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How to send money to the Central African Republic (CAR)

Your options will be limited, but you can still get competitive rates.

Andrew Munro

Updated Apr 27, 2020

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The Central African Republic is not a popular transfer destination, which means you’ll have fewer providers to choose from. But you can still save money by using a transfer specialist instead of your bank.

Restrictions on sending money to the Central African Republic

The Central African Republic is subject to international sanctions. As a result, you may be required to provide additional information when sending money there, and some transfers may be restricted.

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Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
USD 1,000	1 day	N/A	N/A	N/A	No-maximum limit transfers with competitive exchange rates for 100+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, AZN, BGN, BND, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KRW, KWD, LKR, MAD, MGA, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, RUB, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, THB, TOP, TRY, TWD, TZS, USD, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XOF, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
GBP 1,000	1 - 2 days	USD 0.00	576.419	XAF 2,882,094	Exclusive: Minimum transfer of $1,000 for Finder readers (normally $5,000). For larger transfers, get no transaction fees and no maximum send limits.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount GBP 1,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Chat Available currencies AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ARS, AUD, AZN, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, KZT, LBP, LKR, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SEK, SGD, SLL, THB, TND, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, XPF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	Same day	N/A	N/A	N/A	Offering no maximum and no minimum limit transfers with $0 fees.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AMD, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BND, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, KZT, LKR, LSL, MAD, MKD, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, NAD, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SZL, THB, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UGX, USD, VUV, WST, XCD, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 2,000	1 day	N/A	N/A	N/A	$0 transfer fees with rates at never more than a 2% markup.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 2,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email, Branch Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, EGP, EUR, GBP, HKD, ILS, JPY, NOK, NZD, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 0	1 - 2 days	USD 1.99	570.596	XAF 2,851,847	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Quick, affordable transfers around the world with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 0.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ARS, BDT, BGN, BOB, BRL, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, GHS, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, INR, JMD, KES, KMF, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NIO, NPR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RWF, THB, TND, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XAF, XOF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	1 - 2 days	N/A	N/A	N/A	Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 20 currencies while saving up to 90% over local banks.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, GBP, GEL, GHS, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NPR, NZD, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, RON, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	Within an hour	USD 3.99	579.796	XAF 2,896,666	Use promo code 3FREE to send your first 3 transfers with no fee. Send to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposit, cash pickup or mobile top-up.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review

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Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.

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Best way to send
Transfer time
What to watch out for

What to compare
Cash pickup locations

Step-by-step: How to send money to the Central African Republic

Compare money transfer services and choose the one that’s best for you.
Create an account on the chosen transfer service’s website.
Create a new money transfer. Enter the amount you want to send and the recipient’s details in the space provided.
Confirm the details of the transfer, provide any additional information the transfer service requires and make your payment.

What’s the best way to send money to the Central African Republic?

There are several different ways of sending money transfers to the CAR. The following are the main options:

Blue icon representing money transfers Image: Infogram

Money transfer services

Money transfer services will offer different options to suit the recipient, including bank account deposit, cash pickup or mobile money account deposit.

Picture not described: BlueCoinsCashIcon_Infogram_94x62.png Image: Infogram

Cash transfers

Cash transfer services will let the recipient pick up cash at agent locations around the country.

Picture not described: BlueBankIcon_Infogram_62x56.png Image: Infogram

Banks

Some banks will offer money transfers to the Central African Republic, but these can be slower and more expensive than other options.

How long will it take to send money to the Central African Republic?

How long it takes depends on the transfer method you choose. If you pay with your bank account and have the money deposited into your recipient’s bank account, it will often be quite slow. Paying by card and having the funds delivered to a mobile wallet or cash pickup location will be a lot faster, often within the same day.

Emergency cash transfer

Services like MoneyGram and Western Union can let you pay with cash at a wide range of agent locations and let the recipient almost immediately pick up cash in the Central African Republic.

But the transfer speed will still be subject to the receiving agent’s business hours and how fast the recipient can get to an agent.

What services send emergency transfers?

How to send money to the Central African Republic without a bank account

If you don’t have a bank account, you can still send money by paying with cash. The recipient can similarly get the money without a bank account.

If you have a mobile account with a service like Orange Money, you may be able to send mobile money directly to the recipient without either of you needing a bank account.

What to watch out for

There are restrictions on currency imports, which vary depending on which country they’re coming from.

Meanwhile, due to risk factors in the Central African Republic, incoming money transfers may be subject to additional scrutiny and controls.

Documentation you’ll need to send money to the Central African Republic

When sending money to the Central African Republic, you’ll need to provide the following:

Your personal details, including your name, address and other information.
The transfer details, including the amount, the currencies and the recipient’s details.
The reason for sending the money. You may be required to provide evidence of this. For example, an invoice if you’re sending a business payment or some kind of proof of relation if you’re sending money to your family.

You’ll generally need to provide documentation including personal identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and you may also be required to provide additional documents to verify your reason for sending the money.

What to compare to get the best deal

When comparing money transfer options for the Central African Republic, look at the following:

Fees.How much will you be charged for the transfer?
Exchange rates.How many Central African CFA francs will you be getting for your money?
Transfer speed.How long will it take the funds to arrive?
Payment options.What are your payment options?
Delivery methods.How can the recipient collect their funds?
Customer service.Will you be able to contact the transfer service promptly in the event of a delay or other issues?

Foreign exchange rates explained

Exchange rates show how much of one currency you’ll get for another. The chart below shows the current mid-market rates, but transfer services will often have their own exchange rates.

To work out how much you’re paying in exchange rate margins, compare a quoted exchange rate from a transfer service to the mid-market rates.

Today’s exchange rate USD to XAF

Cash pickup locations in the Central African Republic

MoneyGram
Bsic Bangui RCA – Bangui – Bsic Centrafr
Address: Avenue BB Face Pharmacie Paloma Agence HiTech Bangui
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm; Sat 7am-1pm
Phone: +236-21612748
Framo Travel Agency – #1 – Bangui
Address: Bangui PKO Face Immeuble Orange BP 3123
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm; Sat-Sun 8am-3pm
Phone: +236-75055543
WorldRemit
Express Union – Caisse De Boali
Address: Boali Market
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm; Sat-Sun 8am-1pm
Express Union – Caisse De Fouh
Address: Bangui Fourth District
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm; Sat-Sun 8am-1pm
Western Union
Bangui Boyrabe
Address: Quartier Boyrabe, Boyrabe, 4e Arrondissement, 99999
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm; Sat 8am-12pm
Phone: +236-21612149
Agence De Boy Rabe
Address: Quartier Boy Rabe Bangui, Bangui
Hours: Mon-Fri 5am-7pm; Sat 3:30am-8:30pm; Sun 24 hours
Phone: +236-614058

Bottom line

The West African CFA franc isn’t one of the world’s most popular currencies, which means your transfer options will be limited. But you can still choose to send money via bank deposit, mobile money or cash. To get the best deal on your next transfer, compare money transfer providers before getting started.
Image source: Getty Images

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Andrew Munro

Andrew Munro is the cryptocurrency editor at Finder. He was initially writing about insurance, when he accidentally fell in love with digital currency and distributed ledger technology (aka “the blockchain”). Andrew has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales, and has written guides about everything from industrial pigments to cosmetic surgery.

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How to send money to the Central African Republic (CAR)

Your options will be limited, but you can still get competitive rates.

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