How to send money to Somalia from Switzerland with the best CHF-SOS rate

The exchange rate determines the price you’ll pay for Somali Shilling when you send Swiss Franc to Somalia.

The current exchange rate between the Swiss Franc and Somali Shilling is 707.3414, and it constantly fluctuates.

When calculating the cost of sending money from Switzerland to Somalia, a combination of fees and exchange rates ensure the best deal:

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current CHF-SOS mid-market rate is 707.3414 SOS per Swiss Franc. Finding a provider as close to this number as possible will ensure more Somali Shilling for your money.

• Fees: Transfer fees are charged on top of a transfer. Ria Money Transfer currently offers the lowest fees of 4 CHF per transfer (based on fr.200 transfer). Although, we recommend searching for your exact send amount for an exact fee.

• Amount Received: The total amount received in Somali Shilling is the biggest indicator in the total cost of sending money to Switzerland from Somalia. The higher the total amount received in Somalia, the lower the cost of sending from Switzerland.

It’s possible that waiting a day or two can help you get more SOS for the same amount of Swiss Franc. But, the best way to lock in a price between Switzerland and Somalia is by using a forward contract.

A bank transfer is our recommended option for money transfers between Switzerland and Somalia. Ria Money Transfer offers the best price on a bank transfer.

Here are all the ways to send money from Switzerland to Somalia:

Bank transfers

Bank transfers are often the best payment method for money transfers from Switzerland to Somalia.

A money transfer company like Ria Money Transfer offer bank transfers between Switzerland and Somalia with lower fees and better exchange rates than you would get from a traditional bank.

On average, Ria Money Transfer is the cheapest provider for bank transfers of the 4 we tested when sending CHF to Somalia.

Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from Switzerland to Somalia with a debit or a prepaid card is very simple with Western Union Agent.


Western Union Agent is a leader in debit card payments for transfers from Switzerland to Somalia, competing among a total of 4 active money transfer companies on this route.

Credit cards

We recommend avoiding credit cards where possible due to a lack of support and high fees.

If you have to use a credit card, we recommend comparing your options to find the company with the lowest fees.

Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities in both Switzerland and Somalia to ensure funds are protected.

Please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide for key regulatory bodies for money transfers between Switzerland and Somalia.

Some services have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can transfer from Switzerland to Somalia.

Companies will offer different rates and fees for different transfer amounts. Some companies will become more expensive after certain thresholds are hit.

We’d recommend using Western Union Agent if you need to send large amounts of CHF to Somalia. The combination of rates and fees when sending to Somalia is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

Also, always check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money leaving Switzerland, or entering Somalia. Mis-understanding these could result in a slower, or even failed, transfer.

There are different ways to receive money in Somalia. You can do a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, use a mobile wallet or receive money into a multi-currency account. It’s likely not all providers serving transfers from Switzerland to Somalia will offer every method, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

A direct transfer to a bank account is one of the more common ways to transfer from Switzerland into Somali Shilling. Western Union Agent is the best company for bank transfers between Switzerland and Somalia.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between Switzerland and Somalia.

Mobile wallet services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular too, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Ria Money Transfer.

When signing up to a money transfer company to send between Switzerland and Somalia, you will need to verify your ID.

The exact documents you need might vary and in some cases you will need more than one.

For the most part, in Switzerland this will be a government ID like a passport or driver's license. In Somalia it will be a similar set of documents, although this should only be needed if you are opening a new account in Somalia, or collecting in cash.

Big transactions between Switzerland and Somalia, are subject to additional checks. A provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where the money comes from.

We recommend Western Union Agent in part due to their easy sign up process in Switzerland.

When sending large amounts of money between Switzerland and Somalia there will be tax implications to consider.

Some transfers into Somali Shilling may need to be reported to tax authorities in Somalia, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances differ in Somalia based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Switzerland or Somalia to discuss your personal circumstances.