What Remitly Is and How It Sends Money

Remitly is a digital money transfer service that lets you send money from the United States to people in other countries. You start the transfer on Remitly's website or mobile app, fund it from your bank account or debit card, and the recipient gets the money in their local currency within hours or days, depending on the destination and the speed you choose.

Remitly operates in over 130 countries and territories. The service is designed for people sending money to family, friends, or to pay bills abroad — not for business transfers or large commercial payments. You control the exchange rate you see before you send, so there are no surprises after you hit send.

The company is regulated as a money transmitter in all 50 U.S. states and holds licenses in each state where it operates. This means your money is held in trust accounts and protected by state money transmitter laws, not held by Remitly itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Remitly charges a flat fee or percentage fee depending on the destination country and the delivery speed you choose, and you see the total cost before you confirm the transfer.
  • You can fund a transfer from a U.S. bank account, debit card, or credit card, and the recipient receives money in their local currency through a bank deposit, cash pickup, or mobile wallet depending on the country.
  • Standard delivery takes one to five business days; express delivery is faster but costs more, and both timelines depend on the receiving country's banking hours and holidays.
  • Remitly requires you to verify your identity with a government ID and confirm your address before your first transfer, which is a federal anti-money-laundering requirement.
  • You can set up recurring transfers so the same amount goes to the same person on a schedule you choose, and you can pause or cancel a transfer before it is picked up or deposited.

How to Send Money Through Remitly

Start by creating an account on the Remitly website or app. You will need your email address, a password, and a phone number. Remitly will text you a verification code to confirm your phone number.

Next, you verify your identity. Remitly asks for a government-issued ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card) and your current address. You can upload photos of your ID through the app, and Remitly checks these documents automatically. This step usually takes a few minutes, though it can take up to 24 hours if Remitly needs to review your information manually.

Once your account is verified, you start a transfer by entering the recipient's country, the amount in U.S. dollars, and how fast you want the money to arrive. Remitly shows you the exchange rate, the fee, and the amount the recipient will get in their local currency. You then choose how the recipient will get the money: bank deposit, cash pickup at a partner location, or mobile wallet (in countries where this is available).

You fund the transfer by linking a bank account or entering a debit card number. Bank transfers are usually free or cost less than debit card transfers. After you confirm, Remitly sends the money to the receiving country's partner bank or service, and the recipient gets it according to the delivery speed you chose.

Delivery Speed and How Long Money Takes to Arrive

Remitly offers two main delivery speeds: Standard and Express. Standard delivery typically takes one to five business days and costs less. Express delivery is faster — usually same-day or next-day — and costs more.

The actual time depends on several factors beyond Remitly's control. The receiving country's banks may have different operating hours or holidays. If you send money on a Friday evening, it may not process until Monday. Some countries have weekly banking schedules or seasonal closures. Cash pickups at partner locations may take longer than bank deposits because the recipient has to physically go to the location during business hours.

When you start a transfer, Remitly shows you an estimated delivery date based on the country, the delivery method, and the speed you chose. This is the best estimate available at the time you send, but it is not a may provide. You can check the status of your transfer in the app or on the website at any time.

Fees and Exchange Rates

Remitly charges a fee for each transfer. The fee structure varies by destination country and delivery speed. Some transfers have a flat fee (for example, $2 for a standard transfer to Mexico), while others use a percentage of the amount you are sending (for example, 1.5% for an express transfer to the Philippines). You see the exact fee before you confirm the transfer.

Remitly also applies an exchange rate when converting U.S. dollars to the recipient's currency. This rate is set by Remitly and may differ from the mid-market rate you see on financial news sites. The exchange rate Remitly uses is shown on the transfer screen before you send, so you know exactly how much the recipient will get.

Remitly does not charge you to receive money or to hold an account. There are no monthly fees, no inactivity fees, and no fees for setting up recurring transfers.

Who Can Receive Money and How

The recipient does not need a Remitly account. They just need to be in a country where Remitly operates and have a way to receive the money. The three main options are bank deposit, cash pickup, or mobile wallet.

For bank deposit, the recipient provides their bank account number and bank details. Remitly sends the money directly to that account. This is usually the fastest and cheapest option.

For cash pickup, Remitly partners with local money transfer agents, banks, and retail locations in the receiving country. The recipient goes to one of these locations with an ID and a reference number or code that Remitly provides. They show the code, and the agent gives them cash in the local currency. Cash pickup is available in most countries but may take longer than a bank deposit.

For mobile wallet, available in some countries, the money goes directly to the recipient's mobile money account (such as M-Pesa in Kenya or GCash in the Philippines). This is fast and works for people who do not have a traditional bank account.

Limits on How Much You Can Send

Remitly sets limits on how much you can send per transfer and per day. These limits vary by country and by how long you have had your account. New accounts typically have lower limits, which increase over time as you build a history with Remitly.

You can find your specific sending limit in the app or on the website when you start a transfer. If you need to send more than your limit, you can send multiple transfers, or you can contact Remitly support to ask about increasing your limit.

Remitly also has cumulative limits — the total amount you can send in a calendar month or year. These limits exist to comply with federal anti-money-laundering rules and vary by country.

Canceling or Changing a Transfer

You can cancel a transfer before the recipient picks it up or before it is deposited into their bank account. If you cancel, Remitly refunds the money to the payment method you used (your bank account or debit card), minus the fee you paid. The refund usually takes three to five business days.

Once the recipient has picked up cash or the money has been deposited into their account, you cannot cancel the transfer. If there is a problem — for example, the money went to the wrong account — you will need to contact Remitly support, and they will work with the receiving bank to try to recover the funds. This process can take weeks.

You cannot change the amount or the recipient of a transfer after you send it. If you need to send a different amount or to a different person, you have to cancel the original transfer and start a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to send money with Remitly?

You need a government-issued ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID) and proof of your current address. For the address, Remitly accepts a recent utility bill, bank statement, or government document with your name and address. You upload photos of these documents through the app during account setup.

Can I send money to someone who does not have a bank account?

Yes. You can choose cash pickup as the delivery method, and the recipient picks up the money at a partner location in their country. You can also use mobile wallet in countries where it is available, which works for people with a mobile money account but no traditional bank account.

What happens if the recipient does not pick up the money?

If the recipient does not pick up cash within a certain period (usually 30 to 90 days, depending on the country), the money is returned to you. Remitly will refund it to your original payment method, though the refund may take several business days to process.

Can I set up automatic transfers?

Yes. Remitly lets you create recurring transfers that send the same amount to the same recipient on a schedule you choose — weekly, biweekly, monthly, or on a specific date. You can pause or cancel a recurring transfer at any time through the app.

Is Remitly safe to use?

Remitly is licensed as a money transmitter in all 50 states and holds money in trust accounts, meaning your funds are protected by state law. The company uses encryption to protect your account information and requires two-factor verification for login. However, like any financial service, you should use a strong password and never share your login details.