Send Money to South Africa | Money Transfer to South Africa

How to send money to South Africa from abroad in 3 easy steps

Enter amount to send in GBP.

Pay in GBP with your debit card or credit card, or send the money from your online banking.

Choose recipient in South Africa.

Select who you want to send money to and which pay-out method to use.

Send GBP, receive ZAR.

The recipient gets money in ZAR directly from Wise’s local bank account.

Create free account now

How much does it cost to transfer money to South Africa from abroad?

Pay a small, flat fee and percentage

To send money in GBP to South Africa from abroad, you pay a small, flat fee of 6.31 GBP + 0.59% of the amount that's converted (you'll always see the total cost upfront).

Fee depends on your chosen transfer type

Some transfer types have different fees which are usually tiny.

No hidden fees

No big fees, hidden or otherwise. So it's cheaper than what you're used to.

Fees for our low cost transfers

Fixed fee

6.31 GBP

Variable feeup to 20,000 GBP/month

0.59%

Variable feemore than 20,000 GBP/month

Discount applies

How long will a money transfer to South Africa from abroad take?

On many popular routes, Wise can send your money within one day, as a same day transfer, or even an instant money transfer.

Sometimes, different payment methods or routine checks may affect the transfer delivery time. We’ll always keep you updated, and you can track each step in your account.

Your transfer route

GBP

ZAR

Should arrive

by Wednesday 2025

Best ways to send money to South Africa from abroad

PISP
PISP (Payment Initiation Service Provider) payments are instructions you give Wise to make a bank transfer directly from your bank account — without having to leave our app and log in to your online banking. This option is as cheap as a manual bank transfer, but it isn’t supported by all banks yet.
Bank Transfer
Bank transfers are usually the cheapest option when it comes to funding your international money transfer with Wise. Bank transfers can be slower than debit or credit cards, but they usually give you the best value for your money. Read more how to use bank transfers as a payment option.
Debit Card
Paying for your transfer with a debit card is easy and fast. It’s also usually cheaper than credit card, as credit cards are more expensive to process. Read more about how to pay for your money transfer with a debit card.
Credit Card
Paying for your transfer with a credit card is easy and fast. Wise accepts Visa, Mastercard and some Maestro cards. Read more about how to pay for your money transfer with a credit card.
Swift
Using Swift to fund your transfer usually means that your transfer will take longer and be more expensive, as your bank will charge a fee. You should also bear in mind that other correspondent banks in between may also deduct their handling fees. Your bank should be able to advise on those fees.
Apple Pay
If you’ve enabled Apple Pay on your phone, you can use it to pay for a transfer with Wise. Paying with Apple Pay is a convenient and quick way to send money abroad. If you’re using a credit card, watch out for extra charges. Some banks consider these payments as cash withdrawal, and they may charge you extra fees.
Google Pay
If you’ve enabled Google Pay on your phone, you can use it to pay for a transfer with Wise. Paying with Google Pay is a convenient and quick way to send money abroad. If you’re using a credit card, watch out for extra charges. Some banks consider these payments as cash withdrawal, and they may charge you extra fees.

What you’ll need for your online money transfer to South Africa from abroad

1

Register for free.

Sign up online or in our app for free. All you need is an email address, or a Google or Facebook account.

2

Choose an amount to send.

Tell us how much you want to send. We’ll show you our fees upfront, and tell you when your money should arrive.

3

Add recipient’s bank details.

Fill in the details of your recipient’s bank account.

4

Verify your identity.

For some currencies, or for large transfers, we need a photo of your ID. This helps us keep your money safe.

5

Pay for your transfer.

Send your money with a bank transfer, or a debit or credit card.

6

That’s it.

We’ll handle the rest. You can track your transfer in your account, and we'll tell your recipient it's coming.

Protecting you and your money

Safeguarded with leading banks

We hold your money with established financial institutions, so it's separate from our own accounts and in our normal course of business not accessible to our partners. Read more here.

Extra-secure transactions

We use 2-factor authentication to protect your account and transactions. That means you — and only you — can get to your money.

Data protection

We’re committed to keeping your personal data safe, and we’re transparent in how we collect, process, and store it.

Dedicated anti-fraud team

We work round the clock to keep your account and money protected from even the most sophisticated fraud.

Online scams are on the rise. Learn how to stay safe.

Send money from abroad with the Wise app

Looking for an app to send money from abroad? Sending money is easy with Wise app.

Cheaper transfers abroad - free from hidden fees and exchange rate markups.
Check exchange rates - see on the app how exchange rates have changed over time.
Repeat your previous transfers - save the details, and make your monthly payments easier.

Learn more about the Wise app