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Table of Contents
Receiving overseas money into M-PESA gives you a wallet balance, while taking that balance out as cash is a separate transaction with its own cost.
My suggestion is to choose where you want to use the shillings first, then compare delivery to that wallet, a Kenyan bank account or a cash collection point.
A suitable foreign-currency bank account can retain eligible dollar or other currency payments when you do not want immediate conversion.
You usually do not need the sender’s transfer app when the company pays your existing bank account or registered wallet.
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At a glance
M-PESA: receive KES into your registered wallet through a supported international partner.
Bank deposit: receive into your existing Kenyan account using the sender’s chosen service.
Cash collection: take accepted ID and the reference to a participating agent.
Keep USD: use an eligible foreign-currency bank account with matching wire instructions.
Costs: compare the KES credited and any later wallet withdrawal or bank charges.
Ways to receive money from abroad in Kenya
The account you use every day is often the simplest destination, provided it can accept the payment and has enough capacity.
Receiving option
What you need
Money received
Main cost or restriction
M-PESA
Active registered wallet and matching name
KES wallet balance
Wallet headroom and later withdrawal charges
Other supported mobile money
Registered eligible Airtel Money or Equitel account
KES balance
Sender must choose the correct network
Transfer company paying your bank
Name, account number and bank details
Usually KES
Quote and bank charges depend on route
International bank wire
Bank-issued SWIFT instructions
KES or accepted account currency
Correspondent charges and conversion
Cash collection
Accepted ID and transfer reference
Cash at an agent
Opening hours and available cash
PayPal withdrawal
Eligible linked PayPal and M-PESA accounts
KES after withdrawal conversion
Separate conversion and withdrawal process
Receive directly into M-PESA
A supported international transfer service can pay money into your registered M-PESA number, leaving you with a KES balance you can use locally.
You need an active, fully registered account, and the name on the remittance must match the name registered to your wallet.
Give the sender your full registered name and mobile number in the format requested, plus your city or other details required during setup.
For money sent from the UK to Kenya, WorldRemit supports M-PESA payout and also offers Airtel Money and Equitel receiving options.
The sender chooses Kenya, mobile money and the correct network before paying, so a bank-deposit quote should not be assumed to reach your phone.
You can spend an incoming M-PESA balance on supported payments without first collecting banknotes, which can avoid an unnecessary cash withdrawal.
I like receiving household money this way when you already pay your bills through M-PESA, while checking cash-out costs if you need physical cash.
Safaricom’s wallet limits and the sending company’s limits both apply, so an approved M-PESA account does not guarantee every remittance amount will fit.
M-PESA’s general per-transaction limit is KSh250,000, with daily and account limits of KSh500,000, while international partners can impose lower limits.
Check the available balance capacity before the sender pays, particularly if your wallet already holds money or another remittance is due.
A payment may credit quickly after approval, but verification or an incorrect registered name can prevent an otherwise valid phone number from receiving it.
For broader network choices and wallet features, our mobile money transfers in Kenya guide covers the services in more detail.
Receive into a Kenyan bank account
The sender can choose a transfer company that converts their currency and deposits KES into your existing Kenyan bank account.
Wise, Remitly and other overseas services support Kenyan receiving routes, although the service and available payout methods depend on where the sender lives.
You provide beneficiary details, while the sender opens the transfer account and completes any funding or identification checks required abroad.
For a bank deposit, prepare the following details for your sender:
Full account-holder name.
Bank name and account number.
Branch information or bank code when requested.
Phone number, address and payment purpose when required.
I prefer bank receipt when the payment needs to stay in your account for rent, savings or a larger local expense.
You can move money from your bank to a wallet later, but include that extra transfer’s charges when comparing it with direct mobile-money receipt.
If a pension administrator or another organisation uses international wires, ask your bank for its incoming SWIFT instructions for the payment currency.
These may include your bank’s BIC, branch details and an intermediary bank, alongside your account number and beneficiary address.
KCB can receive overseas remittances by SWIFT, giving you a bank route when the sender cannot use a remittance app.
Confirm whether your bank converts the payment automatically, because a USD wire into a KES account will not leave you holding dollars.
Keep foreign currency in a bank account
A Kenyan foreign-currency account can help if you receive dollars and expect to spend, save or make another permitted payment in dollars.
KCB offers foreign-currency accounts, while National Bank has foreign-currency current accounts in currencies including USD, EUR and GBP.
Ask the bank which account you can open personally and whether it accepts the specific incoming payment you expect.
Use the receiving instructions for that currency account, rather than giving your ordinary shilling-account details and hoping the bank retains the currency.
Check incoming-wire charges, minimum balances and the cost of moving or withdrawing the currency before opening an account for a small occasional payment.
Keeping USD postpones conversion and exposes you to later exchange-rate changes, so it does not guarantee a better shilling result.
Our multi-currency accounts in Kenya guide compares the account decision separately from the sender’s choice of remittance service.
Collect cash through a remittance agent
Western Union lets you collect an eligible international transfer at a participating Kenyan agent when the sender chooses cash pickup.
Bring accepted government-issued photo ID and the Money Transfer Control Number, with your name matching the transfer record.
Have the sender’s name, sending country and expected amount ready, then confirm the payment is available before visiting the collection point.
Agent opening hours and available cash affect when you can collect, even if the transfer itself is ready within minutes.
I suggest cash when you cannot access a wallet or bank account, or when collecting cash directly avoids another paid withdrawal.
Check the collection amount before the sender confirms, because cash convenience does not establish that its exchange rate beats bank or wallet delivery.
Withdraw an eligible PayPal balance to M-PESA
If you already receive through PayPal, the PayPal to M-PESA service can move an eligible balance into your linked Kenyan wallet.
You need eligible accounts with matching registration details, and the withdrawal converts the balance before you receive spendable KES.
The service charges a 3% conversion fee for withdrawals, which is separate from any PayPal payment fee or later M-PESA cash withdrawal.
This adds a step compared with direct wallet payout, so I'd say compare the whole cost before choosing PayPal for regular personal support.
For client payments, compare business currency accounts and check commercial payment fees and permitted use, rather than treating a personal transfer comparison as business pricing.
What does it cost to receive money from abroad?
Compare the shillings you can use after receipt, including any cash withdrawal, rather than stopping at the transfer company’s sending fee.
Charge
What it changes
What to check
Sending fee and exchange rate
Amount credited in KES
Sender’s total payment and quoted recipient amount
Wallet cash withdrawal
Cash left after an agent visit
Current operator withdrawal tariff for your amount
Bank or intermediary fee
Net wire receipt
Account tariff and SWIFT fee-sharing instruction
PayPal withdrawal conversion
KES received from the balance
Withdrawal quote and separate payment fees
Moving money afterwards
Amount available in another account
Bank-to-wallet or onward-transfer charges
WorldRemit does not add a recipient fee to its Kenyan mobile-money transfers, but the operator can charge when you withdraw the balance as cash.
For everyday support, these rounded sending amounts are roughly worth KSh65,000 before fees, with the original input shown for each route.
Last updated at 16/10/2026
USD KES
Mid Market Rate$1 = Ksh 129.7205
Transfer Amount$500
1
Remitly
2
TapTap Send
3
Sendwave
Transfer amount
They get (after fees)
Transfer fees
FX Rate
Markup
Delivery time
$500.00
Ksh 66,020.00
$0.00
132.0400
-1.77%
Within minutes
$500.00
Ksh 64,500.00
$0.00
129.0000
0.56%
Minutes
$500.00
Ksh 64,385.85
$0.49
128.8980
0.64%
Minutes - 3 days
GBP KES
Mid Market Rate£1 = Ksh 172.7852
Transfer Amount£400
1
Western Union
2
Instarem
3
TapTap Send
Transfer amount
They get (after fees)
Transfer fees
FX Rate
Markup
Delivery time
£400.00
Ksh 68,846.00
£0.00
172.1148
0.39%
Minutes - 2 days
£400.00
Ksh 68,690.36
£0.00
171.7259
0.61%
Minutes - 24 hours
£400.00
Ksh 68,400.00
£0.00
171.0000
1.04%
Minutes
EUR KES
Mid Market Rate€1 = Ksh 145.768
Transfer Amount€450
1
Remitly
2
TapTap Send
3
Instarem
Transfer amount
They get (after fees)
Transfer fees
FX Rate
Markup
Delivery time
€450.00
Ksh 66,357.00
€0.00
147.4600
-1.15%
Within minutes
€450.00
Ksh 65,340.00
€0.00
145.2000
0.39%
Minutes
€450.00
Ksh 65,304.14
€0.00
145.1203
0.45%
Minutes - 24 hours
CAD KES
Mid Market Rate$1 = Ksh 91.5669
Transfer Amount$700
1
Remitly
2
Africhange
3
Western Union
Transfer amount
They get (after fees)
Transfer fees
FX Rate
Markup
Delivery time
$700.00
Ksh 65,086.00
$0.00
92.9800
-1.53%
Within a week
$700.00
Ksh 64,086.81
$1.09
91.5526
0.02%
Minutes
$700.00
Ksh 63,378.00
$0.00
90.5390
1.13%
Minutes - 2 days
AUD KES
Mid Market Rate$1 = Ksh 90.0241
Transfer Amount$800
1
Remitly
2
Africhange
3
Western Union
Transfer amount
They get (after fees)
Transfer fees
FX Rate
Markup
Delivery time
$800.00
Ksh 73,520.00
$0.00
91.9000
-2.06%
Within a week
$800.00
Ksh 72,113.12
$1.10
90.1414
-0.13%
Minutes
$800.00
Ksh 71,642.00
$0.00
89.5521
0.53%
Minutes - 2 days
Compare results within the sender’s route and select the receiving method you need, since these examples do not exclusively price M-PESA delivery.
How quickly can you use the money?
Supported mobile-money transfers can credit within minutes after funding and checks, while bank delivery follows the selected service’s estimate.
A SWIFT payment can take several working days, particularly if intermediary banks or the receiving bank need more information.
For cash collection, the payment becoming ready and the agent being open are separate conditions, so confirm both before travelling.
If you need the money for a deadline, check when the delivery estimate starts and whether the sender has already funded the payment.
Limits and documents for receiving money
Your wallet, bank and sending company can impose different limits, so use the lowest applicable cap for the selected receiving method.
A remittance company may request identification or source-of-funds evidence from the sender, while your Kenyan bank can ask about an incoming payment’s purpose.
Keep gift or family-support records, bank statements for your own funds, and invoices or contracts for payments that relate to work.
A reporting or verification request is separate from tax treatment and should not be interpreted as a general legal receiving maximum.
Is money received from abroad taxable in Kenya?
Kenya generally taxes income accrued in or derived from Kenya, with specific rules that can also capture foreign employment income of resident individuals.
A client paying from an overseas account does not automatically make work performed in Kenya exempt from Kenyan income tax.
Family support, your own savings and payment for your services represent different sources, so keep records that establish what you received.
Check KRA’s rules for your residency and income category, including any available foreign-tax relief when the same income has been taxed abroad.
How to receive money from abroad in Kenya
Choose where you will use it
Select your registered wallet, bank account or cash collection point, and include any later withdrawal cost in your decision.
Check capacity and matching details
Confirm that your account is active, has room for the payment and uses the same name you give the sender.
Agree the transfer with the sender
Ask the sender to select the correct Kenyan payout network and check the final KES amount before paying.
Confirm the credited payment
Check your wallet or bank balance, or collect with accepted ID once the cash transfer is ready.
What if the money has not arrived?
Check the receiving number or account against the sender’s receipt, then establish whether the transfer is funded, processing or marked delivered.
For a wallet transfer, check the balance directly and confirm that the registered name and available account capacity meet the service’s requirements.
If it is marked delivered but missing, give the wallet operator or bank the amount, date and reference while the sender contacts the sending company.
A missing SWIFT payment needs a trace through the sending bank, supported by the payment confirmation and tracking reference where available.
For an incorrect phone number or name, the sender should contact the service promptly because completed payments can be difficult to recover.
If the amount is short
Check the KES amount quoted by the sender against the credited balance before comparing it with cash left after a withdrawal.
Wallet cash-out charges, bank deductions or conversion at a later stage can explain a difference that the original sending fee does not cover.
Use the comparison form with your sender to check the next payment into Kenya before deciding where it should arrive.
Compare transfers to Kenya
Enter the sender’s country and amount, then choose Kenya as the destination to compare available transfer rates and fees.
Our methodology & why trust us
We checked Kenyan wallet rules, bank receiving options and KRA guidance, with specific UK to Kenya evidence for named mobile-money networks.
Our inward comparisons use rounded sending amounts roughly worth KSh65,000 before fees and keep wallet cash-out costs separate from transfer quotes.
I prioritised how you will use the money after receipt, including direct wallet spending, cash access and retaining eligible foreign-currency payments.
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