Ria Money international transfer: fees, rates and timings

If you’re looking to send or receive money internationally, Ria Money Transfer is one of the options you can use here in the UK and is now one of the largest money transfer services in the world.

In this guide, we’ll give you the complete lowdown on Ria - including fees, exchange rates and transfer times.

We’ll also show you how Wise might be a low-cost alternative for international money transfers - so you can send money to 160+ countries or receive money from 8+ countries at the mid-market exchange rate for only a small, transparent fee*.

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

How do international payments with Ria Money Transfer work?

Using Ria Money Transfer, you can make and receive payments online or through the Ria mobile app. You can also arrange collections in person through a worldwide network of 500,000+ locations in 160 countries.¹

From the UK, you can send to over 190 countries,² with a large number of major currencies supported.

What are the fees for an international transfer with Ria?

The transfer fee with Ria varies depending on how much money you’re sending, where you’re sending it to and the delivery method.³

The payment method can also affect the price, with bank account transfers typically being cheaper while credit/debit card transfers can be quicker. However, some credit card companies can charge a cash advance fee, so this is something to watch out for.

So, there’s no flat fee for Ria Money Transfer payments, but you can check prices in your account or on the company’s website before you send.

It’s also worth keeping a lookout for promotions and discounts, as Ria is known to offer these from time to time - especially for new customers.

Ria Money Transfer exchange rates

Alongside the upfront transfer fee, it’s always important to check the exchange rate when making an international transfer.

Some banks and providers add a mark-up on what is known as the mid-market exchange rate, which is how they make a profit on the transaction. But unfortunately, this means that less of your money makes it to your recipient.

So just because upfront fees appear to be low, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a ‘hidden fee’.

Learn more about how Wise is working to stop hidden fees.

Ria Money Transfer claims that its exchange rates are competitive, but it also says it doesn’t match competitors’ rates. It also doesn’t claim to offer the mid-market exchange rate and only uses it as a guide⁴, so it’s likely that there will be a mark-up added to it.

Remember that you can always check what the mid-market rate is for any currency pairing using the Wise currency converter.

How to make an international money transfer with Ria

If you’re ready to set up your first payment with Ria Money Transfer, here’s how to go about it:⁵

1. Sign up for a free account on the Ria website or mobile app. This takes a few minutes and requires identity verification, but it means that you can login and go straight to setting up your money transfer next time.
2. Check the price calculator to see the fees and current exchange rate for your transfer.
3. Click the ‘Send’ or ‘Send Money’ button
4. Choose the country you’re sending to
5. Enter the amount, completing either the ‘You send’ or the ‘Recipient gets’ fields. The first option is how much you’re sending in your home currency, while the second is the amount the recipient will get in theirs.
6. Select a payment method (bank account, debit or credit card)
7. Select a delivery method. This is how your recipient will receive the money, and you can choose from either bank account or cash pickup. In some locations, you might be able to send to a mobile wallet.
8. Enter your recipient’s information. We’ll cover exactly what you need to provide in just a moment.
9. Pay for your transfer.
10. Check the details and hit ‘submit’. Your transfer will be on its way to the recipient, and you’ll receive updates by email from Ria - including when your transfer has been reviewed and when your recipient gets their money.

What do I need in order to make an international transfer with Ria?

Here’s what you’ll need to have ready in order to set up a payment with Ria Money Transfer:⁶

• The name, address and phone number for your recipient, as it appears on their driving licence, passport or other government-issued ID.
• Your recipient’s bank details, including account number, sort code and IBAN (international bank account number). This is required if you’re sending to a bank account, but if you’ve chosen a cash pickup you’ll need details of your recipient’s preferred payout location.

If you’re a new customer, you may also need to have your own valid ID to hand in order to register for a Ria account.

What should I give to the sender in order to receive a transfer with Ria?

If someone else is sending you a transfer through Ria Money Transfer, you’ll need to give them all the details mentioned above. This includes your name, address, mobile phone number and bank account details - including your International Bank Account Number (IBAN).⁷

If you’ve opted for cash pick-up, you’ll need to give the sender the details of your preferred collection location. You’ll then need to take along some government-issued photo ID like a passport or driving licence, and the PIN for the transfer.⁷

How long does an international money transfer with Ria take?

The time it takes for your payment to arrive depends on a few factors.

Firstly, the payment method. If you fund your transfer with a credit or debit card, it’s pretty quick - taking between 15 minutes to 3 hours for the payment to be processed.⁸

The method of receiving the money can also affect the transfer time when using Ria.

Cash pickup is the quickest option, with the money usually being available the same day. Bank transfers can take up to 4 working days, but it varies as banks tend to have different payment processing times.⁸

In some cases, a transfer with Ria can take longer if the payment is flagged for a security review.

Lastly, when you send your payment can affect the delivery time. The processing of your payment may be delayed at weekends and on bank holidays, for example.⁸

How to track Ria transfers

When you submit a transfer, you should receive a confirmation email from Ria along with other email updates. For example, you’ll get a notification once your recipient has received their money.

But if you’d like to keep an eye on the transfer, you can also use Ria’s Track a Transfer Tool. All you’ll need is your order number, PIN or reference number from your confirmation email and you can immediately see where your transfer is up to.

To see previous transfers, you can login to your Ria account and look at recent orders.

How to contact Ria in case of additional questions

If you need help or have a question, you can contact Ria’s customer service team. Here are your options:

• Call the Customer Service team on 0207 467 2539⁹
• Sign in and use the Chat service to speak to someone.

Wise - a convenient, low cost alternative for overseas transfers

If you regularly send money overseas, you’ll be looking for the cheapest possible way to do it. After all, a few extra pounds in fees or a poor exchange rate can soon add up over time.

Wise is a great alternative to banks and other providers, even one with competitive exchange rates like Ria Money Transfer.

With Wise, you’ll always get the mid-market rate with no mark-up for only a low, transparent fee*.

Open a Wise account and you can hold 40+ currencies at once, and receive money from overseas.

Open your account 🌍

There’s also the Wise card, a contactless international card for spending in 150+ countries - which automatically converts currency at the mid-market rate whenever you spend plus a small, upfront conversion fee*.

Explore the Wise card 💳

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And that’s pretty much it - everything you need to know about making international payments with Ria Money Transfer. We’ve covered fees, exchange rates and how to make your first payment.

Just remember to compare both fees and exchange rates before hitting ‘send’ - to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal on your international transfers.

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Sources used:

1. Ria Money Transfer - About Ria
2. Ria Money Transfer - Home
3. Ria Money Transfer - FAQs on fees and exchange rates
4. Ria Money Transfer - Ria rates and conversion
5. Ria Money Transfer - Help - How do I send money with Ria?
6. Ria Money Transfer - Help - What details do I need to send money?
7. Ria Money Transfer - Help - What are the delivery options when I send money?
8. Ria Money Transfer - Help - How long do transfers take?
9. Ria Money Transfer - Ria Money contact details

Sources last checked on date: 17-06-2024