Afghan Guide

Sending money home

The main ways to send money to family in Afghanistan, and how to pay less for it. What matters most is not the fee alone but the exchange rate each service uses.

The ways

  • Hawala: through a money exchanger (sarraf). Fast and found everywhere, including villages. It rests on trust: use a sarraf you or your family know.
  • Money transfer companies: Western Union, MoneyGram and online services such as Remitly or Wise where they serve Afghanistan. Collected in cash from an agent or a bank, or paid into an account.
  • Bank transfer: into an account at an Afghan bank (Azizi Bank and Islamic Bank of Afghanistan, among others, receive international transfers).
  • Mobile money: M-Paisa (Roshan), My Money (AWCC) and mHawala (Etisalat). Some international services pay into these wallets.

How to pay less

  1. Check today's rate on the rate page.
  2. Ask each service how many afghanis your family will receive, not only the fee.
  3. Compare two or three services: the cheapest changes from month to month.
  4. Sending dollars to be collected as dollars avoids one exchange, if your family can use dollars.

Senders abroad may be asked the purpose of a transfer: this is normal and comes from international banking rules. Never send money to someone you have not met for a visa, a job or a "release fee".

Last checked: 11 Mizan 1405 (2026-10-03)

Method. Fees and steps change. Confirm with the office before you go. If something in this guide is wrong, tell us with the form below.

Source: Finder: ways to send money to Afghanistan · Monito: sending money to Afghanistan compared · Thunes: mobile money in Afghanistan

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