WHAT IS M-PESA International Money Transfer? 

M-PESA International Money Transfer (IMT) is an innovative way to send from abroad to someone in Kenya. The money is sent directly in to the receiver’s M-PESA Account.

The money transfer is done in real time (time it takes to send & receive an SMS). Both the sender & receiver are sent a confirmation SMS from M-PESA. 

IMT Frequently Asked Questions

What’s happening?

On March 31st 2011, Western Union and Safaricom announced the global expansion of their international mobile money transfer service.

The service was previously offered by Western Union and Safaricom between the UK and Kenya via 12,000 Western Union Agent locations and westernunion.co.uk.
The service allows people to send funds from more than 80,000 Western Union Agents in 45 countries and territories directly to Safaricom M-PESA subscribers in Kenya.

What is mobile money transfer?

 Mobile Money Transfer (MMT) refers to mobile-enabled money transfer services – both domestic and cross-border. Essentially, it’s sending and/or receiving money with your mobile phone.

How does it work?

This service allows anyone in 45 countries and territories to visit a partner Western Union Agent and send money to an M-PESA mobile phone in Kenya. The transaction is similar to a traditional cash-to-cash money transfer, except that the sender specifies the recipient’s mobile phone number at the time the funds are sent. Recipients in Kenya must subscribe to the M-PESA service through Safaricom to access the service.

Does the sender have to have a mobile phone?

The sender does not have to have a mobile phone, but he or she will need to provide a contact number in case of a problem with the transaction. The sender will also be given a paper receipt from the Western Union Agent once the money is sent. If the sender provides a valid mobile phone number, Western Union will send them an SMS once the funds have been sent.

Who are the partners in this service?

The service is offered by Western Union and Safaricom.

Where will the service be offered? 

Click here to locate agents

The list of countries will be updated as more countries are made active on the service.

How do I find an M-PESA location in Kenya?

Please log onto www.safaricom.co.ke and look for the M-PESA Agents tab. Check the M-PESA section for details of current agent locations. This list is regularly updated.

Who can use the M-PESA International Money Transfer service?

The sender does not have to be a registered M-PESA customer to send money on this service.
Any person registered for M-PESA can receive money via IMT. If you do not have an M-PESA account, please visit any M-PESA agent countrywide and you will be advised on how to register and activate your account. You will need your identification documents and your Safaricom line.

Does the recipient need to be a Safaricom M-PESA customer?

Yes, the recipient must be a Safaricom M-PESA customer to receive money via IMT. This is because the money being sent to you shall be credited to your M-PESA account.

What do I require in order to use M-PESA International Money Transfer Service?

• You must be a Safaricom subscriber to receive funds through M-PESA IMT.
• If you are not registered on M-PESA, you will get an SMS confirming that you have received funds and you need to register within 21 days to access the funds.

Where in Kenya can I receive money sent to my M-PESA account via IMT?

You can go to any M-PESA agent countrywide to withdraw your funds, just like when money is sent by another M-PESA customer. Alternatively, you can use the money to pay bills, buy airtime or send money to other subscribers in Kenya.

How much money can I receive?

The maximum amount that can be sent at any one time via M-PESA is approximately Ksh35,000. The limits per day, per month or per year shall depend on the country the money is sent from. The sender shall be advised at the Western Union Agent outlet they use.

What is the cost of sending money via M-PESA International Money Transfer?

Charges for sending money via M-PESA vary depending on the amount sent, the country from which it is being sent and the agent at which the money is being sent from. The Western Union Agent will advise the sender on charges before the funds are sent.

What exchange rate will be used at the time the money is being sent?

Conversion will be done when the funds are sent. The sender will be advised by the Western Union Agent of the prevailing exchange rate, and the equivalent amount the customer in Kenya will receive on their M-PESA account.

Will I be charged for receiving money?

You will not be charged for receiving IMT via M-PESA, but all normal M-PESA charges will subsequently apply, i.e., to send money to another M-PESA subscriber, withdraw cash etc.

Can I send money to other countries using M-PESA from Kenya?

No, currently, the service only allows one-way transfer of funds to Kenya.

Will any network coverage affect my collection of money sent to me from the UK?

Money will be received into your M-PESA account, even if it is sent to you when you are out of coverage area. You can always check your current balance on M-PESA the normal way.

How much time does it take for money sent to reach me in Kenya?

The money should reach you immediately. Normally, it will take just a few seconds for you to receive the SMS confirmation of the transaction. Note that if sender sends you money from a Western Union location but you are not registered, you will receive the notification immediately but will need to register for M-PESA to access your money.

Will I get a message to notify me that I have received money?

As with any other M-PESA transaction, you will receive an SMS notifying you of the transaction details, including receipt number, amount in Ksh, balance, time stamp, sender and sender’s location. Here are sample SMSes:

• Sent via Western Union to a registered M-PESA customer: G68EG702 confirmed. You have received Ksh5, 000 from Julia Njeri via Western Union on 24/4/09 at 3:56PM. New M-PESA balance is Ksh10, 500.
• Sent via Western Union to a non-registered M-PESA customer: G68EG702 Confirmed. Ksh5, 000 was sent to you via Western Union and M-PESA. You must register at an M-PESA Agent within 21 days to access these funds. Receipt G68EG702 on 24/4/09 at 3:58PM. Please call customer care on 234

What are the benefits of using M-PESA in Kenya?

M-PESA allows you to make transactions quickly, safely and easily by using SMS technology. The service is affordably priced, and receivers can access funds at over 40,000 agent outlets across Kenya.

Can I use M-PESA if my line is expired?

The M-PESA service uses the Safaricom network for sending and receiving SMSes to and from your phone. Your Safaricom line will need to be active for you to use M-PESA. If your Safaricom line is expired, the one transaction you will be able to do is to use M-PESA to top up your line. Topping up will make your line active again!

What is the difference between a registered M-PESA customer and an unregistered customer?

An M-PESA customer’s SIM card has M-PESA active menu on it and can access to all M-PESA services. An unregistered customer is one that can only receive money from an M-PESA customer and it can be Safaricom or any other mobile network. An unregistered customer can withdraw money sent to them by an M-PESA customer in Kenya from any Agent within 7 days, but cannot carry out other M-PESA transactions. Registered customers can also withdraw cash from participating ATM networks. Unregistered customers will have to register within 21 days to receive funds via the IMT service.

For IMT transactions using Western Union, what happens if the receiver isn’t registered for M-PESA (but is has a Safaricom line)?

As long as the recipient is on the Safaricom network, when a Mobile Money Transfer is sent, Safaricom will send an SMS to the receiver. They will be invited to register within 21 days. If they choose not to, or the 21 days elapse, the receiver can contact the sender for further transaction details and collect the money transfer through a Western Union Agent through the standard process.

What Anti Money Laundering (AML) controls are there to guard against money laundering?

All Agents are registered with their respective regulatory authorities for AML compliance. They are required to undertake certain due diligence on the remitters in compliance with the respective countries laws and regulations. Safaricom, together with Western Union, also carry out screening of senders and receivers as required by law. Moreover, in many countries, senders will be required to provide proof of ID to the Agent before they can complete a transaction. Western Union and Safaricom also monitor transactions to detect suspicious activity and take appropriately action.

Safaricom and Western Union launched international money transfer in 2008. Why has it taken so long to expand the IMT service?

Safaricom and Western Union began with tests of the technical aspects of the service and to ensure a smooth customer experience for both the sender and the receiver. We have also worked closely with the relevant regulatory authorities to ensure that the service meets all requirements and international best practice.
We have offered the service from the UK since August of 2009, beginning with a few Western Union agents in the UK and expanding over the next few months to all Western Union agents in the UK and the westernunion.com website in the UK.

What involvement have the Regulatory Authorities had with the M-PESA IMT launch?

Safaricom and Western Union have since the inception of M-PESA worked closely with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). Safaricom was authorized on 3rd August 2009 to transact foreign-exchange business, having satisfied the CBK that the required legal compliance and controls are being met. Our partners have all been authorized by the relevant regulatory authority in the countries they operate in to transact international remittances.

If I want to be an M-PESA IMT Agent, what do I require?

To be an Agent providing M-PESA IMT transactions you will need to comply with the laws and regulations in the country where funds are being remitted from. However, please note that Safaricom is not actively seeking new Agents at this time. For more information, please send a request to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.