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If you need to send money from Australia to a recipient in the United States of America, one of the most efficient ways to do so is via international money transfer through a licensed provider, like a bank or a specific money-transferring company.
An international money transfer works by electronically sending an amount of money from the sender’s bank account to the receiver bank account.
In 2016, the USA was the second most popular place Australians sent money to, sending $683 million to the USA that year.[i]
There are several international money transfer companies available online that allow you to set up an account to send money overseas to your recipient’s bank account. The money transfer service will provide you with a quote on the exchange rate and how long your transfer to the USA will usually take. These types of money transfers are often a quick and cost-effective method.
You can send money overseas directly from your Australian bank account to an account in the USA (your bank may even have a specific international money transfer service). This method of transfer to the USA may take several days to complete. Just be aware that banks may charge more expensive fees and exchange rates than other providers.
If your recipient in the USA doesn’t have a bank account, you can arrange for them to pick up cash from a money transfer office in that country. To complete a cash transfer, visit your preferred money transfer service’s storefront/third-party storefront, or set up an account with them online.
Rather than sending a personal cheque to your recipient in the USA, simply visit a bank and exchange the amount you wish to transfer for an international cheque (Money Order), and post it to your recipient. Your recipient can then cash or deposit the cheque. This method can be secure, but it can take longer to reach your recipient than other methods.
In order to send money overseas, you’ll need to sign up to a provider (e.g. a bank or an online transfer services company). Like any financial service, international money transfer services are a regulated industry, so you’ll need to satisfy their identity verification requirements with certain details.
When sending money overseas you’ll first need to ensure that you have the correct details, including bank details, of your recipient, as a wrong transfer can be hard to recover. To make the transfer, you’ll need to choose the country and currency of your transfer, the transfer and payment method, and the amount to be transferred.
You, and your recipient, will need to be aware of any tax or declarations law surrounding international money transfers, particularly if your recipient is receiving large amounts of money.
Once you’ve made the transfer, your provider may give you a tracking number, so you can keep up with the progress of your transfer and know when it’s received on the other end.
The details you require to complete an international money transfer can differ, depending on your provider. Generally, you’ll need to provide you and your recipient’s name, address, phone number, email and banking details.
Depending on your provider, you may be able to arrange a cash pick-up for your recipient at a local USA money office.
Your provider may impose their own limits on how much money you can transfer in a single transaction in one day. You can check transfer limits, terms and conditions with your provider.
