Find the best way to transfer money to India from abroad
Best ways to transfer money to India from abroad
When sending money to India, you have several options. You can use an online money transfer provider that specializes in international transfers, make an international bank transfer through your bank or pick a provider with local representatives so you can pay cash.
While using your normal bank may seem like the obvious choice, it’s usually slower and more expensive compared with using a specialist online money transfer service.
To help you navigate through all the different online money transfer providers, we have collected a few use cases when sending money to India:
- Cheapest: Remitly
- Best Exchange Rate: Wise
- Faster International Transfer Provider: Wise
- Best Rated: Remitly
- Fee free: Remitly
- Best Transfer options: Wise
The ideal way of sending money will always depend on your transfer needs such as how much money your are looking to send, how quickly you want it to arrive and how you chose to pay for your transfer. This is why it's important that you compare different providers before sending your transfer.
How to send money to India from abroad?
Using an online money transfer to send money to India from abroad is usually very straightforward, the exact steps may vary depending on the provider you pick, but basically you’ll need to:
1. Choose a money transfer service - With multiple international money transfer services available, it's important to do your research so you can select the one that is best for you and suits your needs. Exiap offers an easy-to-use international money transfer provider comparison tool that will help you find the best provider for your transfer. When narrowing down your choices, some key factors to consider include fees involved in the transaction, how fast the funds will be transferred, as well as what kind of exchange rate is being offered.
2. Create an account with the service - After comparing various money transfer services and carefully considering the pros and cons of each, create an account with your chosen provider. The process is relatively simple, you will likely just need to provide some personal information like your name and email address. Most companies require additional documentation for identity verification (e.g., a passport), but this step usually only takes a few days at most.
3. Add funds to your account - Before you can send money, make sure to add funds to your account or a valid payment method. Your chosen provider will dictate how you do this: it could be using a debit or credit card, bank transfer, and so on.
4. Select the recipient of your funds - You will need the following information about the person you're sending money to: name, IBAN (International Bank Account Number) or SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) code, address, name of recipient's bank and the phone number of the recipient.
5. Review your transfer details - After entering the amount you want to send, confirm that all the information in your transfer is accurate before you click 'submit'. Reversing transfers is usually not possible after you finalise your transfer.
What details do I need to transfer or receive money to a bank account in India?
The information you need to send money to a bank account in the India will depend a bit on whether you’re making a local or international payment. However in most cases you need:
The recipient’s full name
The name and address of the recipient’s bank
Recipient’s bank account number or IBAN
Recipient’s bank SWIFT/BIC code if requested
Depending on the payment type, and the specific provider’s processes you may also need further information - check before you send to make sure you have all you need.
How long does it take to send money to India?
How long it takes to send money to India depends on the service you choose, where you’re sending from, the currency and the payment value. Bank SWIFT transfers can take 3 - 5 working days. Online money transfer services can often get your money moving faster - some payments even arrive instantly, and delivery times of 1 or 2 days are common.
- Wise: Instant-2 Days
- Remitly: 0-2 Days
- CurrencyFair: 1-3 Days
- WorldRemit: 1-2 Days
Make sure your transfer goes through smoothly by preparing all the required verification documents in advance - especially if you’re making a high value payment.
How much does it cost to send money to India?
All money transfer providers charge a fee for their respective services. This is generally a percentage of the total amount being exchanged and can be anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred depending on the amount being transferred, speed of the transfer and how the transfer is paid for.
It's crucial that you're mindful of these costs prior to sending money because they have the potential of rapidly adding up especially when transferring larger amounts. In our comparisons, we found that there can be as great as 34.57 USD difference between the cheapest provider Remitly and priciest one WorldRemit when sending 2000 INR.
- Remitly: 9.57 USD
- Wise: 9.81 USD
- CurrencyFair: 21.47 USD
- WorldRemit: 44.14 USD
At Exiap, we make things easy for you. With different exchange rates and fees per money transfer provider, it can be complicated to find the best deal. But that's what we're here for. We bring together all your options, show you the bank transfer fees and rates per provider, and highlight the best possible deals so that you know you’re making a good choice financially as well as mentally.
How can you pay for your transfer to India from abroad?
There are many options available to fund your international money transfer. Some providers offer more options than others, but you should be able to find a plan that suits your needs.
Given below are a few payment options for sending money to India with the 4 reviewed providers:
Bank transfer or card (debit, credit, and prepaid)
Bank transfer, card (debit or credit), SWIFT, Google Pay or Apple Pay
Bank transfer, card (debit, credit, and prepaid) or Apple Pay
What’s the safest way to send money to India?
While many online money transfer providers are newer than banks, they’re usually regulated in just the same way as your normal bank is, therefore the services they offer are just as safe.
Here at Exiap we only ever review trustworthy, fully regulated international money transfer services - and if you want to learn more about them, you can always check out reviews from previous customers on Trustpilot.
Here are five of the best service providers for sending money to India, based on how many reviews they have and their average score on TrustPilot.
- Remitly: 64,697 reviews, rated 4.6/5 on Trustpilot
- Wise: 240,021 reviews, rated 4.3/5 on Trustpilot
- WorldRemit: 87,699 reviews, rated 3.5/5 on Trustpilot
- CurrencyFair: 8,024 reviews, rated 3.5/5 on Trustpilot
Do banks charge for bank transfers?
Yes, banks charge for bank transfers overseas. In fact, they can charge a lot. Even if their headline transfer fee is low, there is also usually an exchange rate markup, which pushes up costs - and SWIFT fees may be deducted as the transfer is processed, so the recipient gets less in the end.
How much do banks charge for international transfers?
Typically banks charge a relatively high transfer fee, and also use a marked up exchange rate to convert funds. This can mean that your recipient gets far less when sending with a bank compared to making a transfer with a specialist service.
As an example, here’s a look at how much a recipient would get in the US if they were sent money from a few different countries, from the best provider in our comparison, versus the most expensive one.
| Send amount and country | Amount received with the cheapest provider in our comparison | Amount received with the most expensive provider in our comparison | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 GBP to the US | 1,118.81 USD | 1,072.76 USD | -46.05 USD |
| 1,000 EUR to the US | 973.67 USD | 899.75 USD | -73.92 USD |
| 1,000 CAD to the US | 734.06 CAD | 708.14 USD | -25.92 USD |
| 1,000 SGD to the US | 700.21 USD | 670.62 USD | -29.59 USD |
What is the cheapest way to send money to India?
Looking for the cheapest way of transferring money to India might be more nuanced than you would think at first glance. Based on which company you go through, you may encounter various fee types:
Variable transfer fee - this may change based on how you pay for the transfer. Paying via your online banking or debit card is usually cheapest, and credit cards typically the most costly
Exchange rate markup - this is a percentage fee added to the rate used to convert your funds, and can push up the overall price significantly
Third party costs - such as SWIFT fees or cash advance charges if you pay with a credit card
Compare the best providers on Exiap today, so you can see which provider is best for your payment to India.
Conclusion
When transferring money to India from abroad, It's important to search for the international money transfer service with the lowest fees and best exchange rates. Unfortunately, banks typically charge high fees and use a marked up exchange rate. This often leaves your recipient with much less money than they would receive if they used a specialist service.
At Exiap, we only recommend the most trustworthy, fully regulated international money transfer services - so you can be sure that your payment goes through quickly and smoothly.
Looking for more expert advice on sending money abroad?
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FAQ About transferring money to India
Money transfer providers will always have a different minimum and maximum amount set for online transfers to India. To make sure you're picking the right one for your transfer, compare different services and find one that suits your needs while also providing secure transfers in your currency.
When sending money to India, it's important to get the best exchange rate possible. The easiest way to do this is to compare offers from different providers for the amount you are looking to transfer. This can be done on the provider sites or by online transfer comparison sites such as Exiap. Our comparison tool can help you to find the best provider for you quickly.
There are lots of reasons you may want to send money to India. Maybe you’re sending money to a family member, supporting a loved one studying in India, paying a mortgage, or settling an international invoice. No matter why you’re sending money, Exiap can help you pick the perfect service for your needs.