How to Send Money From Australia to the Philippines

Money sent from Australia to the Philippines can end up in one of three places: a Philippine bank account, a mobile wallet such as GCash or Maya, or a counter where your family collects cash. The cheapest choice changes with the provider, the amount and the delivery method, so the number to compare is how many pesos arrive for the Australian dollars you pay.

This guide covers each way to send, what pushes the cost up, how long it takes and what to check before you pay. We checked every figure on this page on 29 October 2026.

RemitHome.net.au is an independent guide run by Dominet BV. We're not a bank or a money transfer business, we don't send money for anyone, and we're not registered with AUSTRAC because we don't provide remittance services. No link on this site is an affiliate link right now. If that changes, we'll say so in our affiliate disclosure, and it won't change what we write. This is general information, not financial advice. Providers named on this page are examples we checked, not recommendations.

Before you start

Have these ready and you'll avoid most delays:

• Your own ID. A registered provider has to identify you. AUSTRAC says that if a remittance business doesn't ask for ID, it's probably not registered. Our AUSTRAC guide explains what to expect.
• The recipient's full name exactly as it appears on their ID. Western Union's Australia to Philippines page asks for this, and a mismatch is a common reason for a held transfer.
• The delivery details. For a bank deposit: bank name and account number. For a wallet: the mobile number linked to the account. For cash pickup: the recipient's name and city or region.
• A reason for the transfer. Some providers ask for the purpose, such as family support.

Ways to send money to the Philippines

Moneysmart, run by ASIC, describes two main routes from Australia: your bank, or a money transfer business, also called a remittance service provider. Both can deliver to a bank account. Money transfer businesses can also pay out as cash pickup, to a mobile wallet or by home delivery.

Bank transfer from your Australian bank

Your bank sends money overseas through SWIFT, the network that links banks around the world. You can usually do it in online banking or at a branch. If you're not already a customer, Moneysmart says the bank will ask for government-issued ID.

A bank transfer suits larger, less frequent payments to a Philippine bank account, especially if you already use your bank's online service. Before you send, ask the bank three things: the exchange rate it will apply, its fee, and whether the receiving bank or any bank in between may take a fee from the amount.

Online money transfer providers

Moneysmart notes that many money transfer businesses work online only, through a website or app, and that these firms "can be faster and cheaper than banks". You pay in Australian dollars and choose how the money is received.

Payment options vary by provider. As listed on 29 October 2026:

• Western Union's Australia to Philippines page lists PayID from your bank account, Apple Pay, credit or debit card, and cash at an agent location in Australia, where it lists more than 3,500 agents.
• Wise's Australia to Philippines page lists bank transfer, Osko by BPAY, debit and credit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay, with payout to a local bank account.
• Remitly's Australia to Philippines page lists PayTo and offers cash pickup, bank deposit and mobile wallet delivery.

Paying by credit card can cost more. Wise's own page warns that some banks treat card-funded transfers as a cash withdrawal and may charge extra.

Cash pickup

Cash pickup is useful when your recipient doesn't have a bank account or wants cash the same day. The recipient collects the money at a partner outlet, often a remittance counter, pawnshop or bank branch.

As listed on 29 October 2026, Western Union says it has more than 17,000 agent locations in the Philippines and names Cebuana Lhuillier, Maya, Truemoney and DA5 among its partners. Remitly's delivery list for the Philippines includes Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop.

Ask the provider what your recipient must bring to collect. Expect them to need the transfer reference and ID with a name that matches the one you entered.

Mobile wallet: GCash and Maya

A wallet puts the money on your recipient's phone, ready to spend, pay bills with or cash out later.

GCash. The GCash Help Center lists its official remittance partners by sending country. As at 29 October 2026, the list for Australia names Panda Remit, Remitly, Rocket Remit, Skrill, Wirebarley, WorldRemit, Ria, Homesend, MoneyGram, Perahub, Ria Money, Taptap Send, Terrapay, Thunes, Tranglo, Western Union, World First Singapore, World Remit/Send Wave/Zepz and Xendit. GCash asks people to transact only with these partners. The list changes, so check it before you choose.

GCash says the receiver's name and number must match their GCash account. Its limits also matter. Under the limits GCash says took effect on 1 October 2026, a Basic (unverified) profile can receive only PHP 5,000 a month, while a Fully Verified profile can receive up to PHP 1,000,000 a month. Limits reset on the first day of each month. If your recipient's account isn't fully verified, a larger transfer may not go through.

Maya. Western Union's page lists Maya as a wallet option. Check your provider's app for whether Maya delivery is available on your route.

For more detail on the Philippine side, MoneyTransfer.ph has a guide to sending money to GCash (sister site) and a general guide to sending money to the Philippines (sister site).

What affects the cost

Moneysmart says providers choose the exchange rate they use and charge fees, and the cost depends on how much you send, where you send it and how you send it. In practice, five things move the price:

1. The exchange rate margin. The gap between the rate a provider gives you and the mid-market rate is a cost, even when the transfer fee is zero.
2. The transfer fee. It may be flat, a percentage, or both.
3. How you pay. Bank transfer, PayID or PayTo is often cheaper than paying by card.
4. How the money is received. Cash pickup, wallet and bank deposit can be priced differently by the same provider.
5. Fees at the other end. Ask whether your recipient pays anything to receive or collect.

Our guide to fees and exchange rate margins shows how to work out the total cost with a worked example.

To compare providers side by side, Moneysmart points to SaverAsia, an independent site comparing transfers from Australia to Asian countries, including the Philippines. Prices there change, so check on the day you send.

Watch for first-transfer offers. Several providers advertise a better rate or no fee on your first transfer. That's fine to use, but compare the price you'll pay on your second and later transfers too.

How long it takes

Moneysmart says a transfer can be instant, take a few minutes or take up to five business days. For the Philippines, as stated on providers' pages on 29 October 2026:

• Cash pickup with Western Union can be ready in minutes.
• Bank deposit with Western Union should arrive within one banking day, and can be in real time with certain banks.
• Wise says money to the Philippines "typically arrives in seconds", based on its average past speeds.

Delays often come from ID checks on your first transfer, a name mismatch, a payment that hasn't cleared from your bank, or a transfer sent late on a Friday or before a public holiday in either country.

Limits and reporting

Providers set their own sending limits. As at 29 October 2026, Western Union's page gives a maximum daily limit of AUD 19,000 when paying by PayID, and says your own limit depends on the service and your history. Remitly says limits vary and extra documents may be requested.

If you pay a provider in cash in Australia, a payment of $10,000 or more in notes and coins is reported to AUSTRAC as a threshold transaction. That's routine and isn't a sign of wrongdoing. Splitting cash into smaller amounts to avoid the report is a criminal offence called structuring. Our AUSTRAC guide covers this in more detail.

Check the provider and watch for scams

In Australia, money transfer businesses must be registered with AUSTRAC. You can search the Remittance Sector Register by business name or ABN. Banks don't appear on it because they're regulated as banks.

Scamwatch's advice on relationship scams is direct: never send money to someone you've only met online, and never agree to transfer money for someone else, because it may be money laundering. If a "relative" contacts you from a new number asking for urgent money, call them on the number you already have before you pay.

For other countries and the basics that apply to every transfer, see our guides home page.

Frequently asked questions

What's the cheapest way to send money to the Philippines from Australia?

There's no single answer, because prices change daily and differ by amount and delivery method. Compare the pesos received for the same amount in Australian dollars across a few providers and your bank, and check SaverAsia for an independent view.

Can I send money from Australia straight to GCash?

Yes, through one of GCash's official remittance partners for Australia, which GCash lists in its Help Center. The recipient's name and mobile number must match their GCash account, and a fully verified account can receive far more each month than a basic one.

How much can my family receive in GCash each month?

Under the limits GCash says took effect on 1 October 2026, a Fully Verified profile can receive up to PHP 1,000,000 a month and a Basic profile PHP 5,000. Your provider may also set its own per-transfer limit.

What does my family need to collect cash pickup?

The transfer reference and ID with a name matching what you entered. Ask your provider for its exact rules before you send, since pickup partners can differ.

Do I need to tell the ATO or AUSTRAC when I send money?

You don't report it yourself. Providers report international transfers to AUSTRAC as part of their obligations. Cash payments of $10,000 or more to a provider are also reported by the provider.

Is a bank or a money transfer business safer?

Both are regulated. Banks are licensed by APRA, and money transfer businesses must be registered with AUSTRAC. Check the business on the register and only use its official app or website.