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How to send money to the Maldives

Wondering how to send money to the Maldives from the US? Here’s the information you need.

Shirley Liu

Updated Apr 27, 2020

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Although you may have limited options when it comes to transferring money to the Maldives, you don’t always have to rely on the first thing you find. Our guide will help you navigate the process of sending money to a recipient overseas, including how much it might cost to convert your US dollars to Maldivian rufiyaas.

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Compare international money transfers to the Maldives

You may struggle to find a provider that will send rufiyaas from the US. Your best bet may be to make a same currency transfer in US Dollars, then convert your money with a local currency exchange after receiving it.

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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	N/A	N/A	N/A	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	N/A	N/A	N/A	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	15.335	MVR 76,615	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

Compare up to 4 providers

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

How do international money transfers work?

International money transfers allow you to convert currencies and send money to someone overseas. The average transfer process involves you providing funds to a bank or an independent transfer provider. It will then sends the money to your recipient in the Maldives.

Most transfers can be done in-person, over the phone, through a mobile app or online. You can pay with cash, card or a direct debit from your bank account. The transfer will then either be deposited into your recipient’s bank account, mobile wallet or made available as cash for them to pick up at a location in their country.

What are my options for transferring money to the Maldives?

Money transfer services

Few money transfer providers send money to the Maldives. MoneyGram and Western Union are two reliable services that are able to convert US dollars to rufiyaas. Both companies have years of experience in international money transfers and allow for various methods of sending money quickly.

US dollars in the Maldives

If you’re struggling to find a provider that will send rufiyaas, consider transferring US dollars. The US dollar is widely accepted as a form of payment, and by transferring US dollars, you won’t have to deal with an exchange rate.

Case Study: Hassan compared different money transfer companies to send money to the Maldives

Hassan is one of the 330 students from the Maldives that received a long-term scholarship to study in America. Hassan’s parents were unable to pay his school fees by the time he reached secondary school and took out several study loans to further fund his education. After completing his studies in the US, Hassan has since become a successful actuary.

He is now in a position where he can pay back the study loans for his parents. He compares different alternatives for sending money to his parents using the amount of $1,000 USD.

	Money transfer company A	Money transfer company B
Exchange rate	1 USD = 10.7227 MVR	1 USD = 10.639406 MVR
Transfer fee	$70	$60
Amount received less the transfer fee	10,722.74 MVR	10,639.41 MVR
Transfer time	Minutes	Minutes
Transfer options	Phone, Online, Agent	Phone, Online, Agent

Hassan decides to go with the first transfer company because it will give his parents more money to work with and he can handle the slightly higher fee.

How do I compare transfer companies when sending money to the Maldives?

Exchange rates. Look for an exchange rate that’s close to market average when making an exchange. Exchange rates are set by the transfer provider, but vary day-to-day and between providers.
Pickup methods. Can your recipient pick up the cash from their nearest transfer agent, or will the funds be deposited into their bank account? Choose a method that’s more convenient for the person receiving the money.
Fees. Due to its limited accessibility in infrastructure and geography, international money transfer companies that send money to the Maldives usually require a higher fee for their service.
Turnaround time. Will the funds be available for your beneficiary in minutes, or will they take several working days to arrive?
Transfer methods. Can transfers be placed online, over the phone, by visiting a branch or by using a mobile app? The convenience of these options should impact your final choice.
Minimum transfer amount. What is the minimum transfer limit imposed by each company? Will this affect the size of your transfer?
Customer service. Is help available when you have a question regarding a transaction? Compare the availability of customer support options and hours.

Foreign exchange rates explained

Exchange rates determine how much one country’s currency is worth when converted to the currency of another country. When a country’s currency is strong, it will yield more money when exchanging it with a weak currency. The exact amount you’ll receive when exchanging money depends on global economics, so monitoring rates will help you decide when to make a transfer.

Live exchange rates for MVR

Steps to send money to the Maldives

Find a money transfer company from the table above.
Visit the lender’s website when you’re ready to make a transfer.
Create an account and begin a new transfer.
Enter your recipient’s information and the amount you want to send.
Pay for your transfer.
Keep your tracking number and receipt.

Once you’ve finished your part of the transfer, wait for your recipient to confirm that they’ve received their funds. This will ensure that there were no problems during the transfer process.

Tips for picking up cash in the Maldives

The Maldives is classified as a safe destination for tourists, but political unrest since 2016 has seen an increase in petty crimes and violent protests. When you’re picking up cash in the Maldives, take a safety-first approach. Keep your cash hidden and deposit it with your bank as soon as possible. Take a friend along with you to collect the funds. Don’t walk around busy areas with lots of cash, and never take out a large amount of bills in public.

Same-day money transfers in the Maldives

It is possible to make a same-day money transfer to the Maldives by using a quick money transfer service like MoneyGram. However, the exchange rate you receive will likely be worse than one you might get if your transfer took more time, and you may have to pay more fees for the fast service. When you’re facing an emergency, a same-day transfer can be beneficial as long as you know the total cost you might have to pay.Back to top

Thank you for your feedback!

Shirley Liu

Shirley Liu is Finder's global program manager. She was previously the publisher for banking and investments and has also written comparisons for energy, money transfers, Uber Eats and many other topics. Shirley has a Master of Commerce and a Bachelor of Media, Journalism and Communications from the University of New South Wales. She is passionate about helping people find the best deal for their needs.

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2 Responses

fayazJanuary 7, 2019

I want to sand money to maldives as a private. which is the best way to do it? i want to sand money online and the receiver will get it by cash.

Reply
- nikkiangcoJanuary 8, 2019
  
  Hi Fayaz,
  
  Thanks for getting in touch! The information above shows the list of providers that allow you to transfer money from US to the Maldives. The best one will depend on the cost, transfer speed, and cost to convert your US dollars to Maldivian rufiyaas. Kindly note that as a product comparison website, we are not in the position to recommend one product for you.
  
  Hope this clarifies and feel free to email back if you have questions.
  
  Best,
  Nikki
  
  Reply

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