Western Union has long been synonymous with international money remittance. With over 500,000 agent locations in more than 200 countries, there’s no doubt that Western Union is still the most trusted company when it comes to moving money across borders. If you are looking to send your hard-earned money to your family and loved ones, you might be interested to know the Western Union remittance rates in the Philippines.
Although Western Union is particularly known for international money transfers, you can also use it to send money locally with the Western Union Sulit Padala service. This means that you can send money to your friends or family in the provinces – and vice versa – using Western Union. And because there are Western Union agent locations in literally every city and province in the Philippines, your money will safely arrive in your recipient’s hands in a matter of minutes.
If you don’t want to go to the nearest Western Union outlet (or if you don’t have the time or energy to do so), you’ll be glad to know that you can claim your Western Union remittance online. That’s right, you can claim your Western Union remittance on your mobile phone through GCash or PayMaya. All you have to do is to enter the Western Union MTCN or transaction code and you will receive your money right there and then. It’s easy, convenient and hassle-free.
By the way, if you are in the United States, you can also send money online to the Philippines via Western Union. You can pay using your credit card, debit card or bank account and then your recipient in the Philippines can receive the money at a Western Union outlet or his bank account. All of that without ever leaving your house.
So if you are interested to learn how much it costs to send money via Western Union, we have compiled a list of Western Union rates for domestic and overseas money transfers. Check it out!
Western Union Rates for Domestic Money Transfer
These are the Western Union Sulit Padala rates for sending money within the Philippines:
| Principal | Fee |
|---|---|
| ₱1 to ₱500 | ₱5 |
| ₱501 to ₱1,000 | ₱15 |
| ₱1,001 to ₱2,000 | ₱25 |
| ₱2,001 to ₱3,000 | ₱45 |
| ₱3,001 to ₱5,000 | ₱85 |
| ₱5,001 to ₱7,000 | ₱115 |
| ₱7,001 to ₱10,000 | ₱125 |
| ₱10,001 to ₱15,000 | ₱540 |
| ₱15,001 to ₱50,000 | ₱595 |
| ₱50,001 and above | 2% of principal |
Western Union Rates for Overseas Money Transfer
These are the Western Union rates for sending money internationally from the Philippines to another country:
| Principal | Fee |
|---|---|
| ₱1 to ₱10,000 | ₱500 |
| ₱10,001 to ₱50,000 | ₱750 |
| ₱50,001 to ₱100,000 | ₱850 |
| ₱100,001 and above | ₱1,100 |
Take note that the Western Union rates for domestic and international remittance are subject to change without prior notice. All data are sourced from the Western Union website and are valid as of March 31, 2018. The Western Union remittance rates listed are regular, non-promo rates.
Western Union also makes money from currency exchange, which means that the recipient may receive a lower amount than the real foreign exchange rate. Therefore, when choosing a money remittance service, it’s recommended to compare both the transfer fees and the currency exchange rates. Transfer fees and foreign exchange rates may vary by location, brand and channel based on several factors.
How to Send Money Through Western Union
- Go to a Western Union agent location and fill out the Send Money form.
- Give the completed form, your valid ID and money to the agent, and then pay the remittance fee.
- Claim the receipt and take note of the 10-digit MTCN or tracking number.
- Tell your receiver about the tracking number and the exact amount you sent. Don’t share this information with anyone else.
In just a few minutes, your recipient will be able to claim the money at over 10,000 Western Union agent locations in the Philippines. You can check if the money has been claimed by tracking your money transfer.
How to Receive Money Through Western Union
- Get the Western Union MTCN or tracking number from the sender, along with their complete name and the amount sent.
- Go to a Western Union agent location and fill out the Receive Money form.
- Give the completed form and your valid ID to the agent.
- Collect your money and receipt. Count your money before leaving.
You can also claim your Western Union remittance on your mobile phone. Read this article to learn how to receive your Western Union remittance through GCash. You can also claim your Western Union remittance through PayMaya.
Valid IDs Accepted by Western Union
In case you’re wondering what valid IDs are accepted by Western Union for sending and receiving money, here is a list:
- Passport (including foreign passport)
- Driver’s license
- PRC license
- NBI clearance
- Postal ID
- Voter’s ID
- Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID)
- SSS card
- GSIS eCard
- Employment ID (government and private)
- OWWA ID
- OFW ID
- Seaman’s Book
- Student ID (students below 18 years old)
- IBP ID
- Senior citizen card
- Police clearance certificate
- Alien Certificate of Registration
- Firearm license
- Certification from Nation Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
- Other IDs issued by the Philippine government and its instrumentalities (digitized hard plastic type)
The following non-digitized government photo IDs are accepted for some domestic money transfers (within the Philippines) as long as the sender doesn’t exceed ₱3,000 in remittances in a month:
- DSWD certification
- TIN card
- Barangay clearance or certification
- PhilHealth ID card
- Homeowner/village association ID
- Other IDs issued by the Philippine government and its instrumentalities (non-digitized hard plastic type)
You only need one valid ID to send or receive money through Western Union.
How to Contact Western Union
If you have any questions and concerns with your dealings with Western Union, you can reach them through the following channels:
- Metro Manila hotline: 02-8888-1200
- PLDT toll-free hotline: 1-800-1-888-1200
- Globe toll-free hotline: 1-800-9-888-1200
- Overseas hotline: +632-8888-1200
- Email: Philippines.customer@westernunion.com
Conclusion
By knowing the Western Union fees for domestic and international remittance, you will know if it’s the right money transfer service for your needs and budget. Western Union is not the only game in town, so you can compare the transaction fees of the various cash remittance services before you go out and send your hard-earned money to your family and loved ones back home.
