How to send money to US from Indonesia with the best IDR-USD rate

The exchange rate is the price you will pay when buying US Dollar in Indonesia. A better exchange rate means you send more US Dollars to the United States.

Currently, the mid-market rate between the Rupiah and US Dollar is 0.0001. Exchange rates between IDR-USD change almost constantly.

The cost of sending money from United States to the United States, is made-up of a combination of fees and exchange rates:

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The mid-market rate determines a mid-price for buying currency. The current mid-market rate from IDR-USD is 0.0001 USD per Rupiah.

• Fees: Outside of exchange rates, you may need to pay a fee to send. Sling Money currently offers the lowest fees on transfers to the United States from Indonesia, costing 42000 IDR per transfer. Although this does include large transfers as well, we recommend searching for your exact send amount for an exact fee.

• Amount Received: The amount received in US Dollar is the amount you started with, minus the amount you paid in the exchange and fees.

Waiting a day or two can help you get more USD for the same amount of Rupiahs, but you may also end up paying more if you do wait.

A better option is to use a forward contract. This allows you to lock in an agreed exchange rate for transfers between Indonesia and the United States for a set amount of time, this can be up to two years in some cases.

Sending through a money transfer company via a bank transfer will most often be the way to get the best price when sending money from Indonesia to the United States.

Here are all the ways to send money from Indonesia to United States:

Bank transfers

Bank transfers are often the better option for money transfers from Indonesia to the United States.

Sending money via a bank transfer with a company such as Sling Money for transfers from Indonesia to the United States allows you to benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get with a traditional bank. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from Indonesia to the United States with a prepaid or a debit card is very simple with Western Union Agent.


Western Union Agent is a leader in card payments for transfers from Indonesia to the United States, competing among a total of 6 active money transfer companies on this route.

Credit cards

When it comes to international credit card transfers from Indonesia to the United States, we recommend comparing your options to get the best deal.

Beware of fees: using a credit card to transfer money often results in a fee being charged by your card issuer. Where possible, we recommend a bank transfer or debit card payment instead.

and have different regulators for financial transactions and ensuring you fully understand these regulations will aid in keeping your money safe.

Our directory of worldwide financial regulators has regulation details for money transfers between Indonesia and United States.

Money transfer companies offering services between Indonesia and the United States have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can send or receive. These can be daily, weekly or monthly.

In particular, rates and fees for sending different amounts of Rupiah could change. We always recommend comparing IDR-USD rates for your specific transfer amount. Then, with transfers to the United States, shopping around each time can make a huge difference - as some providers offer introductory rates.

If you’re worried about transfer limits, for sending large amounts of IDR to the United States, we’d recommend Wise.

There are different options for receiving US Dollar in the United States. The most popular are direct bank deposit, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account. Not all providers offering transfers from Indonesia to the United States will offer every method for incoming US Dollar, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

Sending directly to a bank account is one of the most common ways to send money from Indonesia into the United States. For most part, this is because it means the recipient has to do very little. Wise is the best company for bank transfers between Indonesia and United States.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between Indonesia and the United States.

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 Sling Money.

You will need to verify your ID at the sign up stage when sending from Indonesia to the United States through a money transfer company.

Documents needed will vary and in some cases you might need a couple of different forms of ID.

ID can be verified in Indonesia through a government issued ID such as a passport or driver's license. If the recipient needs ID to collect money in the United States, both of these will also likely be accepted. Depending on the company you are using and where the money is going in the United States, it’s always best to check ahead just in case.

Larger transactions between Indonesia and the United States are likely to be subject to additional checks such as proof of funds for anti-money laundering purposes. This could slow down the process of sending money if you’re not prepared for them.

One of the reasons Wise scored so highly for large and regular transfers to the United States, was their easy sign up process in Indonesia.

When sending money between Indonesia and the United States there will be tax declarations to consider.

Some transfers into US Dollar may need to be reported to tax authorities in the United States. This is of particular note where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Personal allowances and tax limits will change in the United States based on age, income and personal circumstance. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Indonesia or the United States to discuss your individual needs. This will ensure you are not missing any specific tax obligations associated with your transfer.