Your guide to international transfers using Wafacash from Canada

Canadians looking to send money abroad—especially to North or West African countries—may have come across Wafacash. Wafacash is a well-known Moroccan money transfer company, trusted for fast cash pickups and simple transfers across the region. However, there's a catch: Canadians can't use Wafacash directly. Instead, they must go through an international money transfer partner such as Remitly, Western Union, or MoneyGram.

This guide explains how those partnerships work, what they cost, their limitations, and introduces Wise as a transparent modern alternative for sending money abroad.

How does Wafacash operate globally?

Wafacash is a subsidiary of Attijariwafa Bank Group, one of Africa's largest financial institutions.¹ It's known for fast and reliable transfers within Morocco and internationally through an extensive partner network.

Wafacash offers:

• Cash pickup services at thousands of branches and partner locations
• Mobile wallet options in selected markets
• Bill payments and prepaid services for local customers

To reach customers beyond Africa, Wafacash partners with major global remittance networks like Western Union, MoneyGram, WorldRemit, and Remitly.¹

This creates a wide international reach—but because transfers rely on intermediaries, fees and exchange rates vary by partner.¹

How Canadian residents can send money through Wafacash

Wafacash doesn't currently operate in Canada, but you can still send money to Wafacash locations abroad through partner remittance services.

Here's how it typically works:

1. Choose a partner service.
2. Create an account and verify your ID.
3. Select your destination country (e.g., Morocco) and choose Wafacash as the cash-pickup option.
4. Enter your recipient's details (name, ID type, and pickup location).
5. Pay with a debit card, credit card, or bank account.
6. Notify your recipient once the cash is ready—typically within minutes.

Wafacash mainly operates in Africa and parts of Europe, so availability varies by region. Each partner sets its own transfer limits² and most do not use the real mid-market exchange rate, applying a markup of roughly 1–3% in addition to the transfer fee.

This setup works for supported regions but may not be the cheapest or simplest option for global transfers.

Receiving money in Canada via Wafacash-linked services

Here's how receiving via Wafacash-linked partners works:

1. The sender (in this case, in Canada) starts a transfer through a Wafacash partner such as Western Union or MoneyGram.
2. The partner routes the payment through its global network.
3. Wafacash acts as the local payout agent, delivering the funds as cash or digital credit to the recipient.

Fees, exchange rates, and limits for Wafacash transfers

Fees and limits for Wafacash transfers vary depending on the sender's country, the transfer type, and which partner you use.

For example:

• Domestic transfers within Morocco are capped at 80,000 MAD.
• International transfers from Morocco are limited to 10,000 MAD per year.³
• Sending from Canada may include different fees or promotional exchange rates.

For the most accurate, current information, check the official Wafacash website or contact an authorized partner.

Limits in Wafacash / Remitly Flows

When sending money from Canada to Africa, Wafacash is often accessed through Remitly, a major cash-pickup provider. However, Remitly applies certain limits based on your transfer history, verification level, and country corridor.⁴

For Canadian users:

• The single-transaction limit can reach 140,000 CAD, but varies by destination, delivery method, and verification level.⁴
• New users begin with lower daily limits, which can increase after verifying identity and requesting a higher cap (after 24 hours).⁴
• Exchange-rate changes and local restrictions may further affect limits.⁴

On the receiving side:

Wafacash agents in Morocco, Senegal, or Côte d'Ivoire may apply local payout limits. Large or repeated transfers can trigger enhanced due diligence (EDD) requiring:

• Government-issued ID
• Proof of address
• Source of funds (e.g., pay slips or bank statements)

Delays or manual approvals may occur before funds are released.

Limitations in Using Wafacash from Canada

While Wafacash serves some regions effectively, Canadians face a few restrictions:

• Limited country and currency coverage: not all African or Middle Eastern nations support direct Wafacash payouts, so other delivery methods (bank deposits or mobile wallets) may be needed.
• Exchange-rate markups: Remitly and Wafacash both apply markups, though details aren't fully transparent. Their sites mention "great exchange rates with no hidden fees," but the real mid-market rate isn't used.
• Example: transferring 1,000 CAD to Moroccan dirhams costs about 1.99 CAD, with a one-time fee waiver for new users (as of 22 October 2025, 17:10).⁵
• Multi-step process: sending through Remitly to Wafacash can involve extra steps, adding potential delays or friction—especially if the recipient doesn't live near a branch.

Send money abroad at the mid market rate with Wise

The mid-market exchange rate is the mid-point between the highest and lowest selling prices financial institutions use for foreign currency trading.

At Wise, you’ll never pay hefty exchange rate markups. Wise uses the mid-market rate for online currency exchange, whether you’re shopping in the US or helping out a friend or family member in France.

Easily switch currencies and manage your money with the Wise app.

Conclusion

You can send or receive money with Wafacash through partner services, which is convenient where cash pickup is essential. However, it may not be the most cost-effective or user-friendly option.

If your recipient can receive funds via bank account or mobile wallet, Wise offers a faster, cheaper, and more transparent experience.

Sources verified on 30 December 2025