Can you receive money to GCash from abroad?

If you’re a GCash¹ account holder and you need to get a payment from someone overseas you may be wondering - can GCash receive money from abroad?

The good news is that GCash can receive money from abroad in a number of different ways, either through a direct transfer, with a money request, or via an international remittance partner which works with GCash, like Wise. We’ll look at how it all works in more detail in this guide - including a quick review of how Wise allows you to send and receive PHP payments easily with mid-market rates and low fees².

Can GCash receive from abroad?

Yes. You can receive money to your GCash account in the Philippines from overseas easily, with several different options open to the sender depending on where in the world they are.

Wondering: can you receive money with an unverified GCash account? It’s important to note that you’ll need a verified GCash account to get full account access - including receiving payments³. If your account isn’t verified as yet, take the simple steps to complete this process to make sure your GCash payment comes through smoothly.

How to receive money from GCash from another country - step by step

Probably the easiest option if you want to get paid to GCash is to create a GCash money request. This can be done in a few steps once you’ve logged into your account⁴:

1. Log into GCash and on the homepage tap Send
2. Select Request and then New request
3. Enter the GCash mobile number of the person you’re requesting money from
4. Enter the payment amount and currency
5. Tap Send, and your request is on the way

Once the request has been received by the sender, they can just tap Pay, fund the transfer, and the money will be sent to you. If you don’t want to request money through GCash your sender can still send you a GCash payment either using a remittance partner for a Cash in or through a GCash transfer - we look at how these work in a moment.

How long does it take to receive GCash from abroad?

How long it takes to get your money with GCash will depend on how the sender has structured the payment - we’ll run through some options below. If you’ve been sent money through a GCash partner remittance service, or through the GCash standard international transfer process and it doesn’t arrive once you’ve followed GCash’s troubleshooting steps, you’ll be able to open an in app chat to get advice.

How to send money to GCash internationally

There are several different options for anyone who wants to use GCash to send a payment internationally. But what’s the difference between how to transfer money from an international bank to GCash vs how to put money in GCash abroad (Cash in)?

You can send money to other GCash account holders from overseas easily - if you’re not using a Philippine registered SIM, bear in mind you can only send money to fully verified GCash account users, and only up to your transaction or wallet limits.

The full details of how the different services available differ is available in the GCash app. As an example, to send money overseas via Express Send, the process looks like this⁵:

1. Log into GCash and on the homepage tap Send
2. Select Express Send
3. Enter the mobile number and amount you wish to send. Tap Next
4. Check the box to confirm that the details are correct. Tap Send

You can also send money using a QR - or choose one of the GCash Cash in options through global partners and remittance services. How GCash international Cash in options work can vary depending on the remittance service you select - GCash has a list of preferred providers online or in the app. To see how the one you want to use works, take the following steps³:

1. Log into GCash and on the homepage tap Cash In
2. Select Global Partners and Remittance
3. Under Remittance Partners, select your preferred partner
4. You’ll be shown the instructions to cash in

Remittance partners vary based on where in the world the sender is based, but can include global money transmitters like Western Union or Moneygram, and low cost specialist services like Wise. Compare a few because the fees you pay may vary depending on the GCash partner you select. Look at both the fee applied and the exchange rate being used to convert the payment for deposit in PHP as both make a difference to the ultimate amount received to GCash - more on that next.

GCash payment fees and exchange rates

There’s no GCash fee to receive a Cash in remittance to your account⁶.

It’s worth checking the exchange rate that’s used to convert the sent funds to PHP if you’re expecting a GCash payment - the rate used may include a markup, which can mean you get less in the end than you were expecting. A markup is a fee which is rolled up into the exchange rate offered to convert to PHP - but it’s not always easy to see. To spot if a markup has been used, compare the rate provided by GCash or by their third party provider, to the mid-market exchange rate you can find on Google. Some services - like Wise - use the mid-market rate with no markup, but not all take this approach.

Getting paid from overseas? Receive money from abroad without hidden fees with Wise

If you’re a freelancer or a dependent of an overseas foreign worker, receiving payments has never been easier with the Wise account!

The Wise account lets you receive money for free from abroad, without the need to have bank accounts in multiple countries. You can get your own unique bank account details in 9+ different currencies (including AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HUF, NZD, SGD, USD, and TRY) and receive like a local.

After you’ve received the money you can easily move funds from your Wise Account to your local bank account or e-wallet, by converting to PHP at the mid-market exchange rate - like the one you see on Google - and low transparent fees!

It also comes with the Wise prepaid card, which lets you spend globally in 160+ countries and shop online at the same mid-market exchange rate. Start bringing your money home in a smart way without extra hidden fees with Wise!

Get a Wise account today