How to Send Money to Asia
Send money to Asia with MoneyGram. Explore options for India, the Philippines, China, and more, from cash pickup to bank and mobile wallet.
Sending money to Asia starts with a simple question: where is your recipient?
That matters because a money transfer to Asia can work very differently from one country to the next. Bank account transfer is a major receiving method in some places. Cash pickup is still important in others. Mobile wallets and other digital options may also be available depending on the destination.
There isn’t one set of instructions that works for an entire continent.
Choose your recipient’s country below to find the MoneyGram options available for that destination. Or keep reading for a broader look at how to send money to Asia and what to consider before choosing a payout method.
You can send money to Asia with MoneyGram across a range of destinations. The exact payout options, currencies, requirements and delivery timing can vary by country, so your recipient’s destination should always be the starting point.
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Hong Kong
India
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
Thailand
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
If you’re wondering how to send money to Asia, the basic process starts with the destination and works from there.
You can send money online with MoneyGram and see the current options for your destination as you set up your transfer.
The way people receive money can change significantly from one country to another in Asia.
In India, for example, bank account transfer plays a major role and cash collection has additional regulatory considerations. In the Philippines, cash pickup, bank account transfer and mobile wallet are all meaningful options. China has its own receiving requirements and constraints.
A cash pickup money transfer can be useful for someone who wants physical cash, doesn’t use a bank account or has a convenient participating location nearby.
The recipient generally needs the transfer reference number and accepted identification to collect an eligible transfer.
Direct to bank sends an eligible transfer directly to the recipient’s account.
For someone who already manages everyday expenses through a bank, this can remove the need to travel somewhere to collect cash.
The ability to receive money to a mobile wallet can be another option in supported Asian markets.
The main thing is not to assume that because one option is common in one Asian country, it will be equally useful or even available in another.
For country-specific comparisons, see choosing between cash pickup, direct to bank, and mobile wallet.
There isn’t one delivery time for a transfer to Asia.
Timing depends on where you’re sending, how you pay and how your recipient receives the money.
Cash pickup, direct to bank, and mobile wallet each have their own processing requirements. Bank account transfers may also be affected by banking hours, weekends, or local holidays. Other reviews or transaction requirements can affect timing too.
If getting the money quickly matters, check the estimate for the specific transaction before sending.
Remember that availability and access aren’t always the same thing. Cash can be ready to collect, for example, but your recipient still needs to get to a participating location.
What your recipient needs depends on how they receive the transfer.
For cash pickup, they’ll generally need the reference number and an accepted form of photo identification. Requirements vary by country, so check what your recipient needs to collect cash before they go.
For direct to bank, you’ll need the correct recipient and account information required for the destination.
For mobile wallet, the recipient will need an eligible registered wallet supported for that transfer.
Checking first can save a lot of back and forth later. Ask your recipient for the exact information they use for the account or service where they want to receive the money.
Just like payout methods, currencies change from country to country.
There isn’t much value in looking for one regional exchange rate. Someone sending money to India needs the rate for Indian rupees. A transfer to the Philippines involves Philippine pesos. Other destinations use their own currencies.
For an actual transfer, what matters is the exchange rate between US dollars and the currency your recipient will receive.
That’s much more useful than trying to compare Asia as one currency market.
The transfer fee is only one part of the cost of sending money internationally. The other is the exchange rate. Your fee and rate can depend on the destination, amount, payment method, payout method, and other transaction details.
Pay attention to the amount your recipient is expected to receive too.
That becomes even more important on larger transfers. A small difference in the exchange rate can have more impact as the amount being converted increases, so comparing fees alone doesn’t tell you the full story.
Look at the transaction as a whole: what you pay, the rate being used and what your recipient is expected to get.
For specific information about fees, payout methods, and recipient requirements, go to the page for the country where you’re sending.
If you need to send money to India, check the current US-to-India corridor information before setting up your transfer.
Direct to bank is an important part of the receiving picture in India, while cash payout comes with additional regulatory considerations.
When you send money to the Philippines, your recipient may have several ways to receive it.
Depending on current MoneyGram services, those can include cash pickup, bank account transfer, and mobile wallet. Check what’s currently available and ask which option your recipient actually prefers.
If you’re sending to Pakistan, use the country corridor page to check current payout methods, recipient requirements and transfer details.
Transfers to China have their own receiving requirements and available payout options.
Check the China corridor page for the current information before sending rather than assuming the process works the same way as another destination in Asia.
For a transfer to Nepal, start with the country-specific corridor page to see how your recipient can receive the money and what information you’ll need from them.
The destination should always drive the payout decision.
MoneyGram serves multiple destinations across Asia.
Choose your recipient’s country to see the current services and payout methods available there.
Not always.
Depending on the destination and available MoneyGram services, your recipient may be able to collect an eligible transfer in cash or receive money to a supported mobile wallet without using a bank account.
The options vary by country, so check your recipient’s destination before sending.
Mobile wallet transfers may be available in supported Asian markets.
Availability depends on the country and wallet provider. The recipient may also need an eligible registered account before receiving the transfer.
Cash pickup may be available in supported countries, but coverage, requirements and limits can differ by destination.
Check the corridor page for the country where your recipient lives and use the MoneyGram location finder to find a MoneyGram location where applicable.
First, make sure you’re using the current complete country list.
If the destination is not supported by MoneyGram, you can’t select another Asian country as a substitute. Transfers need to be sent to the actual supported destination where the recipient will receive the money.
Use the current MoneyGram send flow to confirm availability.
Ask your recipient what they already use.
If they regularly manage money through a bank account, direct to bank may make sense. Someone who prefers cash may want a pickup option. A supported mobile wallet can be convenient for someone who already uses that service.
Then compare availability, timing and current cost for the specific destination.
Use the MoneyGram location finder to find a MoneyGram location near your recipient.
Before they travel, confirm the location offers the service they need and check what identification and transfer information they’ll need to bring.
The expected receiving amount depends on the transfer details, including the destination, amount, payment method, payout method, applicable fee, and exchange rate.
Use MoneyGram’s live calculator to check the current rate and review the expected receiving amount before completing your transfer.
