Western Union Limits 2025: Full Guide

Western Union is one of the biggest money transfer companies in the world, with a huge network of agents, and ways to conveniently send payments online and in app. From Australia you can transfer money globally with Western Union, subject to Western Union limits based on the way you pay and where you’re sending to. This guide explores the Western Union maximum transfer limit – and also touches on Wise and OFX as alternative options if you need to send a higher value payment, or simply want to compare the costs and rates available to you.

Does Western Union have limits?

There’s no specific Western Union daily limit, or a Western Union limit per month – but there are limits imposed on the amount you can send per transaction. The Western Union money transfer limit which applies to your payment can vary depending on how you want to pay for your transfer, and where the money is being sent.

The Western Union payment limit for Australia is somewhat lower than many other providers, particularly if you’d like to pay online or in app using a credit card, or a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Is Western Union safe for large amounts?

Western Union is a large, well established and trusted international payment service, which is considered safe to use. When you set up a Western Union account you must complete a verification step for security, and there are also manual and automatic checks in place to help prevent fraudulent account use.

How much money can I send through Western Union?

Once you have been verified by Western Union you can arrange payments online, in app and in person by visiting an agent. The Western Union limit that applies to your transfer can depend on the way you choose to pay, where you’re sending money to, and other similar factors. If you run into a limit while arranging your digital transfer, you’ll see an on screen message – and if you’re at an agent location, you can talk through your options with the agent to decide how to proceed.

Western Union limits

Let’s dig into the Western Union money limits which apply for customers in Australia. Bear in mind that the applicable limit can vary depending on your location – if you’re not based in Australia you’ll need to check the details online for your country of residence.

Western Union transfer limits

The Western Union transfer limit for Australia depends on how you want to pay for your transfer. Additional limits may apply depending on the specific country you’re sending to. Limits are per transfer, with no specific Western Union limit per month or per day. This means that if you exceed the maximum peer payment amount you can split your payment amount into several smaller payments if you choose to – but in this case you might also have to pay the transfer fee more than once.

We’ll look at some alternative services with higher limits in a moment – first, here are the Western Union transfer limits based on different sending methods.

Further limits may apply depending on the specific country you’re sending money to, which are shown in the Western Union app when you arrange your payment.

Alternatives to Western Union with high limits

Western Union’s transfer limits depend on how you want to pay, and can be lower than using other services. If you want to send with a credit card, or use Apple Pay or Google Pay for convenience, you can only transfer 9,000 AUD – or 50,000 AUD using alternative methods.

If you have a higher value payment to arrange, options like Wise and OFX may be able to help instead. Here’s a summary of these services – we’ll get into more detail about each in just a moment.

*Details correct at time of research – 12th July 2025

OFX

OFX supports payments for personal and business customers, in 50+ currencies. You can make your transfer online or in the OFX app, and there’s also a 24/7 phone service if you want to talk your options through with someone.

This can be very reassuring when making a higher value transfer. Generally, OFX does not have an upper limit on the value of payments you can send. Aside from transfers, OFX also offers currency risk management products for individuals and business customers. A transfer fee of 15 AUD applies if you send less than 10,000 AUD – this fee is waived for higher value payments.

Best features:

• Services for individuals and businesses
• Often no limit to the value of a payment you can send
• No transfer fee for high value payments over 10,000 AUD – although exchange rates include a markup

Wise

Send payments in 40+ currencies, to 140+ countries. Wise international transfers are available for individuals and business customers, and while there are some limits to the value of payments you can send, these limits are generally set very high to allow customers to transact freely. In fact, if you’re sending higher value payments you may even qualify for automatic fee discounts, making the costs even lower.

Limits vary by currency, and depend on the way you fund your transfer. We’ve got a summary of limits for Australian customers coming up in just a moment. Currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no additional fees added, and a low conversion charge from 0.63%.

Aside from international transfers, Wise also offers multi-currency accounts which can be used to receive foreign currency payments, and which offer a linked international debit card for spending and withdrawals around the world.

Best features:

• Mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees
• High transfer limits, usually around 1 million GBP in value
• Account and card services also available for personal and business customers

*Limits may vary depending on the currency you send to and from – full details available in the Wise app

Is it possible to increase Western Union limits?

There’s no advertised method to increase your Western Union money transfer limit. To get the highest available limit amount you must have your account verified by Western Union, and choose to pay using debit card, PayID or PayTo.

How to increase Western Union limits

The key step to accessing the highest available Western Union limit is to make sure your Western Union account is fully verified. You can do this in a Western Union location by taking along your government issued ID document, or by uploading your ID online when you set up your digital payment. You may also need to provide additional information about the payment you’re making, such as the source of the funds.

Western Union large transfer fees

Often the easiest way to check which provider is going to be the best value for a transfer is to look at the amount the recipient will get in the end. This allows you to compare providers easily, even where the pricing mechanisms used may be different.

To illustrate, let’s look at the costs and final received amount for an example transfer, using Western Union, Wise and OFX.

Details correct at time of research – 13th July 2025

In this example, Western Union waives the transfer fee as a promotion for new customers, which can be an attractive offer – but do remember that there’s also a fee added to the exchange rate. Wise has a different approach, offering the mid-market rate, and splitting out the costs for transparency. OFX has no transfer fee for high value payments, and also uses a small exchange rate markup to calculate the amount the recipient gets in the end. Rates and fees change frequently, so comparing a few options like these can help you get the lowest overall cost for your international payment.

Western Union exchange rate for international transfers

The Western Union exchange rate for international transfers may include a markup – a fee added into the rate used to convert your AUD to the currency needed for deposit to your recipient’s account.

The rate you’re quoted by Western Union depends on several factors, including the currency involved, how you want to pay, and how you’d like the money to be received in the end. To see any fee added to the rate you’ll need to compare the rate you’re offered against the mid-market rate for your currency, which you can get using a currency conversion tool or Google search.

It’s important to check the rate options available to you if you want to get the best available deal. Exchange rate markups can look pretty small, but as a percentage cost, the amount can stack up quickly on higher value transfers.

How to send high amount transfers with Western Union

You can send a payment with Western Union in person by visiting an agent locally to you, or digitally either through the Western Union website or app. If you choose to set up your payment in person, the agent can guide you through the steps required – remember to take along your government issued ID document, like a passport or driving license, to get verified.

If you’d prefer to send your payment digitally for convenience you can set up your Western Union international payment in the following way:

1. Download the Western Union app or open the desktop site
2. Click Send Now and follow the steps to register your account
3. Get verified by adding an image of your ID and any other documents requested
4. Set up your transfer by entering the details of amount and currency
5. Choose the payment method and how the money should be received
6. Follow the prompts to pay and your money is on the way

Bear in mind that you will need to pay using a debit card, PayID or PayTo, to get the highest available Western Union transfer limit.

How to receive large transfers with Western Union

You can receive a transfer with Western Union in cash by collecting your money from a local Western Union agent, or directly to your bank or mobile money account.

If you’d prefer to receive your money in cash you must make sure the sender has your full name as shown on your government issued ID document. The sender will be given a reference number, known as a MTCN, which they will pass to you. Once your money is available you can visit your preferred agent with your ID and the MTCN, and collect your funds in cash.

To receive money to your bank you need to give the person sending you money the following:

• Your name as shown on your bank account
• Your bank name and account number
• Your BSB number

Once the transfer has been processed the funds are deposited to your bank account directly without you needing to take any further action.

How long do large transfers take with Western Union?

The length of time it takes to receive a payment with Western Union depends on how you pay for the transfer, where it’s headed, and how you want the money to be received.

If you’re sending money to a bank account overseas, the delivery time is usually between 1 and 5 business days. Payments that are collected in cash can be quicker, particularly if you fund them using cash or a card.

Western Union customer support for high amount transfers

If you have questions about your Western Union transfer you can find lots of helpful information and FAQs on their website and app. Or, for a more personal service, try one of the following options:

• Open an in app chat to talk to a service representative
• Call Western Union in Australia on 1800 173 833
• Visit a local Western Union agent to get face to face help and advice

Western Union business limits

Western Union does not market specific business services for customers in Australia.

Conclusion: Does Western Union have limits?

While Western Union doesn’t impose a specific western union daily limit, they do restrict the amount per transaction depending on the details of your payment. Factors like how you want to pay and where you’re sending money to make a difference.

Once you have a verified Western Union account, you can usually send up to 50,000 AUD with a debit card, or by paying using PayID or PayTo. If you’d prefer to pay with a credit card or using a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay, you’ll face a lower limit of 9,000 AUD. Some other Western Union limits can apply depending on the country you’re sending to.

If you’d like to send a higher value payment you might find an alternative like Wise or OFX works better for you. Wise has high limits for payments from AUD, up to 1.8 million AUD per transfer, while OFX usually has no limit on the value of your transfer.

Western Union international transfer limits FAQs

How much can I transfer with Western Union internationally online?

You can send up to 50,000 AUD with Western Union if you have a fully verified account and choose to pay using a debit card, PayID or PayTo. Limits are lower for other payment methods. If you need to send more you can use an alternative like Wise or OFX, which have higher transfer limits.

What is the maximum amount you can transfer abroad with Western Union?

If you’re making a digital payment you can usually send a maximum of 50,000 AUD with Western Union, subject to using an acceptable payment method. If you prefer to send your money to a Western Union agent you may find limits are lower.

How can I increase the Western Union maximum transfer limit?

To get the highest available Western Union transfer limit you must have a fully verified account. You can get verified by uploading an image of your government issued ID document, and then send up to 50,000 AUD. For payments above this amount you can choose a different service, like OFX or Wise.

What is the maximum amount you can Western Union?

If you can pay with a debit card, PayID or PayTo you can usually make a transfer of up to 50,000 AUD with Western Union. Credit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay payments are capped at 9,000 AUD, while transfers made in cash through an agent have varied limits depending on the specific agent’s policies.

Can I send $5,000 through Western Union?

Once you have a verified Western Union account you can send 5,000 AUD digitally using a card or other method like PayID. If you’d prefer to pay in person at an agent you’ll need to check the specific policies of your preferred agent as limits can vary.