For many Kenyans living abroad, one of the biggest concerns is how to send money quickly and safely to their loved ones back home, especially in times of emergency.
In the past, Kenyans abroad had to visit banks or outlets to send money, while relatives queued to collect it, which was a slow, costly, and inconvenient process.
Launched in 2021, M-PESA Global has revolutionized money transfers to bridge this gap. It enables users to:
- Send money abroad directly from their M-PESA wallet without needing a bank account.
- Receive money from abroad through partners like Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, WorldRemit, and others.
- Pay for goods and services internationally, including subscriptions, shopping, and bookings.
- Avoid queues and delays, since funds are sent instantly to the recipient’s phone.
M-PESA Global is a service that allows M-PESA customers to send and receive money across the world.
It connects M-PESA with international partners, making it easier for Kenyans abroad to support their families and for Kenyans at home to receive funds instantly.
To register for M-PESA Global, you need to:
- Be at least 18 years old with legal capacity to enter into contracts.
- Have an M-Pesa-enabled Safaricom SIM card.
- Be a registered Safaricom subscriber and M-PESA user.
How to Register for M-PESA Global
Via USSD (*840#)
- Dial *840# on your Safaricom line.
- Enter a physical address (e.g., Safaricom House, Waiyaki Way).
- Accept the M-PESA Global Terms and Conditions.
- Enter your M-PESA PIN to confirm registration.
- You will receive a confirmation SMS from Safaricom.
- Dial *840# again to access services.
The following options will appear:
- Send Money Abroad
- Roaming Pick Up
- International Airtime Transfer
- Pay to Merchant
- Opt Out
To send money, select Send Money Abroad, then choose the destination country.
Via the M-PESA App
To register for M-PESA Global via the M-PESA App, begin by opening the app on your smartphone and navigating to the “M-PESA Global” section.
Once there, select either “Opt in” or “Continue” to proceed. You will be prompted to read and accept the Terms and Conditions before entering your M-PESA PIN to confirm the registration.
Also Read: How to Apply for M-PESA Till and Pay Bill Numbers
After completing these steps, Safaricom will send you a confirmation SMS to verify that your registration was successful.
The minimum amount to send is via M-PESA Global KSHS 101, and the maximum is KSh 150,000. The recipient will receive funds in their country’s currency.
Partner Services
Safaricom has partnered with a wide range of global money transfer services to make it free for Kenyans to receive funds from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Through these collaborations, M-PESA users can access services from leading international remittance providers, including Western Union, MoneyGram, WorldRemit, Skrill, PayPal, Remitly, Sendwave, Xend, and Azimo.
Also Read: How to Qualify for a KCB M-PESA Loan and Increase Your Limit
Regional telecom and financial partners such as MTN in Uganda, Rwanda, and Zambia; Airtel in Tanzania and Rwanda; Vodacom Tanzania; Orange Botswana; and Tigo Tanzania have also joined the network.
Additionally, the list of partners extends to Dahabshiil, Payoneer, Transfer Galaxy, SkyForex, mHits, PostFinance, and PayXpress Money, giving customers a broad range of options for seamless international transfers.
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