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Western Union
Rate 0.0142 · Fee free
You send
₹50,000
Recipient gets
A$711
A$190 more than the most expensive provider · 1.92% markup vs mid-market
Affiliate link · No extra cost to you
Quick answer: The cheapest way to send money from India to Australia in May 2026 is Western Union, which delivers 710.89 AUD on a 50,000 INR transfer with a fee of zero. According to SendMoneyCompare's comparison of 4 providers updated every 6 hours, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive provider on this corridor is 190 AUD.
Last reviewed: by Awais Imran, Reviews Editor
Based on 14 days of data (2026-05-14 to 2026-05-27)
Sending ₹50,000 from India to Australia. Sorted by best value — most money received.
Source: SendMoneyCompare · Data updated every 6 hours from live provider APIs
Western UnionBest value
0.0142
Free
A$710.89
0.0141
Free
A$703.00
Potential savings: Choosing the best provider over the most expensive saves your recipient A$189.56 on a ₹50,000 transfer.
Australia is one of the top study destinations for Indian students, with over 100,000 Indian students enrolled in Australian universities. The INR to AUD corridor is driven primarily by education payments, living expense transfers, and family support, making it one of India's key outbound remittance routes.
The INR to AUD corridor operates under RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) framework. Indian banks like SBI, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank process SWIFT transfers to Australia but apply exchange rate markups of 2–3.5% plus flat fees of INR 500–1,500. Digital providers like Wise, Instarem (a Singapore-based company with strong presence in both India and Australia), and BookMyForex offer rates within 0.5–1.5% of the mid-market rate. For an INR 50,000 transfer, using a digital provider over a bank can save INR 1,000–2,800 in total costs.
Exchange rate
0.0142
Fee
Free
Recipient gets
A$710.89
Speed
2-3 days
Different providers excel at different things. Here's who's best for each use case on the India to Australia route.
Cheapest transfer
Western Union
Delivers the most AUD for your money
Fastest transfer
Western Union
Delivers in 2-3 days
Cash pickup
Western Union
Widest cash pickup network
Bank transfer
Western Union
Best rate for bank deposit to Australia
Sending money to Australia is straightforward with the right provider. Here's how it works in 3 simple steps.
Choose how much INR you want to send, compare providers above, and pick the one offering the best AUD amount for your transfer to Australia.
Enter your recipient's details in Australia — you'll need their bank account number. Most providers verify details instantly.
Pay using bank transfer, debit card, or credit card. Track your money in real-time until it arrives — bank deposit typically takes 1–3 business days.
Make sure you have these details from your recipient before starting your transfer.
Full name
Recipient's full legal name as it appears on their bank account
Bank account number
Recipient's bank account number
Bank name
Name of the receiving bank
SWIFT/BIC code
Optional8 or 11-character SWIFT code identifying the bank (may be optional with IBAN)
Note: You need the recipient's bank account number and bank name. Contact the recipient's bank for their SWIFT/BIC code if required.
See how much your recipient would get for common transfer amounts.
Western Union
0.01 · 2-3 days
Skrill
0.01 · 0-2 days
OFX
0.01 · 2 days
CurrencyFair
0.01 · 0-6 days
Western Union
0.01 · 2-3 days
Skrill
0.01 · 0-2 days
OFX
0.01 · 2 days
CurrencyFair
0.01 · 0-6 days
Western Union
0.01 · 2-3 days
Skrill
0.01 · 0-2 days
OFX
0.01 · 2 days
CurrencyFair
0.01 · 0-6 days
Indian bank SWIFT fees range from INR 500–1,500 with exchange rate markups of 2–3.5% on the INR to AUD rate. Wise charges around 0.6–1.2% of the transfer amount with the real mid-market rate. Instarem is particularly competitive on this corridor, charging 0.5–1% with fast delivery to Australian accounts. TCS of 5% applies on total LRS remittances exceeding INR 7 lakh per year for non-education purposes. Education remittances funded by loan attract TCS of just 0.5% above the threshold.
The true cost of a money transfer has two components:
Transfer fee
The upfront charge — typically ₹0–₹10 with specialist providers.
Exchange rate markup
The hidden cost — the difference between the provider's rate and the mid-market rate (0.0145).
Choose how you want to pay for your transfer. Each payment method has different costs and speeds.
Bank deposit is the standard delivery method for transfers to Australia. Cash pickup is available through international providers like Western Union and MoneyGram.
Speed: 1–3 business days
Usually the cheapest option — lowest fees and no card processing charges
Speed: Minutes to hours
Fast and convenient — small card processing fee applies
Speed: Minutes to hours
Fastest option but highest fees — card issuer may charge cash advance fee
Speed: Varies
Pay cash at an agent location — available at select providers
Your recipient in Australia can receive money through these delivery methods. The best option depends on their location and preferences.
Direct transfer to bank accounts in Australia.
Collect cash from agent locations in Australia.
Important rules and requirements to know before sending money to Australia.
Documentation you may need
SWIFT transfers from Indian banks to Australian bank accounts typically take 2–4 business days. Wise and Instarem can deliver within 1–2 business days using NPP (New Payments Platform) or direct deposit on the Australian side. Form A2 and PAN verification are required for all outbound LRS remittances. Australian banking hours and holidays may affect deposit timing — note that Australia is 4.5–5.5 hours ahead of India.
Daily best exchange rates from top providers over the last 14 days. Rates shown are for sending $100.
| Date | Western Union | __mid Market__ | Skrill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trend | |||
| May 27 | 0.0144 | 0.0147✓ | — |
| May 26 | 0.0144 | 0.0147✓ | — |
| May 25 | 0.0144 | 0.0147✓ | 0.0142 |
| May 24 | 0.0144 | 0.0146✓ | 0.0142 |
| May 23 | 0.0144 | 0.0147✓ | 0.0142 |
| May 22 | 0.0143 | 0.0146✓ | — |
| May 21 | 0.0143 | 0.0146✓ | — |
| May 20 | 0.0143 | 0.0146✓ | — |
| May 19 | 0.0142 | 0.0145✓ | 0.0141 |
| May 18 | 0.0143 | 0.0146✓ | 0.0141 |
| May 17 | 0.0143 | 0.0145✓ | 0.0142 |
| May 16 | 0.0143 | 0.0146✓ | 0.0142 |
| May 15 | 0.0142 | 0.0145✓ | 0.0140 |
| May 14 | 0.0142 | 0.0145✓ | 0.0140 |
Based on our comparison data, Wise and Instarem consistently deliver the most Australian dollars per rupee on the INR to AUD corridor. Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate with a transparent fee of around 0.6–1.2%. Instarem, which has a strong presence in both the Indian and Australian markets, offers competitive rates with fees of 0.5–1%. For an INR 50,000 transfer, using a digital provider over a bank saves INR 1,000–2,800. BookMyForex is popular for larger education-related transfers. Traditional banks are the most expensive option due to high SWIFT fees and wide exchange rate spreads of 2–3.5%.
You can pay Australian university tuition through a bank SWIFT transfer or a digital provider like Wise, BookMyForex, or Instarem. Many Australian universities also accept payments through aggregators like Flywire or Western Union Business Solutions — compare their rates against direct transfers. You will need the university's Australian bank account details (BSB number and account number) or a payment reference from the university's fee portal. Education remittances under LRS attract a lower TCS rate of 0.5% (for loan-funded payments) above INR 7 lakh, compared to 5% for non-education purposes. Keep all fee receipts and Form A2 copies for tax filing purposes.
All outbound remittances from India under LRS require specific documentation. You must have a valid PAN card — this is mandatory for any LRS transaction. Form A2 (purpose of remittance declaration) must be submitted to your bank or authorized dealer for each transfer. For education payments, an offer letter or fee invoice from the Australian institution is required. For family maintenance transfers, a declaration of relationship with the recipient is needed. Banks may require Form 15CA/15CB for tax compliance. Digital providers like Wise and Instarem have streamlined much of this paperwork through their apps, but the underlying RBI regulatory requirements remain the same. First-time transfers require identity verification with PAN and Aadhaar.
SWIFT transfers from Indian banks typically take 2–4 business days, including LRS documentation processing time. Wise can deliver to Australian bank accounts within 1–2 business days, often within 24 hours, using Australia's New Payments Platform (NPP) for faster settlement. Instarem typically delivers within 1–2 business days. BookMyForex takes 1–3 business days. First-time transfers may take longer due to PAN verification and compliance checks. Australia's time zone advantage (4.5–5.5 hours ahead of India) means transfers sent in the morning IST can be processed the same Australian business day. Australian bank holidays, including state-specific holidays, may cause minor delays.
Yes, Instarem is one of the strongest providers for the INR to AUD corridor. As a Singapore-headquartered company with operations in both India and Australia, Instarem has optimized this specific route with competitive exchange rates typically within 0.5–1% of the mid-market rate and low fees. Instarem is RBI-authorized for outbound remittances from India and supports direct bank deposits to any Australian bank account. The platform handles LRS documentation digitally, including Form A2 generation. Delivery to Australian accounts is typically within 1–2 business days. Instarem also offers a rewards programme (InstaPoints) for frequent senders. For students making monthly living expense transfers, Instarem's recurring transfer feature and competitive rates make it a strong choice alongside Wise.
Everything about sending money to Australia
Recipient requirements, delivery methods, regulations, popular banks, and more.
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