HDFC International Transfer [2025 Guide]

Looking to send a payment overseas? Before you set up your HDFC international money transfer, read this guide. We'll walk through all you need to know about the HDFC international bank transfer process, HDFC international money transfer charges, the exchange rate and limits.

HDFC is India's largest private sector bank - but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right option for your overseas transfer. For some customers and currencies, international remittance services are offered only by visiting an HDFC branch - which can be a hassle.

Instead check out specialist services like Wise and OFX which operate online and in-app, and may be able to offer a cheaper, faster and more convenient option.

Key points: HDFC international wire transfer

• HDFC international transfer charges: 500 INR if you're sending less than the equivalent of 500 USD, and 1,000 INR for higher value payments. Correspondent bank fees may also apply

• HDFC international transfer exchange rate: An exchange rate markup is likely to apply

• HDFC transfer types: Remit Now payments are made online to 19 currencies, standard transfers are made in branch, to 22 currencies

• HDFC international transfer time: Payments usually arrive in 72 hours

• HDFC international transfer limits: Send up to the RBI annual limits. For Remit Now payments you can send from 100 USD to 25,000 USD per payment

• HDFC international transfer alternatives: Specialist providers like Wise or OFX offer online and in-app payments, with transparent fees and an easy sign up process.

HDFC international money transfer comparison

When you transfer money abroad with HDFC there are a few different costs to consider:

• Transfer fee - this varies depending on the value of the payment you're sending

• Exchange rate markup - a percentage rolled up in the exchange rate

• Correspondent bank fees - paid to other banks involved in processing the payment

To give an idea of how HDFC compares with other payment services, let's look at an example. Here's what you'd pay if you were sending a standard transfer of 100,000 INR to a GBP denominated account, with HDFC and a few specialist services.

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2025

The fees you'll pay when you make an HDFC international money transfer include SWIFT charges and an exchange rate markup. That can make it hard to know what your recipient will get in the end. Specialist services like Wise and OFX may have more transparent charges, and are also easy to sign up with and use, online and in-app.

HDFC international transfer fees

Here's what you need to know about HDFC international money transfer charges:

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2025

HDFC exchange rate

To get the HDFC international transfer exchange rate, and process your transfer, you'll need to check your online banking or visit your local HDFC branch.

It's likely that the HDFC exchange rate you're offered will include a markup on the mid-market exchange rate, which can be in the region of 3% or more.

It's a tricky fee because you can only figure out what it is by comparing the HDFC rate against the mid-market exchange rate yourself.

To give some context, here's  how a 3% fee rolled into the exchange rate would add up up for different transfer amounts:

• Sending 50,000 INR - a 3% exchange rate markup adds 1,500 INR to the total

• Sending 100,000 INR - a 3% exchange rate markup adds 3,000 INR to the total

• Sending 500,000 INR - a 3%  exchange rate markup adds 15,000 INR to the total

Here's a reminder of the total costs - including exchange rate markups - from the providers we looked at earlier.

This is what you'll pay with each if you send 100,000 INR to a GBP denominated account:

• HDFC:  1,000 INR + exchange rate markup + correspondent bank fees

• Wise: 1,985.09 INR transfer fee and no markup on the mid-market exchange rate. Learn more about Wise fees.

• OFX: No transfer fee, but a markup is added to the mid-market exchange rate

HDFC additional fees

You may find there are more HDFC outward remittance charges, depending on the specific details of your payment.

HDFC notes in its fee schedule that additional fees may also be charged by correspondent or originating banks. That's because HDFC international transfers are processed using the SWIFT network which involves routing your payment between 1 - 3 intermediary banks before it reaches its destination. Each bank involved in this process can deduct a service fee, reducing the amount received in the end.

How long does an HDFC international money transfer take?

It'll take up to 3 days for your HDFC transfer to arrive. Here's how that compares with the other providers we looked at earlier:

• HDFC: up to 3 days

• Wise: 80% of payments arrive in 1 hours

• OFX: 1 - 2 business days

Alternatives to HDFC international transfer

Compare your payment options with HDFC against alternatives like Wise, OFX, and Remitly. In some cases you may be looking for a service to send money from India to a foreign country - or maybe you need a way to send payments to India from abroad. These providers cover different payment options so you can choose.

Here's a quick summary of how these providers compare - and we've got some more details coming up on each, too:

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2025

Wise

Send from India to 40+ countries with Wise, using the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.

People sending money to India can also use Wise, to send money from around the world with low fees and great rates.

You can set up your payment online or in the Wise app for convenience, and your funds are deposited to the recipient's bank account - often instantly or within 24 hours.

More about Wise - Wise Review

OFX

OFX is a digital payment provider which lets customers send money to India, often with no transfer fee. Instead, OFX will use a small markup on its transfers.

The exact costs you pay with OFX depend on where the sender is based, but the service is well reputed, reliable and fast.

OFX is well known for its 24/7 phone support which can be handy if you prefer to talk through your payment options.

Remitly

Remitly supports payments  to India from many countries, often with an excellent range of payout methods. You can arrange to have your money received by cash pickup, bank deposit, and UPI in most cases.

This makes Remitly a good choice if you're in a hurry to get money to someone without easy access to a bank.

Remitly has variable transfer fees and delivery times depending on the detail of your payment.

Pros and cons of transferring money abroad with HDFC

Before you choose HDFC to send your international transfer, take a look at specialist online services like Wise or OFX. Providers like these can usually offer an easy and fast online or in-app service - with a great range of supported currencies.

How to make an international transfer with HDFC

You have 2 options to make an HDFC international transfer from India to a foreign country, depending on your account type and the currency you're sending:

• Standard remittance - more supported currencies, but a branch visit is needed

• Remit Now payment - online service for convenience, but only available for select account types

To make a standard remittance you'll need to visit your local branch. You'll be able to download and print the forms needed ahead of time if you'd like, so you can complete them at home and then take them along to the bank for submission.

You can make a Remit Now payment if you are a Resident Individual with an eligible account with HDFC Bank, a valid mobile number, PAN number and Email ID. You need to register for this service in advance and add your beneficiaries before you can make a payment. You can send money for 13 reasons, and in 19 currencies. Once you have registered you can take the following steps to send an HDFC Remit Now payment:

1. Log into online banking and select Add a Beneficiary

2. Complete the required information for your beneficiary - there's then a 30 minute cooling off period before you can transact

3. After 30 minutes, select Funds Transfer

4. Input the amount to be transferred and click to Accept the T&Cs

5. Confirm the details and complete the payment

What information do you need to make an international transfer with HDFC?

The exact information you need to arrange your payment will depend a little on the currency and country you're sending to. You can expect to need:

• Beneficiary full name

• Beneficiary bank account number or IBAN

• Beneficiary bank name and address

• Additional information based on the country - like a sort code for the UK or routing number for the US

• Reason for payment - additional documents may be needed depending on the purpose of the payment

HDFC international transfer limits

HDFC allows customers to send international transfers up to the limits set by the Reserve Bank of India for outward remittances. At the time of writing that's set at the equivalent of  250,000 USD/year.

HDFC does not advertise specific per payment limits for standard remittances. For Remit Now there are the following limits, as well as the RBI limit:

• Minimum payment - 100 USD

• Maximum per payment and per day - 25,000 USD

Large amount transfers with HDFC

All HDFC transfers comply with RBI annual payment limits, which currently allow for up to 250,000 USD to be sent overseas from India annually. Remit Now payments have a further limit of 25,000 USD per transfer or per day. HDFC remittance charges remain the same when sending a high value payment over 500 USD.

How to send a high amount transfer with HDFC

You follow the same process to set up a larger transfer with HDFC, whether you're sending a large or small amount. If you would prefer to talk through your payment in person you can visit a branch to do so, with no additional fees to pay.

Need to send a larger transfer?

If you're looking to compare your options for a large transfer from India you may want to look at Wise as an HDFC alternative. With Wise, the minimum you can send is 5,000 INR per transfer.

For educational purposes the maximum you can send is the equivalent of 9,900 USD per transfer, and for all other purposes you can send up to 375,000 INR per transfer, to a maximum of 750,000 INR per transfer and per day.

You can transfer up to 250,000 USD, approximately 21,000,000 INR per financial year.

Wise offers progressive fee discounts if you send payments often, or if you're sending higher amounts on a regular basis. You can get an automatic discount on fees if you're sending over 20,000 GBP or the equivalent within a month.

More information - How to send large transfers with Wise

HDFC transfer money from India to USA fees

HDFC international transfer fees from India to the USA are:

• 500 INR + a likely exchange rate markup + correspondent bank fees if you're sending less than the equivalent of 500 USD

• 1,000 INR + a likely exchange rate markup + correspondent bank fees for higher value payments

It's hard to know the full amount you'll pay for your HDFC transfer in advance because of the potential additional fees on the exchange rate and to correspondent banks.

If you want to reduce the uncertainty, compare your options to transfer money from India to the US before you initiate your payment. As a quick idea, Wise payments on a couple of different payment values would look like this:

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2025

As you can see, the Wise fee as a percentage reduces for higher payments. There's no markup added on the exchange rate, and with this fee reduction you could get even better value with Wise when sending high value transfers to the US or other supported countries.

HDFC international money transfer charges calculator

HDFC does not offer an international money transfer charges calculator on its public website.

If you need to figure out how your payment will work, you may want to visit a branch and ask a member of staff to model the transfer for you.

How to find HDFC bank remittance exchange rate today

To find the HDFC bank remittance exchange rate today, log into your online banking service, or call into a bank to ask for face to face support.

HDFC SWIFT charges

HDFC processes payments through correspondent banks and the SWIFT network. This means that HDFC works with other banks around the world to pass payments through the SWIFT network and ultimately to the final recipient.

Correspondent banks can charge fees for the services they provide, which you may not know about until your recipient gets their money. The fees are simply deducted from the amount you send as the transfer is processed - so your recipient might get less in the end than you expected.

How to track HDFC international transfer

If you have sent a Remit Now payment you may be able to track it in the HDFC app, or by calling the bank. With a standard remittance you may find you have to physically visit a branch to ask questions about your payment or to have it traced.

Countries to send money with HDFC

You can send an HDFC international money transfer - known as a remittance - in 22 major global currencies:

• UAE Dirham (AED)

• Australian Dollar( AUD)

• Canadian Dollar (CAD)

• Swiss Francs (CHF)

• Singapore Dollar (SGD)

• Japanese Yen (JPY)

• United States Dollar (USD)

• Norwegian Krone (NOK)

• New Zealand Dollar (NZD)

• Omani Rial (OMR)

• Danish Krone (DKK)

• Euro (EUR)

• Great Britain Pound (GBP)

• Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)

• South African Rand (ZAR)

• Saudi Riyal (SAR)

• Swedish Krona (SEK)

• Thai Baht( THB)

• Korean Won(KRW)

• Bahraini Dirham (BHD)

• Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)

• Qatari Riyal (QAR)

You can send a Remit Now payment online and in 19 currencies:

• AED – UAE Dirham

• AUD – Australian Dollar

• CAD – Canadian Dollar

• CHF – Swiss Franc

• DKK – Danish Kroner

• EUR – Euro

• GBP – Pound Sterling

• HKD – Hong Kong Dollar

• JPY – Japanese Yen

• KRW – Korean Won

• NOK – Norwegian Kroner

• NZD – New Zealand Dollar

• OMR – Omani Riyal

• SAR – Saudi Riyal

• SEK – Swedish Krona

• SGD – Singapore Dollar

• THB – Thai Baht

• USD – US Dollar

• ZAR – South African Rand

HDFC remittance customer support

To get help from HDFC you can visit a branch, or you can call the service center on 1800 1600  or 1800 2600.

How to receive an international transfer with HDFC

You can have someone send you money to your HDFC account easily in 22 currencies - the currencies are the same that are available for standard outward remittances with HDFC. For standard remittance services the person sending you money - including an NRI - would simply use their local bank overseas to use a wire payment to your account.

To receive an international payment into your HDFC account, give the sender:

• Your full name

• Your bank account number

• The HDFC SWIFT code

There's no HDFC fee to receive an inward remittance.

In some countries, HDFC also has partnerships with organisations which can help NRIs sending money home. These partner providers offer the sender different ways to process the payment to India, including sending payments by demand draft for example. If you have an NRI account with HDFC you can learn more about these services online or call the bank to talk about your options from your specific country.

HDFC international transfer receiving fees

There are no HDFC inward remittance charges. If someone sends you a payment from overseas to HDFC it is deposited to your account with no further fee from HDFC.

HDFC SWIFT code

To make sure your payment arrives without delays, give the sender the HDFC SWIFT code for your specific branch and for the transfer type. You'll be able to check the full details required by calling into your local HDFC branch.

The general HDFC SWIFT/BIC code is: HDFCINBBXXX.

Conclusion

Whether or not you can send a Remit Now payment digitally will come down to the currency you want to send, and the type of HDFC account you have. For some currencies and some payment reasons - and for some specific types of account, HDFC international money transfers can only be set up by visiting a branch in person. That's not necessarily convenient - and you may also find the costs are higher than using a specialist service.

Instead of making your payment with HDFC, check out specialist providers like Wise or OFX, which offer online and in-app payments, with transparent fees and an easy sign up process.

FAQs

How much does HDFC charge for international transfers?

HDFC international remittance charges are 500 INR + exchange rate markup + correspondent bank fees if you're sending less than the equivalent of 500 USD, and 1,000 INR + exchange rate markup + correspondent bank fees for higher value payments.

How long does an HDFC international money transfer take?

The HDFC international money transfer time can be up to 3 days - payments are usually received within this period.

How to transfer money internationally with HDFC?

Send an HDFC international transfer online or by visiting a local branch. Not all payments can be made online - this depends on the currency, the payment reason and the account you have. If you need to send in person, you can get the forms required online to complete in advance and take into the bank if you would like to.