International money transfer in minutes? PayPal, Visa have the answer
With faster international money transfers becoming even more of an essential during COVID-19, PayPal and Visa have stepped in with a payments option that could reduce your wait time from days down to minutes.
PayPal’s Instant Transfer, which gives consumers and businesses the ability to move funds across borders in real-time, was first launched in the US in March last year. But PayPal and Visa’s latest collaboration is taking this service global.
This means PayPal users worldwide, including in Australia, will now be able to make near-instant transfers overseas.
With Instant Transfer you can send money from your PayPal, Xoom or Venmo account to eligible Visa cards, via Visa Direct. Businesses using other PayPal-owned payments platforms like Braintree, iZettle and Hyperwallet will also have access to the service.
Visa’s chief product officer, Jack Forestell said the expanded Instant Transfer service goes hand-in-hand with a growing need amid COVID-19 to pay and get paid sooner.
“Sending money to loved ones or giving small businesses real-time access to earnings is critical during these challenging times,” he said.
“By partnering with PayPal on a global scale, we are bringing together two trusted brands to provide hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses globally with quick and secure payment options that can help them maintain financial stability.”
This speed, however, comes at a small cost - users will need to budget for an additional 1% fee (of up to $10) on top of their transfer.
It’s also worth noting that while Instant Transfers should typically happen in minutes, the timing can vary depending on the bank you’re sending money to. Either way though, it’ll be significantly more efficient than PayPal’s Standard Transfers which can take 1-3 business days to process.
Your IMT options for larger transfers
While PayPal can be a convenient choice for small one-off transfers, it may not be the right fit for everyone, as you’re limited in terms of how much you can send in one go. Depending on the user and currency, you could be capped at US$10,000 per transfer.
So what if you’re looking to move larger sums across borders? That’s when specialist foreign exchange providers like TorFX, OFX and WorldFirst come in.
While in most cases their transactions won’t be instant and your money will typically take 1-5 business days to reach its destination,* many of these providers offer no maximum transfer limit. Just bear in mind that some may come with minimum limits ranging from $50 up to $10,000.
IMT specialists are also generally cheaper than the banks. In fact, Mozo data reveals that you could save USD$232, just by hopping onto the average online IMT specialist rate rather than the average big four bank rate today.^
Interested in seeing who these providers are? Scroll down below for a snapshot, or jump on over to our international money transfer comparison table for even more options.
*Same day transfers may be available for major currencies like the USD.
^Mozo calculations, as of 10am, 15 September 2020.
Personal international money transfer comparisons on Mozo
I want to transfer
Today’s foreign exchange rates
- Excellent exchange rates, no transfer fees
- 24/7 transfers online, over the phone or through the TorFX app
- Personal account management and expert insights
$6,537 USD
$0.6537 USD
1-2 days
$200 minimum
- Send to 200+ countries and 100+ currencies globally, 48,000+ 5-star 'Excellent' ratings on TrustPilot
- Dedicated Australia-based client services team with personal account management for transfers over $20,000
- Send fees are charged on smaller amount transfers, additional fees are charged on debit and credit card payment methods.
$6,520 USD
$0.6524 USD
1-3 days
none
- 40 currencies to choose from
- Transfer money internationally, free from hidden fees
- Get a debit card to spend online, at the checkout, and to withdraw cash
$6,526 USD
$0.6526 USD
1-3 days
$1.5m maximum
- Fee Free transfers
- Talk to a human, 24/7. Sharp Rates and Fast and Secure transfers.
- Australian owned, ASX listed and Official Foreign Exchange Provider of the NHL
$6,520 USD
$0.6520 USD
1-2 days
$250 minimum
$500 monthly minimum for regular transfers
- Zero fees on the first transfer transfers from AUD to USD, GBP, MYR, PHP, THB (for amounts AUD $200 - $7,999). T&Cs apply.
- Transfer in minutes, 24/7 Live support
- Wide range of options - Cards, Bank transfer, Wire, Cash pickup and E-wallet
$6,514 USD
$0.6514 USD
Within minutes
no minimum
* The exchange rates offered by each provider are indicative exchange rates that have either been supplied by each provider or gathered by Mozo. Exchange rates fluctuate constantly and as a consequence the exchange rates listed here may vary to the actual exchange rate you are quoted by a provider. Please ensure you confirm the actual exchange rate with the relevant provider prior to conducting any transaction. These exchange rates are updated every hour.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice International Money Transfer Awards
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