Photo: QuinceCreative / Pixabay
We may earn a referral reward if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.
Short answer: For most amounts under US$10,000, the cheapest way to send money abroad from the Philippines is usually a transfer service like Wise, which converts your pesos at the mid-market rate and shows its fee upfront. In our check on November 1, 2026, sending ₱100,000 to a US bank account cost ₱355.65 in Wise fees. A BPI outward remittance from a peso account starts at ₱900 in published charges for the same amount, before correspondent bank fees and the bank’s exchange rate. For very large tuition bills, or when a school insists on a bank wire, your bank is still the tool.
Not all padala goes one way. More Filipino families now send money out: a semester’s tuition in Australia or Canada, allowance for a kid on a student visa, a deposit for a dorm in Japan, or an overseas bill that only takes foreign currency. This guide compares the two main routes, with fees and limits taken from official pages, so you know what you are really paying.
What are your options for sending money abroad from the Philippines?
- Bank outward remittance (telegraphic transfer). Your bank sends the money by Swift wire from your peso or dollar account. It works for almost any amount and any country, but the cost is spread across several lines.
- A licensed money transfer service such as Wise. You pay in pesos from your own bank or e-wallet, Wise converts at the mid-market rate and pays out to the recipient’s bank, often through a local transfer in that country.
- Carrying cash. Not practical for tuition, and the BSP limits how much peso cash you can bring out without authorization (₱50,000). Our travel money guide covers the cash rules.
How much does a bank telegraphic transfer cost?
BPI is one of the few banks that publishes its outward remittance charges clearly. As of our November 1, 2026 check, its fee page lists:
| BPI charge | From a peso account | From a dollar (FCDU) account |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge | ₱600 | US$14 |
| Documentary stamp tax | ₱0.60 for every ₱200 | Not applicable |
| Correspondent or settlement bank charges | Varies | Varies |
| Beneficiary bank charges | Varies | Varies |
On ₱100,000 sent from a peso account, the published part is ₱600 plus ₱300 in documentary stamps, or ₱900. The correspondent and receiving-bank fees come on top, and BPI says they depend on the amount, currency and purpose. The page also does not publish the margin in the bank’s exchange rate, which is often the biggest cost. Before you send, ask your bank for the exact rate it will use and compare it with the mid-market rate on Google or Wise.
BPI’s online and mobile outward remittance caps each transaction at US$10,000 or ₱500,000, subject to the receiving bank’s limits. For bigger amounts, you go to a branch with your documents.
How much does Wise charge to send money from the Philippines?
We ran Wise’s price calculator at 10:07 AM (Philippine time) on November 1, 2026, sending ₱100,000 paid by bank transfer to a bank account abroad. Wise’s mid-market rate at that time was about ₱63.68 to US$1, matching a separate exchange-rate feed.
| Destination | Wise fee | Recipient gets |
|---|---|---|
| USA (local US bank transfer) | ₱355.65 | US$1,564.78 |
| USA or abroad in USD (Swift wire) | ₱746.07 | US$1,558.64 |
| Australia | ₱291.36 | A$2,226.64 |
| Canada | ₱305.00 | C$2,188.04 |
| United Kingdom | ₱334.75 | £1,168.63 |
| New Zealand | ₱331.72 | NZ$2,779.76 |
| Japan | ₱421.42 | ¥246,422 |
That works out to roughly 0.3% to 0.75% of the amount, with no markup hidden in the rate. Paying with a debit or credit card instead of a bank transfer cost far more in the same check (over ₱4,000 on ₱100,000), so stick to bank transfer. Rates move every minute, so treat these as a snapshot and check the live quote before sending.
What are Wise’s limits for sending pesos abroad?
Because of how Wise is regulated here, converting or sending PHP to another currency is capped at US$10,000 (or equivalent) per transfer and US$50,000 per calendar month. The monthly limit resets on the 1st. Other rules to know:
- You pay from a Philippine bank or e-wallet through InstaPay (up to ₱50,000 per payment) or PESONet (up to ₱9,000,000). Look for “Wise Pilipinas Inc.” in your bank’s list of recipient institutions.
- The paying account must be in your own name. Wise does not accept third-party payments, so Tita cannot pay for your transfer from her account.
- If your bank’s daily limit is lower than the bill, Wise lets you top up your balance over several days and send once the full amount is in.
Wise Pilipinas Inc. is licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as a remittance and transfer company and appears on the BSP’s list of supervised e-money issuers.
Which should you use for tuition, allowance and overseas bills?
- Monthly allowance for a student or family member: Wise is usually cheaper and faster for regular amounts well under US$10,000, and the recipient often gets a local transfer instead of a wire.
- Tuition or a deposit under US$10,000: Check your school’s payment page first. Many schools ask for a reference number on the transfer, and some accept only certain payment methods. If a local bank transfer to the school’s account is allowed, Wise is likely the cheaper route.
- Tuition above US$10,000, or a school that requires a Swift wire from a bank: use your bank, or split the payment across transfers if the school allows it and you stay within the monthly cap. Ask the bank to quote all charges, and choose who pays the correspondent fees so the school receives the full amount.
- Overseas subscriptions and small bills: paying with a Wise card from a PHP or foreign-currency balance can also work, as we explain in our spending abroad guide.
Large peso movements also get extra checks. Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, banks report “covered transactions”: cash or equivalent transactions over ₱500,000 within one banking day. That is routine for clean funds, so keep your enrollment letter or invoice handy in case you are asked about the purpose.
How do you send money abroad with Wise, step by step?
- Sign up and verify your identity in the Wise app.
- Tap Send, enter the amount in pesos or in the recipient’s currency, and choose the reason for the transfer.
- Add the recipient’s bank details (and the school’s payment reference, if any).
- Choose Bank transfer as the payment method, then pay “Wise Pilipinas Inc.” from your own bank or e-wallet using the exact amount and reference shown.
- Track the transfer in the app. Wise emails you when it receives your money.
Sending the other way? Read our guide to sending money to the Philippines and our guide to receiving freelance pay from abroad. And if the tuition is a big one-time cost, set it aside early so it does not eat into your emergency fund or end up on a credit card you can only pay the minimum amount due on.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send money abroad from the Philippines with Wise?
Yes. You pay in pesos from a Philippine bank or e-wallet in your name through InstaPay or PESONet, and Wise sends the converted money to a bank account abroad.
How much can I send abroad with Wise from the Philippines?
Up to US$10,000 or its equivalent per transfer and US$50,000 per calendar month when converting from PHP to another currency.
How much is BPI’s outward remittance fee?
BPI lists ₱600 plus documentary stamp tax of ₱0.60 per ₱200 when debited from a peso account, or US$14 from a dollar account. Correspondent and receiving-bank charges vary and are extra.
Is Wise legal in the Philippines?
Yes. Wise Pilipinas Inc. is licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as a remittance and transfer company.
Sources
- Wise, price calculator quotes for ₱100,000 to USD, AUD, CAD, GBP, NZD and JPY (checked November 1, 2026, 10:07 AM Philippine time) and live USD/PHP rate; cross-checked with ExchangeRate-API (USD/PHP 63.71, November 1, 2026)
- Wise Help Centre, Limits for your Wise Account in the Philippines (checked November 1, 2026)
- Wise Help Centre, Guide to PHP transfers and What if I want to send more than my bank allows? (checked November 1, 2026)
- Wise, Fees for sending money (checked November 1, 2026)
- Wise Help Centre, How is Wise regulated in each country and region?; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, List of BSP Supervised EMIs as of May 31, 2026 (checked November 1, 2026)
- BPI, Remit fees and Send money abroad with BPI Outward Remittance (checked November 1, 2026)
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, FAQs on Cross-Border Transfer of Currencies, and Bureau of Customs, Rules on Currency Declaration for Travelers (checked November 1, 2026)
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Republic Act No. 9194 (covered transactions) (checked November 1, 2026)
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Fees, rates and limits change, so check the live quote and your bank’s current charges before sending.
About the Author
