How to Send Money to Argentina: What Works Best in 2025

You may want to send money to Argentina for various reasons: to support yourself or your family, to do business, or to pay a freelancer you are working with. And it’s essential to choose the right transfer method. In this guide, we will break down everything there is to know about sending money to Argentina in 2025 quickly and safely.

Key factors to consider

1. Blue dollar

Argentina operates in a highly unstable economic environment with two exchange rates: the official rate and the black market rate called “blue dollar”. The latter offers a higher value for the US dollar compared to the official exchange rate, sometimes incredibly so.

Strictly speaking, blue dollars are not officially legal, but they operate effectively in the country, often within legitimate businesses that display the exchange rate on their signs. This situation on the market led to our second key factor to consider.

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Argentina has had its real economy dollarized for more than 50 years; that is, the local currency (the peso) has a value relative to the price of the US dollar. So the price of the dollar in relation to the peso defines how much money yielded. Governments try to keep the price of the dollar as low as possible, but that has generated, out of distrust, a marginal dollar or blue dollar, which has its own price and is what people are governed by, and the real economy as well. The problem is that the transfers are made in the value of the official dollar, which is lower than the value of the blue dollar. This has made international transfers more complex.

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2. Exchange regulations

Until recently, Argentina had strict currency control and reporting requirements. People could only purchase up to $200 per month at the official exchange rate, with a 65% tax, and each transaction was subject to verification by the tax authorities. On April 14, the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic announced the release of exchange rate controls through Communication “A” No. 8226. Now, individuals can purchase foreign currency without restrictions or bureaucratic barriers. At the moment, the limit has only been lifted for transactions made through digital channels. The purchase of pesos in cash is still limited to a maximum of $100 per month and requires filling out a declaration. The government has also decided that the value of the US currency will be determined by the supply and demand ratio in the initial range of 1,000 to 1,400 pesos. With this new policy, the exchange rate of the blue dollar has decreased. It is believed that if this trend continues, the value of unofficial currency will continue to decrease, although it may never completely disappear.

Available money transfer methods to Argentina

1. International bank transfers

Bank wire transfer allows you to send money directly from your bank account to Argentina. It’s the most traditional and safe way for sending money abroad, and is particularly suitable if you need to send large sums of money or ensure the highest level of security. However, this security comes at a cost. Banks often charge significant fees for international transactions. For instance, the USA banks can charge up to $50, and the UK banks can charge up to £35. Additionally, such transfers typically take between 3 and 7 business days to process. 

To initiate a wire transfer, you need to gather and provide your bank with the recipient’s information: full name, bank name, bank SWIFT/BIC code, account number, contact number, address, and the reason for the transfer. All the transactions are subject to BCRA (Banco Central de la República Argentina) provisions on money and exchange, and to the AFIP (Federal Administration of Public Income) provisions. 

Pros

• Secure and reliable
• Have large transfer capacity
• Totally official and regulated

Cons

• High fees and commissions
• Not all banks offer international wire transfers
• Uses the official exchange rate
• Isn’t the fastest option for urgent transfers

2. Money transfer services

With the rise of digital careers and the fast-paced economy, online services have revolutionized the way to transfer money internationally. These services are generally faster, more reliable, and offer lower fees than traditional bank transfers. However, as these are online transactions, they raise some security concerns, such as the risk of identity theft and malware attacks. Therefore, you should be very careful when sharing your personal information and always double-check everything, even if the platform seems trustworthy. Just in case.

Pros

• Fast transfer processing
• Lower fees and commissions
• Favorable currency exchange rates
• User-friendly interface and mobile apps

Cons

• Limits on the amount of money transfers
• Possible hidden fees
• Not as secure and reliable

Below is a list of the most popular and trustworthy services you may use.

Western Union

Western Union is one of the most familiar and popular choices for sending money to Argentina. It has several convenient options for receiving payments: at a local Western Union office, directly into a bank account, or through the Pago Fа́cil App (If the sender did not share bank account information). Western Union is, perhaps, one of the few methods where a debit card is not required. You can send and receive money in one of their many agent locations. This makes it a very convenient and traditional payment option, especially if you're sending money to an older relative.  For safety reasons, Western Union provides a tracking number (MTCN) to ensure that you are aware of every step of the transfer process. 

The transfers to Argentina may take up to 5 days and require the recipient's nationality and the purpose of the transfer to be provided. The service charges fees for each transaction, which vary depending on the brand, channel, and location. Western Union additionally makes money from currency exchange, so it's worth considering both factors when comparing different options. There is a calculator on their website that you can use to estimate the fees. If you're paying with a bank account, the fee for a transfer of $100 will be $10.99. A debit card transfer will cost $12.99. The cheapest option would be to pay in store, as this will only cost you $8 for the transaction.

MoneyGram

MoneyGram is another reliable and well-known service that can be used to transfer money to Argentina from anywhere in the world. Like Western Union, it offers both card and cash options for sending and receiving money, with a wide range of offices in Argentina. Depending on the chosen method, money can be received in Argentina within minutes or up to two business days. It's also one of the oldest and most secure methods of sending money. 

However, even well-established companies like these are not 100% safe. In September 2024 MoneyGram experienced a cybersecurity attack, which led to days-long delays and the theft of customer data. The company quickly resolved the issue, but they did not explain how the hacker was able to breach their system. Of course, no system is perfect, and this can happen with any service. However, MoneyGram has had such experience in the past, so it's worth taking note of this.

MoneyGram is not the cheapest option, but its fees are generally lower than those for direct bank transfers or Western Union. You can calculate your transaction with an online calculator. The cheapest option is to send cash to a location similar to Western Union, but the commission is lower. The standard commission for sending USD to ARS is $5.99. The exchange rate is also more favorable.

PayPal

PayPal is one of the most well-known payment platforms available in more than 200 countries, including Argentina. It can be used for both personal and business transactions. PayPal is secure, fast, and easy to use: all you need to register is a valid email address, national ID or passport, and a link to a bank account or credit/debit card. 

PayPal transfers are usually instant, but in some cases, it can take up to 5 business days for money to be sent from your bank account to PayPal, and up to 3 business days for it to be withdrawn to the recipient's local bank account. The service charges fees for both domestic and international transactions. The final fee depends on the payment method. 

PayPal offers free domestic transfers when using the service's balance or a linked bank account. For debit or credit card transfers, there’s a fee of 2,9% + a fixed fee based on the sent currency: €0.35, $0.30, £0.20. For international transactions, an additional fee of between $0.99 and $4.99 will be added. PayPal also charges fees for currency conversion, so it's best to check the current market exchange rate before transferring funds.

Revolut

Revolut offers a fresh approach to digital banking and is one the most user-friendly and efficient options when it comes to sending money to Argentina. All you need to do is download the app, add money to your Revolut account and enter the recipient's details or choose them from your contact list. Transfers to other Revolut users are usually instant. However, as the Revolut card is not currently available for residents of Argentina, bank transfers may take 3-5 days to process.

One of the main reasons why Revolut has become so popular, especially among freelancers choosing remote careers, is for its low transaction fees and competitive exchange rates. With Revolut no fees are hidden: you can see the exchange rates in real-time before you send the money, as well as an approximate time of arrival. 

Note that additional currency transfer rates are not applied only on weekdays. Some Reddit users have been complaining about unfavorable rates, unaware of this fact. 

Instarem

Instarem is an international money transfer service regulated by the Bank of Lithuania. It has a user-friendly app, a wide range of currencies, and its fees are among the lowest on the market. Their exchange rates are similar to those offered by Revolut, with slightly better competitive pricing. Instarem is transparent about their charges: you can see all the fees in the app before sending money. For personal transfers, the fees start at 0.4% and depend on the amount sent, currency, and payment method. For business transfers, a standard fee of 0.65% is applied when sending money, and a standard fee of 0.3% is applied for receiving. 

Transfers to Argentina are usually instant, but they can also take up to 2 business days due to various factors such as the chosen payment method and delays in the banking system. You can track every step of the transfer process in the app, and will get a notification when the recipient has received the money.

3. Cryptocurrency transfers

Argentina is one of the countries where interest in cryptocurrency is constantly growing due to the current economic instability and high inflation. The average revenue per user in the cryptocurrency market is projected to be $64.1 in 2025. Approximately 5 million people, out of a total population of 45 million, use digital assets on a daily basis. Cryptocurrency is legal in Argentina and is considered an intangible asset, which means it is taxable. The tax is calculated based on the amount of money you earn.

Cryptocurrency gained its popularity due to the speed of transfers and low fees. Bitcoin, Ethereum or any other cryptocurrency can be transferred in seconds, and the exchange rates are often more favorable. The most popular cryptocurrency exchange platforms are Binance and Coinbase. They both can be used to exchange cryptocurrencies in Argentina. Stablecoins such as USDT typically have the lowest transaction fees and are therefore the most attractive option for transferring funds.

Note that while cryptocurrency is not restricted, it's still not the most secure way to transfer money. In Argentina, cryptocurrency is used to access US dollars and make transactions outside of the traditional banking system. Therefore, it's important to stay informed about any government regulations that could affect cryptocurrency transactions in the country.

The platforms that allow transfers are not easy to understand and use by the general public, so some of them end up being a difficulty rather than a help. All this results in uncertainty and fear when using digital platforms. The same goes for cryptocurrencies, which remain a mystery for a large part of the population. The great general difficulty is the ignorance and bureaucratic disorder in sending and receiving money to Argentina. The forms process can be complex, incomprehensible for ordinary people, and also it is usually modified so it turns out to be a big obstacle. This actually favors large companies.

{{Juan Francisco Miranda}}

Tips for sending money to Argentina
Consider the following while sending money to Argentina:

• Compare exchange rates. Argentina’s currency is unstable due to inflation and operates within two systems: the official exchange rate and the blue dollar exchange rate. To get the best value for your money, it's important to choose an option that's closest to the blue dollar rate. 
• Choose the right transfer method. Check the possible delivery options, such as cash pickup, bank account transfers, or direct card deliveries. And choose the best and most comfortable option for the recipient. 
• Verify the recipient’s details carefully. Depending on the platform or transfer method you select, double-check all details to ensure that there are no delays or lost funds. Some services may require the name and bank account details, while others may also ask for information such as an address and passport details of the recipient.

First, find out if the transfer can be received in the currency of origin. Since last year, dollars can be entered through transfers and received in that currency in bank accounts. But this can be changed at any time. The second thing is to be attentive to the provisions of the Central Bank of Argentina, who establishes the rules for this. If you are going to use a digital platform, find out if this platform allows the transfer in the currency of origin to a bank account based in Argentina, and that this transfer can be received without being converted, that is, converted to local currency (if this happens the dollar value of the transfer is lower because the blue dollar is still quoted above the official dollar).
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Have ethical practices in mind

Make transparency, security, and allegiance to international and local laws your number one priority when choosing a way to send money to Argentina. Consider the social and environmental impact of the transactions and choose wisely to make sure your financial actions are responsible and ethical.