Fact checked
When you’re wanting to send money to family or friends in Canada, 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.
OFX |
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Special Offer: 5 fee free transfers (saving you up to $75 in fees) + preferential rates for international money transfersMore details |
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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)More details |
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Xe |
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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 moneyMore details |
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Western Union Money Transfer |
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Send money to over 200 countries and territories across the world onlineMore details |
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Wise Money Transfer |
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Send money cheaper and easier with Wise with no hidden fees.More details |
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TorFX |
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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.More details |
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Currencyfair |
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Send money overseas at better exchange rates, with no hidden fees.More details |
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Remitly |
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Remitly offers fast, safe and secure money transfers with excellent rates to over 100 countriesMore details |
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Revolut |
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Fast and easy, with super competitive rates across all major currencies. Join 25+ million customers saving on global transfers.More details |
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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.
There are many ways to send money to Canada. The options you have at your disposal to transfer your funds overseas include:
International money transfer companies
These are companies that specialise in transferring money across international borders. They don’t use the international SWIFT banking system, but rather have developed other methods for transferring money overseas which are quicker, cheaper and more cost-effective than using the traditional banking system (namely online transfers).
Different transfer companies can offer a wide range of services, from a mobile transfer app which you can use to store currencies from different countries to full online business foreign exchange services. Choose the type of transfer service you require to best suit your needs.
Cash transfers
Some transfer companies offer cash transfers to Canada, which can be completed in a matter of seconds after you send them. They offer cash pickups (and sometimes deliveries) on the same day which can be collected at your Canadian destination almost immediately by a designated recipient. However, these often come with higher fees attached compared to transfers sent directly to a bank account, so it may not be the most suitable choice for you.
Traditional bank transfers
You could also use your traditional bank to transfer money to Canada. However, they’ll charge fees of up to $30 to do so, and their exchange rate is likely to be lower also. In addition, you’ll often have to wait for three to five business days for your bank transfer to arrive, making them a more expensive and slower choice for sending your money to Canada.
PayPal
PayPal is another option for sending money overseas. However, even though the money may instantly appear in your recipient’s PayPal account in Canada, it may take an additional three to five days for the funds to land in their standard bank account. You also won’t know in advance what exchange rate you’ll be given, which can often be far less favourable compared to those charged by a specialist international transfer company. If you compare a PayPal transfer with one offered by an international money transfer service, you’ll find the latter is by far the cheapest option.
Phone top-up
Another method to get money to Canada is to send funds through to a mobile phone pre-paid SIM card. Although this method can be useful if the person receiving the funds doesn’t have a bank account, you won’t have any say in the exchange rate you receive or the fees charged, which can be substantially higher than if you use an international money transfer company.Â
Using Apple Pay
Whether you can use Apple Pay to finance your transfer to Canada will depend on which company and the method you choose, as not all providers support Apple Pay. However, it’s important to know that using credit cards such as those linked to your Apple Pay digital wallet to pay for your international money transfer can cost you a fee of between 3% and 5% of the transfer amount, in addition to other set fees.
Whichever way you choose to complete your international money transfer, your cheapest and most efficient option will be using a specialist money transfer provider. You can compare from a variety of respected and licenced companies right here with Savvy and get your transfer to Canada underway today.
There are two main aspects to the cost of sending money to Canada: the exchange rate you’ll be offered and the fees charged to make the transfer.
Exchange rates
When comparing your options, aim to get as close to the mid-market exchange rate as possible. The mid-market exchange rate is the ‘true’ international exchange rate banks use to exchange money between themselves, so this rate offers the best deal at any point in time. The markup put on the exchange rate when you transfer money internationally will have the greatest effect on how many of your Australian dollars end up in Canada; the closer to the mid-market rate your exchange rate is, the more Canadian dollars you’ll be able to buy.
Fees
Money transfer fees are either based on a percentage of the transfer amount (typically from 0.4% to 0.65%) or you’ll be charged a small set fee (up to $15), with an additional markup on the exchange rate possible being added also. Which type of fee structure is best for you will depend on how much you wish to send. In general, if you’re transferring under $5,000 to Canada, a percentage-based fee may be your cheapest option. Over $5,000, and you’re likely to be better off with a set fee.
Business customers
If you want to transfer money for business reasons to Canada regularly, it could be worthwhile looking into companies that offer business-focused services. Such transfer companies offer business account managers to regular customers and can offer discounts to repeat customers who regularly send money overseas from Australia to Canada for business reasons. Therefore, your business may be able to save on money transfers by choosing one of these options.
Delivery time
International money transfer companies can get money overseas quickly, either instantly in seconds, on the same day or within two days on average. However, not all companies offer the same speeds, so this is a point to consider when comparing. Some providers charge a premium to ensure express delivery, so this may be an option for you if you need your money urgently. However, it usually isn’t worth paying more for a fast transfer if there isn’t any great time pressure.
Minimum and maximum transfer limits
There are minimum transfer limits imposed by some companies. These range from $1 right up to $250 for minimum limits, while maximums range from $5,000 per day up to an almost unlimited sum of $500,000 or more in some cases. It’s important to ensure that the transfer you need can be facilitated by your provider.
Payment methods
Most international transfers can be paid for either by direct debit from your bank account, by EFTPOS using a debit card, or by cash if you’re arranging the transfer in person. You should always check with each provider that they support your preferred payment method.Â
Currency tools
Some transfer companies with a business focus (such as Xe or SingX) offer currency tools to assist you in getting the best exchange rate. These include:
If you wish to send money to Canada, first you’ll have to open a transfer account. This is a quick and simple process that should take no longer than five minutes. The steps to follow are:
All transfers over $10,000 also have to be reported to AUSTRAC through your transfer provider, so if you’re making a big transfer, you can expect to be asked to provide proof about the source of the funds and why they’re being sent overseas.
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