Top pick for
Large transfers
How to send money to Australia
Get more money to loved ones in Oz with the right money transfer service.
Need to send money to Australia? A specialised money transfer company will offer more competitive exchange rates than a traditional bank. But which company is best for you depends on how much you’re sending and how quickly you need it to arrive.
Top pick for
Small transfers
Top pick for
Fast transfers
Top pick for
Cash transfers
Compare services that send money to Australia
Table: sorted by a combination of service offering and the amount your recipient will receive
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
What's in this guide?
What’s the best way to send money to Australia?
Online money transfer providers typically offer the strongest exchange rates and lowest fees on money transfers if you need to send money to Australia. Some offer transfers straight to Australian bank accounts, while others allow the money to be picked up in Australian dollars 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 XE and CurrencyTransfer specialise in foreign currencies, making them some of the most cost-effective transfers. Most offer transfers directly to your recipient’s Australian 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 Australia – 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. If a cash pickup is necessary, look to digital services like WorldRemit or TransferWise when possible.
Banks
Australian dollars will possibly be carried by your local bank, and although it can convert your pound sterling into Australian dollars, beware of high fees and wide margins on the exchange rate compared to digital and other options.
How to send money to Australia online
Sign up and send money with a digital money transfer specialist in four steps:
- Sign up for a free account. Pick a provider and 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 Australian 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 Australia. Some money transfer providers send a text or email when your transfer is complete.
Let’s crunch the numbers: Sending £2,000 to Australia
Let’s say you need to send £2,000 to family in Australia. Here’s what you might face as far as fees and exchange rates as of 18 September 2020.
| Digital money transfer service | Cash transfer | Bank transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | £0 | £3.99 | £20 + additional correspondent bank fees |
| Exchange rate | 1 GBP = 1.77 AUD | 1 GBP = 1.73 AUD | 1 GBP = 1.69 AUD |
| Transfer speed | 1-2 day | Minutes | 2-5 days |
| Amount received | AUD$3,538 | AUD$3,461 | AUD$3,389 |
| Verdict |
|
|
|
The bank option ends up being both the slowest and gets the smallest amount of money to your recipient. If you go with the digital money transfer service, your recipient ends up with AUD$149 more than the bank offers. If speed is crucial, a cash transfer will typically let you send money to Australia in as little as 15 minutes.
How to get the most out of your money transfer to Australia
Weigh costs and fees against convenience, and learn how to compare providers that send money to Australia to meet your needs:
- Exchange rates. The GBP-AUD remains relatively stable, with occasional shifts on a larger scale. Exchanging currency ahead of time, or locking in prices, can help you prepare for these shifts.
- 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 amount of Australian dollars 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 send money to Australia.
- Maximum limits. When exchange rates are favourable, sending more money can save you money in the future. If you plan to send large amounts of money to Australia, be sure to pick a provider that won’t limit you.
- Transfer methods. Whether you want money sent to an Australian bank account or picked up as cash at a local agent, narrow down a company that matches your preferred delivery method.
How to send an emergency cash transfer to Australia
If you need to urgently send money to Australia, 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 Australia without a bank account
If you don’t have a bank account, you can still use cash transfer services to send money to Australia. Similarly, a recipient can get the money with a cash transfer if they don’t have a bank account. These cash transfer services are widely available around the world and although they’ll typically not be the cheapest available service they can be fast, convenient and can be used without bank accounts.
Australia’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. Australia’s exchange rate fluctuates when compared to the pound sterling, so expect some change in exchange rates between these two currencies on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.
Track how the Australian dollar trades against the pound sterling in our historical rate chart.
Documents needed to send money to and receive it in Australia
To send money to Australia from the UK, you’ll need government-issued ID and other documents, while documents needed to pick up money in Australia may be different by company.
Documents to send money to Australia
To send money to Australia from the UK, you’ll need documentation and details that include:
- Identification. Most services require a driver’s licence, passport or other government-issued ID.
- Payment method. Your service may accept credit or debit cards, cash, bank accounts or personal cheques.
- Recipient information. Submit your recipient’s name as it appears on their ID, along with their phone number, Australian bank account and routing number if sending to their bank.
Documents to receive money in Australia
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. An Australian passport, Australian driver’s licence or similar form of government-issued ID will be accepted for identification for most money transfer cash pickups.
- 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 UK and Australia shouldn’t have any specific tax obligations attached to them, so long as they are for personal use and kept under £10,000. Some circumstances may trigger a need for filing specific forms, so read up on our Australian remittance tax guidelines to learn more about when you may need to file with the IRS.
Bottom line
It shouldn’t cost a fortune to send money to Australia. Compare transfer companies that specialise in foreign 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 make a transfer.
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