Sending money between Canada and Tunisia doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Our guide on money transfer services, fees and cash pickup in Tunisia will help you find the best service for you when you’re looking to exchange Canadian dollars for Tunisian dinars.
Send money to Tunisia with Worldremit
An online money transfer service with cash pick-up, bank account to bank account and airtime transfers available.
Choose how you want to send your money - via bank transfer, cash pickup or mobile money
Online money transfer providers typically offer the strongest exchange rates and lowest fees on money transfers to Tunisia. Some offer cash pickup in as little as a few minutes, while others seamlessly transfer to bank accounts. Sending money through PayPal or your bank is also an option, but you’ll typically face higher fees and weaker exchange rates when going that route.
Digital money transfer services
Companies like XE specialize in foreign currencies, making them some of the most cost-effective transfers. Most offer transfers directly to your recipient’s Tunisian bank account, often in as little as a day or two.
Cash transfers
Services like MoneyGram, Remitly and Western Union allow you to transfer cash for pickup at a local branch in Tunisia — often in 15 minutes. While it’s a fast way to send money, you’ll pay for the convenience in weak exchange rates and high fees.
Banks
Tunisian dinars are not a popular currency, but your local bank may be able to exchange them. If your bank supports Tunisian dinars, beware of high fees and wide margins on the exchange rate compared to digital and other options when sending a wire transfer to Tunisia.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending $1,000 to Tunisia
Let’s say you need to send $1,000 to family in Tunisia. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of October 26, 2020.
Digital money transfer service
Cash transfer
Bank transfer
Fee
$0
$3.99
$50 + additional correspondent bank fees
Exchange rate
1 CAD = 1.8394 TND
1 CAD = 1.8312 TND
1 CAD = 1.6472 TND
Transfer speed
1-2 day
Minutes
2-5 days
Amount received
TND 1,831
TND 1,832
TND 2,562
Verdict
Best value
Fastest
Slowest and most expensive
The bank option ends up being both the slowest and gets the smallest amount of money to your recipient in Tunisia. If you go with the digital money transfer service, your recipient ends up with TND 333 more than the bank offers. If speed is crucial, a cash transfer can typically have your transfer to Tunisia in as little as an hour, just make sure there is a cash pickup location near your recipient before sending.
How to send money to Tunisia online
Sign up and send money with a digital money transfer specialist in four steps:
Sign up for a free account. Pick a provider and sign up for a free online account using your contact information, proof of ID and preferred payment method.
Provide transfer details. Submit your recipient’s contact information and pick a delivery method. If transferring to a bank, you’ll need their Tunisian bank account details.
Confirm transfer details. Double-check your payment method, expected fees and destination.
Save your receipt. Record your receipt’s confirmation number to track the progress of your transfer to Tunisia. Some money transfer providers send a text or email when your transfer is complete.
What are the ways that I can send money to Tunisia?
Bank transfers. Many major Canadian banks will allow you to send money to Tunisia.
Money transfer providers. Providers like XE and WorldRemit can help you quickly and easily transfer your money online.
Providers with cash pickup. Western Union, Remitly and MoneyGram allow you to send funds for cash pickup at agent locations.
PayPal. Electronic payment giant PayPal allows you to send money from Canada to Tunisia.
Cheques and money orders. Although not a quick option, you could send an international cheque or money order overseas, obtained from your bank or Canada Post.
How to get the most out of your money transfer to Tunisia
Weigh costs and fees against convenience to learn how to compare money transfer providers that send to Tunisia to best meet your needs:
Exchange rates. The CAD-TND relationship fluctuates often, so using a service that allows you to lock-in exchange prices may help you save money down the line if the Tunisian dinar rises against the Canadian dollar.
Transfer fees. Transferring money overseas nearly always requires fees, but they might be hidden in the exchange rate. When sending large amounts, it may be cheaper to pay a flat fee to secure a stronger CAD-TND exchange rate.
Transfer limits. How much you can send varies by company, and different amounts can attract higher or lower fees. Shop around for the best deal on the number of Tunisian dinar you’re sending to Tunisia.
Turnaround. Transferring money through a local bank can take a business week or longer. If you need the funds delivered quickly, seek out a digital specialist that offers instant transfers to Tunisia.
Sending limits. Comparing prices for one large transfer instead of many small transfers is typically easier, so picking the service you use based on how much you’re sending is a valid strategy for saving money.
Transfer methods. Whether you want money sent to an Tunisian bank account or picked up as cash at a local agent, narrow down a company that matches your preferred delivery method.
Emergency cash transfer to Tunisia
When urgency trumps cost to get your money to Tunisia quickly, look for money transfer companies that support cash pickup in minutes. You can pay with a credit or debit card for fast pickup, but fees are higher than other methods.
How to send money to Tunisia without a bank account
Cash transfer services can help you if you don’t have a bank account, look for a local company that supports storefronts for cash payments. These services include agent locations in other countries that allow your recipient to pick up cash without a bank account.
Tunisia’s exchange rates explained
The exchange rate determines how much one country’s currency is worth in another country’s currency. When a country’s currency is strong, it yields more money when exchanging it in a country with a weaker currency. Tunisia’s exchange rate is flexible compared to the Canadian dollar. The CAD-TND relationship typically doesn’t make sharp movements, but instead shifts over time. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.
Documents needed for sending to and receiving money in Tunisia
To send money to Tunisia from Canada, you’ll need government-issued ID and other documents, while documents needed to pick up money in Tunisia may be different by company.
Documents to send money from Canada
To send money from Canada to Tunisia, you’ll need documentation and details that include:
Identification. Most services require a driver’s license, passport or other government-issued ID. Some services allow you to send transfers without ID, but they may require your SIN.
Payment method. Your service may accept credit or debit cards, cash, bank accounts or personal cheques.
Recipient information. Submit your recipient’s name as it appears on their ID, along with their phone number and Tunisian bank account information.
Documents to receive money in Tunisia
To pick up money in person, documentation can include:
Transfer number. The person sending you money can forward the transfer’s confirmation details — called a PIN, a MTCN, a reference number or a tracking number, depending on the company.
Government-issued ID. A Tunisian Passport, Tunisian ID or similar official ID may be required to pick up your transfer.
Amount sent. You may need to know how much was sent, usually within 10% of the total.
Sender’s information. Take along your sender’s full name, the sending country and their address, if known.
What to watch out for
When you send money to family members in Oman, the money may be subject to taxes but it depends on a lot of variables. In general, you won’t have to report any amount of money to the CRA that you transfer out of Canada. But it’s still a good idea to keep all records of transfers just in case.
Bottom line
Sending your hard-earned money to Tunisia shouldn’t cost a fortune. Compare money transfer companies that specialize in foreign transactions for the strongest rates, lowest fees and flexible delivery. For transfers to other countries, rely on our country specific guides the next time you need to make a transfer.
Zak Killermann is a writer at Finder. He’s ghostwritten hundreds of articles on fintech, finding his love for publication at St. Cloud State University. Traveling internationally for nearly half his life — and getting burned once by an OTC money exchange — Zak's vowed not to settle for anything short of the mid-market rate again.
Read Finder’s BoC Interest Rate Forecast Report for forecasts from some of Canada’s brightest minds in economics and property as well as their thoughts on how recent rate hikes could affect Canada’s property market.
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