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# How to Send Money Internationally with Pera (Remittances)

# How to Send Money Internationally with Pera (Remittances)

## Why Pera for International Transfers
Sending money across borders through banks and wire services is slow and expensive. International wire transfers typically take 3–5 business days, cost $25–50 in fees, and tack on a 2–5% foreign exchange markup. Weekend? You're waiting until Monday.
Pera Wallet runs on Algorand, which means:
* **Settlement in seconds** — not days
* **Network fees under $0.01** — not $25–50
* **24/7 availability** — no banking hours, no weekend blackouts
* **No intermediaries** — you send directly to the recipient's wallet

## How It Works
### Step 1: Both parties need an Algorand wallet
The sender (you) needs a Pera Wallet with funds. The recipient needs any Algorand-compatible wallet — Pera or otherwise. They'll need to share their Algorand address with you.
If the recipient is new to crypto, they can download Pera Wallet at [perawallet.app/download](https://perawallet.app/download) and create an account in minutes. No bank account or credit history required.
### Step 2: Choose what to send
You have two practical options for remittances:
**USDC (recommended for remittances)** USDC is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar — 1 USDC always equals ~$1. This means neither you nor the recipient is exposed to crypto price volatility. The value stays stable from send to receive.
**ALGO** If the recipient wants to hold ALGO or participate in the Algorand ecosystem, you can send ALGO directly. Keep in mind ALGO's price fluctuates like any cryptocurrency.
### Step 3: Send the transaction
1. Open **Pera Wallet**
2. Tap the **Send/Receive** button
3. Tap **Send**
4. Select the account to send from
5. Select the asset (USDC or ALGO)
6. Enter the amount
7. Enter the recipient's Algorand address — **always copy/paste or scan a QR code, never type manually**
8. Review the details and confirm

The transaction settles in seconds. The recipient sees the funds in their wallet almost immediately.
For the detailed step-by-step with all screenshots, see [Sending a Basic Transaction](https://support.perawallet.app/en/article/sending-a-basic-transaction-1fzxcfw/).
### Step 4: Recipient converts to local currency (if needed)
Once the recipient has USDC or ALGO in their wallet, they can:
* **Swap to another asset** within Pera using the Swap feature
* **Sell through a local exchange** or peer-to-peer platform to convert to their local currency
* **Use Pera Fund in reverse** (depending on regional availability)
* **Hold it** in their wallet for future use

## Cost Comparison
| Method | Fees | Speed | Availability |
| ---- |
| International wire (bank) | $25–50 + FX markup | 3–5 business days | Banking hours only |
| Western Union / MoneyGram | $5–20 + FX markup | Hours to days | Limited locations |
| PayPal / Venmo international | 2.5–4% + FX markup | 1–3 business days | Account required |
| **Pera Wallet (Algorand)** | **< $0.01** | **Seconds** | **24/7, global** |

## Things to Keep in Mind
**The recipient needs a wallet.** Unlike traditional remittances where the recipient picks up cash, Algorand transfers require the recipient to have a wallet set up. This is a one-time setup.
**USDC opt-in required.** Before receiving USDC, the recipient's wallet must be opted in to the USDC asset on Algorand. Pera prompts for this automatically, but the recipient needs a small amount of ALGO (0.1 ALGO minimum) in their account to complete the opt-in.
**Local off-ramps vary.** Converting crypto to local currency depends on what's available in the recipient's country — local exchanges, P2P platforms, or on-ramp/off-ramp services. This varies widely by region.
**Regulatory considerations.** Crypto transfers are legal in most countries but regulations vary. Be aware of your country's rules and the recipient's country's rules regarding receiving cryptocurrency.
**Transactions are irreversible.** Double-check the recipient's address before sending. There's no way to reverse a blockchain transaction.
**Start with a small test.** The first time you send to a new address, send a tiny amount (even 0.1 ALGO) to confirm the address is correct. Then send the full amount.

## FAQ
**Is this faster than a wire transfer?** Yes. Algorand transactions settle in under 4 seconds, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There's no comparison to 3–5 business day wire transfers.
**What if the recipient doesn't have an Algorand wallet yet?** They can download Pera Wallet for free at perawallet.app/download. Account creation takes about 2 minutes. No ID required for basic wallet functions.
**Can I send to someone on a different blockchain?** No. Pera sends on the Algorand network. The recipient needs an Algorand-compatible wallet. You can't send directly to a Bitcoin or Ethereum address from Pera.
**What if I need to send a large amount?** There's no practical limit on Algorand transaction size. The network fee is the same whether you send $10 or $10,000. That said, for very large amounts, always test with a small transaction first.

## Related Articles
* [Sending a Basic Transaction](https://support.perawallet.app/en/article/sending-a-basic-transaction-1fzxcfw/)
* [Transacting FAQs](https://support.perawallet.app/en/article/transacting-faqs-ukgyq6/)
* [Funding an Account using Pera Fund](https://support.perawallet.app/en/article/funding-an-account-using-pera-fund-oyinow/)
* [Finding your Algorand Address on Pera Wallet](https://support.perawallet.app/en/article/finding-your-algorand-address-on-pera-wallet-iqfro9/)

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