International money transfer limits: Guide 2026
Need to send a high value payment abroad? International money transfer limits are set by individual banks and money transfer services, and can vary a lot depending on the specific policies of the service you select.
In this article we will show you everything you need to know about the international transfer limits imposed by the most used banks in Australia, how you can increase those limits, and some providers that can offer convenient and competitive ways to send large amounts of money abroad, like Xe and Wise.
Quick summary: International money transfer limits
- Transfer limits vary by provider: The overseas money transfer limit of providers and banks depends on the service’s own policies and their target market
- Bank vs provider limits: Bank limits are often per day and lower online compared to by phone or in a branch – specialist providers like Wise or OFX may have higher limits for digital payments
- Tax-free transfers: Whether or not there’s tax to pay on your transfer depends on the value, reason for payment, country you’re sending to, and source of funds – get advice if you’re not sure whether or not to report a transfer to the ATO
- Reporting requirements: There’s no need to report a payment you send from Australia using a bank or reputable provider, but the service itself may need to report your transfer to AUSTRAC if it is over 10,000 AUD
- Best service provider for high-amount transfers: The available international transfer limit isn’t the only thing to think about – if you have to send a high value payment check out services with dedicated support like Wise, which has automatic discounts and a high value payment service team to help
Here are most frequently asked questions about international transfer limits:
| Questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Do I have to pay tax on international money transferred from Australia or to Australia? | Whether or not there’s tax to pay on your transfer depends on the value, reason for payment, country you’re sending to, and source of funds – get advice if you’re not sure whether or not to report a transfer to the ATO. |
| What is the maximum amount I can send internationally? | Banks and providers set their own limits – there’s no legal cap on the amount you can send but payments over 10,000 AUD are reported to AUSTRAC for compliance reasons. |
Which providers have the highest limits for international money transfer?
You may find there’s a difference in the limits available for overseas money transfers depending on whether you choose to send your payment with a bank or a specialist provider. To illustrate here are the standard personal limits for some major banks, and a few digital specialist services:
| Bank/provider | International money transfer limits |
|---|---|
| Westpac | 2 million AUD – daily limit |
| Commbank | Digital payments limited to 5,000 AUD as default, up to 50,000 AUD maximum– daily limit
Higher payments may be available in branch |
| ANZ | Digital payments limited 20,000 AUD maximum– daily limit
No limit on payments made by phone |
| Wise | Limits vary by currency: up to 5 million AUD if sending from your Wise account – per payment limit |
| Xe Money Transfer | 750,000 AUD – per payment limit |
| Remitly | 45,000 AUD – per payment limit |
*Details correct at time of research – 6th February 2026
As you can see, banks and providers have quite varied limits. Banks often use a daily limit which can be pretty low when you consider it’s likely to be the cumulative limit of all international transfers you can make over the course of a day. Specialist providers typically still have limits for security reasons, but can be more flexible, offering per payment limits which allow you to organise several different transfers over the course of a day if you need to.
- Wise: High value payments available, with different limits based on currency, and automatic fee discounts when sending 40,000 AUD or more over the course of a month. You can also get a Wise account and card to manage daily spending, and receive incoming foreign currency payments
- Xe: Send global payments digitally and pay from your bank or with a card. Transfers can take anything from a few minutes to a couple of days depending on destination and currency – transfer up to 750,000 AUD per payment for convenient high value transfers when you need them
- Remitly: Great for sending money to friends and family, with a per payment limit of 45,000 AUD. Transfer to 170+ countries with a range of pay out methods including bank deposit and cash collection
Are there any taxes applied to international transfers?
Whether or not there are any taxes to be paid on an international transfer depends on the reason for the payment, where you’re ending up, the source of funds and the value.
There’s not usually any tax from the ATO if you send money to someone as a gift. You’re also not likely to need to pay tax if you’re moving your own money from Australia to an account in your name in a different country. However, tax could apply in other situations, such as sending a payment to employees who are overseas. It’s important to get advice if you’re not sure whether a payment should be reported to the ATO, or if any tax is due.
Bear in mind that as well as thinking about Australian taxes you may need to consider the law in the country you’re sending money to. Tax may be due when your recipient gets their money, depending on the legislation in their home country.
How much money can be transferred internationally?
There’s no legal limit on the amount of money you can transfer internationally from Australia. However, all payments over 10,000 AUD are reported to AUSTRAC to prevent financial crime and tax evasion.
Although the government does not limit the amount you can send overseas, some banks and providers have limits per day, month, or year – while others have no limits at all.
Best ways to transferring large sums of money abroad
When sending an international transfer you’ll need to double check the transfer limits available, as well as the fees and exchange rates. It’s common to be asked for supporting documents when sending a high value payment. This is for compliance reasons.
You may need to provide proof of where the money has come from for example, to prove it’s legally acquired. Your bank or provider will walk you through what’s needed based on their own policies and legal reporting requirements.
For transferring large amounts internationally you might find that a specialist service has the most streamlined payment system, allowing you to send your money in an app or online for convenience. Here are a few popular services for large transfers which are worth considering:
- Wise: Send to 140+ countries, with limits as high as 5 million AUD/payment when sending from dollars. Progressive fee discounts apply when sending 40,000 AUD or more monthly, and there’s a dedicated high value payment team to help you if needed.
- Xe: Send up to 750,000 per payment from Australia, with a broad range of countries and currencies supported. Payments are all set up in app or online, with 24/5 phone support on large payments in addition.
- Remitly: Transfer up to 45,000 AUD per payment, and have your money deposited to a bank or mobile wallet, or collected in cash. Remitly is a good choice for quick transfers to loved ones, even if your recipient can’t get to a bank or ATM easily.
- OFX: No transfer limits on payments with a fee of 15 AUD for payments under 10,000 AUD and no transfer fee above this amount. There’s 24/7 phone support as well as digital services to keep on top of your transfers easily.
How to increase the limit of your international transfers
Major Australian banks usually have a pretty low limit on the amount you can send overseas online or in their mobile banking service. However you may be able to increase this by adding on another layer of security. For example, ANZ uses the ANZ Shield app, and Commbank has the NetCode SMS system which both offer an additional security step. This means the bank is happy to allow higher transfers for customers who take this additional precaution.
If your payment can not be made online or in app with your bank you may still be able to make your payment by phone or by going to a branch. Higher fees often apply for these services.
Online providers like Wise have security features built throughout their apps as standard and may have more flexible payment limits. As an example, Wise has a maximum limit of 5 million AUD if you pay from a Wise balance, or 1.8 million if you pay by bank transfer. Lower limits apply if you’re using a card to fund your transfer.
Providers like Wise, Xe and Remitly offer transparent pricing and rate conversion, with transfer limits which are displayed clearly so you can plan your payment.
What is the maximum amount of a transfer without having to declare it?
If you send a payment with a bank or international money transfer service, the bank or provider will complete any required declaration. You do not need to take action yourself.
Banks and providers tell AUSTRAC about payments of 10,000 AUD or more. This is to stop crime and fraud, and prevent tax evasion.
Conclusion: Is there a limit on international money transfers?
There’s no legal limit on international money transfers from Australia, but individual banks and international transfer services do often have their own limits you’ll need to know about.
Banks in Australia typically have relatively low digital transfer limits which you can increase by adding in additional security features such as password protections. If you hit a limit you may need to make your payment by phone or in a branch instead – which may cost more.
Specialist digital services like Wise, Xe and OFX can often offer higher limits on digital payments, with fast delivery times and dedicated support for high value transfers. Wise, for example, offers discounts on fees when you send 40,000 AUD or more, with top limits of 5 million AUD per payment.
International money transfer limits FAQ
How can I increase my bank transfer limit?
Banks often have low limits for digital transfers which you can raise by downloading an app or signing up for an extra security feature. Or you can call the bank or visit a branch to set up your transfer if you’d prefer.
Which bank has the highest limits to transfer money abroad?
Of the banks we looked at for this guide, Westpac has the highest limits. However, other services like Wise or Xe Money Transfer may offer fast and efficient services with limits that may exceed those of your bank.
What is the limit for international money transfers?
There’s no legal limit on international money transfers, but banks and money transfer services do have their own limits which may be anything from 45,000 AUD per payment to several million dollars per payment.
What is the maximum transfer limit per day?
Australian banks tend to have a daily limit on online payments which can be around 50,000 AUD. Specialist providers often use a per payment limit instead for more flexibility.
What is the limit to sending money overseas?
Check the limits of your own bank to see if your payment is possible. Or look for a provider like Wise which has a high limit of 5 million AUD when sending your Wise balance.
Useful sources (Checked 6th February 2026)
Wise – Wise Australia landing page with links
Xe Money Transfer – landing page for Xe Money Transfer in Australia
Remitly – Remitly Australia landing page with links
OFX – OFX page for payments and brokerage services
Westpac – international money transfer landing page
Commbank – international money transfer landing page
ANZ – international money transfer landing page
AUSTRAC – moving money across international borders
