The Best Ways to Send Money to Canada from Overseas

If you don’t have a Canadian bank account, there are plenty of different companies and platforms that allow you to send money around the world. Where you are in the world, though, may dictate which program you use and which is the most recommended. You may also be wondering: how much does it cost? Well, let’s take a look at the different ways you can do this. 

Cheapest Ways to Send Money to Canada

No matter where you are in the world, there are a few different international money transfer services that are cheaper transfers than the rest. Let’s take a look at what those are and what they cost. Depending on the platform, you’re likely to be required to show a government-issued ID. 

Wise

One of the most popular and cost-effective ways to send money abroad is with Wise. With Wise, you have the option of processing personal and business transactions while having the confidence that your funds are protected. Like other legitimate money transfer providers, Wise is FINTRAC-regulated, meaning that they’re registered and regulated as a money transfer business in the different regions that they operate.

How long a transfer with Wise takes depends on where you’re sending the funds. That said, the funds can be transferred as soon as the same day, or you may also have the option of an instant money transfer. Wise will charge upfront fees based on the current exchange rate and the method you use to send the funds. With any money transfer with Wise, there is a USD 4.33 flat rate, and there’s also a variable rate fee of 0.53% for up to $127,505 per month. The great thing about Wise is that there are no hidden fees. 

The different methods you could use to transfer money with Wise are:

• Direct Debit
• Bank Transfer
• Debit Card
• Credit Card

Out of all of these methods, bank transfers tend to be the cheapest method. That said, it also can be one of the slowest methods. 

XE

Another trusted and cost-effective way to send money around the world is with XE money transfer. With XE, you can send money to over 200 different countries in over 100 different currencies. Just like with other transfer sites, XE is regulated and secure. 

With XE, the cost of your transfer is based on the currencies to which you’re sending the funds and how you choose to send those funds. Since the fees are dependent on each individual transaction, you’ll receive a quote before you choose to send the money. Once you agree to this quote, then your funds will be sent. That said, XE is transparent about the fact that there will be send fees as well as payment method fees. Sometimes, the recipient's bank may charge a third-party fee when the funds are deposited into the recipient’s account, but this is independent of XE. 

When sending money with XE, there are a few different methods that you can use to send the funds. These are:

• Wire Transfer
• Direct Debit AHC
• Credit Card
• Debit Card

When you use direct debit, also referred to as Automated Clearing House, the funds are taken directly from your bank account. If you use any of the other methods, your funds can be transferred as soon as 24 hours. Payments made with debit or credit cards, however, do have an extra fee. No matter how you choose to send your funds, you can track the funds your transfer online using your XE account. 

Paypal

One simple and cost-effective method you may have used before is PayPal. You may not know this, but PayPal actually offers international money transfers. They do this with their service called Xoom and offer a few different payment options. These are:

• PayPal Transfer
• International Bank Deposits
• Cash Pickup
• Mobile Reload

PayPal Transfer works just like it sounds and allows you to transfer funds into the recipient's PayPal account. The only requirement is that the recipient has an open PayPal account. If this doesn’t work, Xoom allows you to deposit the funds directly into international bank accounts as long as you have the account number. 

Xoom also offers the option for the recipient to choose cash pick-up. They work with certain retailers that allow this. You can also add minutes to different prepaid phones abroad instead of just sending the funds to do so. 

The fees that PayPal charges for these transactions are based on where you’re sending the funds and by which method. International transactions have a small fee of just $2.99 to USD 4.99 when using a PayPal balance, but more fees are added when you use a card instead. There’s also a small fee depending on the currency conversion and what the mid-market exchange rate is. 

CurrencyFair

CurrencyFair offers competitive foreign exchange rates instead of exchange rate markups and fast transfers around the world. Currently, they’re able to send money to over 150 different countries, including Canada, online, but they have a few countries to which funds are commonly sent. Canada is one of these countries. Plus, just like other transfer services, CurrencyFair offers bank-level security to keep your funds secure. 

Just like the other transfer services we’ve discussed, the fees vary. What you’re charged is based on what you send and how you send it. For each transaction, there is a small fee of €3 and a currency exchange fee of around 0.53%.e fees that you’re charged are based on what you send and how you send it. For each transaction, there is a small fee of €3 and a currency exchange fee of around 0.53%.

Sending Money for Free to Canada

While there are plenty of ways to send money at a low cost to Canada, it’s really difficult to find a way to send money for free. Unless you have a bank account that includes free global money transfers, you’re going to have to pay some sort of fee for the transfer as well as currency conversion. Each service has a different minimum fee, though. 

Global money transfers are convenient because they come from your own accounts and can be sent through online banking. However, you can also choose to use multiple providers, you don’t have to use just one. Each one also has their own delivery speed which you should also look at before you choose. 

Best Money Transfer Services From Different Parts of the World

While we’ve gone over a few different ways to send money for low cost, it’s also important to consider where you are sending the funds from. Depending on the service provider you use, the fees are also dependent on where you send the funds. There’s also transfer time to consider. Some will take longer than others, depending on their destination. 

United States

While there are a few different platforms you can use to send money to Canada from the US, one of the most popular ways is with Western Union. Right on their website, you can select which currencies you’re converting and how much you wish to send. This will tell you the total cost of the transfer, including any fees. 

With Western Union, there are a few different ways that you can transfer money internationally to Canada. You can do it directly from your phone with the app. You can also send money online using a computer. Western Union also has in-person locations you can go to send money, or in-person cash pickup. 

This is a nice thing about Western Union. There are different ways you can receive money as well as send money. Western union offers different receiving methods and transfer methods because they have in-person methods with a local agent, unlike other money-transferring services. They also offer reduced fees and reliable transfers. 

In order to send the funds, you can use cash but go to any in-person location. You can also use your bank account details to send the funds directly from your bank account or use your debit or credit card. Out of all of these ways, though, a bank transfer with your bank details will be the cheapest because card issuers will charge some extra fees. 

Philippines

There are plenty of services available to send money from the Philippines. One of the best is a program we’ve already discussed: Wise. They have some of the lowest fees and a reasonable transfer time. However, if you’re looking for a different platform, a close second is Remitly. 

Remitly is an online platform used for sending money that is based out of the United States. They’ve been around since 2011 and allow you to send funds to over 150 different countries. The fees they charge are based on individual transactions, but they are known for offering competitive fees and fast transfer times. The exact cost isn’t given until you enter the specifics of the transaction. 

United Kingdom

One of the best ways to send money from the UK to Canada is with the European-based platform XE. It isn’t the only one you can use, though. All of the different platforms we’ve mentioned will allow you to send money from the UK to Canada, all with competitive rates and reasonable transfer times. 

India

If you’re choosing to send money from India to Canada, any of the platforms will work well. That said, Wise once again seems to be the most popular platform for international transfers. It has the lowest fees and sends the money in a reasonable time frame. 

The Overall Best Way to Send Money to Canada

Sending money to Canada doesn’t have to be complicated. There are plenty of platforms out there to help you send the funds you need and save money. That said, it’s essential to weigh your options and find the best platform for you. Before you start looking into money-transferring platforms, though, it could be a good idea to see if your financial institution offers global money transfers. 

Depending on where you live and who you bank with, you may be able to send funds to an international bank account using your bank. Some banks will charge a small fee for this, while for others, it’s included with your banking transactions. That said, there may be a limit to how many transfers you can send for free per month. 

If using financial institutions to make international money transfers doesn’t work for you, then it may be your best option to consider a money transfer service. Of those available, two of the most popular and best rates are Wise and Western Union. With these, you can send money using your bank account details or using your debit or credit card. The funds are sent quickly, and fees are minimal. It’s important to keep in mind that there will be service and currency conversion fees. 

E-transfer from the US to Canada

Unfortunately, interac e-transfer is only available in Canada with Canadian banks. You’re unable to e-transfer money online from the US to Canada. That said, you can send money via PayPal. However, you’re unable to use Google Pay. Most of the mobile payment apps that are used to transfer money in the US can’t be used to send money to Canada unless they’re considered international platforms. 

Transferring Money to a Canadian Bank Account

When you’re trying to transfer money to Canada and into a Canadian bank account, such as the Royal Bank, there are a few different methods that you can use to accomplish this. One of the most common methods we’ve already listed is transferring money online using money transfer apps. These process the conversion for you and allow you to send the funds fast. That said, here are a few other payment methods. While some of these methods are available through money transfer apps, they’re available on their own as well. 

Those who live in Canada send money to other Canadians using Interac e-transfer. Other money transfer apps like Apple Pay, Venmo and Cash App don’t work in Canada. While there are transfer limits with e-transfer, it’s usually around $3,000 per day. 

Wire Transfers

How wire transfers work is they transfer your funds electronically through a network that’s administered by banks and other financial agencies. How it works is the sender provides their information as well as the recipients information, and the money is sent to the recipients account. While this is simi;ar to an electronic funds transfer, the difference is that wire transfers are international and EFTs are between Canadian accounts. 

Wire transfers can be done through online money transfer services or from your own bank accounts from your financial institution. 

Money Orders

A money order is issued by a financial institution and is more secure than a cheque or cash. Many choose to use these when sending money in the mail. However, they do cost money depending on which financial institution you use. 

Cheques 

Another way to send money internationally is with a cheque. That said, cheques aren’t the most secure method of payment. They can easily be forged, so many people don’t send them in the mail. They just use them if they’re personally handing them over. 

Bank Drafts

Bank drafts are a more secure way to transfer large sums of money than doing an online transfer. Once a bank draft is issued, the money is already taken from your bank account. It’s then held by the bank until the bank deposit is made by the recipient. These are much easier to use than cash, but they also have a fee attached to them. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re considering sending money internationally to Canada, there are plenty of ways to do so without compromising your personal finance situation. The most common method is through money-transferring apps and websites. The great thing about these money transfer sites is that you can send money in different ways. You can use your debit card to make debit card payments, use a credit card, make direct debit payments, or send a wire transfer.

Which method you use to send the funds will depend on where you’re located and the cost of transferring. No matter which method you use, though, you’ll have to consider the exchange rate in Canadian dollars and the conversion rates. These will factor into the cost along with the method you choose to send the funds. No matter which way you choose to go, though, you’ll be able to send funds internationally for a favourable exchange rate.