Send money to Sierra Leone

When you need to send money safely to loved ones in Sierra Leone, you have many options. To decide between them, you should consider how quickly you need the money to arrive, where your friend or family member lives, and the destination you are sending from. You’ll also need to decide what payment method you’ll use for the money transfer, such as cash or bank account balance.

Here are the most commonly used methods:

• International money order: These are for sale in many of the places you shop and do business already, such as the customer service counter of your favorite store or even the post office. You can find international money transfers at banks, as well. They look like standard checks from a checkbook. After you buy one, you can send it through the mail to your friend or family member so they can cash it at their preferred location. The downside to this choice is the long wait time for the international money order to go through the mail; there’s no guarantee it won’t get lost or stolen in the process. If it costs a lot to send mail from your location to Sierre Leone, you’ll have to budget for that added expense.

• International bank transfer: If you and the recipient both have banking accounts, an international bank transfer is an option. You’ll need to initiate the transfer by providing additional international banking details, such as your loved one's international bank account number (IBAN), the bank's SWIFT/BIC code, and confirming details like their bank's address and phone number. If your friend or family member does not have a bank account in Sierra Leone, this option won’t work. It also takes a few days for the transfer to complete, so it’s not ideal when you need to get cash to them in a hurry.

• Money transfer agents: These companies are the ones you’ve most likely seen on TV or the stickers at your local retailer’s customer service counter. They specialize in getting money to recipients within hours or days and can be much quicker than using an international bank transfer or money order. However, the companies charge high fees for the service, and your loved one may lose money from the exchange rate between your country and Sierra Leone. You are giving up cost for convenience.

• Ria: When you don’t want to give up cost, convenience, or security, Ria is a solid pick. You can send money to Sierra Leone or over 165 other countries in as little as 15 minutes, depending on your funding choice. It is safe and doesn’t come with the very high fees of other options. In fact, when you set up your transfer, you can see both the low fee and the current exchange rate, so there are no surprises when your loved one gets their money.

Ria is also one of the more convenient choices since you can do it from the convenience of your mobile phone or computer to avoid waiting in lines at the bank. However, if you prefer to pay in cash, starting at a participating retail location is simple. Your friends can get money via the best method, whether picking up cash from a store or getting it as a deposit in their mobile wallet!

It can take anywhere from a few minutes to five business days to send money to an overseas location — including Sierra Leone. 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone, here are your options:

5. Before you complete the transfer (but after you’ve logged into your account): You can see what it costs to send money to Sierra Leone 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.

6. 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 Sierra Leone, 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.

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

4. 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 Sierra Leone safely and efficiently. Which method is the best for you is a personal decision — it all comes down to how fast you need the Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone. 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 Sierra Leone and more than 165 other countries around the globe. Ria charges no sneaky hidden fees, so your Sierra Leone 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:

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

10. Confirm your current country.

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

12. Choose a password.

13. Agree to Ria’s terms and conditions.

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

15. Tap the “Continue” button.

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

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

Create an account via the website:

18. Visit riamoneytransfer.com.

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

20. Choose your country of residence.

21. Click “Get started.”

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

23. Choose a password.

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

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

26. Enter your address.

The method you choose to send money will determine the information you have to provide. International wire transfers may require the most information, including an International Banking Account Number (IBAN) and even a SWIFT code.

Ria, however, offers a seamless process with little information required to send cash to Sierra Leone quickly. You'll need:

• The full name of the recipient, matching their government-issued ID exactly

• The city and state in Sierra Leone where they reside

• The amount of money you want to send

• Payment information from your funding source, such as account number or credit card number

• Payment information for your recipient, such as account number or location for in-person pickup

Your recipient may choose to use a mobile wallet for receipt of their money, and this will require their mobile wallet account number and phone number.

If you’re in the USA or Canada, you can set up a Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone, you’ll need to add a new recipient to your account — that is, the person who will receive money in Sierra Leone. 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone 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.

Using the Ria money transfer service gives you four ways to accept funds in Sierra Leone, including:

• Bank transfer: Provide the sender with your bank name or SWIFT code, along with your account type and number. Your bank can provide this information if you don’t have it handy.

• Cash pickup: Let the sender know which convenient pickup locations you want to use. You’ll need your government-issued ID and the Ria PIN to show when you pick up the cash.

• Mobile wallet: If you use an Orange Money mobile wallet, the payer can send it directly. Just provide your digital wallet account number to the sender.

Where you live determines what methods you can use to pay for your money transfer. If you live in the U.S. and use the Ria website, you have bank transfer, cash, or debit and credit card options available.

Ria mobile app users may be able to use the following methods:

• Bank transfer (from the U.S.)

• Cash (from the U.S., Malaysia, or Singapore)

• Debit or credit card (from Australia, Canada, Europe, Malaysia, the U.K., or the U.S.)

• Fintoc or Sencillito (from Chile)

• Klarna (from Austria, Germany, or Spain)

• Bancontact (from Belgium)

• Giropay (from Germany)

• iDEAL (from the Netherlands)

• PayID (from Australia)

• FPX (from Malaysia)

To know what options are available where you live, see our full list of payment methods.

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

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 Canada 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 Sierra Leone. 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 Canada. Ria makes sending money internationally simple, quick, and secure.

Your recipient in Sierra Leone 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 money 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 Sierra Leone. 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 Sierra Leone.

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 Sierra Leone.

Getting money to a friend or loved one in Sierra Leona can be quick, affordable, and secure, but you should know all the options available to you. They include:

• International bank transfer: If you and your friend both have bank accounts, this method helps you get money there within a few business days.

• International money order: this paper check option takes some time, as it must move through the international mail system. It can also be pricey with the additional cost of postage.

• Third-party money transfer agent: These services are available in many places you shop, and funds can be received within minutes or hours. The high fees and exchange rates can reduce the amount your friend or loved one actually gets, however.

• Ria: This secure and convenient money transfer method enables you to get cash to loved ones in Sierra Leone without some of the high fees charged by the other methods. The recipient has many options to pick up their money, including cash at a participating retailer and through their mobile wallet app. Depending on the way they choose to get the cash, they could receive funds within minutes.

If you pick Ria for your money transfer option, you must have a few things handy for this simple and convenient process:

• Set up a free Ria account on the website or mobile app. Provide your full name, birth date, and contact information, such as a cell phone number. Some countries may require you to provide additional information before you begin.

• Click the “Send money” or “Send” button.

• Select “Sierra Leone” from the drop-down list.

• Type in the amount of money you want to send to your friend or loved one in Sierra Leone. You see the current exchange rate and Ria’s fee for the service.

• Pick your payment options, determined by your current country of residence. They might include a bank account, credit or debit card, or mobile wallet account balance. If you don’t want to use any of these, you might still have the option to send cash by visiting a participating location at a local retailer.

• Select how you want your friend or loved one to get their money. You'll need to ask them for additional details, including the best way for them to receive cash. They could choose an in-person cash pickup at a local retailer or get the money directly deposited into a checking or savings account. If your friend has an Orange Money mobile wallet account, they can also select this method.

• Click “Continue.”

• Enter your recipient’s full name as it appears on their government-issued photo ID. Include the name of the city or province where they live.

• Include additional details for receipt, such as the cash pickup location where they will receive the money or their bank account details.

• Input your payment information. This will vary depending on the method you choose and where you live.

You will be able to confirm your payment details and finish your request. Depending on your chosen method, your friend or family member in Sierra Leone could have their money securely within minutes. Sending cash in person is also an option for those who don't want to use digital account methods.