These services are chosen from among the partners we work with based on special features or offers and the commission we receive. Keep in mind that our promoted picks may not always be the best fit for you. Consider your needs and compare other ways to transfer money to Malaysia in the table below.
Looking for a way to send money to family, friends or a business in Malaysia (or even to your own bank account overseas)? According to MoneySmart, you should avoid Australian banks and go with a money transfer specialist to get better MYR exchange rates and lower fees on international transfers.
Based on the providers we've compared, Western Union is among the cheapest, with competitive exchange rates and fees starting from $0. Need a really fast transfer? Revolut can get money to your recipient in Malaysia within minutes.
Best ways to send money to Malaysia from Australia
The best way to send money to Malaysia depends on your payment method, how you want your money to be received and how fast you need it to arrive.
Online money transfer provider. When buying Australian dollars
or Malaysian ringgits
money transfer specialists typically offer better rates and cheaper fees than a local bank.
Bank transfer. Bank transfers are an easy way to send money to Malaysia but they charge extra for the convenience and are often slower than other methods. AU banks generally add a 3% to 6% markup onto exchange rates.
Cash pickup. If you need your money to arrive fast, cash pickup gives your recipient instant access to the money you've sent when they collect it from their agent location in Malaysia.
Mobile wallet. Essentially an electronic wallet service, mobile wallets allow users to store, send and receive eligible currencies using their phone, often with fees attached.
Home delivery. If your recipient may struggle to get to a cash pickup location, you may be able to opt for door-to-door cash delivery.
Compare the best money transfer companies to send money to Malaysia
{"niche":"AUFMT"}
1 - 18 of 18
Compare alternatives
We currently don't have a partnership for that product, but we have other similar offers to choose from (how we picked these
):
Cheapest way to send money to Malaysia
As reported by the ACCC, bank transfers are typically the cheapest way to get your money to Malaysia. Western Union and Revolut have some of the lowest bank transfer fees of the brands we've compared.
Remember, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer to Malaysia and this has a couple of elements:
Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your Australian bank, money transfer services charge either a fixed or percentage-based fee for making your transfer.
Exchange rates. Another way money transfer providers make money is to add a margin to the mid-market AUD/MYR exchange rate.
Certain providers may give the mid-market rate but add fees on top and others will have low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many Malaysian ringgits your recipient will end up with.
Fastest way to send money to Malaysia
Actual transfer times from Australia to Malaysia can depend on several factors including transfer amount, payment method and currency.
Here are some of the fastest average transfer speeds to Malaysia:
Western Union — within minutes
Revolut — within minutes
Xe Money Transfers — within minutes
Safest way to send money to Malaysia
The safest way to get your money to Malaysia is using a provider registered with Australia's industry regulator, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). All of the companies we've compared in our table are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in both Australia and Malaysia.
A great way to dive deeper is by reading our reviews of each transfer service and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot and similar platforms.
Large money transfers to Malaysia
If you need to make a sizable money transfer to Malaysia, consider using a provider such as OFX or Xe Large Transfers to secure a better MYR exchange rate and benefit from its expertise handling larger transactions.
Using a large transfer specialist can have the following advantages:
Tax guidance. Large transfers to Malaysia may have tax implications for you or your recipient. A transfer specialist can help get you up to speed on the Australian Taxation Office's latest advice.
Foreign exchange tools. Advanced tools such as forward contracts, limit orders and stop-loss orders can help you lock in the MYR exchange rate you want.
Account manager. Some money transfer providers assign a personal account manager who can offer advice and help facilitate transfers.
Phone service. If you want to talk your transfer through with someone, providers such as Western Union and OFX can provide support over the phone.
How to send money to Malaysia from Australia
To send money to Malaysia, you'll need the necessary documentation, your recipient's details and a way to pay.
Compare your options.
Use our table to find a money transfer provider that sends funds to Malaysia. One may be better for cash pickups while another may suit a bank transfer. Once you've found the best one for your requirements, click "Go to site".
Create an account.
You'll need to give your name, address, contact details, proof of ID and method of payment.
Provide your recipient's details.
Enter your recipient's name and contact information. If you're sending straight to their Malaysian bank account, you'll need the account number,
SWIFT or IBAN plus their bank branch's address.
Enter your transfer amount.
Check you're happy with the fees, exchange rates and transfer speed, then enter the amount you wish to send. Double-check the total Malaysian ringgits your recipient gets.
Complete your transfer.
Send your money transfer to Malaysia. Keep your transaction reference number safe so you can track your transfer. Your recipient may need it too.
Example: Muhammad transfers money to Malaysia
Muhammad is working in Australia as a film producer and he stays in regular contact with his elderly parents back home in Malaysia. His parents need some funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Muhammad plans to send them $2,000 from Australia.
He decides to compare a bank and a money transfer specialist to see which one can save the most money on his transaction.
Bank
Money transfer company
Exchange rate
1 AUD = 2.84 MYR
1 AUD = 2.87 MYR
Transfer fee
$10
$2.50
Transfer method
Bank account deposit
Bank account deposit
Processing time
2 - 5 working days
Next day
Amount received
5,643.48 MYR
5,739.74 MYR
The money transfer company enables Muhammad to send an extra RM96.26, which is transferred straight to his parents' Maybank account.
How to choose a money transfer company for Malaysia
When selecting a provider to transfer money to Malaysia, here are the main factors to consider:
Exchange rates. Banks and transfer services use the mid-market rate to trade with one another. However, not every money transfer provider offers the mid-market rate so compare the MYR you're offered to the mid-market rate to calculate the margin.
Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of the transfer amount? A provider offering to transfer your money to Malaysia for a flat or low fee might work out better if you're sending a large amount.
Transfer type. Does your recipient have a Malaysian bank account or is cash pickup a better option? Each transfer type will have different fees. For example,
instant cash pickups
tend to be more expensive than
bank transfers.
Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can pay for an express delivery. Companies such as MoneyGram offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services offer the best value.
Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service. For example, Remitly has a transfer limit of $2,999 while MoneyGram allows transfers up to Varies.
Discounts. Providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up. Others may give a discount for transferring more than a specific amount of Malaysian ringgits.
Is this a good time to send money to Malaysia?
Compared to a month ago, the Australian dollar is a little weaker against the Malaysian ringgit. Currently, $5,000 is worth RM14,439.50, whereas a month ago, $5,000 was equivalent to RM14,545.00. That's a decrease of 0.73% over the past month.
Similarly, compared to a year ago, the Australian dollar is again weaker against the Malaysian ringgit. A year ago, $5,000 was equivalent to RM15,808.50. That's a decrease of 8.66% over 12 months.
What's more important, however, is the strength of the Australian dollar against the Malaysian ringgit and where it goes from here – which is harder to call. Based on those two data points, your Australian dollars might not go as far as they would have, so shopping around for the best deal on your transfer is key.
The most common payment methods for money transfers to Malaysia include bank transfer, credit card and debit card. How you pay can influence how quickly your Malaysian ringgits arrive and the total cost of your transfer, so consider both when deciding.
Photo identification: Most providers require a driver's license, passport or other Australian government-issued ID.
A way to pay: Your options depend on the provider's services. Popular methods include cash, debit or credit card and bank account transfers.
Recipient information: You'll need their name (matching their ID) plus contact details. If sending to a Malaysian bank account, you'll need their account number, SWIFT and branch details.
Transfer number: The reference number – sometimes called a PIN, MTCN or tracking number.
Government-issued ID: An official ID, such as a Malaysian passport or driver's license.
The transfer amount: To know how much has been sent, usually to within 10% of the total.
Sender information: The sender's name and address and the transfer's country of origin.
Each provider has its own sending limit. For example, Western Union and Revolut allow you to transfer as little as $1 while others will have a much higher minimum threshold.
Remember that some providers will have different maximum transfer amounts as a result of Australian tax policies or because their service is more limited.
The turnaround time for a money transfer to Malaysia depends on the provider and how you pay for the transfer. Expect your transfer to arrive within minutes if you pay using cash or with a debit or credit card. Paying by bank transfer can take longer – usually 2–5 business days.
Yes, you can still send a money transfer if neither you nor your recipient in Malaysia has a bank account. Look at cash transfer providers such as Western Union where you can pay with cash and your recipient can collect it as cash or as mobile phone reload on the other end.
I would like to remit a specific amount of Malaysian Ringgit to a bank in Kuala Lumpur. How do I go about it?
Finder
JeniJanuary 24, 2019Finder
Hi Tony,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
If you need to transfer from your Australian bank account to a Malaysian account, please make sure that you have the other Malaysian account details. Kindly click on the green Go to site button of the money transfer company you wish to proceed the transaction with to be redirected to their official page and start registering or process the money transfer via bank transfer.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
AdrianApril 7, 2017
I need to send money to a university in Malaysia. Can WorldRemit do a bank transfer or do I need to use a different organisation?
Finder
JasonApril 8, 2017Finder
Hi Adrian,
Thank you for your enquiry.
WorldRemit can do bank transfer, cash pickup and airtime top-up to Malaysia.
You may also compare WorldRemit with the other money transfer agencies found on this page for more options.
Kind regards,
Jason
AdelynDecember 28, 2016
My friend has just transferred USD100 from his account in Australia to Maybank Malaysia. The Aus bank charged him AUS22 dollars while i expect the charges from Maybank wouldn’t be as much as what the Aus bank charges. It turns out that Maybank deducted RM 190.80 from the amount. Any reason why this is so high?
What is the safest and cheapest way to transfer money in this case?
Finder
DeeDecember 28, 2016Finder
Hi Adelyn,
Thanks for reaching out.
Some banks really charge fees for receiving funds from other banks or countries. You can directly get in touch with Maybank and ask them about the composition of the total RM 190.80 fee.
Other options for sending money to Malaysia are listed in the above comparison table. You can take advantage of our money transfer calculator on top of the table to know how much the recipient will receive per amount that you will send.
Cheers,
Anndy
ZuDecember 19, 2016
My Bank Draft Cheque is from Burkina Faso.Which bank in Malaysia may I deposit/clear my bank draft cheque.Thank you.
Finder
DeeDecember 19, 2016Finder
Hi Zu,
Thanks for your question.
Bank drafts are generally accepted by many banking institutions around the world. If you have a bank account in Malaysia, you can first check with your bank if they accept such bank draft and what sort of fees apply for doing so.
Cheers,
Anndy
IzzatSeptember 3, 2016
Hi,i want to ask about the fee if we tranfer from overseas to malaysia.is it the fee will deduction from the transfer money? Because a lots of overseas people asking me to pay the fee…
Finder
ShirleySeptember 6, 2016Finder
Hi Izzat,
Thanks for your question.
Yes, generally the fee is deducted from the original transfer amount. People usually top up the transfer amount with the fee to ensure the recipient receives the stated amount.
Hope this helps.
How likely would you be to recommend Finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.
Finder is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stand by our editorial principles.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
I would like to remit a specific amount of Malaysian Ringgit to a bank in Kuala Lumpur. How do I go about it?
Hi Tony,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
If you need to transfer from your Australian bank account to a Malaysian account, please make sure that you have the other Malaysian account details. Kindly click on the green Go to site button of the money transfer company you wish to proceed the transaction with to be redirected to their official page and start registering or process the money transfer via bank transfer.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I need to send money to a university in Malaysia. Can WorldRemit do a bank transfer or do I need to use a different organisation?
Hi Adrian,
Thank you for your enquiry.
WorldRemit can do bank transfer, cash pickup and airtime top-up to Malaysia.
You may also compare WorldRemit with the other money transfer agencies found on this page for more options.
Kind regards,
Jason
My friend has just transferred USD100 from his account in Australia to Maybank Malaysia. The Aus bank charged him AUS22 dollars while i expect the charges from Maybank wouldn’t be as much as what the Aus bank charges. It turns out that Maybank deducted RM 190.80 from the amount. Any reason why this is so high?
What is the safest and cheapest way to transfer money in this case?
Hi Adelyn,
Thanks for reaching out.
Some banks really charge fees for receiving funds from other banks or countries. You can directly get in touch with Maybank and ask them about the composition of the total RM 190.80 fee.
Other options for sending money to Malaysia are listed in the above comparison table. You can take advantage of our money transfer calculator on top of the table to know how much the recipient will receive per amount that you will send.
Cheers,
Anndy
My Bank Draft Cheque is from Burkina Faso.Which bank in Malaysia may I deposit/clear my bank draft cheque.Thank you.
Hi Zu,
Thanks for your question.
Bank drafts are generally accepted by many banking institutions around the world. If you have a bank account in Malaysia, you can first check with your bank if they accept such bank draft and what sort of fees apply for doing so.
Cheers,
Anndy
Hi,i want to ask about the fee if we tranfer from overseas to malaysia.is it the fee will deduction from the transfer money? Because a lots of overseas people asking me to pay the fee…
Hi Izzat,
Thanks for your question.
Yes, generally the fee is deducted from the original transfer amount. People usually top up the transfer amount with the fee to ensure the recipient receives the stated amount.
Hope this helps.