Western Union large transfers and transfer limits in 2025

Need to make a large payment? Perhaps you’re buying a house, paying for a kitchen extension or transferring inheritance funds between accounts.

Whatever your situation, you’ll need to know the best and safest way to transfer large sums in the UK.

In this guide, we’ll be looking at how to transfer large amounts of money with Western Union. This includes fees, limits, transfer times, security and everything else you need to know.

If you’re looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to transfer large sums internationally, consider the money services provider Wise. With low, transparent fees*, great mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, Wise makes international money transfers simple and stress-free.

Plus, you’ll get dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts.

Get expert support for your large transfer 📞

Can you send large transfers with Western Union?

Yes, Western Union lets you transfer large amounts, but up to a limit.

You can send up to £50,000 per transfer online once you’ve completed the steps to verify your identity. This is the limit if you choose your bank account as the payment method.¹

The limits are much lower (£800 per transfer) if you haven’t yet verified your identity. And if you fund your payment with a credit card, you can only send a maximum of £4,000 every 3 days.¹

If you need to send a larger payment than this, you may find your options limited with Western Union - you may need to look at UK banks and other Western Union alternatives.

You can also contact WU to see if they offer any specific extra services for sending larger sums in your area.

Alternatively, you can split your payment into instalments. For example, sending three separate transfers of £50,000 if the total amount you need to pay is £150,000.

Western Union transfer limits

Here are the transfer limits you need to know about when you send money with Western Union:¹

As you can see from the above, the best way to increase your transfer limits with Western Union is to verify your identity.

You may not be able to increase the sending limit further online, but you may have better luck in an in-person WU location. It could be worth popping in to an agent location near you to ask about maximum limits, as they can be higher than online.²

What’s the maximum amount you can send with Western Union?

The maximum you can send with Western Union per transfer is £50,000, if you’ve verified your ID and are using your bank account to pay for the transfer.¹

Can you send multiple large transfers per day?

In theory, you should be able to send multiple large payments per day with Western Union.

However, it may depend where you’re sending to, as some receiving countries have additional limits which could affect this.

How to transfer large amounts with Western Union: Step-by-step process

If you already have an account with Western Union, it’s pretty straightforward to set up your first transfer - even if it is a large sum you’re sending.

The first important step though is to verify your identity. Until you’ve done this, you won’t be able to send up to the maximum limit of £50,000. You can do this online using your passport or another valid form of photo ID. You’ll find more info here.

To send a large payment with Western Union, you’ll also need the recipient’s bank details and other information to hand.

Here’s what to have ready:

• The recipient’s name as it appears on their bank account
• Their bank account number and sort code
• Their International Bank Account Number (IBAN) and SWIFT/BIC code for their bank - these are essential details for sending money abroad
• Their name and address - for cash pickup at a WU agent location near them.

To set up your transfer, follow these steps:

1. Login online or via the Western Union app
2. Select ‘Send money’ or ‘Send now’
3. Select the destination for your payment (the country you’re sending to), if making an international money transfer
4. Enter the amount you want to send
5. Choose a payment and receiving/collection method - for example, bank transfer or cash pickup in person. Enter your payment details if required (such as your card number or bank details)
6. Enter the recipient's details where prompted
7. Check the transfer fees and exchange rate, to see how much the transfer will cost you overall
8. Double-check all the details are correct, then select ‘Send’ to confirm the transfer.

If you prefer, you can also visit a Western Union agent location in person to send your payment. You can search for your nearest one here.

Just remember that you’ll usually need to take ID documents along with you.

Is Western Union safe for large transfers?

Western Union is a well-known, trusted name within the money transfer industry, with a history dating back to 1851.

The provider is regulated in the UK and uses sophisticated security measures and technology to protect your money. It verifies the identity of all users, and even has a Fraud Resource Center with information and advice to help you avoid scams.

What’s more, the Western Union app has lots of security features designed to stop anyone else accessing your account, and to protect your transfers. This includes:

• Biometric login
• Encrypted transfers
• Transfer tracking - so you can keep any eye on your transfer and make sure it arrives safely.

How long do large transfers take with Western Union?

Here’s an overview of average transfer times with Western Union:³

Western Union large amount transfer fees and costs

Now we come to the all-important question of how much Western Union large transfers cost.

Western Union transfer fees vary depending on factors such as the destination, transfer amount, and payout method. To get an exact fee, you’ll need to enter the details of your transfer online or in the app.

When sending an international transfer with Western Union, you’ll also need to check the exchange rate - as well as the upfront fee.

Western Union uses its own exchange rate for converting currency, and this will include a margin or mark-up on the mid-market exchange rate.⁴ This is one of the ways that banks and some money transfer providers make a profit from the transfer, but it does make the transaction slightly more expensive for you.

Either your recipient will receive less, or you’ll need to pay more to make sure they receive the correct amount after currency conversion has been carried out.

The good news is that you’ll be able to check the exchange rate and the margin before you send, either online or in the Western Union app.

Wise – a low-cost alternative for transferring large amounts

Looking for a secure, convenient and low-cost way to send large sums of money internationally? Take a look at the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

With Wise, you can send large amount transfers worldwide to 140+ countries in 40+ currencies for low, transparent fees* and mid-market exchange rates with no markup.

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

**Investments in funds are never guaranteed and your capital can be at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 21-Oct-2025