Send Money To Nepal
In South Asia, Nepal ranks 4th in remittance inflows. In 2018, the Himalayan nation received $8,064 million, effectively booking a slot on the World Bank’s top 20 recipients of inflows. Most of the money came in from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Within the past decade, Nepal’s Department of Foreign Employment issued more than 3.5 million work permits to Nepalese going abroad. The money they send has supported their families, local businesses startups, and financed social projects.
Whether you are in the Gulf, India, Malaysia, the United States or any other part of the globe you can send money to your family in Nepal. There are several providers and remittance channels available to help you do so.
That said, you need to compare the different ways of sending money, the information you need, the benefits of the various providers and the factors to consider when sending. This information will help you to make sound decisions when sending. Read along for detailed information on these aspects and so much more!
In the 2015/16 financial year, the average annual household consumption in Nepal stood at $2,850. About 53.8 per cent of the budget comprises food items. With 25.2 per cent of Nepalese living below the national poverty line, remittances for household subsistence are crucial. Nepal Living Standard Surveys revealed that remittance significantly reduced the headcount poverty rate from 42 per cent to 25 per cent between 1995 and 2011.
How To Send Money To Nepal
Sending money to Nepal 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 Nepal
There are multiple ways to easily send and receive money in Nepal 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 Nepal
Nepal is a relatively small economy with a sizable population, 29.3 million as of 2017. However, over 30 per cent of the economy is dependent on remittances. Places as remote as Cheskam in the northeast have recently been receiving more money from their loved ones in the diaspora.
There are several options to use when sending money home to your family, relatives and friends. The formal are banks and money transfer operators (MTOs).
Bank Wire Transfers
Nepal has close to 250 financial institutions licenced by the Nepal Rastra Bank (the central bank of Nepal). However, not every financial institution has the capacity and mandate to provide wire transfer services, but most of them do, including the 28 Class A commercial banks.
About 60% of Nepalese are unbanked. This phenomenon makes wire transfers the least preferred way of sending money to the country. It takes about 3 to 5 days for a typical wire transfer from Qatar to get to a Nepalese in Kathmandu. The cost of sending is relatively higher compared to money transfer operators.
These inconveniences have made Nepalese abroad to seek for alternative ways of sending money to their loved ones back home.
Money Transfer Services
Money transfer service providers are the dominant players in Nepal’s transfer corridors. There are some providers such as Arabian Exchange Company that predominantly operate on the Gulf remittance corridors. Others like Western Union, MoneyGram, Xoom, WorlRemit, Xpress Money, Ria, and Small World are allover the world.
Money transfer operators require that you signup for an account, pay for the transfer using a debit card, credit card, bank debit (ACH), bank transfer or cash deposit. Once your account is loaded, you can transfer to a bank account or cash pickup agent through the website, mobile app or at a store.
When sending money to Nepal using MTOs, you can choose any of the following methods depending on your preferences and interests.
Bank transfers – You can deposit money directly into the recipient’s account in Nepal. Of course, this method serves the banked population. Most people in areas such as Province 2, the most multidimensionally poor province in Nepal, do not have access to banking facilities. For this reason, bank transfers whether from MTOs to banks or bank to bank, are not commonly used in Nepal.
Cash Pickup- This method of sending money to Nepal resonates well with Nepalese abroad. The advantage it has is that the recipients get their money in a ready-to-use form. For the unbanked populations, this is convenient. Providers such as Western Union, Ooredoo Mobile Money (OMM), Arabian Exchange Company, MoneyGram, Xoom, Ria and others have enjoyed high transfer volumes to Nepal in the past couple of years.
Mobile Wallet – If you are sending from Qatar to Nepal, you can use OMM mobile wallet service to deposit directly to the recipient’s mobile in Nepal. This method is convenient for small amounts. However, the maximum you can send per day is 10,000 Qatari riyals equivalent to $2,740.
Some Nepalese use Informal Value Transfer Systems such as Hundi to send money home. Such channels commonly used in the Korea-Nepal corridor, are illegal and not regulated by the formal banking system. Using them may expose you to unnecessary risks and fraud.
What’s Needed to Send Money to Nepal
When sending money to Nepal, money transfer service providers will require that you provide some information. The information varies from one provider to another and the method of sending money you choose. That said, the following are some of the details that you’ll have to provide.
- Your government-issued I.D. You could also provide your passport, social security card or driving licence depending on your jurisdiction
- The amount of money you want to send
- The recipient’s name as it appears on their Nepal National Identity Card
- The recipient’s phone number
- The recipient’s bank account details which include the bank name, branch name, branch address, branch code, and the SWIFT/BIC code.
Depending on where you are sending from, you may have to provide additional information to satisfy the authorities.
What Are the Ways of Receiving Money in Nepal?
In Nepal, your loved ones can receive money formally in three main ways: bank deposit, cash pickup, and mobile deposit. Nepalese especially prefer the last two methods because they are simple and do not require one to have a bank account.
Bank Deposit – Nepalese with bank accounts can choose to receive money through this method. Bank deposits are safe and preferred for large amounts. In terms of speed, providers such as WorldRemit can take a day to deposit money in a bank account in Nepal from the United States.
Cash Collection – Most providers in Nepal have cash payout points in convenient places throughout the country. For example, Western Union has 5,600 retail locations in Nepal. OMM has partnered with MoneyGram to expand its network and offer Nepalese more flexibility in receiving money.
Mobile Wallet Deposit -Recipients who have signed up for OMM’s mobile wallet can receive money directly into their phones. Your loved ones will receive an 8-digit MoneyGram Reference Number which they can present at any MoneyGram agent location, with their I.D. and receive Nepalese rupees.
What is Required to Receive Money in Nepal?
The same manner you provided information to send money to Nepal, the recipients will also need to provide some information to claim the money sent. Some of the information the recipient will have to provide includes:
- Their Nepal National Identity card or passport. The name on the document must tally with the name the sender provided.
- The transaction reference number. Every provider has a unique number that they give the sender to email or text the recipient.
- The name of the sender and the exact amount to be collected.
Depending on the amount sent and the frequency, the recipient may have to declare the source and purpose of the remittance.
Send Money To Nepal
Debit Card
1-2 Hours
Credit Card
1-2 Hours
Bank Transfer
1-2 Hours
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 Nepal
The unemployment rate in Nepal is 40 per cent. About 1,600 Nepalese men and women leave the country daily for greener pastures, especially in the Gulf states. When they get employment in the destination countries, they immediately begin sending home some money to take care of their families, invest, repay debts, and contribute to social causes.
Household Expenses
In the 2015/16 financial year, the average annual household consumption in Nepal stood at $2,850. About 53.8 per cent of the budget comprises food items. With 25.2 per cent of Nepalese living below the national poverty line, remittances for household subsistence are crucial. Nepal Living Standard Surveys revealed that remittance significantly reduced the headcount poverty rate from 42 per cent to 25 per cent between 1995 and 2011.
Debt Repayment
Most Nepalese travel abroad to get better opportunities to help their families back home. The migration process involves a lot of costs which families have to bear to ensure their loved ones resettle overseas. The first round of remittance is mostly used to clear off the debts incurred and other historical credit facilities.
Buying Land and Putting up Houses
Nepalese abroad are buying land at home and building houses for their families and for renting out. The real estate sector has been growing steadily and has attracted a lot of inflows from the diaspora. Sub-metropolitan cities such as Itahari have recorded rising property prices because of land and housing demand.
Healthcare
In a study examining the relationship between remittances and healthcare usage in Nepal, it was found that diaspora remittance increase access to health care. Nepal introduced a nationalised healthcare policy targeting specific districts through social healthcare programs. Remittance income increases the likelihood of Nepalese families visiting doctors and getting higher-priced medical care.
Investment
Nepalese abroad are investing in productive farming assets to help them create sustainable income for their families. Research done in Chitwan shows increasing participation in agricultural investments for households with migrants compared to those with no migrants.
Social Contribution
Nepal has colourful, vibrant festivals most of them having religious connotations. Nepalese in the diaspora often send money to their family and friends to celebrate such festivals as Dashain and Tihar, Buddha Jayanti, Gai Jatra, and Janai Purnima. Some of the remittances go towards weddings and social activities.
Why Send Money With a Money Transfer Service?
Transferring money to Nepal is not an option for the millions of Nepalese in the diaspora. Many leave their families behind and regularly send money home to supplement the family income. Banks are a traditional source of sending money, but money transfer services are gradually seizing the opportunity. Some of the reasons for this change of preference include:
Ease of Setup
Favourable Exchange Rates
Low Transfer Fees
Multicurrency Support
Secure Transfers
Speed of Transactions
Things to Consider When Sending Money to Nepal
Apart from the provider benefits and unique features of the sending platforms, there are certain things you need to consider when sending to Nepal. These include:
- The Depreciating Nepal Rupee – The Nepal financial system runs a fixed peg foreign currency regime pegged on the Indian currency and the United States dollar. In the past couple of months, the rupee has been tumbling against major world currencies. The weak currency gives Nepalese in the diaspora an advantage when sending. They get more money at the current exchange rates.
- Nepali Diaspora Invest Fund (NDIF) – NDIF is a collective investment initiative for Nepali diaspora. If you have wanted to invest in housing, hydropower, travel and tourism, agriculture and transportation, this can be an excellent investment vehicle.
- Currency Exchange and Restrictions – When bringing in $5,000 or more to Nepal, you must declare it on arrival. Similarly, when exporting currency out of Nepal, you must declare to the authorities. Exchanging the Nepalese rupee to another currency should only be done through authorised dealers.
Knowing the processes involved when sending money to Nepal is critical. The various providers, the services they offer, the information required to send and receive money and the things to consider when sending to Nepal are some of the grounds you need to cover.
Your Questions Answered
Looking to Send Money Somewhere Else?
Sending money anywhere else in the world is as easy as sending money to Nepal. 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