How to Send Money From South Africa to Ethiopia
Sending money from South Africa to Ethiopia is common for family support, business, or personal reasons. However, traditional methods like bank transfers and remittance services often come with high fees, long delays, and unfavourable exchange rates.
VALR Pay provides a faster, smarter solution by offering instant, fee-free transfers using cryptocurrencies like USDC, USDT, and EURC, or South African Rands (ZAR). It's a modern, borderless way to send money to Ethiopia quickly and securely.
5 Ways to Transfer Money From South Africa to Ethiopia
1. Bank Transfers
South African banks such as FNB, ABSA, Standard Bank, and Nedbank can facilitate SWIFT transfers to Ethiopia. While this is a secure method, it can be slow and costly, with high service charges, exchange rate markups, and possible delays of 2–5 business days.
2. Money Transfer Services
Providers like Western Union, MoneyGram, and Mukuru offer transfers to Ethiopia and are widely used in the region. While they're relatively accessible, especially in major cities, they typically charge high fees (especially for cash pickups) and may not be the best value for frequent or small transfers.
3. Forex and Cross-Border Agencies
Agencies like WorldRemit, Paysend, and ACE Money Transfer provide forex and cross-border payments to Ethiopia. While they may offer better exchange rates than banks, transfers can take time to process and often require additional documentation and account setup.
4. Mobile Money & Wallets
In Ethiopia, services like M-Birr, HelloCash, and Telebirr are widely used. However, direct interoperability with South African mobile wallets is limited, and cross-border top-ups often require third-party intermediaries that add friction and extra costs to the process.
5. VALR Pay (Crypto + ZAR Transfers)
VALR Pay allows you to send money instantly from South Africa to Ethiopia using stablecoins such as USDC, USDT, or EURC, or in South African Rands (ZAR). This option is fee-free, fast, and secure, giving your recipient the ability to either convert to local currency on a local crypto exchange or hold funds in crypto.
How to Send Money From South Africa to Ethiopia with VALR Pay
Follow these simple steps to send money with VALR Pay:
1. Sign in to VALR
Go to valr.com or download the VALR app from the iOS or Android store. Click “Get Started” to create an account or log in to your existing one.
2. Navigate to VALR Pay
Once signed in, tap the “VALR Pay” tab and select “Pay” to start your transfer.
3. Choose the asset and amount to transfer
Ensure your VALR wallet is funded. You can send a stablecoin like USDC, USDT, or EURC, or choose to send ZAR (South African Rand) directly. Enter the amount you wish to transfer.
4. Enter recipient’s details
Add the recipient’s phone number, email address, or VALR Pay ID. Optionally include a note or choose to send the payment anonymously.
5. Complete the transaction
Review all transfer details and click “Next.” Confirm by tapping “Pay now.” The funds will be delivered instantly to your recipient in Ethiopia.
Send ZAR or crypto instantly and for free with VALR Pay. Say goodbye to high fees and delays. Sign up today to simplify your cross-border transfers to Ethiopia.
Risk Disclosure
Trading or investing in crypto assets is risky and may result in the loss of capital as the value may fluctuate.
VALR (Pty) Ltd is a licensed financial services provider (FSP #53308).
