Send money to Southeast Asia cheaply

When you need to get money to a loved one overseas, the last thing you want to have to deal with is navigating a potentially complicated and expensive process. Sending money from the United Kingdom to Southeast Asia doesn’t have to be expensive. Compare the transfer fees and exchange rates of the many options available to you to get the best deal.

Compare services that send money to Southeast Asia from the UK

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19 of 19 results

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Filter values	Finder Score	Pay by	Receiving options	Fastest transfer	Fee (pay by bank transfer)	Key benefits
Xe		4.5 ★★★★★	Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer	Cash pickup location, Bank account	Within minutes	£2	Go to site View details	loading
TorFX		4.5 ★★★★★	Debit card, Bank transfer	Bank account	Within minutes	£0	Get a £50 Amazon voucher for each friend you refer who transfers £5,000 or more. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	loading
Wise (TransferWise) Offer		4.0 ★★★★★	Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer	Bank account, Alipay (China only)	Within minutes	From 0.41%	Refer 3 friends to receive up to £50 referral bonus	Go to site View details	loading
Key Currency		Not rated yet	Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Go to site View details	loading
Remitly		4.0 ★★★★★	Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer	Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet, Home delivery	Within minutes	From £0	Go to site View details	loading
CurrencyFair Discount		3.5 ★★★★★	Bank transfer	Bank account	Within minutes	€3	New customers get unlimited fee-free transfers for their first 3 months. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	loading
CurrencyTransfer		Not rated yet	Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Go to site View details	loading
Currencies Direct		4.0 ★★★★★	Debit card, Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Get a £50 Amazon voucher for each friend you refer who transfers £5,000 or more. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	loading
Starling		Not rated yet	Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	From £0.34	Go to site View details	loading
TorFX Business		4.5 ★★★★★	Debit card, Bank transfer	Bank account	Within minutes	£0	Go to site View details	loading
OFX		4.5 ★★★★★	Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Go to site View details	loading
Airwallex multi-currency business account		Not rated yet	Bank transfer	Bank account	Within minutes	£0	Connect your Airwallex account to Xero at no additional cost. Plus, generate Airwallex payment links to share with your customers anywhere in the world so they can pay in the currency and payment method of their choice. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	loading
Western Union		3.0 ★★★★★	Cash, Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer	Cash pickup location, Bank account, Mobile wallet	Within minutes	From £0	Go to site View details	loading
OFX		4.5 ★★★★★	Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Go to site View details	loading
CurrencyTransfer Business		Not rated yet	Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Go to site View details	loading
Xe Business		Not rated yet	Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Special offer: £25 Amazon voucher when you refer a friend	Go to site View details	loading
OFX Business		Not rated yet	Credit card, Debit card, Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Go to site View details	loading
Currencies Direct Business		4.0 ★★★★★	Debit card, Bank transfer	Bank account	24 hours	£0	Go to site View details	loading
CurrencyFair Business		Not rated yet	Bank transfer	Bank account	Within minutes	€3	Zero fees on your first 10 transfers. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	loading

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How do international money transfers work?

An international money transfer allows you to send money to a recipient overseas. Generally, a transfer involves you providing funds to a bank or an independent transfer provider, which then sends the money to your recipient in another country. This can be done in person, over the phone, through a mobile app or online. You can use cash, a credit card, a debit card or transfer funds from your bank account. The money will either be deposited into your recipient’s bank account or mobile wallet or made available as cash for them to pick up at a location in their country.

Banks versus money transfer companies

Banks will happily handle an international wire transfer to Southeast Asia for you. The problem is that they won’t do it cheaply. Banks offer disappointingly low exchange rates and frustratingly high fees on international transfers.

However, there’s a much more affordable solution – money transfer companies. From WorldRemit and OFX to Western Union and MoneyGram, these companies offer better exchange rates and lower fees (for online transactions) than banks. They also offer secure transfers and some even allow you to make your money available for collection within minutes.

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How to compare transfer companies when transferring money to Southeast Asia

• Exchange rates. How do the exchange rates offered by each company stack up against the competition?
• Fees. How much will it cost you to send a transfer? Will you avoid any fees if you transfer a large amount?
• Transfer methods. What methods are available for placing transfers? Can you only place them online, or are there other options offered?
• Transfer options. Can you schedule recurring transfers in advance in order to save time? Can you lock in a great exchange rate for a future transaction with a forward contract?
• Turnaround time. How long will it take for the funds you transfer to be made available to your recipient?
• Minimum amount. Is there a minimum limit per transfer? Will this be manageable for you?
• Pick-up methods. Can you pick up the funds from an agent location, or will they be sent straight to a bank account?
• Customer service. Will phone, email and/or live chat support be available when you need it? Is there an online help centre and FAQ section?

How to send money to Southeast Asia from the UK

• Bank transfers. Bank-to-bank transfers are reliable but can be quite expensive.
• Online money transfer providers. Companies such as OFX and WorldRemit offer secure and affordable online transfers.
• Money transfer companies with cash pick-up options. MoneyGram, Western Union and Ria offer this service to customers.
• PayPal. Check with PayPal to see if it offers international transfers to your chosen Southeast Asian destination.
• Checks. Ask your bank if you want to use this slow but reliable transfer method.

Emergency cash transfers in Southeast Asia

If you ever need to send an emergency transfer to Southeast Asia, just be aware of the fact that you will need to pay extra for the transfer. High fees and low exchange rates typically apply to instant (allow 10 minutes) transfers, so it pays to check the full details of your transaction before you hand over your cash. Otherwise, you could end up paying a whole lot more than you need to in order to send your money overseas as soon as possible.

Tips for picking up cash in Southeast Asia

• Make sure to only visit a transfer agent in a safe location.
• Take a friend along for assistance and security.
• Don’t flash your cash around in public.
• Don’t carry large sums of money on your person.
• Deposit the money into your bank account as soon as possible.

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How to send money to Southeast Asia

When sending funds to Southeast Asia, you’ll be asked to provide the following information:

• Your name, address, contact information and valid photo ID.
• Your beneficiary’s name, address and information, along with their bank account info if the funds will be deposited in their bank account.
• How much money you’re sending, in what currency and which country you’re sending it to.
• If you are not using cash for this transaction, you will need to provide your banking info in order to have funds drafted from your account.

Once you have completed your transaction, you will be given a tracking number. Make a note of this number so you can monitor the progress of your money transfer.

Written by

Matthew Boyle

Publisher

Matthew Boyle is a banking and mortgages publisher at Finder. He has a 7-year history of publishing helpful guides to assist consumers in making better decisions. In his spare time, you will find him walking in the Norfolk countryside admiring the local wildlife. See full bio

Matthew's expertise

Matthew has written 234 Finder guides across topics including:

• Helping first-time buyers apply for a mortgage
• Comparing bank accounts and highlighting useful features
• Publishing easy-to-understand guides