’re following best practice.
All IMT providers that we compare on our site are authorised by ASIC and hold an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence. This means that should something go wrong and you end up in a dispute with your provider, you’ll have an independent government body - the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) - to turn to for a resolution.
Besides regulatory compliance, IMT providers on our site also use top of the line security systems, so that they can protect your personal details and get your cash to where it needs to be safely.
As you start crunching numbers to figure out what the best IMT deal is for you, you can also go through our list of frequently asked questions to simultaneously get some of your queries answered.
Whether you’re an expat sending funds to family back home or you’re an investor handling a mortgage on an overseas property, chances are you'll need to make international money transfers every month or fortnight. But instead of going through the hassle of completing a new transaction every single time, it’s usually far more convenient to sign up to a regular payment plan with your IMT provider. This plan may work for people who:
Transfer the same amount each time
Want to secure an exchange rate for future transfers
Want peace of mind that their payments will stay the same for each transfer
Speak to your provider to see if they allow for regular scheduled transfers, and make sure you understand all the costs involved before hopping on board.
Absolutely! Opting to tie up with a service provider can save you both time and money. For instance, some companies may offer to lower or completely waive their commission if you set up a regular account with them, especially if you’re transferring above a specific amount. You may also be able to negotiate a transfer limit, and lock in an exchange rate if your transfers stay fixed, helping to protect your money from any periodic negative fluctuation in rates.
If you’re planning on moving overseas permanently, then you may have to do things differently to a regular IMT transfer, as you’ll need to have access to the money the second you land.
When it comes to finding the best way to transfer large sums of money for your big move, the decision is up to you and what suits your situation the most. Here are your three options:
Spot rate contract: This is when you organise a transfer and lock in the current exchange rate then and there. Exchange rates fluctuate all the time and once you’ve locked in yours, you’ll need to transfer the money to the provider within 24 hours. Bear in mind that even though these transactions would occur as soon as your provider has received your funds, they can take a bit of time to reach your chosen destination. For major currencies like USD, EUR or GBP, it could be 1-3 working days before the money enters your foreign bank account, and it may be even longer for less common currencies. So remember to factor in those timeframes to minimise delays.
Forward contract: This involves fixing the exchange rate that will apply to a future transfer, three months up to two years in advance. This is a great way to safeguard yourself against potential currency fluctuations. However, the downside of a forward contract is that you could potentially miss out on even better rates down the track.
Limit order: This allows you to nominate an exchange rate that you would like for your future transfer. Your IMT provider then monitors the market for you, and will make the transfer only when the rate you’ve requested becomes available. While this is a good option if you aren’t in a rush to transfer the funds, limit orders are usually only available for major currencies and may have larger minimum requirements for a transfer. Depending on the provider, this can be as much as $50K.
This will depend on your IMT provider, as some do not allow transfers to be processed if the recipient doesn’t have a bank account. Your next option would be to transfer money as an international money order, or as an overseas bank cheque. For this to work, your provider would need to have an office in the country the money is being sent to, so the recipient can pick up the payment upon presenting their ID. Just keep in mind that this can be a more expensive option than an electronic money transfer.
While using your bank is the more convenient option, it’s not always the cheapest way to transfer money overseas. Instead you may find that specialist FX agencies offer more value for money, as they tend to have stronger rates and fewer fees. Plus, they often give their customers access to a wider range of currencies than banks, and equip you with features like forward contracts and limit orders that your bank may be unable to.
A SWIFT or BIC (Bank Identifier Code) is a unique identification code for a specific bank. These codes are used when you transfer money to an overseas bank account, to help make sure your money goes to the right place. They should be pretty easy to find - you can ask the bank for the appropriate code or check on their website.
Depending on your provider, international money transfers from one bank account to another can take anywhere between 1-3 business days for major currencies, although some IMT specialists like OFX and TorFX also offer same-day transfers for frequently traded currencies like USD and GBP. Transactions usually take a few days’ longer if you’re sending in more uncommon currencies (although they shouldn’t be any longer than a week). Either way, it’s worth confirming the timing with your provider before making a transfer.
Generally speaking, all reputable IMT specialists should be able to facilitate IMTs in popular currencies like the USD, GBP and EUR, and many may extend their services to less frequently traded currencies or more exotic countries too. For the specifics, you’ll need to get in touch with your provider or find a full list of offered currencies on their website.
If you need a hand, our comparison table above can also help, as it gives you the option to search for providers in our database based on currency. Just scroll up and fill in the blanks, including the amount you want to move as well as your start and end currency, then click on the green ‘Go’ button to see which exchange rates are available for your transfer today.
There are two types of limits to watch out for: one that restricts how much you can send per transfer, and the other that restricts how much you can send over a certain period of time.
Some IMT specialists require a minimum amount for every transaction, ranging from $50 to $10,000, while many have little to no maximum limits. By contrast, with the big banks, your transfers will usually be capped at your ‘pay anyone’ limit (which may be $10,000 to $25,000 a day). For this reason, IMT specialists are often a more suitable option if you’re moving larger sums of money across borders.
Check our comparison table above for further details on each provider’s transfer limits.
Depending on the provider, transfer fees for your IMT could go anywhere from $0 to $32. However, even if your provider doesn’t directly charge any transfer fees, your transaction could still be subject to what’s known as ‘third party fees’. These are fees that your recipient’s bank may charge for processing your money transfer, and there’s not much you can do about them.
Yes, but only if your funds haven’t yet been picked up or deposited into another account. You can cancel your transfer by calling your provider or jumping online and doing it yourself. However, you may have to pay a cancellation fee.
Just bear in mind that any cancellations you request aren’t guaranteed to go through. For instance, if your money has already been processed by your receiving bank, it’s most likely too late to cancel but you could still be hit with a cancellation fee regardless.
Your IMT tax obligations will come down to the source of the funds you’re receiving from abroad. The rule of thumb for an Australian resident is that if it’s income, then it’s taxable. This could include any money that you’ve earned from a business venture, employment or investment property. However if it’s a cash gift or a one-time occurrence such as a lottery win, then the transaction is likely to have no tax implications.
But at the end of the day, it’s always best to seek out professional advice, as every person’s circumstances will differ and there could be consequences if you don’t report your IMTs properly to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
For more information, read our article covering the ins and outs of international money transfer tax.
If you’re running a business, you’ll probably need to pay overseas suppliers or contractors at some point. The good news is, banks and IMT specialists usually extend their services to business money transfers, so you’ll have plenty of providers to pick from when making these international payments. Just as you would with a personal money transfer, it’s worth shopping around and looking out for features like high exchange rates, low to no fees, fast transfer speeds, few transfer limits and top-notch customer service. That way you can ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck while also minimising any delays to your payments.
Check out a bunch of other frequently asked questions over at our business international money transfers page.
The information on IMT rates is updated hourly, but due to the fluctuating nature of foreign exchange, there may be a small difference to the ‘live’ price you receive at the exact time of your overseas money transfer.
Mozo compares rates for many of the major IMT providers operating in Australia, including online-only foreign exchange specialists and the big four banks.
Are you now wondering ‘how to transfer money to an overseas bank account in Norway’ or maybe ‘how to transfer money overseas when you’re moving abroad’? Check out our range of guides that can help you understand the basics of transferring money to many destinations around the globe.
