{"id":841379,"date":"2020-03-22T20:15:51","date_gmt":"2020-03-23T00:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/ca\/?p=841379"},"modified":"2026-06-22T11:49:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T15:49:04","slug":"ria-international-money-transfers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/ca\/international-money-transfers\/ria-international-money-transfers","title":{"rendered":"Ria Review: How Does It Compare in 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Ria?<\/h3>

Ria is a money transfer service that lets you send money to 190+ countries and territories. Founded in New York City in 1987, Ria is best known for offering cash pickup transfers to a global network of 500,000+ agent locations. Another feature that sets Ria apart is its ATM cash withdrawal option in select countries, including Mexico. This allows recipients to access their funds directly from participating ATMs without needing a bank account or visiting a cash pickup location.<\/p>

Ria also supports other transfer types, including bank account deposits, mobile wallet transfers, home delivery and Visa Direct deposits straight to the recipient\u2019s card, depending on the destination country.<\/p>

Is Ria legitimate in Canada?<\/h3>

Yes, Ria is a legitimate money transfer provider that has been operating for almost 40 years. In Canada, Ria is registered with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) as a money services business (MSB), which means it must comply with Canadian anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulations.<\/p>

Ria is also part of Euronet Worldwide, a publicly traded financial technology company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange.<\/p>

Is Ria safe?<\/h3>

Yes, Ria uses a range of security measures designed to keep customer accounts and transactions safe. These include multi-factor authentication, data encryption, identity verification procedures, 24\/7 transaction monitoring and fraud protection systems that help detect suspicious activity.<\/p>

Ria\u2019s website is also EV SSL certified, which is the highest class of digital certificate a website can achieve. It means the website has undergone an extensive validation process and uses strong encryption to secure data and confirm the site\u2019s authenticity.<\/p>

A closer look at the pros and cons<\/h3>
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Pros<\/h4>\n
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  • Send money to <\/strong>190<\/b>+ countries and territories.<\/strong> Ria lets you send money from Canada to recipients all around the world.<\/li>\n
  • Large global network.<\/strong> Ria has more than 500,000 cash pickup locations globally.<\/li>\n
  • Flexible transfer options.<\/strong> You can send a transfer in store, online or via the Ria mobile app.<\/li>\n
  • Supports multiple receiving methods.<\/strong> Receiving methods include cash pickup, bank deposit, mobile wallet and Visa Direct. Cash home delivery and ATM withdrawals are also available in a small number of countries.<\/li>\n
  • Easy to use.<\/strong> It's quick and easy to send a transfer online or using the Ria app. There's also a \"Send Again\" feature so you can send repeat transfers quickly.<\/li>\n
  • Fast transfers.<\/strong> If you send a cash pickup transfer and pay with a credit or debit card, the money could be ready for your recipient to collect within minutes.<\/li>\n
  • 24\/7 security monitoring.<\/strong> Ria's security team monitors transfers 24\/7 for any signs of suspicious activity.<\/li>\n
  • Promotional offers for new users.<\/strong> Some first-time customers may receive introductory offers, such as reduced fees or promotional exchange rates, though availability can vary and you may need to use a code like HELLORIA. We were offered an exchange rate of 1 CAD = 44.68 PHP, when the normal rate was 1 CAD = 43.69, as well as a first transfer fee waiver for a transfer to the Philippines.<\/li>\n
  • Transparent rates and fees.<\/strong> You don't need an account to see Ria's current exchange rates and fees.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n \n
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    Cons<\/h4>\n
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    • Low transfer limit.<\/strong> The maximum amount you can send from Canada with Ria is limited to $3,000 per day and $7,999.99 per month. If you need to send a larger transfer, you'll have to consider other providers. It's worth noting that some Ria agent and partner locations also impose their own receiving limits.<\/li>\n
    • Exchange rate markup.<\/strong> Ria adds a margin to the mid-market exchange rate when converting your Canadian dollars to foreign currency. When we checked, this markup ranged anywhere from approximately 0.2% to 3.7% depending on the currency being sent.<\/li>\n
    • Transfer fee.<\/strong> You'll also pay a transfer fee to send money with Ria. The size of the fee varies depending on your payment and delivery method and where you're sending money. Unlike other money transfer services we tried, Ria doesn't offer a discount or waive its fee for larger transfers.<\/li>\n
    • No Interac e-Transfer payment.<\/strong> You can only pay for your transfer using bank transfer, credit card, debit card or cash.<\/li>\n
    • Promotional rates are not universal.<\/strong> Introductory exchange rates and fee discounts are only available on select corridors and may not apply to all destinations or transfer types. For example, we weren't offered a fee waiver or better exchange rate when sending money to Nigeria or the United Kingdom.<\/li>\n
    • Limited home delivery service.<\/strong> Home delivery is only available to recipients in the Dominican Republic, Hungary, Armenia, Vietnam, Morocco and the Philippines.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n