Send money to Pakistan

If you know someone in Pakistan, you might wonder about the best ways to send them money. While many options exist, some might work better in certain instances.

Sending cash internationally can be stressful, so it’s important to choose a safe and secure method that works for you and your recipient. Here are some of the best — and safest — ways to send money to Pakistan:

• Online bank transfer: If you and your recipient both have bank accounts, you should be able to schedule your Pakistan remittance that way. You’ll need some information about your recipient, such as their full name, their bank’s name, their bank account number, and any other details required by either of your financial institutions. Keep in mind that sending money via bank transfer could take a few days to complete, and some banks also have a surcharge or other transfer fees.

• Credit card transfer: Looking for a quicker way to send money to someone in Pakistan? Consider using your credit or debit card. You might be hit with certain transfer fees depending on your card issuer. However, this method is typically much quicker than bank transfers — in fact, it might only take a few hours.

• International money order: If you know your recipient’s address in Pakistan, you can send them a money order to their exact location. Just ensure you choose a secure destination, or you could risk the money order getting lost or stolen. Once your recipient gets it, they’ll need to find someplace to exchange it for Pakistani Rupees — like a local bank or post office. Use a secure delivery service company like FedEx to get tracking information so you know when and where the money order is.

• Money transfer agent: A money transfer agent is a third-party service that lets you send money overseas. Choose one that operates in Pakistan and has good customer reviews. Check out their fees as well before sending any money.

• Digital wallet: This is a convenient and secure way to send money internationally, especially if your recipient has no bank account. Pay attention to any transaction limits or fees that come with your or your recipient’s mobile wallet.

And last but certainly not least, you can send money to Pakistan via a digital money transfer service like Ria. With Ria, you can set up either a bank deposit or a cash pickup at one of over 38,000 physical locations across the country.

You will need to create a Ria account first. The process is straightforward, secure, and free. All you need to do is provide some basic information about yourself, such as your name, home country, date of birth, and contact details. Once you’ve verified your account using the phone number you provided, you can set up your first transfer through the website or the app.

It can take anywhere from a few minutes to five business days to send money to an overseas location — including Pakistan. However, how long it takes depends on several factors, such as:

1. Transaction type

2. Payment method

3. Where you’re sending money from

4. Whether Ria requires additional information for security purposes

5. When you initiate the transfer

Some currencies or transfer methods are only available during local business hours. If you set up a Pakistan remittance outside of typical business hours, on a holiday, or on the weekend, you could experience delays.

If you’re looking for the fastest way to send money to Pakistan, you may want to use a debit or credit card for your transaction. These methods may incur additional fees, so be aware of that. However, they also typically finalize the same day they’re completed — sometimes within minutes -meaning your recipient could have the money almost immediately.

And if time isn’t a concern, consider setting up a bank transfer instead. This option usually takes three to five business days and comes with fewer fees.

The cost of sending money to Pakistan depends on several key factors, such as:

1. The payment method you use

2. The payout method (that is, the way your intended recipient gets the money)

3. Transfer amount

4. Currency exchange rates

Bank remittances are usually the cheapest option, while credit and debit card transfers can come with additional fees. This is especially true with credit card payments, as some credit card companies will charge extra. Keep in mind, though, that international money transfers usually come with certain charges — regardless of how you go about it.

As an international remittance service, Ria strives to keep our rates and fees as low as possible on money transfers to Pakistan and other countries. We do that by working with financial institutions worldwide to get you the lowest possible fees and best exchange rates. At times, we also have promo codes to cut down on some of the more unavoidable fees.

The overall transfer amount includes all fees. If you want to see the cost of sending money to Pakistan, here are your options:

1. Before you complete the transfer (but after you’ve logged into your account): You can see what it costs to send money to Pakistan via the app or website. Simply log into your account and go to “Send” or “Send Money.” Then, select your destination country, how much you want to send, your payout currency, and your payment and delivery methods.

2. Before you initiate a transfer (without logging in): You can go to Ria’s website for an estimate of what it will cost.

Both options can help prevent you from being surprised by any fees or charges associated with sending money overseas.

We offer several ways to track your money transfer to Pakistan, but the easiest option is to use our Track a Transfer tool, which provides real-time updates of your transfer — no matter where you are.

Here’s how to use this free online feature:

1. After logging into your Ria account: Once logged in, choose “Track” (from the app) or “Track a transfer” (from the website). Then, input the transfer’s unique personal identification number (PIN) to see its status.

2. Without logging into your Ria account: If you don’t have a Ria account, you can still use the Track a Transfer feature. You’ll still need the unique PIN, however. This enables both the sender and recipient to see the transfer status at any point.

Two things are worth noting.

1. If you reside in Australia, you must also provide your birth date and recipient’s country (Pakistan) to track the transfer.

2. As the sender, you’ll also receive emailed updates regarding the transfer’s status and any major changes.

There are several ways to send money to Pakistan safely and efficiently. Which method is the best for you is a personal decision — it all comes down to how fast you need the Pakistan money transfer to arrive, how you want your friends and family to receive it, and how you want to pay.

Bank transfers: You can use your bank to transfer money to a bank in Pakistan through an international wire transfer. With this method, there’s no cash involved — you simply instruct your bank to send money to your recipient’s bank account. 

To complete a wire transfer through your bank, you usually must provide your recipient’s name, address, contact information, and banking information. This includes their international bank account number (IBAN) and their bank’s SWIFT/BIC code. 

There are several drawbacks to using a bank transfer to send money to Pakistan. For one, both you and your recipient need to have bank accounts at institutions that allow international transfers. 

For another, they’re typically expensive. Some banks charge as much as $50 for the convenience of an international wire transfer to the sender. And a few charge a fee to the recipient as well. In addition, your bank may limit the amount of money you can send through this method.

Money transfer agents: Traditional money transfer agents allow customers to send money abroad using cash. These agents usually have offices you can visit to fund the transfer with cash. Your recipient can then visit the transfer agent’s office closest to them and receive the money as cash. 

Of course, one of the main drawbacks of using this method for sending money is that your recipient must live near a transfer agent’s office. Another is the fact that these agents sometimes have complicated pricing structures, and fees and exchange rates can vary widely.

Money orders: Sending an international money order is similar to sending a check through the mail. You can buy a pre-paid money order certificate from your local post office or bank and then send it directly to your recipient via international mail. They can then redeem the certificate for cash.

There are several big disadvantages to this money-sending method, mainly that it’s expensive and slow. 

Online money transfer services: Online money transfer services such as Ria make it easy to send money to Pakistan and more than 165 other countries around the globe. Ria charges no sneaky hidden fees, so your Pakistan remittance will go further. 

Ria also offers great exchange rates and allows you to send money through our convenient mobile app or any of the 500,000-plus participating locations. Ria offers a quick alternative to other money-sending methods. Many transfers arrive within minutes. Send money with Ria now. 

Signing up for an account with Ria is easy. The exact steps you’ll take vary depending on your location and whether you want to use the app or website.

Create a Ria account via the app in the US or Canada:

1. Download the Ria app and tap the “Register” button.

2. Confirm your current country. 

3. Enter your email address and choose a password.

4. Agree to Ria’s Terms and Conditions.

5. Enter your full name, date of birth and phone number, then tap “Continue.”

6. Choose to subscribe to receive promotions, discounts, and other special offers or tap “Not now” to opt out.

7. Enter your mailing address and tap “Continue.”

8. Select and answer three security questions to protect your account.

Create a Ria account via the app everywhere else:

1. Download the Ria app and tap the “Register” button.

2. Confirm your current country.

3. Enter your phone number and verify it by entering the 6-digit code we send you.

4. Choose a password.

5. Agree to Ria’s terms and conditions.

6. Enter your full name, email address, and date of birth (we may also ask for your country of birth, nationality, occupation, and ID information).

7. Tap the “Continue” button.

8. Choose to subscribe to receive promotions, discounts, and other special offers or tap “Not now” to opt out.

9. Enter your mailing address and tap the “Continue” button.

Create an account via the website:

1. Visit riamoneytransfer.com.

2. Click “Register” in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

3. Choose your country of residence.

4. Click “Get started.”

5. Enter your phone number and the security code we send to your phone.

6. Choose a password. 

7. Enter your first and last name, date of birth, and email address.

8. Select whether you’d like to receive marketing messages from Ria.

9. Enter your address.

If you plan to send money to someone in Pakistan, you’ll need a few details about yourself and your recipient. Although the exact information depends on the payment and payout method you choose, here’s what you’ll typically need:

• Required recipient details: For most online transfers, you’ll need your recipient’s legal name (matching their government ID), phone number, and mailing or residential address in Pakistan. If you’re conducting a bank transfer, you’ll also need their banking details.

• Required sender details: You’ll typically need some information about yourself, such as your full legal name, contact details, and home country. If you’re sending money via an online remittance service like Ria, you’ll also need your preferred payment method, payout method, and the payment amount (including exchange rate and transfer fees).

When providing information online for your Pakistan remittance, ensure you use a secure platform and internet connection.

At Ria, for example, we offer identity verification and 24/7 security monitoring of all transfers so you can rest easy when sending money abroad. We also never store your payment details — like your credit card or bank account information — so there’s minimal risk of hacking or theft.

You can set up a Pakistan money transfer from the Ria app or website. Start by signing into your existing account or create a new one if you don’t have one. If you haven’t verified your phone number or set up your online profile yet, you can do that now.

Since this is your first money transfer to Pakistan, you’ll need to add a new recipient to your account — that is, the person who will receive money in Pakistan. Adding a recipient is easy. Just provide basic information about them, such as their name, current location, and phone number. If you want to transfer money to their bank, input their bank account details as well.

Once you’ve added a recipient to your account, you can decide how much money to send them — either in your currency or theirs. At this point, you can also select the payout method. Remember, each payout method comes with its own advantages and fees.

With that done, simply choose your payment method for the Pakistan remittance. You can add a new payment method to your account on the website or the app.

Once you’ve completed that first transfer, the process becomes even easier as your recipient’s basic information is saved to your account. Ria doesn’t store your recipient’s bank account information, however, so you will need to input that again.

Some money transfers go through within minutes of setting them up. However, you might have to wait a few hours or days before your transfer is complete.

That’s where tracking your transfer comes into play. You can use the Track a Transfer feature for status updates on your Pakistan remittance. You’ll just need the PIN, which you can find in your account or the confirmation email you received after scheduling the transfer. Your recipient can also use this tool.

A standard money transfer to Pakistan doesn’t take very long to complete, though it depends on the payment and payout methods. If you’ve chosen a debit or credit card transfer, your recipient should receive money in Pakistan within minutes. A bank transfer, on the other hand, can take several business days to complete.

Certain factors may delay your transfer. For example, if you set up the transfer outside local business hours or on a holiday or weekend, it might take a little longer. In some cases, Ria will also request additional information from you for security purposes, which could cause additional delays.

Senders and recipients can use Ria’s Track a Transfer feature for real-time transfer updates. All you need is the transfer’s PIN and order number.

Senders can also use the Ria app to track the transaction — just tap the “Track” option. In addition, senders will be notified by email when their recipient has picked up or received the money — or if there’s another major status change.

Whether you’re an expat or are simply on a trip in Pakistan, you should know your options for receiving money. That way, you’ll be covered if something happens — like losing your wallet or having insufficient cash.

Fortunately, you have several secure methods available to you. This includes a third-party money transfer agent, international money order, credit or debit card transfer, bank transfer, and overseas money order.

Another secure way to receive money abroad is through Ria. We operate in over 160 countries, including Pakistan. We also offer money orders, online bill pay, prepaid debit cards, mobile top-ups, check cashing, and more. Not only that, but we strive to keep our rates and transfer fees as low as possible so that you get the most out of your transfer.

Through Ria, you can ask your sender to schedule an online transfer to your bank account or mobile wallet. We work with several Pakistan digital wallets, including:

• JazzCash

• Easypaisa

• SadaPay

• NayaPay

• FIRST Pay

• MCB Lite

• My ABL — Allied Bank

• SimSim by Finca

• Omni

• Askari Digital Wallet

• Jcash

• Konnect

• Upaisa

And if you’d prefer to pick up your money in person, we offer that, too. Simply use our online map to find the location closest to you in Pakistan. Then, ask your sender to schedule the cash pickup at that location. Once your money is available, you’ll need to verify who you are, so make sure you have a valid photo ID and the unique PIN associated with the transfer.

Regardless of how you choose to send money overseas, you’ll need to pay certain transfer or currency exchange fees. The payment methods vary depending on the transfer method.

Say, for example, you’re sending a money order via USPS. Before sending it, you’ll need to pay the dollar amount on the money order, a processing fee, and an issuing fee. You can usually do this via cash, debit credit, or credit card.

If you’re using Ria to send money to Pakistan, your payment options depend on where you’re sending money from and whether you’re on the website or app.

If you live in the USA, you can pay on the website via debit or credit card, cash, or bank account. However, if you’re sending money from the United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, or Canada, your payment options are credit and debit cards only.

You have a few more options if you transfer money via the app. Based on your current country, these include:

• Canada: Debit or credit card

• Chile: Cash or Sencillito

• Australia: Debit or credit card, or Pay ID

• The UK: Debit or credit card

• Singapore: Only cash

• Malaysia: Debit card, cash, or FPX

• The USA: Cash, credit card, debit card, or online bank transfer

• Europe: Debit or credit card (some countries may have additional payment options)

When choosing a payment method, remember that the method you choose can impact how long the transfer takes to go through. Certain payment options also come with their own security features or fees.

Unfortunately, you can't use Zelle to send money to Pakistan.

That's because Zelle currently works only with bank accounts based in the U.S. There's no way to make a money transfer to an international account. Both the recipient and the sender must have U.S.-based checking or savings accounts — as well as U.S. phone numbers.

Instead, consider using an online money transfer service like Ria. Ria is quick, safe, and convenient. We offer great exchange rates, low fees (with no hidden charges), and a variety of payment and pickup options — all from our website or mobile app.

Ria serves customers in more than 165 countries — meaning sending money to or receiving money in Pakistan is a breeze. You don't even need to have a bank account to use Ria — unlike with Zelle. Send money now with Ria.

Currently, you can't use Venmo to send money to Pakistan. That's because only U.S. residents can use the app to send or receive money transfers.

Venmo may not work with international accounts. But Ria serves more than 165 countries around the globe — including Pakistan. Ria makes sending money internationally simple, quick, and secure. Your recipient in Pakistan could get the money transfer in as little as 15 minutes if you use Ria. Plus, there are no additional fees.  You are fully aware of all costs and the amount of dollars your recipient will get before you even complete the transfer.

Send money now with Ria.

Visit any Ria location, use our website, or log into our mobile app to send money directly to your recipient’s bank account in Pakistan. All you need is:

• The recipient’s full legal name (as it appears on their bank account)

• The name of the recipient’s bank 

• The recipient’s bank account number or IBAN (international bank account number)

Ria will take care of the rest!

Hands down, sending money via electronic transfer is the safest way to send money to Pakistan.

In the old days, it was common for people to send remittances by mailing cash. Not only does this method take a long time (they call it “snail mail” for a good reason), but it’s also just not safe. The mailed money could get stolen or lost at any point during its long journey.

Instead, using an online money transfer service like Ria ensures that your money gets exactly where you intend it to go. 

In addition, Ria’s team of world-class security experts works around the clock to monitor your money transfers and keep a watchful eye out for unusual behavior. Ria’s software allows the team to spot any suspicious activity long before any harm can be done to your account.

Plus, Ria never stores your payment details on its servers. So, your credit or debit card or bank account information will never be compromised in Ria’s system.

Your safety is Ria’s number one priority when sending money to Pakistan.

You can send money to a friend in Pakistan via digital wallet, bank remittance, money order, cash pickup, credit card, or debit card. If you want to make things as easy, secure, and convenient as possible — without limiting your options — consider using Ria for your international transfer.

Setting up a transfer is simple if you already have a Ria account. If you do not have an account yet, you can create one via the website or the app, which you can download to your Android or iOS device.

Once you’ve created and verified your account, the next step is to log in. From there, select “Send money” or “Send” to begin the process. This will direct you to choose the country you want to send money to. Choose Pakistan from the list.

Next, fill out the “Recipient gets” field with the amount of money you want them to receive. Or, if you’d prefer, you can fill out the “You send” field with the amount you’re sending in your own currency. You can send a maximum of USD 14,999.99 in a given 30-day period.

Once that’s done, choose your desired payout method. Your options include a mobile wallet, bank account, and cash pickup transfers. Select an existing recipient from your account or add a new one. If you’re conducting a bank transfer, you’ll need to input their banking details even if you already provided them before.

Lastly, choose your preferred payment method, review everything, and complete the transfer. Be sure to track your transfer using our Track a Transfer tool. You’ll also receive regular email updates regarding its status.

If you’d prefer to transfer money in person, you can go straight to a nearby Ria location and set it up there.