If you need to send money to yourself between connected accounts, like a checking and savings account at the same bank, it’s easy. However, what if you want to send money to yourself overseas? If you have financial interests in more than one country, or if you often travel, you might find that you need to send money to yourself to cover expenses.
Fortunately, transferring funds across borders has never been easier. In the past, you’d have to deal with high fees and poor exchange rates. International money transfers were limited to legacy services and larger banks.
Now, with online money transfer technology, sending money to yourself when you’re traveling abroad or visiting your family back home is not the hassle it used to be.
Here’s what you need to know about sending money to yourself across borders.
2 Simple Methods for Accessing Your Money Abroad
1. Money transfer apps
First, you’ll need a service to help you move money from one country to another.
For most money transfer apps, such as Remitly’s, you simply need to download the app and open an account to get started. You will need to link your bank account information from your “send” country, such as Canada, the U.S., or the United Kingdom. Then, after your account is set up, add your “receive” country and desired delivery method.
Aside from sending money to yourself, there are other ways you can use an online money transfer app when traveling to another country. For instance, if a local shop or tour guide doesn’t accept credit cards, you can use the app to transfer money from your U.S. bank account to a local bank account or digital wallet.
This way, you can easily manage your expenses overseas, and you won’t have to settle for low exchange rates at currency exchange kiosks.
2. ATM and credit cards
If you’re traveling for a shorter period of time, and you don’t need to transfer money to a different account, your primary debit card is a great option for getting cash overseas.
In most countries, you can conveniently withdraw funds with your ATM card and receive money in the local currency.
Moreover, you may be able to use a credit card, especially in major cities. Be sure to check with your bank about international fees for ATM or credit card use. Often, these fees are much smaller than bank wire transfer fees, making this option a good deal.
How to Receive Funds You Send to Yourself
If you need to move money between international accounts, or can’t get to an ATM, you have options.
Once you sign up with a money transfer service, you choose the country to send money to. Then, depending on the country, you’ll have multiple delivery methods to choose from. These include:
Bank deposit
Transfer funds from one bank account to another. You need your bank details, like your name, account number, and address.
Digital wallet deposit
Transfer money to a digital wallet (or called mobile money) account in your country of choice. Like Apple Pay, Orange Money, eSewa, or Google Pay, mobile wallets are designed for cashless transactions.
You can pay for purchases, bills, or services by transferring funds from your mobile wallet to the merchant or to another person’s digital wallet. If you want cash, you can often cash in the funds with local agents or cash pick-up services.
Cash pickup
If you’re travelling in remote places where there are no banks, money changers, or ATMs, using cash pickup may be the best option.
Common cash pickup locales include grocery stores, money exchange counters, banks, pawn shops, and more.
Sending Money to Yourself: FAQs
How much does it cost?
Transfer fees depend on the amount you send and the speed of delivery. Money transfer services also offer promotional rates from time to time, so it’s best to log into your account and check the fees you’ll have to pay.
You should be able to see the total cost of the transaction as soon as you enter the amount you’re sending and the country you’re sending it to.
If you’re going to use your credit or debit card, check with your financial institution first to see how much of a cash withdrawal fee they’ll charge. Different banks have varying rates.
How do exchange rates work?
Exchange rates between currencies are constantly fluctuating, and many factors affect currency movements. The bottom line, however, is that you want more value for every dollar that you send.
If you’re from the U.S. and you’re sending money to Mexico, for instance, you will likely need to convert U.S. dollars (USD) into Mexican pesos. Online money transfer services will do the conversion for you so you don’t have to go through the hassle of going to a money changer or currency exchange service.
What are the transfer limits?
Online money transfer services impose daily or monthly limits for regulatory compliance. Your transfer limit will depend on which country you’re sending money from and which country you’re sending to.
For sending limits with Remitly, visit our help center for more information.
What information do I need to send money to myself?
To make sure you receive the money without any issues, check the requirements of the receiving bank or other financial institution. If you have a savings or checking account in the country you’re sending the money to, it should be easy to send and withdraw from your own bank account.
However, if you’re going to withdraw the money from a cash pickup service, you’ll need to have at least a form of ID or two, and the transaction number.
What about Venmo or Zelle?
P2P, or peer-to-peer services, are both trendy and convenient ways to store, receive, and transfer money. However, these services are limited to the country where your account is created. For both Venmo and Zelle, this means you can only send from a U.S.-based bank account to another U.S.-based account.
