Last updated on 08/09/2026
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Do you want to transfer money to Chile from abroad? Or do you want to transfer money from Chile to another country? Whether you need to send money from the US to Chile to fund your relocation, or repatriate Chilean pesos to your home country, we detail below the different options you can use, what each one costs, and the procedure to follow.
Money transfers are one piece of your financial setup in Chile. See our finance guide for the full picture, including which banks work best for expats and how to open a Chilean bank account.
Current picks:- For transfers from abroad to Chile under about USD 10,000, compare Wise with a bank wire using the final CLP amount quoted.- For transfers from Chile to another country, compare Global 66 with Currencybird.Both company links are referral links.
How to transfer money to Chile: every option compared
| Method | Real total cost | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank wire (SWIFT) | USD 10-30 fixed + 2-3% hidden in the exchange rate | 1-4 business days | Large amounts (USD 10,000+), property purchases |
| Wise | Low upfront fee, mid-market rate | Often under 24 h | Amounts under ~USD 10,000, recurring pension transfers |
| Global 66 / Currencybird | Low fee, competitive rate | 1-2 days | Sending money out of Chile |
| Western Union / MoneyGram / AFEX | Up to 5-7% hidden in the rate | Minutes | Emergencies, cash pickup, no bank account |
| Asset managers (LarrainVial, Renta 4) | Negotiated institutional rates | Days | USD 50,000+ and investment flows |
The rest of this guide explains each option in detail, including the exact information your bank will ask for and the fees to compare.
The "traditional" bank transfer via SWIFT
The easiest way to make a transfer to Chile from a foreign country (or vice versa) is to use the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system. This system was created to establish a common and standardized process for international financial transactions, so that today most international transfers are made through this network.
To make a transfer, you need to provide your bank with the following information:
- Name of the Chilean bank,
- SWIFT / BIC code of the bank or branch where the account to be credited is open,
- Full name and RUN of the account holder,
- Account number,
- Reason for payment,
- Detailed costs: OUR (responsibility of the sender), BEN (responsibility of the beneficiary) or SHA (shared costs). By default, the costs are shared. If you make a transfer account to account, it is better to keep SHA. In the other two cases, many banks overcharge fees because they have to surrender some of them.
Make sure all the data are correct so as not to slow down the procedure. If all these data are provided, the transfer takes between 24 and 96 hours to arrive on the beneficiary's account.
You should know that the only proof of the transfer is the copy of the SWIFT message. Copies of payment orders have no value.
If you are a member of the Euro zone, the transfer standard is the IBAN standard. The account's IBAN number is the only number needed to make a transfer within the Euro zone. This system does not exist outside the Euro zone, except a few exceptions that we do not detail here. The rest of the world uses the SWIFT system.
Most bank executives in Europe do not understand that other countries can use a different system, and ask for an IBAN number. In this case, let them know that Chile uses the SWIFT system and that an IBAN transfer is not an option.
What does it cost to wire money to Chile bank to bank?
Each bank has a different price structure. Generally, the commission consists of a fixed amount of 10 to 30 dollars (or an equivalent amount in the currency of the country of issue) and a commission of 2-3%, "hidden" in the conversion rate you are offered between the original currency and the destination currency. On a USD 10,000 wire, that hidden spread alone is USD 200-300. Compare the final peso amount received, not only the advertised fee.
You can negotiate these fees with your bank. It all depends on your relationship with your bank. For large amounts, above a few thousand dollars, or tens of thousands of dollars, you can lower this rate. For large transfers as part of investment, the bank transfer remains the best option.
For smaller amounts, banks are unlikely to accept, and it is better to use the transfer platforms described below.
How much money can you send by bank transfer to Chile?
The maximum amount of transfer for which no proof is required is generally USD 10,000, but this limit may vary depending on the sending country and the transfer method chosen. If you want to transfer an amount over USD 10,000, you have to declare this sum and provide your bank with proof of source of funds.
Most SWIFT transfers to the Chilean peso go through the dollar, even if the original currency is not the US dollar. In this case, there will be two currency conversions during this transaction: the first from the original currency to the dollar, and the second from the dollar to the Chilean peso. The transaction will then go through a US bank called Intermediate Bank, which is entitled to perform this kind of transaction under the Bretton Woods Agreements of 1946. This may involve additional constraints for US residents.
Historical players specialized in international funds transfer: Western Union / MoneyGram / AFEX
Western Union, MoneyGram or the Chilean AFEX are historical players in currency transfers. They have foreign exchange offices, which allows you to exchange cash, but also to receive funds directly in cash. This point is the big advantage of these actors. It allows you to send funds to and from Chile very quickly, without needing a bank account in the sending or receiving country.
On prices, do not rely on their advertising. They almost all use the same strategy of saying they do not take a fixed commission. What they do not say is that the exchange rate offered to you at their office or on their site is very disadvantageous compared to the exchange rate of the day on the financial markets. When comparing them, the gap can go up to 5 or 7% "hidden" commission.
Websites:
We recommend these companies only in an emergency, and for small amounts, especially if you need to send or receive cash. However, for larger transfers, or if you have a bank account and are not in too much of a hurry, the SWIFT system or the platforms below will cost less.
Need a RUT from abroad?
The service includes:
- Power of attorney and local representation
- Application filed in Chile
- RUT delivered electronically
Asset managers
In every country, there are specialized financial asset management companies (stock brokers / wealth managers), whose clients are wealthy people who want to diversify their investments. These companies generally offer transfers at better exchange rates than banks, because for them it is a service for their investor clients.
To be able to open an account in this type of company and avoid account maintenance fees, it usually takes between USD 15,000 and 20,000 worth of assets to invest. Do not bother to contact them for smaller transfers.
For amounts over USD 50,000, ask an asset manager and your bank for quotes. Asset managers may offer a better rate, while the platforms presented below may not accept transfers of that size.
In Chile, the main asset managers are:
Transfer platforms: sending money to Chile from abroad
Transfer platforms use local accounts to reduce international transfer costs and processing times. If you want to transfer money from the US to Chile, including a recurring transfer such as a monthly pension, compare these platforms for amounts under USD 10,000.
How are they achieving this?
The principle is fairly simple. The company opens bank accounts in several countries, and has funds on each of the accounts, which allows it to receive or send money only between local accounts.
For example, if you want to send dollars to Chile:
- You transfer dollars from your account in dollars, to the account of the company in the dollar zone,
- The company transfers pesos from its account in Chile to your account in Chile.
It does not actually do the international transfer, which is expensive in time and bank commission, and can offer you a better price than most banks.
Here is a little video which explains this system:
Which one to choose?
There are many international remittance companies. Pricing varies by currency and amount. We only describe those that work in Chile.
For transfers up to USD 5,000 to 10,000, compare their final CLP quote with a bank wire. All companies listed below are registered in their home country, and therefore subject to controls similar to those in effect in the financial system.
Wise (ex Transferwise)
Wise is an online international-transfer service. For the currencies listed here (USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD), compare its quoted CLP amount with the alternatives before sending.
Availability, limits, fees, and delivery times vary by currency route, payment method, and account type. Check the live quote for your transfer rather than relying on a fixed limit or delivery estimate. A Wise Account can also hold and convert multiple currencies where that feature is available.
This Wise link is a referral link. Any current promotion and its conditions are shown by Wise before you confirm.
Xoom
It is the PayPal money transfer platform. It only works from an account in EUR, USD, GBP or CAD and is limited to USD 2,999 per transfer.
Website: www.xoom.com
PayPal
You may be wondering, why not use PayPal to transfer funds? We tested it, and we do not recommend it:
- PayPal is not present in Chile. In fact, if you make a transfer to Chile, to withdraw funds, you have to create a MultiCaja account. Without this account, you will not be able to transfer your funds to your Chilean bank account. And MultiCaja's commission is added to PayPal's commission.
- PayPal is willing to block your account very quickly if it believes that a transaction is not legitimate, as this site is very controlled in the US. PayPal also does not allow transfers of funds between two accounts belonging to the same person, called cash advance. Performing this kind of operation quickly leads to the blocking of your account. PayPal has the right to block your funds up to 90 days.
WorldRemit
WorldRemit offers two useful services, beyond the account-to-account transfer service like Transferwise:
- Refilling a Chilean mobile phone from an account abroad.
- Receiving cash money in an office of the company MORE, after sending it via the WorldRemit website.
Website: www.worldremit.com
SmallWorld
We do not recommend it.
We tested the EUR > CLP transfer between two accounts belonging to the same person. SmallWorld required a lot of documents, especially to justify the source of the funds via pay slips... Since the person was no longer in France and it was her savings, she did not have the means of producing such evidence. As a result, we spent a week trying to recover the funds on the account in euros. The customer service was unresponsive throughout.
Website: www.smallworldfs.com
Azimo (service discontinued)
Azimo was acquired by Papaya Global in 2021 and its money transfer services have been discontinued. If you were using Azimo, consider the other platforms mentioned in this guide.
Azimo previously operated from European currencies to the Chilean peso, including Nordic currencies outside the euro zone (PLN / SEK / DKK). For similar services, consider using Wise or other platforms mentioned above.
Website: www.papayaglobal.com (corporate services only)
Transfer platforms: sending money from Chile to another country
Few platforms currently offer to send funds from Chile. Most platforms are based in Europe or the United States. It is therefore much simpler to send money from the United States to Chile for example, than the opposite. Transferwise allowed this in 2014-2015, but the service has stopped since.
However, two platforms based in Chile exist:
Currencybird
It is a Chilean platform founded in 2014 and registered with the UAF (Unidad de Analisis Financiero), the supervisory body for banks and financial institutions in Chile. It allows you to send funds from a Chilean account to an account abroad (no transfer in cash). You must have a valid Chilean ID card to use this service.
Website: www.currencybird.cl
Global 66
It is a new platform launched in early 2018, focused on clients based in Latin American countries who want to send funds abroad. It is also registered with the UAF. The founders are Chilean entrepreneurs, who contributed 2 million dollars to develop the platform. The company currently realizes several millions dollars per month of transfer.
You can get $10 off your first transfer via this link.
Other alternatives
Use Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency
If you want more discretion for your money transfers, you can buy cryptocurrency through a broker in your home country and then resell it through another broker in the destination country.
The fees are higher than with specialized international transfer platforms, but if you need to transfer funds without being asked questions, this may be an option.
Trade money with someone who needs to do the reverse transaction.
Do you have Chilean pesos and need dollars? There are certainly people around you who may be interested in the reverse transaction. For example:
- Expats who are paid in their home country and who need Chilean pesos,
- Employees with a local contract in Chile, who need to repatriate funds to their home country, to pay a loan, or help their family.
- You can propose the deal on Facebook expatriates groups. If you do so, specify the approximate amount you want to change. Some people may be interested to change 1000 or 2000 dollars, but depending on whether you have 20 or 50,000 dollars, it will not interest the same people.
How to proceed? It is simple:
- You go to xe.com to check the exchange rate of the day,
- You make an account-to-account transfer abroad, and they give you the pesos in cash or via a bank transfer in Chile.
Obviously, these exchanges rely on trust. If you are suspicious, you can use the methods mentioned above, that are safe, fast and do not cost much more.
Next steps
A local account simplifies receiving money in Chile. Read our guides on banks in Chile for expats and opening a bank account in Chile. Both require a RUT number. Before sending, compare the final CLP amount, transfer fees, limits, and required source-of-funds documents.
A consultation is cheaper than a scam
Foreigners overpay or get burned by bad advice every week. An hour with someone who has done this for years saves far more than it costs.
- Years of doing this, not guesswork
- Spot the traps before they cost you
- One hour saves more than it costs
