Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ / Sending large transfers

Sending large transfers

What qualifies as a large amount money transfer?

An amount of over 15,000 USD is considered a large amount money transfer.

What is the limit of the amount that I can transfer through Western Union?

You can transfer up to 50000 USD/ EURO (or local equivalent) from United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, or the United States when sending from your bank account directly to the receiver’s bank account. The limit may not be available for all receiver countries and is subject to restrictions based on various factors.

In most other countries, the limit is 5,000 USD/EURO (or local equivalent) when sending money from one personal bank account to the other. However, some agent locations and/or countries might have certain restrictions. They vary depending on the payment method, sending and receiving countries, and other factors.

Are there any additional checks to sending multiple large amount money transfers in a short period of time?

There are no limits to sending multiple large amount money transfers over any time frame. However, Western Union policy defines certain thresholds to monitor the customer’s total money transfer activity during a respective period. If a customer exceeds these thresholds, we may ask for additional information to comply with internal policies and regulations. These thresholds may vary depending on the sending customer’s country of residence and the country where the money is sent.

How to send a large amount money transfer, and do I need to provide any additional documents?

You can send and receive large amount money transfers online on wu.com or the Western Union app at your convenience 24/7.

To send a large amount money transfer, simply follow the steps to fill in the required money transfer details, such as destination country, your receiver’s name, send amount, and select the payment method.

To meet our regulatory and compliance obligations, we may sometimes collect additional information and/or documents: which will include documents to validate your occupation and the source of funds.

What are the fees to send a large amount money transfer?

To find out the estimated fee and currency exchange rates for your online money transfers, click Estimate Price and fill in the required fields, such as your receiver’s country and send amount.

When is the money taken from my bank account?

The money is deducted from your bank account once you submit and authorize the money transfer.

Does it take longer to complete a large amount money transfer?

The delivery time varies, depending on the sending and receiving countries, payment, and payout methods selected.

To create a better service for you while complying with local and international regulations, each money transfer goes through different layers of security, and you may receive a call from us requesting further information and/or documentation.

You can refer to our Terms and Conditions Retail and Terms and Conditions Digital for more information.

How secure is my large amount money transfer?

Western Union uses the latest technology to ensure convenient and reliable online money transfers. We operate according to the local and international regulations and compliance programs to protect our customers.

For the best experience when using Western Union, we recommend our customers to make sure their contact information is up to date on their online banking and Western Union profile.

Do I need to complete an identity verification process to send a large amount money transfer? What are the acceptable verification documents?

Identity verification is independent of large amount money transfers. A customer can only send a large amount money transfer if they have already been verified by Western Union.  Refer to the below links for country-specific Know-Your-Customer/ID verification requirements:

France, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, United States

Why do I have to send my source of funds documentation?

At certain threshold, before you can send a large amount of money transfer, we need to request additional documentation to verify the source of your funds. It is required to meet our regulatory obligations and internal policies, which allow us to serve you better, speed up the transfer process and protect your money.

Where do I need to send the additional documents?

You don’t need to send any documents in advance. If Western Union asks you to provide any additional documents (such as proof of source of your funds), you will be provided with directions at that time.

What care do I need to take when sending the documents?

Please make sure the documents aren’t damaged, illegible, or expired and letters, numbers, signs, and security features are clear. When taking a digital photo of your document, please ensure that all four corners are visible and that there is no glare or other obstruction, the lighting is sufficient, and the letters are not blurred or too faint.

How many documents do I need to provide to validate the source of my funds?

We will let you know which documents need to be provided to prove the source of your funds and validate its legitimacy.

Once Western Union asks you for specific documents during a call or via email, please make sure to provide the required document(s) only.

Providing accurate documents that validate the legitimacy of the funds you intend to transfer in a timely manner helps us to speed up the verification process.

What happens if some of my documents are not accepted?

We will send you an email requesting additional documents and directions on how to send them. You need to provide the correct documentation within the stipulated time, or your money transfer will be cancelled.

Is my information secure?

We use organizational, technical, and administrative safeguards to secure your personal information. All information sent to us via email or uploaded online is stored electronically and password-protected and is only accessible by authorized personnel.

Can I cancel my money transfer? When will I receive a refund?

Yes, you can cancel your money transfer if it hasn’t been deposited. It may take up to 7 business days from the day the refund was issued for the funds to show in your account, depending on your bank’s refund-processing practice.

Who can I contact about my large amount money transfer?

For general information, get in touch with us through the Contact us section at westernunion.com.

When will I receive a call/an email from Western Union?

You can expect a call or an email from Western Union within 30 minutes of initiating a large amount money transfer.

What if I missed the call from Western Union?

If you miss our call, we will send you an email asking you to call us back within 24 hours. Always make sure to check your email after initiating a large amount money transfer.

Do I need to get my documents translated?

You don’t need to get your documents translated. You can send them to us in the original language.

How long does it take to verify my documents?

Once we receive the required documents from you, they will be processed within 30 minutes.

What are the reasons my large amount money transfer is declined?

Unfortunately, sometimes we may not be able to approve a large amount money transfer you intended to send.

These situations may include, but are not limited to, the below reasons:

  • We are not able to validate that your source of funds supports your money transfer activity.
  • The provided documents do not contain the required information.
  • We couldn’t verify the authenticity of the documentation provided.
  • The provided documents were illegible, blurry, obscured, expired, or not recent.
  • We couldn’t establish you have sufficient funds to send a large amount money transfer.

If the documents provided are incomplete and/or rejected, you will receive an email notification. You will need to provide the correct documentation, or your money transfer will be canceled.

Can’t find what you are looking for?

If you need to get in touch with Western Union, don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Care