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Send Money to Indonesia from Australia

Find your cheapest option to transfer money to Indonesia with the best exchange rates.

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, updated on August 18th, 2023       

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Find the best way to send money to Indonesia

When you’re wanting to send money to family or friends in Indonesia, it’s important to be on the lookout for cheap exchange rates, low fees and a simple transfer process. Compare a range of international money transfer providers here with Savvy to help you find the best exchange rates and lowest fees available. Consider a range of options with us before getting your international money transfer underway today.

site-logos OFX
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $250 1-3 days $0 50+
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Special Offer: 5 fee free transfers (saving you up to $75 in fees) + preferential rates for international money transfers

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site-logos Instarem
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $1 Within minutes From 0% to 1% 55+
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Enjoy $40 bonus on your first money transfers of $250 & above! Use code*: SAVVY20X2 (Minimum transfer of AUD 250 Valid till 31st August 2023)

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site-logos Xe
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1-3 days From $0 100
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Xe is a 2021 Canstar Award Winner and offers the best exchange rates, low to no fees so customers save the most money

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site-logos Western Union Money Transfer
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1 - 2 days $0 35
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Send money to over 200 countries and territories across the world online

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site-logos Wise Money Transfer
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 1-3 days From 0.41% 53
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Send money cheaper and easier with Wise with no hidden fees.

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site-logos TorFX
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $200 0-2 days $0 35
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Excellent exchange rates with no transfer fees. Trusted by over 325,000 customers. Awarded Canstar’s 5 star rating 2018-2021.

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site-logos Currencyfair
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $5 Within minutes From $0 20+
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Send money overseas at better exchange rates, with no hidden fees.

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site-logos Remitly
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 0-2 days From $0 21
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Remitly offers fast, safe and secure money transfers with excellent rates to over 100 countries

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site-logos Revolut
  Minimum Transfer Amount Transfer Speed Transfer Fee Total Currencies Available  
site-logos $0 Within minutes From $0 27+
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Fast and easy, with super competitive rates across all major currencies. Join 25+ million customers saving on global transfers.

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Disclaimer: Savvy is not advising or recommending any particular product to you. We provide general information on products for the purposes of comparison, but your personal situation or goals are not considered here. Although we try to make our comparisons as thorough as possible, we do not have information on all products on the market on our site.

If you decide to initiate a money transfer with one of the providers listed above via our website, you will not be dealing with Savvy; any applications or enquiries will be conducted directly with the provider offering that product.

More about how to send money to Indonesia

What are my options to send money to Indonesia from Australia?

There are many ways to send money to Indonesia. Your options include:

  • using a specialist international money transfer service – one of the fastest and cheapest options to send money overseas. International transfer companies will charge the lowest fees and offer the best exchange rate for your transfer, and they’ll get your money to Indonesia very quickly, sometimes within seconds and typically within two days.
  • a cash transfer – one of the fastest but most expensive options to get money to Indonesia immediately. Your money can be collected from a nominated destination in cash. However, only a few providers offer this service, which comes with higher fees and often lower exchange rates.
  • a bank transfer – this is a slower and more expensive option that can take up to five business days. It will likely cost far more than using a specialist money transfer provider, too, since banks don’t offer exchange rates as high as those of specialist providers and their fees are higher (up to $30 or more per transfer).
  • use Apple Pay or a similar digital wallet – you risk being charged very high international money transfer fees by the credit card linked to your Apple Pay wallet if you use this method to pay for your international transfer. The fees charged by credit card providers can be as high as 3% to 5% of the transfer amount. Not all providers support Apple Pay, either, so you’re likely to be better off with a direct debit.
  • a phone top-up – sending money via a telco or specialist company to recharge a pre-paid mobile SIM card is one quick way to get funds to someone without a bank account. It’s important to note that you won’t have any say in the exchange rate you receive when the phone recharge or top-up is made, and substantial fees can be charged, so this can also prove to be an expensive option.
  • post a cheque or international money order – this is the slowest and most risky option, as cheques can get lost in the post and never arrive at their destination. In addition, you could have to wait two weeks or more for your money to arrive and your recipient will then have to pay it into their bank account, which could add another few days’ delay.

Because money transfer providers are specialists at sending money across international borders, they offer the quickest and cheapest option to send money to Indonesia. Compare transfer providers with Savvy, find the one which fits your needs and start your transfer right away.

How do I compare international money transfer providers when sending money to Indonesia?

The main areas for comparison between international money transfer companies are:

Exchange rate

One of the ways banks and transfer companies can make their money is by charging a markup on the exchange rate offered. When comparing your options, it’s important to have an idea of what is known as the mid-market exchange rate. This is the best rate you can hope to get when transferring between two currencies, so the closer to the mid-market rate you get, the more rupiah you’ll be able to buy.

Banks tend to have the highest fees and lowest exchange rates, which is why they’re generally far more expensive than international money transfer companies. Some transfer companies will charge a small transfer fee and a slight, or no, markup on the exchange rate. Others charge no fees at all but their markup is slightly higher. For this reason, it’s important to compare the exchange rates offered by different providers and their fees as a package, as one will affect the other.

Fees charged for the transfer

Some companies have a set fee (up to $15) on their transfers, while others base their charge on a percentage of the transfer amount, typically ranging from 0.4% up to 0.65%. As mentioned, other companies don’t charge a fee at all. It’s important to consider which fee structure is most suitable for the type of transfer you’re looking to make.

In general terms, a percentage fee will be the cheapest option to transfer smaller amounts. For example, a provider charging a fee of 0.5% of your transfer amount would only cost you $2.50 if you were transferring $500, but $25 if you were transferring $5,000. A set fee will often prove to be the most economical option for larger transfers.

Transfer limits

Check whether there are any minimum or maximum transfer limits which individual transfer providers may apply. Minimum transfers range from $1 right up to $200 to $250 for more business-oriented services such as OFX. Some transfer companies have daily maximums (such as $5,000), although other companies set their limits far higher at up to $500,000 or more.

Country and currency availability

Make sure the company you choose does deal in Indonesian rupiah and can deliver to the region you require. Also, check that they can deliver your transfer in the required way, whether that be into an Indonesian bank account, to a mobile app or in cash.

Payment method

The method you use to pay for your transfer in Australia can also vary between providers – choose between direct debits, bank transfers using BPAY or OSKO, card payments or cash. If you are tempted to use a card linked to your Apple Pay wallet, make sure you don’t use a credit card that charges a high transfer fee.

Customer support

It’s worth determining if your provider offers 24/7 support in your preferred language if you want the security of their assistance if you have any questions. Additionally, if you’re planning to make a large business transfer to Indonesia, it may be worthwhile speaking to a business manager at your preferred transfer company, as you may qualify for reduced fees or a more preferential exchange rate. This will also apply if you are going to make regular transfers to Indonesia. Many companies use business-oriented providers in such circumstances as they offer extensive customer support to business clients.

What is the process for sending money to Indonesia?

To use one of Savvy’s trusted partners to send money to Indonesia via an international money transfer, you’ll either need to log on online through their web portal or sign up for an account on your smartphone. The process to send money online is:

  • Choose which provider you wish to use and go to their site via Savvy
  • Follow the prompts to sign up to create a free account
  • Provide whatever details are required, including proof of ID if requested
  • Initiate a transfer from Australia to Indonesia and enter the amount you’d like to send
  • Enter your recipient’s name, bank details or phone number as requested
  • Provide your payment information, which may be via a bank account, a card or a digital wallet
  • Confirm your transfer once you’ve checked all details are correct
  • You’ll receive a confirmation notification or a tracking number, which will enable you to see when your transfer has been received

Top tips for saving money when you send funds to Indonesia

Monitor the exchange rate

By monitoring the exchange rate, you’ll know when it reaches a good level for you to make your transfer. Also, by keeping an eye on the international exchange market, you may get a feel for which part of the day or week is the best to send your transfer. For example, some currencies tend to dip on a Thursday afternoon, before picking up on Monday morning.

Plan in advance

If you know you’ll be making a transfer on a certain date (for instance, on a family member’s birthday, which falls on a set day each year), you can plan and save yourself money. You can do this by transferring Australian dollars to rupiah when the exchange rate is at its best and storing the funds in an international account until needed. An international account (as offered by Wise, for example) allows you to store multiple currencies and then send them off overseas to their destination when required.

Use currency tools

Some transfer providers offer currency tools such as currency converters, exchange rate alerts, price guarantees, forward contracts and limit orders to help you manage your international transfers and get the cheapest exchange rate possible. Use these tools to your advantage to time your transfer and get the best exchange rate possible.

Exchange less frequently

If you wish to send funds to family in Indonesia, it may save you money if you make fewer transfers of larger amounts, rather than send smaller amounts regularly. This will apply especially if you are using a company which charges a set fee for each transfer. If your chosen company charges on a percentage of transfer basis, there may not be so many savings to be made, but it still may be cheaper to plan your transfers around the movement of the exchange rate between the dollar and the rupiah.

Frequently asked questions about sending money to Indonesia

Is it safe to send money to Indonesia online?

Yes – all of Savvy’s transfer partners offer a safe and effective way to send money overseas. All have the necessary licences and can be relied upon to get your transfer to its destination as quickly as possible.

Can I send money to someone in Indonesia if they don’t have a bank account?

Yes – if your recipient in Indonesia doesn’t have a bank account, you can either send them a cash transfer for immediate pickup (depending on the time of day and business hours in Indonesia) or a phone recharge or top-up through their telco. Some mobile phone non-bank apps allow payment of utility and other bills through their platform, so your recipient may be able to use the money you send them for these purposes if needed.

Can I make a free transfer to Indonesia?

Yes – some companies offer free transfers to attract new customers, which is often the first one to two transfers completed. You may also have your fees waived on transfers above a certain amount, such as $10,000. However, it’s important to compare exchange rates, as “free” transfers may not always come with the lowest rates.

Do I have to declare my transfer to Indonesia if it’s over $10,000?

Any transfers of $10,000 or more which leave Australia have to be reported to AUSTRAC. However, it’s up to the transfer company to ensure AUSTRAC compliance, so you don’t have to report the transfer, but your chosen company does. They may ask you for additional information if you’re sending a sizeable sum to Indonesia.

Will the receiver have to pay to get their money?

This will depend on what method you use to send your money to Indonesia. Some of the big banks do charge a receiving fee, which can be as high as $30. However, this issue can be avoided by using a specialist money transfer company, as this means you can be sure there won’t be any fees to receive the money you send to Indonesia.

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