Read our guide on everything you need to know about sending money to South Africa.

In this article we'll cover:

1. Sending money with Ria Money Transfer
2. Why do you send money transfers with Ria?
3. How much can I send?  
   • Sending money to someone else
   • Sending money to myself
4. Need to send larger amounts?
5. How do recipients complete South African checks
6. Do I need to complete the check if I'm sending money to myself?
7. Where can I send from?  
8. How long will it take?  
9. Which currencies can I send to this country? 
10. What payment methods can I use?  
11. What information do I need about my recipient? 
12. What does a South African account number look like? 
13. What is a national clearing code (NCC)? 
14. What does a South African BIC/SWIFT code look like? 

Sending money with Ria Money Transfer

Need a fast way to send South African Rand (ZAR) to South Africa? We use our sister company Ria Money Transfer so that you can send up to R300,000 daily (or a maximum of R300,000 a month).

Transfers sent with Ria require your recipient to complete a one-time registration to benefit from fee-free transfers that typically arrive in minutes.

Don’t worry if you need to send more than Ria allows. Transfers over R300,000 will be sent safely and securely using our standard Xe routes.

Why do you send money transfers with Ria?

• Great rates
• Fast transfer times (arriving within minutes)
• Absolutely no third-party fees

The table below details the documents required by Ria for transfers to qualify for their service depending on the amount of money you're sending to your recipient.

Foreign passport holders sending money to themselves 

Providing Proof of Bank account 

As part of the verification process, recipients might be asked to provide Proof of South African Bank account. This can be in the form of a bank confirmation letter or the recipient's latest bank statement issued within the last 90 days (3 months).

The document provided must show the bank name and logo, the account holder's name and bank account number.   

Need to send larger amounts?

There’s no need to worry if you’re used to sending more than this with Xe. We can still provide you the same service you know and love.

Our generous daily limits for how much you can send in a single transfer online via our traditional routes still apply. Please find details of our standard Xe daily limits here.

If you’re sending more than R300,000 per day, your transfer will automatically be routed via our other routes. You don’t need to do anything.

Please note: Your bank or card provider may have their own limits and the Ria service is not used for business transfers.

How recipients complete the South African Reserve Bank check

We know you want to get your money moving as quickly as possible. Completing the regulatory checks is simple and won’t take long. 

1. The recipient will be contacted by Ria via email and will need to click on the Get Your Money button in that email.
2. They’ll be asked if they’ve received money from Xe before and if they have a South African mobile number.
3. Don’t worry if the recipient doesn’t have a South African mobile number, they can still complete the checks and will just be taken via a different route. 
4. They’ll be asked for some personal details and to supply a picture of their passport photo page as well as a selfie alongside it. 
5. Your recipient will receive further communication from Ria once the check has been completed. 

Do I need to complete the check if I'm sending money to myself?

All recipients will need to complete South African Reserve Bank reporting requirements before they can receive ZAR from abroad. 

If you’re sending money to yourself, the same rule applies, and you’ll be contacted by RIA South Africa to complete this check. 

You’ll only need to complete this check once. 

Where can I send from?  

You can send money from any of our supported locations, as long as it is from a bank account in your name and matches your business purpose.  

For example, If you hold a personal Xe account, you should only book personal transfers on here.

The funds must be settled from your personal bank account which is in the same name as your account with us. 

The same applies to business transfers.

How long will it take?  

It takes between 0-3 days for your money to reach Xe, depending on how you pay for your transfer.  Once we receive your funds we make payment to your recipient. 

We will send you a notification at each stage of your transfer so you know where your funds are.

Which currencies can I send to this country? 

ZAR mainly, but we offer multiple currencies as long as the recipient holds a bank account for the currency being sent.

Which payment methods can I use? 

You can view our current payment methods page by clicking here. 

What information do I need about my recipient?   

Information may vary, depending on where you’re sending to. If sending to South Africa, we will require: 

• Recipient’s name, email and address 
• Recipient’s contact number 
• Recipient’s account number 
• Recipient’s BIC/Swift, and 
• Recipient’s bank name and address

This will be the same for a recipient which is a business.  

What does a South African account number look like? 

Bank account numbers are usually found on bank statements or invoices. South African bank account numbers are between 7 and 11 digits long. 

What is a national clearing code (NCC)? 

These codes are used in South Africa to identify specific bank accounts instead of the IBAN system. These are also often known as routing codes. 

What does a South African BIC/SWIFT code look like? 

These numbers, which identify banks globally, tend to be between 8-11 characters long. They contain a country code and typically reference the bank’s name. The letters ZA are used for banks in South Africa.