Send Money To Colombia
Since 1996, Colombia has been experiencing increased levels of migration. High unemployment rates, declining economic growth, social tension, and insecurity are among the contributing factors.
Most Colombians live in the United States, Venezuela, Spain, and Chile. Remittance data confirms that Colombia received $1,767 million from the United States, $1,697 million from Venezuela, $841 million from Spain, and $41 million from Chile in the 2017 financial year.
Therefore, as a Colombian living in the diaspora, it helps to know the various ways to send money home, the information required when sending and receiving, the advantages of online money transfer services, and the specific considerations to make when sending money to your loved ones. You’ll find all this and more in the sections below.
How To Send Money To Colombia
Sending money to Colombia is simple and easy. Follow these steps to get started.
Find a Trusted Provider
Sign Up and Deposit
Transfer Money
Ways To Send And Receive Money In Colombia
There are multiple ways to easily receive and send money to Colombia but these will largely depend on the provider you decide to use. Below you will find everything you need to know about sending and receiving money.
Ways to Send Money to Colombia
According to Banco de la República (Colombian Central Bank), Colombia received $ 6.3 billion in remittances in 2018. Slicing and dicing the data reveals several methods used to send in the money. Below are the different avenues used.
Bank Transfers
International wire transfers rank the highest as the preferred mode of sending money to Colombia. Part of the reason for this popularity is the extensiveness of the Colombian banking sector. As of 2019, the country had 25 banks with a total of 5,700 branches and approximately 16,000 ATMs spread throughout the country.
While bank wire transfers seem a reliable way to send money home, bank transfer fees, the exchange rates offered, and the ATM fees charged, can make this sending option costly. A wire transfer from the US will cost $20-50, from the UK will cost $30, and from Australia will cost about $6.75.
Your ability to bargain for better exchange rates largely depends on the amount you are sending. Smaller amounts have very little if any chance to get favourable rates. Therefore, you end up spending more money than you otherwise would with other options.
Online Money Transfers
Online money transfers are increasingly becoming popular among Colombians sending money home. The transfer speed, the favourable exchange rates, the variety of services they offer, and convenience are just but a few of the factors that make online money transfer services attractive.
Xoom, WorldRemit, Western Union, MoneyGram, Small World FS, TransferWise, and XE Trade are among the popular money transfer services to Colombia. These services simplify the sending process by giving you convenient options such as sending from their websites, using mobile apps, sending in person from brick and mortar stores or even from Facebook messenger.
Almost all online money transfer services require that you sign up for an account before you can send money to Colombia You can fund it using debit cards, credit cards, bank transfers or cash deposits. After that, you can send at your convenience. Western Union allows you to begin the process online and complete it in-store if that is convenient for you.
Below are the two main options you can use when sending money to Colombia through online money transfers service providers.
- Transfer to Bank Accounts -If the beneficiary has an account, you can use this option. The recipient gets the money within a few days. However, the length of time depends on your service provider.
- Cash Pickup – Services such as Western Union, MoneyGram, Xoom, WorldRemit, and TransferWise have over a thousand locations your recipient cash pick their money in Colombia. Ensure the service provider you choose has an agent location closer to the beneficiary.
International Checks
International checks are still a viable and secure way to send money home. However, there are a few disadvantages such as long processing times and unfavourable exchange rates depending on the bank where you cash it.
What’s Needed to Send Money to Colombia
When sending money to Colombia, you will be required to provide details to help make the transfer process as smooth as possible. Here is some of the information you need to have.
- Your government-issued I.D.
- Your credit or debit card information if using this method to fund your transfers
- The full name of the recipient and it should match their I.D.
- The physical address of the recipient
- If doing a bank transfer, the recipient’s bank details including the bank name, account number, branch, and routing number.
A quick note, the information may vary marginally depending on the money transfer service provider and the transfer method you use.
What Are the Ways of Receiving Money in Colombia
Beneficiaries in Colombia can receive money sent to them in lots of different ways. Depending on the provider the sender uses and the amount of money sent through. The following are some of the ways recipients can access their money in Colombia.
Cash pick up from agents- Providers such as Western Union, MoneyGram, Xoom and TransferWise have thousands of locations spread out in different parts of Colombia. These are convenient for recipients of small amounts.
Through bank accounts – Recipients can have money transferred directly to their bank accounts. This is a preferred way receiving larger amounts that may be unsafe to pick up from agents.
Due to security concerns, there is no online money transfer service that delivers money to recipients by hand.
What Is Required to Receive Money in Colombia?
The recipient, much like the sender, needs to provide some information to pick up the money. There may be minimal differences based on the money transfer service provider the sender has used. To receive money in Colombia, you need:
- Your government-issued I.D. The details should match those provided by the sender.
- The PIN, reference number or money transfer control number (MTCN) sent to you. If you don’t have it or you misplaced it, ask the sender to give it to you again.
- You’ll be required to identify the sender, the amount you expect to receive, and the country of origin.
If the sender transferred the funds directly into your bank account, there is no information you need to provide. You can begin transacting right away.
As a precaution, you should transact from safe agent locations. If you are picking up a large amount, consider going with a friend or deposit the money into your bank account immediately you receive it.
Best Ways To Best Ways To Send Money To Colombia
Debit Card
Minutes
Credit Card
Minutes
Bank Transfer
Minutes
Bank Transfer
3-5 Days
Debit Card
3-5 Days
Bank Transfer
3-5 Days
Debit Card
3-5 DaysCommon Reasons For Sending Money To Colombia
In a survey done on households in the Central Western Metropolitan Area to profile the emigrants from Colombia, most of them were found to be 35 years and older with at least 12 years of schooling. On average, 50% of the emigrants managed to secure employment in the host countries. Approximately 70% of emigrants send money to Colombia for several reasons, including:
Household Consumption
Approximately 55% of the money sent home is for daily living expenses. Food, water, and electricity are some of the typical household expenditures.
Mortgage Repayment and Rent
mortgage repayments is one of the most common reasons for sending money to Colombia. Of the 15% of remittances budgeted for housing, 5.5% goes to mortgage repayments while 9.5% goes to rent. Through an initiative dubbed Mi casa con remesas, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group and the private sector have joined hands to help households receiving remittances to purchase homes.
Education
Many Colombians abroad are educated and skilled. Therefore, they value education for their siblings back at home. About 8% of the remittances go towards paying private school tuition fees for elementary, secondary, and higher learning institutions.
Health
Colombia operates a subsidised medical scheme called SISBEN. This system is for the poor and homeless. However, families receiving remittances tend to move to Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS) or Medicina Prepagada. These are quality but costly healthcare systems. Data shows that households spend 6% on healthcare.
Transport
Part of the money received (5%) is used to pay for transport, mainly the public transport system.
The use of the money as specified by those sending may not necessarily be the actual use by the households. Beneficiaries may alter the usage of funds to suit their immediate and most pressing needs.
Why Use a Money Transfer Service?
Sending money to Colombia using online money transfer services is becoming the new norm. The penetration of smartphones and internet services has made life much easier for Colombians abroad to use the web to transact. Below are the advantages of sending money to Colombia via money transfer services.
Favourable Exchange Rates
Lower Transfer Charges
Multi-Currencies
Safety and Reliability
Simple Setup
Transfer Speed
Things to Consider When Sending Money to Colombia
Nothing compares to the satisfaction you get when you know that your loved ones in Colombia are well-fed, sheltered, and doing well healthwise. This mental picture keeps on pushing you to send more and more each time.
Before you press the send button or sign off that check, there are a few things you need to consider.
- Alternative Investment Opportunities – Bancolombia has been championing for financial inclusion among families in Colombia that receive remittances. The bank wants to transform the money sent into savings and investments. It has lined up a wide range of products you can add to your portfolio as you build your nest egg. The second option is to directly invest in the Mi casa con remesas private sector – IDB initiative. This initiative enables you to own a house through their mortgage programme. The third investment opportunity is the house purchase programme run jointly by the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the construction sector. You should purpose to attend their housing fairs when they visit your country of destination.
- Taxation – Colombia charges a tax of 0.04% on financial transactions including ATM withdrawals and wire transfers. The regulated financial institutions and the Banco de la República have the responsibility of deducting this tax at source. Your loved ones can claim 50% of the financial transactions tax for income tax offsetting if they keep proper records. The second most relevant tax is income tax assessed and paid by Colombia residents. For tax purposes, a resident is a person who is present in Colombia for 183 days in the year of income. Colombians living abroad may still have to pay taxes home if they fall under tax residency. However, they may claim credit for the income tax paid in the country of destination.
- Regulation of the Currency Market – Banco de la República heavily regulates inflows and currency exchange rate movements in the country. Transfers are subject to certain limits. Online money transfer services have their limits set. However, when doing international wire transfers, transfer specialists can be of great help.
Colombia remains a leading destination for remittances in South America. With over 10% of its nationals living abroad, the country is a lucrative money transfer route. Many providers are increasingly joining in with new products and technologies to get a share of this market.
This development is exciting for Colombians living abroad. They have more options than before and can send money home however they want. To get the best deals, Colombians in the diaspora need to know the various ways they can send money home, the requirements for sending and receiving, the opportunities available to them, and the unique remittance landscape in Colombia.
Your Questions Answered
Looking to Send Money Somewhere Else?
Sending money anywhere else in the world is as easy as sending money to Colombia. If you’re looking to send money to another country, here is the list of the most popular destinations.
Jonathan is the founder and editor of MoneyTransfers.com. Jonathan is highly experienced in the currency transfer market, having previously worked in the FX trading industry, alongside being an avid traveller. Using his knowledge he identified a need for transparency and further education to help people save money on their money transfers, leading to the creation of MoneyTransfers.com