How to send money from Australia to Nepal

Migratio Editorial · Last updated 23 July 2026

TL;DR: Australia has no outbound cap. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) permits and encourages inward remittances through authorised banks and money transfer operators. Cash pickup through remittance agents is widely used in Nepal, particularly in areas with limited banking access. Specialist services and remittance providers offer competitive AUD-to-NPR rates.

Australia has no outbound cap. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) permits and encourages inward remittances through authorised banks and money transfer operators. Cash pickup through remittance agents is widely used in Nepal, particularly in areas with limited banking access. Specialist services and remittance providers offer competitive AUD-to-NPR rates.

Overview

Nepal's economy relies significantly on remittances from overseas workers and diaspora communities. NRB actively encourages inward remittances through formal channels and has licensed numerous money transfer operators to serve the corridor.

Outbound rules (Australia)

No cap. AUSTRAC reporting applies automatically (AUSTRAC).

Inbound rules (Nepal)

NRB permits personal inward remittances with no cap. Funds can be received through authorised commercial banks, development banks, finance companies, and licensed remittance companies. NRB has progressively liberalised the inward remittance framework to increase formal channel usage (NRB).

Recipients can receive funds in NPR (converted at the bank's or agent's rate) or hold foreign currency in certain account types if eligible.

Fee comparison

Specialist services (Wise, WorldRemit, Remitly): AUD-to-NPR margins of 0.5–2%, fees of AUD 2–15. Bank deposit to Nepali bank accounts.

Remittance providers (Western Union, MoneyGram, IME, Prabhu Money Transfer): Cash pickup through extensive agent networks in Nepal, including rural and semi-urban areas. Nepal-specific remittance operators like IME and Prabhu have the largest domestic agent networks. Fees vary but are competitive for cash-pickup delivery.

Australian banks: AUD 20–35 plus 2–5% margin. SWIFT routing can involve multiple intermediary banks, increasing cost and delivery time.

Delivery options

Bank deposit: To major Nepali banks (Nepal Bank, Nabil Bank, NIC Asia, Global IME Bank). 1–3 business days.

Cash pickup: Through IME, Prabhu, Western Union, and MoneyGram agent networks. Available within minutes to hours across Nepal.

Home delivery: Some Nepali remittance operators offer doorstep delivery in select areas.

Speed

Cash pickup: minutes to hours. Specialist services bank deposit: 1–2 business days. Bank SWIFT: 3–5 business days.

Tax implications

Australia: No tax on outbound transfers.

Nepal: Inward remittances are not taxed. Nepal does not impose income tax on personal remittances received from overseas.

Common mistakes

Defaulting to bank SWIFT for family support. Given Nepal's extensive remittance agent network, cash pickup through IME or Prabhu is often faster, cheaper, and more convenient for the recipient than a bank wire.

Not checking the recipient's preferred collection method. In rural areas, cash pickup from a nearby agent may be far more accessible than a bank deposit.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I send from Australia to Nepal?

No Australian cap. Nepal has no cap on personal inward remittances.

What is the fastest way to send money to Nepal?

Cash pickup through IME, Prabhu, Western Union, or MoneyGram — available within minutes.

Is the money taxed in Nepal?

No. Personal remittances from overseas are not taxed.

What are the best providers for Nepal?

Nepal-specific operators (IME, Prabhu) have the widest domestic networks. Specialist online services (Wise, WorldRemit) offer competitive rates for bank deposit.

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