What You Need to Send Money Internationally: A First-Transfer Checklist

A mismatched name, a missing account detail, or an unexpected verification request can delay an international transfer — and gathering a short list of details before you open a quote flow can reduce that avoidable friction. Here is what to have ready, with one honest caveat up front: requirements vary by provider, destination, and amount, so the provider’s own flow is always the final word.

Your side: account and identity

• An account with the provider. The providers we cover describe account-based sending — Wise, for example, has you sign up before a transfer, and OFX describes registration as its first step. Check what your chosen provider requires.
• Identity verification. Named examples from current provider pages: Wise requires getting verified before sending, and OFX describes identity verification through document upload and a verification call. What verification a given provider requests — and when — varies, so have identification available if yours asks for it, and don’t be surprised if a first transfer includes an extra check.
• Your payment method. How you can pay depends on the provider and your location — Wise lists bank transfer with card or other local methods depending on region, and OFX funds transfers by direct debit or wire. Know which account or card you plan to pay from.

Your recipient’s details, by delivery method

The delivery method you choose decides what you need to collect:

• Bank deposit: the recipient’s full name exactly as their bank account holds it, plus their account details in the destination’s format — Xe describes this as banking details and international identifiers such as IBAN, SWIFT, or a similar country code. A legal name and a copied-and-pasted account number beat memory.
• Cash pickup: the recipient’s name exactly as it appears on their government-issued photo ID — Western Union’s receiver requirements pair that ID with the transfer’s tracking number, the sender’s complete name, and the expected amount. You’ll share the tracking number with them securely after you send.
• Mobile wallet: the recipient’s wallet provider and wallet number, for destinations and providers where wallet delivery is reported.

The transfer decisions

Three choices define the quote you’ll compare:

1. Destination and currency — where the money is going and what it should arrive as.
2. Amount — what you’ll send, or what should arrive.
3. Funding and delivery — how you’ll pay and how the recipient receives.

If you haven’t settled the last one, the route finder highlights which of our covered providers report your delivery method.

Before you pay

Run the same transfer — same destination, amount, funding, and delivery — in each candidate provider’s quote flow, and compare the recipient amount, total cost, and delivery estimate side by side. The fees and exchange rates guide explains why the recipient amount is the cleanest comparison, and the timing guide covers why delivery estimates differ. Recheck the final screen before paying: details, options, and figures can change between quote and confirmation.

For the full provider set and their reported capabilities, start at the comparison desk.