Orange Money international money transfer guide [2024]

Orange Money® supports non-bank financial transactions in eligible countries. Orange is a telco operating across large parts of the globe - and this guide will look primarily at Orange Money transfer, including Orange Money international transfer charges, in countries including Botswana¹, Senegal² and Democratic Republic of Congo³ (DRC).

Other services may also be available if you have an Orange phone registered to a different country - double check your local Orange desktop site for more.

As a bonus we’ll also introduce an alternative you might want to compare for payments to and from Africa or elsewhere - Wise. Wise offers electronic transfers which use the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees* which can mean you save.

What is Orange Money?

Orange Money is the smart phone based payment system from cell phone operator Orange. Orange customers with a phone registered in select countries in Africa and globally can use Orange Money even if they don’t have a bank account, to complete local and international transactions.

Orange Money apps are available for Africa and Europe, for customers with phones registered in these regions.

How does Orange Money work?

Orange Money is available to people with an active Orange cell phone and SIM in an eligible country. Orange has a pretty varied range of services available - although this guide will focus primarily on Orange Money international money transfers across available countries in Africa.

Orange Money transfers are deposited into other Orange Money wallets, rather than bank accounts. Your recipient will need their own Orange Money wallet for this to be possible.

It’s important to note that the options available with Orange Money vary depending on where the phone account is held. For example, customers with a phone registered in Botswana and Senegal can send payments internationally to a selection of countries.

Customers in the Democratic Republic of Congo can receive international payments, but may not be able to send money themselves to accounts overseas.

Other services available from Orange Money can include:
Sending local payments Bill pay services Cash in and cash out Balance enquiries Topping up your airtime

Which countries can you send money with Orange Money?

Orange Money offers services to customers with an Orange phone in an eligible country. As this list of eligible countries changes from time to time you’ll need to double check your own SIM terms and conditions to see if you’re able to access the service.

If you have an eligible Orange account you may be able to send and receive payments locally and internationally. Options vary based on where you are in the world.

As an example, if you have an Orange Money Botswana account you can send to Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe from your phone⁴.

Or, if you’re sending money to DRC from the US you’ll be able to send it to an Orange Money wallet through various third party providers, including MoneyGram®, Remitly® and Ria®⁵.

Is Orange Money safe for international transfers?

Orange Money transfers should be safe to use as long as you follow Orange guidelines for sending.

Make low cost international transfers with Wise

A smart option if you’re sending money overseas. Meet Wise.

Register a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and send money to 70+ countries, with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.

Wise always shows you the amount you’re paying and how much your recipient will get — and you can even compare against other providers on the Wise app or desktop site.

If another service is cheaper for your particular payment, you’ll be shown — so you can’t lose.

Get started with Wise

See how Wise compares with international bank transfers in our full guide

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

How to send money abroad with Orange Money: step by step

The way you use Orange Money international transfer might vary depending on where your phone is registered. As an example, here’s how it works when you send a payment with Orange Money Botswana⁶:

Step 1. Dial *145# and choose option 2 - Orange Money Transactions

Step 2. Enter your secret code and then choose option 5 - International Money Transfer

Step 3. Choose country to send to and enter the mobile number of beneficiary

Step 4. Enter amount to send and confirm the source of funds and the purpose of funds

Step 5. Enter your Orange Money secret code to confirm and your money is sent

The money is deposited into the recipient’s Orange Money wallet, and they can then cash out or use the funds for a payment or airtime, depending on where they are in the world.

Can you receive money internationally through Orange Money?

Whether or not you can receive money internationally will depend on where in the world you are. For example, in DRC, you can receive payments to your Orange Money wallet easily from many different countries and regions, including the US.

If your recipient can receive a payment through Orange Money it may be possible to arrange this through a third party money transfer app - which can be done even if you as the sender don’t have an Orange phone.

How long do Orange Money international transfers take?

Orange Money transfers could be deposited quickly to other Orange Money accounts - double check the details in your own Orange Money app or online at the time you arrange your transfer, as the delivery times can vary based on countries involved.

Orange Money international money transfers fees and costs

Orange Money international transfer fees do vary depending on where your phone is registered. If you’re in Senegal for example, you can model your payment online to view the fee structure, while in Botswana, the following fees apply⁴:

Sending with Orange Money from Botswana to Zimbabwe:

Transaction Amount	Fee
25 BWP - 150 BWP	10 BWP
150.01 BWP - 300 BWP	15 BWP
300.01 BWP - 600 BWP	20 BWP
600.01 BWP - 1000 BWP	25 BWP
1000.01 BWP - 2000 BWP	40 BWP
2000.01 BWP - 3900 BWP	75 BWP

Sending with Orange Money from Botswana to Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zambia:

Transaction Amount	Fee
25 BWP - 600 BWP	20 BWP
600.01 BWP - 1100 BWP	30 BWP
1100.01 BWP - 1400 BWP	40 BWP
1400.01 BWP - 2000 BWP	60 BWP
2000.01 BWP - 3900 BWP	80 BWP

Double check the fees wherever you are to be sure of the costs in your country.