Send money to India
Quick answer: Where you send from decides the cheapest option to India. Across the 11 sending routes we price, the top-ranked estimates right now are Paysend from United States (96,216 INR for $1,000); WorldRemit from United Kingdom (127,762 INR for £1,000); TapTap Send from Germany (108,287 INR for €1,000); TapTap Send from Australia (67,017 INR for A$1,000).
Latest pricing observation: . Oldest observation used: . Quotes are kept per USD→INR pair, not per country, so check is served before you commit. Methodology.
Cheapest way to send money to India, by sending country
The top-ranked estimate on each route we price into India, from our own collected quotes. Choose your country for the full provider ranking.
USD → INR · 20 estimates
Paysend: $1,000 becomes 96,215.9 INR · 0.00% over mid-market · 4,337 INR ahead of the lowest
GBP → INR · 30 estimates
WorldRemit: £1,000 becomes 127,762.08 INR · 0.00% over mid-market · 8,178 INR ahead of the lowest
EUR → INR · 27 estimates
TapTap Send: €1,000 becomes 108,287.39 INR · 0.00% over mid-market · 9,981 INR ahead of the lowest
AUD → INR · 22 estimates
TapTap Send: A$1,000 becomes 67,017.24 INR · 0.00% over mid-market · 3,685 INR ahead of the lowest
CAD → INR · 21 estimates
TapTap Send: C$1,000 becomes 67,516.95 INR · 0.00% over mid-market · 3,922 INR ahead of the lowest
SGD → INR · 14 estimates
InstaReM: S$1,000 becomes 75,146.09 INR · 0.05% over mid-market · 5,909 INR ahead of the lowest
AED → INR · 8 estimates
TapTap Send: د.إ3,000 becomes 78,795.52 INR · 0.00% over mid-market · 4,614 INR ahead of the lowest
BHD → INR · 5 estimates
Wise: BD300 becomes 76,507.07 INR · 0.31% over mid-market · 3,716 INR ahead of the lowest
SAR → INR · 2 estimates
Wise: ﷼3,000 becomes 76,826.52 INR · 0.16% over mid-market · 2,578 INR ahead of the lowest
KWD → INR · 2 estimates
Wise: د.ك250 becomes 78,055.21 INR · 0.00% over mid-market · 4,172 INR ahead of the lowest
OMR → INR · 2 estimates
Wise: ﷼300 becomes 74,918.41 INR · 0.32% over mid-market · 3,232 INR ahead of the lowest
This page covers sending to India from anywhere, which makes it a different question from any single-country route: the providers available to you, the funding methods and the price all depend on where you are sending from, while the receiving side — the rails, the recipient details, the restrictions — is the same for everyone. What follows is the receiving side, which is the half that does not change, plus the measured record for the largest corridor into India.
- IMPS and UPI transfers settle 24/7 in real time — many providers can credit an Indian bank account within minutes of sending.
- Specialist providers like Wise, Remitly, and Instarem routinely beat bank exchange rates by 2–4%, which on a $1,000 transfer can mean ₹1,500–₹3,000 more for your recipient.
- FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) governs inbound remittances. There is no cap on incoming personal transfers; gifts up to ₹50,000 are tax-exempt for the recipient.
- Popular delivery banks include SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis, and Punjab National Bank. Most providers support all major private and public sector banks.
- NRE and NRO accounts allow Indian citizens abroad to receive funds and freely repatriate money home — many providers support transfers directly into NRE accounts.
UPI, IMPS, NEFT and RTGS — what each means for arrival time
India runs several domestic rails and which one your provider uses decides when the money is usable, independently of how fast the provider says it is. All four of India's major payment rails now run continuously: UPI and IMPS settle in seconds, 24/7 including weekends and holidays, addressed by a UPI ID or by account number plus IFSC. NEFT has run 24x7x365 in 48 half-hourly batches since 16 December 2019 — a Friday-evening NEFT payment no longer waits for Monday, it settles in the next half-hourly window, any day of the week. RTGS, for higher-value transfers, has settled in real time 24x7x365 since 14 December 2020. These are properties of the rail, published by the Reserve Bank of India, not promises by any transfer company (sources: RBI NEFT master direction, RBI RTGS FAQ) — a provider quoting "instant" is describing the leg it controls, which does not include the time your own funding takes to clear or how long verification runs on a first transfer. If the deadline matters, pick the payout rail first and the provider second.
What the recipient needs, wherever you send from
A bank deposit into an Indian account needs the account-holder name as the bank holds it, the account number and the branch IFSC. A UPI payout needs the UPI ID and has to be selected explicitly. Many providers ask the purpose of the payment, and permitted purposes vary between services — family maintenance is routinely supported, while investment, property and business payments frequently are not, so confirm before you commit to a provider on price alone. Recipients should also expect that the name on the transfer must match the account exactly; a mismatch is the most common cause of a returned payment on this route. If you are sending from the United States, check how you are funding the transfer, because a 1% federal excise tax applies to covered transfers funded with cash or similar physical instruments and not to account-funded or card-funded ones.
Guides, fees & how it works
Confirm the receiving method and IFSC before comparing quotes
Sending to India comes down to two decisions regardless of where you send from: which receiving method your recipient can actually use, and whether their account and IFSC details are current. Get both confirmed before comparing quotes — a wrong IFSC digit routes to the wrong branch, not just a delay.
- Bank deposit: get the recipient's account number and 11-character IFSC code directly from them, not from memory or an old statement.
- UPI: offered by some providers for instant, low-value payouts — confirm your provider supports it for your sending country before assuming it's an option.
- Large or regular transfers: ask the provider about its own limits and documentation above certain thresholds — these vary by provider, separately from India's own rules.
- First transfer with a new provider: send a small test amount to confirm the account and IFSC combination clears before sending the full amount.
India is the world's largest remittance recipient
India took in $137.7 billion in personal remittances in 2024 — more than the next two recipient countries combined (World Bank data). That scale is exactly why USD/INR, GBP/INR and AED/INR pricing varies more between providers than on thinner corridors, and why it's worth comparing rather than defaulting to whichever provider a friend or family member already uses.
For recurring transfers, it is worth checking live quotes each time rather than relying on one provider by habit.
What you need to send money to India
Full name
Recipient's name exactly as it appears on their bank account
Bank account number
Use the account number shown in the recipient’s bank records; accepted formats depend on the provider
Example: 50100002345678
IFSC code
11-character Indian Financial System Code identifying the specific bank branch
Example: HDFC0001234
Bank name & branch
Name of the bank and branch (e.g. HDFC Bank, Andheri West Branch)
Provider sources for these receiving options: Wise INR requirements · Remitly UK-to-India options · RBI Master Direction — Money Transfer Service Scheme
Note: India doesn't use IBAN. You'll need the recipient's account number plus the 11-character IFSC code identifying their specific bank branch — get both from the recipient, not just the bank name.
How much does it cost to send money to India?
The top-ranked estimate on each sending route into India sits between 0.00% and 0.32% above the mid-market rate: tightest from United States (Paysend), widest from Oman (Wise).
How can my recipient receive money in India?
Recipients in India have 2 ways to receive this transfer: bank deposit; upi or cash pickup.
Bank deposit
Wise’s INR guide lists recipient details and payment-purpose restrictions.
UPI or cash pickup
Remitly lists these options for UK senders. Check availability from your sending country.
What are the transfer limits and regulations for India?
Regulatory body
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), under FEMA
Inbound transfer limits
Personal remittances through the Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) — the channel most cash-pickup and mobile-wallet providers use — are capped at USD 2,500 per transaction, with a maximum of 30 remittances to one beneficiary per calendar year. Amounts above ₹50,000 must be paid by bank credit, cheque or demand draft, not cash.
Important things to know
- The USD 2,500/30-remittance cap applies to the MTSS channel specifically; direct bank-to-bank wire transfers aren't subject to it.
How long does it take to send money to India?
Top-ranked providers advertise 2 days from United States (Paysend), 1-2 business days from United Kingdom (WorldRemit), under 3 minutes (95% of transfers) from Germany (TapTap Send), under 3 minutes (95% of transfers) from Australia (TapTap Send).
Provider-stated speeds for India, not our measurement.
Popular banks in India
8 banks commonly receive international transfers in India, including State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank. SWIFT/BIC codes are shown where we could verify them; confirm the rest with the receiving bank.
State Bank of India (SBI)
—
HDFC Bank
—
ICICI Bank
—
Axis Bank
—
Punjab National Bank (PNB)
—
Kotak Mahindra Bank
—
Bank of Baroda
—
Canara Bank
—
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about sending money to India
What is the cheapest way to send money to India?
Wise and Instarem consistently offer the lowest total cost on the USD-to-INR corridor, typically charging 0.4–0.7% of the transfer amount plus a small flat fee. Always compare the total INR received — not just the fee — since exchange rate markups make up the biggest share of the cost. Remitly's Express option is cheapest for smaller amounts under $500.
How long does a money transfer to India take?
Transfers funded by bank debit or ACH typically arrive within 1–2 business days. Providers that support IMPS or UPI delivery can settle in minutes — Remitly, Wise, and Instarem all offer sub-24-hour delivery on most corridors. Express debit card or credit card funded transfers can arrive in under an hour but usually carry higher fees.
What details do I need to send money to an Indian bank account?
You need the recipient's full legal name (matching their bank account), account number, and the bank's IFSC code. IFSC (Indian Financial System Code) is an 11-character alphanumeric code that identifies the specific bank branch — it appears on chequebooks and bank statements. You do not need a SWIFT code for most specialist provider transfers to India.
Can I send money to a UPI ID or phone number in India?
A handful of providers support UPI-linked transfers where the recipient provides their UPI ID (e.g. name@bank) instead of an account number. Wise supports UPI delivery to India. More commonly, providers use IMPS with the account number and IFSC, which also settles in real time.
Is there a limit on how much money I can send to India?
India has no regulatory cap on inbound personal remittances. However, individual providers impose their own daily and annual limits — typically $25,000–$50,000 per transaction with Wise, Remitly, and Instarem. For amounts above $10,000, US providers are required to file a CTR (Currency Transaction Report). Gifts over ₹50,000 received in a year may be taxable for the recipient under Indian income tax rules.
What is the best way to send money to an NRE account in India?
NRE (Non-Resident External) accounts are fully repatriable — you can bring the money back out of India freely. Most major providers including Wise, Remitly, and Instarem support transfers to NRE accounts. Simply enter the NRE account number and IFSC code as you would a regular account. Interest earned in NRE accounts is tax-free in India.
Which banks in India are best for receiving international transfers?
HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank are known for fast SWIFT and IMPS credit times, often processing international inbound transfers within a few hours. SBI (State Bank of India) has the widest branch network. For NRE/NRO accounts, HDFC and ICICI offer competitive exchange rates on conversion. All nationalised and major private banks in India accept inbound SWIFT transfers.
Do I pay tax on money received from abroad in India?
Money sent as a gift from a close relative (spouse, siblings, parents, etc.) is fully tax-exempt in India regardless of amount. Gifts from non-relatives are taxable under 'income from other sources' if they exceed ₹50,000 in a financial year. Transfers for legitimate purposes like property purchase, education fees, or business transactions are not taxed as income. Your recipient should keep wire transfer records as documentation.
