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Best Ways to Send Money From the UK to Pakistan in 2024

Byron Mühlberg, writer at Monito.com

Byron Mühlberg

Guide

Jarrod Suda

Reviewer

Feb 17, 2023
Advertiser disclosure

Sending money from the UK to Pakistan can be done through a wide selection of companies. However, finding the most cost-effective option can be challenging. Fees vary greatly between providers and banks. Plus, banks or popular mobile apps such as PayPal charge hidden exchange rate markups on cross-border transfers. These hidden fees can significantly decrease the amount received by the recipient, a common frustration for those who often send remittances abroad.

In this article, we reference millions of searches from our comparison engine to recommend you the five best money transfer specialists for sending money from the UK to Pakistan. They will be far cheaper and faster than high-street banks like Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays and others for getting the job done.

Use the comparison engine below to accurately find the most efficient and cost-effective methods for transfers from the UK to Pakistan in real time 👇

Compare before transferring money from the UK to Pakistan:

Key Facts About Transfers From the UK to Pakistan

🔎 Providers compared

12+ (compare them here)

💸 Average fee

0.89%

⚡ ️Fastest transfer time

In minutes

🏆 Best provider

Best: Remitly

Remitly is one of the cheapest and most popular international money transfer services for sending money to Pakistan. They offer fee-free transfer options, plus exchange rates that sometimes match the real mid-market exchange rate. You can choose from four delivery methods too: bank transfers, cash pick-up, mobile wallet, or cash delivery. With in-person pick-up locations across Pakistan, Remitly is a reliable service for transfers from the UK to Pakistan.

  • Cost /transfer: £0 fee + 0.5% exchange rate margin
  • Cheapest: 33% of Monito comparisons from the UK to Pakistan in 2022
  • Speed: Up to 1 business day
  • Pay-in options: Direct bank payment, credit/debit card
  • Pay-out options: Bank deposit, cash pick-up, mobile wallet
  • Transfer limits: Up to £10,000 /transfer
  • Best for: Transfers to Pakistan in general, regardless of receiving method
  • More info: See our full Remitly review or visit the website.

2nd Best: XE

The world's oldest online money transfer company, XE Money Transfer is widely-known in the world of currency exchange and often offers the best way to transfer money from the UK to Pakistan for bank-to-bank transfers.

  • Cost /transfer: 0.3-1%
  • Cheapest: 29% of Monito comparisons from the UK to Pakistan in 2022
  • Speed: Up to 1 business day
  • Pay-in options: Direct bank payment, credit/debit card
  • Pay-out options: Bank deposit
  • Transfer limits: Up to £500,000
  • Best for: Large bank transfers above £500, above which fees are waived
  • More info: See our full XE review or visit the website.

3rd Best: Instarem

Instarem is another good choice for sending money from the UK to Pakistan because it offers great exchange rates and low transfer fees (allowing for more money to reach your recipient!), and it provides a fast and secure transfer process that can be completed online or through its mobile app.

  • Cost /transfer: Around 0.8%
  • Cheapest: 7% of Monito comparisons from the UK to Pakistan in 2022
  • Speed: Up to 1 business day
  • Pay-in options: Direct bank payment, credit/debit card
  • Pay-out options: Bank deposit, cash pick-up, mobile wallet
  • Transfer limits: Up to £10,000
  • More info: See our full Instarem review or visit the website.

4th Best: Western Union

Western Union has a long track record of delivering money from the UK to Pakistan. It's a time-tested and reliable choice because of its legacy and vast network of agents and locations, making it easy for your recipient to receive the money in cash. Moreover, Western Union provides multiple transfer options, including online, through its mobile app, or in person, allowing flexibility and convenience.

  • Cost /transfer: 0.4% + £1.90
  • Cheapest: 7% of Monito comparisons from the UK to Pakistan in 2022
  • Speed: Up to 1 business day
  • Pay-in options: Direct bank transfer, debit/credit card
  • Pay-out options: Bank deposit, cash pick-up, mobile wallet
  • Transfer limits: Up to £4,000
  • More info: See our full Western Union review or visit the website.

5th Best: Moneygram

Moneygram is another good choice, offering competitive exchange rates and low fees for transfers from the UK to Pakistan. However, the total cost of making a transfer with Moneygram tends to be higher compared to its competitors to Pakistan, and its transfer speeds tend not to be as fast as other providers on this list.

  • Cost /transfer: £3.99 + 0.2%
  • Cheapest: 5% of Monito comparisons from the UK to Pakistan in 2022
  • Speed: 1 business day
  • Pay-in options: Debit/credit card
  • Pay-out options: Bank deposit, cash pick-up, mobile wallet
  • Transfer limits: Up to £40,000
  • More info: See our full Moneygram review or visit the website.

Compare the 5 Best Ways to Send Money From the UK to Pakistan

Here are the five providers we ranked above, compared side-by-side in a table:

Cost /transfer

0.5%

0.3-1%

0.4-1.2%

  • £1.90
  • Approx. 0.4%
  • £3.99
  • Approx. 0.2%

Cheapest

0.33

0.29

0.07

0.07

0.05

Speed

1 business day

1 business day

1 business day

1 business day

1 business day

Pay-in options

  • Direct bank payment
  • Debit/credit card
  • Bank wire transfer
  • Debit/credit card
  • Bank wire transfer
  • Debit card
  • Direct bank payment
  • Debit/credit card
  • Debit/credit card

Pay-out options

  • Bank deposit
  • Cash pick-up
  • Mobile wallet
  • Bank deposit
  • Bank deposit
  • Bank deposit
  • Cash pick-up
  • Mobile wallet
  • Bank deposit
  • Cash pick-up
  • Mobile wallet

Max. transfer

£10,000

£500,000

£100,000

£4,000

£40,000

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Last updated: February 17, 2023

What's the Best Way to Transfer Money From the UK to Pakistan?

Ways to transfer money internationally to a Pakistani bank account vary in terms of cost and speed. For emergency transfers, multiple options are available. To save on large transfers, we provide cost-effective options for sending money from the UK too.

Faster Payments Service (FPS) Transfer

FPS ('Faster Payments Service') is a UK payment method that provides near-instantaneous funds transfer between bank accounts, with transactions typically clearing within a few seconds.

  • Fee for £1,000 transfer on Remitly: Approx. £5
  • Fee for £1,000 transfer on Wise£6.61

Bacs Transfer

Bacs ('Bankers' Automated Clearing Services') is a type of bank transfer in the UK that enables the transfer of funds between bank accounts, making it a popular payment method for recurring transactions such as payroll, direct debits, and standing orders.

  • Fee for £1,000 transfer on Remitly: Approx. £5
  • Fee for £1,000 transfer on Wise£6.61

Credit/Debit Card Transfer

Simply using your debit or credit card to send money to Pakistan (via a digital money transfer app) is a convenient option for transferring money to rupees, although the fees tend to be slightly higher than via the bank.

  • Fee for £1,000 transfer on Remitly: Approx. £5
  • Fee for £1,000 transfer on Wise£9.58

The fees we listed here were recorded on Wise February 16th, 2023.

FAQ About the Best Ways to Send Money From the UK to Pakistan

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