The best, fastest & cheapest ways to send money to Somalia

The exchange rate determines how much SOS the recipient will receive.

For instance, in the past month average exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Somali Shilling was 573.2303 SOS.

Since USD - SOS exchange rates fluctuate based on market conditions, waiting a few days can result in a better rate and more SOS for your recipient.

If you urgently need the money in Somalia, we recommend using Wise, which has offered the best SOS exchange rates over the last 6 months.

The cheapest way to fund your transfer to Somalia is by using a Bank transfer with Wise, which is -0.7% cheaper than the next best option.

How you pay for your transfer impacts the cost, speed, and the amount of SOS received.

Based on a $2,000 transfer to Somalia using the last 6-months of our data, the options you have are:

• A bank transfer with Wise will cost you $15.84 in fees and a 0% markup

• Debit card transfer with Wise costs $19.71 with 0.01% markup

• Credit card transfers with costs $0 fee and comes with % markup

We recommend not using Bank transfer when sending money to Somalia, as they tend to be the most expensive.

Credit card transfers tend to add cash advance fees and might have higher interest rates on SOS.

For example, charges $0 when paying by credit card, compared to $15.84 via a bank transfer with Wise.

Whenever possible, avoid sending SOS over the SWIFT network. Despite the name, SOS transfers over SWIFT are slower and come with higher fees.

Money transfer companies will often have minimum and maximum limits on how much SOS you can send.

Often, the amount will also impact the fees and the SOS rate you get.

For example, we found Wise to be the best option for sending large amounts to Somalia.

There might also be government-imposed restrictions, commercial restrictions, and many more.

This is why it’s important to compare your transfer options to Somalia.

The speed of transferring SOS to Somalia depends on several factors, including the amount being sent, the timing of the transfer, and the chosen payment method.

Usually, the quicker you need your SOS, the more it will cost you in fees.

For example, consider a transfer of $2,000 from the US to Somalia:

• Fastest provider: Among 4 companies servicing Somalia, Ria Money Transfer consistently offers the quickest delivery times across all deposit methods, appearing in 40% of our searches.

• Bank or debit card deposits: Services like Ria Money Transfer for bank account deposits and Wise for card deposits provide almost instant and cost-effective SOS transfers. Fees are approximately $4 for bank deposits and $Wise for debit card deposits, with a minimal 0.02% markup.

• Credit card transfers: Based on six months of our data, using for sending SOS via CC can take up to a day and incur a fee of $0 with % markup. However, be mindful of potential cash advance fees.

• Urgent transfers: For the fastest possible transfers, we recommend opting for cash pickup services through providers like Western Union or Ria Money.

Avoid making SOS transfers over SWIFT

SWIFT is slower for SOS transfers due to the involvement of intermediary banks in Somalia, so it’s best to avoid it if speed is your priority.

For SOS transfers, you have the following options:

Money transfer companies

You can send Somali Shilling via an FX broker (a managed service) or via an online-only company (self-managed).

According to the past six-month analysis, we found that Wise is the overall best way to transfer money to Somalia, appearing 100% of the time for SOS transfers in our search system.

App

Most money transfer services to Somalia offer mobile apps, which often provide better SOS exchange rates.

You can check our guide on the best money transfer apps to find one that fits your needs.

In-person

Cash transfers to Somalia can be made in person through services like Ria Money Transfers or Western Union.

Cash transfers are almost always instant but require the recipient to physically visit the nearest agent to collect SOS.

Bank transfers

We advise you not to use your bank to wire money to SO because of the fees but rather use it to fund your SOS transfer.

There are several ways to receive money in Somalia, including direct bank deposits, cash pickups, home deliveries, and mobile wallets.

Here are your options:

• Direct bank deposits: to deposit money into the recipient's account in Somalia, we recommend using Wise. They appeared in 66.7% of the searches as the cheapest option for bank transfers to Somalia.

• Cash pickup: if you need immediate access to cash in Somalia, consider using cash pickup, but check availability.

• Mobile wallets: you can receive SOS directly into your digital wallet like PayPal, but they come with limitations and higher costs compared to using Wise.

In most cases, SOS will arrive without any involvement from the recipient.

However, if you’re sending Somali Shilling as cash, or in large amounts, the receiver might need the following*:

• Valid forms of ID: such as passport, or driver’s license.

• Sender's information: the full name and address.

• Transfer details: the amount of SOS to be received.

• Transfer confirmation number: the sender should give it to the recipient.

• SWIFT code / IBAN: sometimes you may need to include IBAN and/or the SWIFT code.

*The exact documents you need might vary by the company you use.

For larger Somali Shilling transfers, money transfer companies may ask for a source of funds and proof of address. This is done in accordance with AML policies.

If you’re making a large transfer to Somalia, we recommend using Wise.

There might be tax implications and government-imposed limits when sending Somali Shilling to Somalia.

Some SOS transfers may be subject to various taxes, including gift tax and commercial tax.

Even if there are no limits or taxation involved, certain SOS transfers need to be reported to the tax authorities in Somalia.

When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Somalia or in your country.