Whether it’s a gift or help with tuition or living expenses, an international money transfer is a fast, secure, and easy way to send and receive money from a foreign country. As a beneficiary of funds, you should know that there are several ways to receive money from a foreign country and several important things to check with the sender before they make the transfer.
If the person who sends you money uses Rewire, you should know that Rewire is a licensed financial service provider that helps people manage their finances in more than one country. One of its most prominent services is remittances, which is currently available to recipients in the following countries: Nigeria, Philippines, India, Thailand, Nepal, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Senegal, China, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana.
Another important piece of information is that receiving money from a Rewire account, regardless of the method chosen (e.g. wire transfer, cash pick up, or digital wallet), will not cost you anything.
So, if you’re looking into how to receive money from a foreign country, here is a quick guide with everything you (as the person sending you money) need to know:
The traditional way: receiving money from a foreign country using a bank to bank transfer
You can receive money from a foreign country through a wire transfer from one bank account to another. To do so, the sender will have to initiate the wire transfer and will require the following information:
- Your full name and address
- Your phone number
- Your bank account details (e.g. name of the bank and account number)
Once the sender completes the money transfer order, you will be able to see the money in your balance within one business day. Whether or not you receive notice about the money transfer is usually up to your bank and whether or not it communicates positive balance changes in your account.
The fastest way: receiving cash from a foreign country
This is the fastest way to receive money from a Rewire user as the transfer is completed instantly. To place a money transfer order, the sender will need the following information from you:
- Your full name
- Phone number
- The preferred location for cash pick-up (*note that the cash pick-up option is currently only available in the Philippines and Nigeria)
Once a Rewire user places an order, you will receive a text message (SMS) with all of the information you need to know in order to claim your funds:
- Who? Name of the person who made the money transfer
- Where? Information on where you need to go to claim your funds
- How? You’ll receive a reference number, which you will need to present in order to claim the funds along with a valid ID
- Where?
- In Nigeria: cash pick-up can be done in any GTBank or Fidelity branch (see the full list of pick up locations)
- In the Philippines: cash pick-up can be done at any M Lhuillier, Palawan Express, or Cebuana Lhuillier branch
The digital way: receiving money from a foreign country using a digital wallet
Do you have a digital wallet? If so, the person sending you funds can opt for the full digital experience, which is fast, smart, and simple. To place a money transfer order, the sender will need your phone number and in specific cases, your email address.
Note that receiving money directly to your digital wallet is currently only available in China (Alipay) and the Philippines (GCash and Coins.ph).
There are many ways to receive money from a foreign country. It is important that both you and the sender review the relevant options available in both your countries and go through all of the details necessary to complete an international money transfer with as little hassle as possible.
