How to send money to Ethiopia from South Africa with the best ZAR-ETB rate

Comparing providers offering services between South Africa and Ethiopia, based on your specific needs is the best way to send money with confidence.

Right now, for ZAR/ETB

• Western Union Agent is our top choice for ZAR to ETB transfers. Sending 4,300 ZAR to ETB will cost you R129 in fees, and you will receive 37,523.28 ETB. The delivery time usually is minutes - 5 days, but it depends on the day you make the transfer.

• Mukuru offers the lowest cost transfers of the 4 compared. Data collected for transfers between South Africa and Ethiopia over the past week shows that Mukuru is 1.99% cheaper than the second-best option.

• Of 4 companies compared, PayPal App (P2P Transfer) offers the quickest way to send Rands to Ethiopia is with minutes. When speed matters, PayPal App (P2P Transfer) is our recommended choice for sending into Ethiopia from South Africa.

Our comparison includes 4 companies that provide the ability to send Rand to Ethiopia.

This ensures you get the best options for transfers to Ethiopia from South Africa, based on the amount you want to send.

The exchange rate determines the price you’ll pay for Ethiopian Birr when sending Rand to Ethiopia.

The rate between the Rand and Ethiopian Birr is currently 9.7038.

The total cost of money transfers from South Africa to Ethiopia is a combination of fees and exchange rates. Get the best of both, and you will be getting a good deal.

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The mid-market rate for ZAR-ETB is currently 9.7038 ETB per Rand. Providers offering services closer to this rate will ensure more Ethiopian Birr for your Rands.

• Fees: Transfer fees are charged alongside a transfer. The company offering the lowest fee is Mukuru, charging 301.00000000000006 ZAR per transfer. In all cases, we recommend searching for your exact send amount as fees may change.

• Amount Received: Money transfer companies will show you the amount eventually received in Ethiopian Birr. Simply, the higher the amount received in South Africa, the lower the cost of sending from Ethiopia.

Sometimes, waiting a day or two can help you get more ETB for the same amount of Rand. Using a forward contract that also allows you to lock in an agreed exchange rate between South Africa and Ethiopia.

Sending money via a bank transfer is the recommended option for sending money from South Africa to Ethiopia.

Here are all the ways to send money from South Africa to Ethiopia:

Bank transfers

Paying via a bank transfer is often the better option for sending money from South Africa to Ethiopia.

By using a money transfer company such as Mukuru for transfers from South Africa to Ethiopia, you can send money and while benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get with a traditional bank. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from South Africa to Ethiopia with a debit or a prepaid card is easy with Western Union Agent.


Western Union Agent is a one of the better options in the market for international debit card transfers from South Africa to Ethiopia.

Credit cards

Not many money transfer companies offer direct credit card deposits, because it is more expensive for everyone (especially with high cash advance fees).

We recommend using a bank transfer or a debit card transfer if you can; otherwise, make a quick comparison to find the latest deal.

Some services between South Africa and Ethiopia have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can transfer. This is applies when receiving money in Ethiopia as well.

Companies will offer different rates and fees for different transfer amounts. For regular transfers to Ethiopia, use Western Union Agent. The combination of rates and fees when sending from South Africa to Ethiopia 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 South Africa, or entering Ethiopia. Mis-understanding these could result in a slower, or even failed, transfer.

There are different ways to receive Ethiopian Birr in Ethiopia. This includes a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account.

Not all providers serving transfers from South Africa to Ethiopia will offer every method for incoming Ethiopian Birr, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

One of the more common ways to transfer from South Africa into Ethiopian Birr is directly into a bank account. Western Union Agent is the best company for bank transfers between South Africa and Ethiopia.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between South Africa and Ethiopia.

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 Mukuru.

When signing up to and sending Rand to Ethiopia, through a money transfer company, you will have to verify your ID.

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

For the most part however, in South Africa this will be a government issued ID such as a passport or driver's license. In Ethiopia it will be similar, although this should only be needed if you are opening a new account in Ethiopia, or collecting in cash. Sending to an existing bank account in Ethiopia shouldn’t require any additional ID checks.

Large transactions between South Africa and Ethiopia, are subject to additional checks. A provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to carry out a proof of funds check.

One of the reasons Western Union Agent has scored so highly for transfers to Ethiopia is their easy sign up process in South Africa.

When sending large amounts of money between South Africa and Ethiopia there will potentially be a tax declaration to consider.

Some transfers into Ethiopian Birr may need to be reported to tax authorities in Ethiopia, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances will change in Ethiopia based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in South Africa or Ethiopia to discuss your personal circumstances.