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The best ways to send money to Ukraine depend on your transfer needs, payment method and how fast you need the money delivered. Small transfers are quickly sent through TransferWise, while CurrencyTransfer is our pick for transfers of $10,000 or more. MoneyGram, Ria and Western Union offer cash pickups. Find strong rates and low fees by comparing digital money transfer specialists.
Top picks are our selection of some of the best money transfer products and services, based on our extensive research and market experience. Our top picks are displayed at the top of some pages to help you make decisions faster, but our top pick may not be the best pick for you.
Compare money transfer services that send to Ukraine
Enter the amount you want to send and select Calculate to see how much your transfer could cost. Choose Go to site on the provider that best fits your needs to start your transfer.
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
Online money transfer providers typically offer the strongest exchange rates and lowest fees on money transfers to Ukraine. Some offer transfers straight to Ukrainian bank accounts, while others allow the money to be picked up in Ukrainian hryvnia in person. Banks, PayPal and other options are available but come with high fees, weak rates and longer turnaround times.
Digital money transfer services
Companies like OFX and CurrencyTransfer specialize in foreign currencies, making them some of the most cost-effective transfers to send money to Ukraine. Most offer transfers directly to your recipient’s Ukrainian bank account, often in as little as a day or two.
Cash transfers
Services like MoneyGram allow you to transfer cash for pickup at a local branch in Ukraine — 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. Compare MoneyGram to digital services like WorldRemit or XE when possible to save money when sending money.
Banks
The Ukrainian hryvnia probably isn’t carried by your local bank. Even if your local bank can convert your US dollars into Ukrainian hryvnia, beware of high fees and wide margins on the exchange rate compared to digital and other options.
How to send money to Ukraine
Sign up and send money with a digital money transfer specialist in four steps:
Sign up for a free account. Pick a provider after comparing options on our table, then sign up for a free online account using your contact information, proof of ID and your preferred payment method.
Provide transfer details. Submit your recipient’s contact information and pick a delivery method. If you’re transferring to a bank, you’ll need your recipient’s Ukrainian 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 Ukraine. Some money transfer providers send a text or email when your transfer is complete.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending $1,000 to Ukraine
Let’s say you need to send $1,000 to someone in Kyiv. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of March 10, 2020.
Digital money transfer service
Cash transfer
Bank transfer
Fee
$22
$3.99
$25 + additional correspondent bank fees
Exchange rate
1 USD = 25.056 UAH
1 USD = 24.931 UAH
1 USD = 23.127 UAH
Transfer speed
1-2 day
Minutes
2-5 days
Amount received
UAH 24,505
UAH 24,832
UAH 22,549
Verdict
Better than a bank transfer
Fastest and cheapest
Slowest and most expensive
The bank option ends up being both the slowest and gets the smallest amount of money to your recipient. If you go with the cash transfer service to send money to Ukraine, your recipient ends up with UAH 1,956 more than the bank offers. The cash transfer can also typically have your transfer to Ukraine in as little as 15 minutes.
How to get the most out of your money transfer to Ukraine
Weigh costs and fees against convenience, and learn how to compare money transfer providers that send to Ukraine to meet your needs:
Exchange rates. The USD-UAH relationship fluctuates daily, so using a service that allows you to lock-in exchange prices may help you save money down the line if exchange rates take a turn for the worse in the future.
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 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 Ukrainian hryvnia you’re sending.
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 Ukraine.
Maximum limits. When exchange rates are favorable, sending more money can save you money in the future. If you plan to send large amounts of money to Ukraine, be sure to pick a provider that won’t limit you.
Transfer methods. Whether you want money sent to a Ukrainian 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 Ukraine
When it’s more important to get your money to Ukraine 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 Ukraine without a bank account
Cash transfer services can help you if you’re unbanked or marginally banked. 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.
Can you use Cash App in Ukraine?
No. Zelle, Cash App, Venmo and similar services are intended for domestic use in the US. Cash App and Venmo will not work for transfers between the US and Ukraine. Instead, you’ll need to use a money transfer company, a bank transfer or a service like PayPal when available. Use our comparison table to quickly see how much your transfer to Ukraine could cost.
Ukraine’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.
Ukraine’s exchange rate often fluctuates when compared to the US dollar, so expect exchange rates today to be different than those you’ll see tomorrow. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.
Documents needed for sending to and receiving money in Ukraine
To send money to Ukraine from the US, you’ll need government-issued ID and other documents, while documents needed to pick up money in Ukraine may be different by company.
Documents to send money from the US
To send money from the US to Ukraine, 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 SSN.
Payment method. Your service may accept credit or debit cards, cash, bank accounts or personal checks.
Recipient information. Submit your recipient’s name as it appears on their ID, along with their phone number, Ukrainian bank account and routing number if sending to their bank.
Documents to receive money in Ukraine
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 Ukrainian Passport, Ukrainian Driver’s License or a similar government-issued ID is typically required to pick up cash.
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
Most money transfers between the United States and Ukraine shouldn’t have any specific tax obligations attached to them, so long as they are for personal use and kept under $10,000 USD.
Bottom line
Sending your hard-earned money to Ukraine shouldn’t cost a fortune. Compare transfer companies that specialize in foreign currencies 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 send money abroad.
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.
If you are referring to a Phone Relay Service, you must get in touch with the support team of a certain money transfer company that you will use to send money. They should be able to help you with the transfer process.
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finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
Can I transfer the money to Ukraine (Kiev) to their Relay Phone?
Hello Michael,
Thank you for your comment.
If you are referring to a Phone Relay Service, you must get in touch with the support team of a certain money transfer company that you will use to send money. They should be able to help you with the transfer process.
Regards,
Jhezelyn