Send money to Afghanistan

Looking for the best way to send money from the United States to family, friends or businesses in Afghanistan (or even to your own bank account)? Don't head straight to your American bank - turn to online money transfer services instead. They nearly always offer better exchange rates and lower fees - which means for the same amount of dollars you send, the recipient will receive more afghanis.

Compare ways of sending money to Afghanistan

Use our table below to compare services that send money from America to Afghanistan. Compare the money transfer providers' fees and speeds, then click "Go to site" when you've found the best one to send your US Dollars to Afghanistan.

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Name	Product		Filter Values	Fastest Transfer Speed	Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)	Learn More
MoneyGram				Within an hour	From $0	Go to site View details	MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.		loading Fetching your data...

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What documents do I need to transfer money to Afghanistan?

To send money from the United States to Afghanistan, you'll need the following:

1. Photo identification

Most providers require a driver's license, passport or other American government-issued ID. You can send transfers without the above but may need to give alternate ID instead.

2. Payment method

Your options depend on the provider's services. Popular methods include cash, debit or credit card payments, bank account transfers and personal checks.

3. Recipient information

You'll need their name (matching their ID) plus contact details. If sending to an Afghan bank account, you'll need the a/c number, SWIFT and branch details.

What documents do I need to receive money in Afghanistan?

To collect money in person in Afghanistan, the recipient will need:

1. Transfer number

The reference number - sometimes called a PIN, MTCN or tracking number.

2. Government-issued ID

An official ID, such as an Afghan passport or driving license.

3. The transfer amount

To know how much has been sent, usually to within 10% of the total.

4. Sender information

The sender's name and address and the country from where the money was sent.

How much does it cost to send money to Afghanistan from America?

The cost of sending money to Afghanistan from the United States depends on the exchange rate between USD to AFN, the fees, how you want your recipient to receive your transfer and the turnaround time:

• Exchange rates. The mid-market rate is the rate banks and transfer services use to trade between one another. It is the best rate that you can get. But not all money transfer providers offer you this mid-market rate so compare the exchange rate you're offered to the mid-market rate and look for the smallest difference.
• Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer amount? For example, a provider offering to transfer your money to Afghanistan for a flat or low fee might work out better if you plan to send a large amount.
• Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can pay for a quick delivery. Companies such as offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services can offer the best value, usually getting your money to Afghanistan faster and cheaper than banks.
• Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service. For example, one provider may have a send limit of $10,000 while another may allow you to transfer up to $1 million. For smaller transfers, check the fees. For large transfers, look harder at the exchange rate. Some providers encourage large transfers with low fees.
• Transfer type. Does your recipient have an Afghan bank account or is cash or cell phone top up the better option? Each transfer type will have different fees. For example, instant cash pickups tend to be more expensive than bank transfers.
• Discounts. Some providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up while others may offer you a discount if you transfer more than a certain amount.

Frequently asked questions