Can GCash receive money from abroad? - How to send money to GCash from overseas
GCash is a very popular wallet to send, spend and get cash here in the Philippines. If you’re a GCash user you might be wondering: can I receive money through GCash from abroad? This guide on how to send money to GCash - and how to receive a payment yourself - covers all you need to know.
We’ll also cover a few alternative ways to get paid from overseas, including Wise, which has international accounts to hold 40+ currencies, and a linked debit card for spending and withdrawals in 150+ countries. Use Wise to get paid from abroad in 20+ currencies including USD, PHP and GBP with low fees and the mid-market rate.
Can I receive money through GCash from abroad?
If you have an eligible account with GCash you can receive money through GCash from abroad - either as a direct payment from a bank, or as a remittance which is processed through a GCash partner overseas.
The process of how to receive money from GCash from another country varies depending on how the person sending the money arranges the transfer. This guide looks at how to send money to GCash in a couple of different ways, so you can agree with the sender on how to get everything organised.
What types of GCash accounts can receive online remittances from overseas?
Only Fully Verified GCash users can claim remittances from overseas to the Philippines. You’ll need to upgrade your account on GCash if you’re not yet verified, to get your money. This process is not too difficult, and means uploading some additional documents and information.
The documents you need to upload depend on your personal situation. If you’re over 18 and a resident of the Philippines you must upload an image of one of the following:
National ID (Card Type)
National ID (Paper Type) / Digital National ID
Passport
HDMF (Pag-Ibig Loyalty Plus)
Driver's License
Philippine Postal ID
PRC ID
UMID
SSS ID
Younger users, and people living outside the Philippines may need additional documents. You’re guided through the process to upload what’s needed within the app.
How to receive money to GCash from another country - step by step
Here’s how to send money to GCash from a EU or UK bank:
On your GCash app, tap Cash In > Global Partners and Remittance
Select International Banks > EU or UK
Read instructions and then tap Cash In.
Enter the amount you wish to cash in (in PHP) and tap Next
Review the transaction details and tap Confirm.
Select your bank and proceed with login and authentication.
After confirming your bank details, review the amount and fees, and tap Confirm.
You can also send money to GCash from a US bank, by opening your GCash app and selecting Cash In > Global Banks and Partners > USA. The steps to follow are similar to for the EU and UK, and you’re guided through the process by prompts on the screen.
It’s also possible to send money to GCash through a preferred remittance partner:
On the GCash homepage, tap Cash In
Select Global Banks and Partners
Under Remittance Partners, select your preferred partner
Check the instructions to Cash In
If you’re receiving a payment as a remittance you might need to take a few steps to claim the funds. Here are the steps to take:
On the GCash homepage tap Cash In > Global Banks and Partners
Type and select remittance partner in the search bar
Enter the expected amount, reference number, and purpose of remittance. Tap Proceed
Review the details of your remittance and tap Next
Enter the 6-digit authentication code sent to your GCash registered mobile number
How can I receive money through GCash from abroad - information needed
To receive money through GCash from abroad you’ll need to make sure the person sending you money has your name as shown on your GCash account, and your GCash registered phone number.
Bear in mind that if you’re getting a remittance, you’ll need a reference number from the sender to claim your money. Ask the person sending you funds to give you the remittance so you can claim your money easily once it arrives.
GCash fees to receive international money transfer
GCash fees to receive international money transfer depend on the way the person sending you money structures the payment. There is no GCash fee for receiving a remittance to your account. However, for a bank transfer, there may be a handling fee which depends on the bank selected.
Aside from any transfer fee, an exchange fee may apply at some point in the transaction. If the person sending you money is in the US, and sending from USD, for example, the funds need to be converted to pesos before they can be added to GCash. This process may be handled by the sender’s bank, an intermediary, or GCash. Exchange rates used can include a fee - a percentage added to the rate used to convert to PHP for deposit. This might mean you get less in GCash in the end than you had expected.
If you’d prefer to receive payments in foreign currencies and handle the exchange yourself you might like Wise. With Wise you can receive payments in major currencies like USD, EUR and GBP, and keep your money in the original currency rather than being forced to convert back to PHP instantly. There’s no Wise fee to receive payments with local details, although small fees apply if you receive money by SWIFT transfer instead. More on that later.
How to cash out the funds from GCash
You can cash out funds from GCash using your GCash card if you have one, through a QR code withdrawal at an ATM, or through one of the GCash partner agents. This allows you to cash out at over 413,000 partner outlets and branches nationwide.
How much are the cash out fees for GCash?
The fee to make a withdrawal from an ATM is usually up to about 18 PHP. The exact cost does vary depending on the ATM operator. RCBC QR code withdrawals have a fee of 18 PHP.
If you want to cash out at an agent you’ll need to check the costs of the specific partner you’ve selected, as this can vary.
How long does it take to receive GCash from abroad?
So - how long can it take for GCash to receive money from abroad?
If you’re receiving a payment from a bank the time taken will vary depending on the specific bank being used. The funds are deposited to GCash as soon as the processing is completed, in PHP.
For remittances you may need to take a few steps to get your money. Once you've completed the process, adding your remittance code and completing the security step, the funds are instantly deposited.
How to track an incoming international money transfer with GCash
If someone has sent you money with GCash they will be able to view and track the payment in their own GCash app. You won’t be able to see the transfer until it is ready to be deposited to your GCash account.
What can you do if your GCash transfer is not delivered yet
If your GCash transfer is not delivered yet it’s worth asking the sender to double check the transaction within their GCash account. You can track the payment and see its status there - and also ask for help from GCash if there appears to be a problem.
GCash customer service
GCash Help Center | Online FAQ and guide section for common questions |
Chat with Gigi | Open an in app chat once you have logged into GCash to get information and talk to a live agent |
Call the GCash hotline | Globe and TM (toll-free) - Call 2882 Other networks (you may pay a fee) - Call (02) 7213-9999 |
Pros & cons of receiving money to GCash
While receiving money to GCash can be convenient it is not necessarily the cheapest option available. You can only get paid in PHP which means that there are currency conversion costs to take into account, and you may also pay to receive your payment or to cash it out. Weigh up the pros and cons of getting paid to GCash before you get started - here are a few things to consider:
GCash pros | GCash cons |
|---|---|
✅ Convenient and widely supported provider for payments | ❌ Fees may apply to receive payments from a bank or partner like PayPal |
Alternatives to GCcash when receiving money from abroad
Depending on your specific needs, GCash may not be great to receive money with if the person sending is abroad. Your payment must be converted back to PHP which can involve a fee - plus transfer fees may apply to the sender, too. Here are a couple of alternative options to receive payments to the Philippines from abroad.
Wise multi-currency account
Wise has international accounts to hold 40+ currencies, and a linked debit card for spending and withdrawals in 150+ countries.
If you need to receive money from abroad you can use Wise to get paid from abroad in 20+ currencies including USD, PHP and GBP with low fees and the mid-market rate. You might save money when receiving funds with Wise as there are no intermediary fees and no receiving fees when you use your local account details.
When you receive a payment it will be deposited in the currency the sender chooses, so there are no currency conversion fees if you leave the funds in the original currency. Then if you want to convert the funds you received to PHP the cost will be from 0.57% with no exchange rate markup used.
You can also send the funds you receive to GCash to spend later - read “How to transfer money from Wise to GCash”
Remitly
Remitly is an international money transfer service which is available for people in many countries around the world. You can send money to the Philippines to be received in a number of different ways including to wallets like GCash and Maya, but also to banks like BPI, for cash collection or delivery or to a debit card. The fees and exchange rate available depend on the way the sender wants to pay, the way the money is received and the currency being sent.
Remitly exchange rates may include a markup - a fee - in addition to any transfer fee. Transfer fees may be a fixed charge or a percentage, depending on the country the sender is in.
Western Union
Western Union is one of the biggest money transfer services in the world, and has a digital and physical presence in more or less all countries globally. This means it can be a convenient option for the person sending you money, who can either structure their transfer online or visit an agent locally if they’d prefer.
You can receive money with Western Union to your bank or you can pick it up in cash at an agent near to you. There’s no fee to receive a payment - but the sender will cover several costs which can include markups on the exchange rates used.
GCash limits on receiving money
The GCash limits on receiving money depend on the type of GCash account you have. Incoming transfers have a monthly limit from 5,000 PHP to 1 million PHP depending on the account tier you have. There are also wallet limits which impact the maximum amount you can hold in your account at any given time, which may mean you can't receive as much from abroad as you might like to.
How to send money to GCash internationally
You can send money to GCash internationally either through your bank or using a GCash remittance partner. If you use your bank you will need to look at the specific process based on the country your bank is in, and the currency you need to transfer from.
Remittance partners also have their own specific features and fees - you can see the current list of GCash remittance partners on the GCash app to see which you like.
Interested in the details? You can also read “How to transfer money from Wise to GCash”
Conclusion: GCash incoming international money transfer
You can receive a GCash incoming international money transfer if you have a fully verified account in the Philippines. Getting verified isn’t too hard to do, but you will need to add a few extra documents to your account to prove your identity.
Once you’re verified you can receive a payment through a bank transfer or with a remittance partner. There may be a GCash fee - and the person sending the payment might also have fees to pay. All funds are deposited in PHP so there can be added costs in the exchange rate that’s applied.
Before you receive a GCash incoming international money transfer take a look at alternatives like Wise. Wise lets you get paid from overseas and leave the money in the currency you're sent. You can hold your funds in USD, GBP, EUR or another supported currency and only switch to PHP when you’re ready. That puts you back in control of the conversion process - and because you get the mid-market rate with Wise, you might also save on fees.