How to Send Money Overseas From South Africa
Sending money abroad from South Africa typically involves going through banks, remittance services, or forex providers. But these traditional methods often come with long delays, high fees, and poor exchange rates.
VALR Pay offers a faster, simpler, and more cost-effective way to transfer money internationally using stablecoins like USDT, USDC, or EURC—instantly and with no fees.
5 Ways to Send Money Overseas From South Africa
1. Bank Transfers
Major banks like FNB, Absa, Nedbank, and Standard Bank support international SWIFT payments. While secure, these transfers can take a few business days to process and often come with high service fees, strict documentation requirements, and uncompetitive exchange rates.
2. Money Transfer Services
Platforms such as Western Union, MoneyGram, and Shyft allow you to send money overseas. These services offer convenience and global coverage, but fees can add up quickly—especially for fast or cash collection transfers. Some services also require the recipient to visit a branch to collect funds.
3. Foreign Exchange and Forex Brokers
Specialist providers like Sable International, Exchange4Free, and FXPaymaster may offer better exchange rates than banks. However, setting up an account can be time-consuming, and transfer times vary depending on the country and currency.
4. Fintech Apps and E-wallets
Apps like Wise (formerly TransferWise) and PayPal support cross-border payments. While these apps are easy to use, they often include multiple layers of fees, such as transaction charges and currency conversion costs. Both sender and receiver may also need accounts on the same platform.
5. VALR Pay (Crypto Transfers)
With VALR Pay, you can send stablecoins such as USDT, USDC, or EURC to recipients anywhere in the world—instantly and with zero fees. The recipient can then convert the stablecoins to local currency through a crypto exchange in their country.
How to Send Money Overseas From South Africa Using VALR Pay
Here’s how you can send money abroad with VALR Pay in just a few steps:
1. Sign in to VALR
Visit valr.com or download the VALR app on your smartphone (iOS or Android). Click “Get Started” to create your free account, or log in if you already have one.
2. Navigate to VALR Pay
Once logged in, select “VALR Pay” and click “Pay” to begin your international transfer.
3. Choose the asset and amount to transfer
Make sure your VALR account is funded with the cryptocurrency you’d like to send. Choose a stablecoin like USDC, USDT, or EURC, then enter the amount you want to send. Stablecoins are ideal for cross-border transfers as they offer price stability.
4. Enter recipient’s details
Input the recipient’s phone number, email address, or VALR Pay ID. You can also include an optional note or choose to send anonymously for added privacy.
5. Complete the transaction
Review the details and tap “Pay now.” Your funds will be sent instantly—no bank queues, no delays, no fees.
Send Money Abroad the Smarter Way With VALR Pay
Whether you’re supporting family overseas, paying for services, or settling international invoices—VALR Pay makes it easy.
Sign up today and start sending money from South Africa to the world—instantly and fee-free.
Risk Disclosure
Trading or investing in crypto assets is risky and may result in the loss of capital as the value may fluctuate.
VALR (Pty) Ltd is a licensed financial services provider (FSP #53308).
