Guides
How to send money to Ethiopia from the US
Updated 2026-10-27
Ethiopia gives you two ways to deliver: Telebirr for family who use the wallet, cash pickup through Mukuru for those who do not. This guide covers both, from the details you need to the moment the birr are in hand.
What you need before you start
Three things, all of which you likely already have:
A US bank account or debit card to fund the transfer.
Your recipient’s Ethio Telecom number, registered for Telebirr in their own name.
For cash pickup: your recipient’s full name exactly as on their ID, and their phone number for the pickup reference.
The AnyMoney app (iOS or Android), with a one-time identity verification — most checks clear within the hour during business hours.
Sending, step by step
The whole flow takes a few minutes once your account is set up:
Add your recipient once — choose Telebirr and enter their Ethio Telecom number with the country code, or choose cash pickup and enter their name exactly as it appears on their ID. Their details are saved for every future transfer.
Enter the amount in dollars. The app shows the rate at that very moment and exactly how many birr will arrive.
Review the full quote — rate, fee, and the receive amount — before you confirm anything.
Pay from your linked bank account or debit card.
Track every step in the app until the money lands.
How the money arrives in Ethiopia
Transfers to Ethiopia are paid in birr (ETB). With Telebirr, the birr land in your recipient’s wallet with an SMS and can be spent, sent on or cashed out at a Telebirr agent. With cash pickup, your recipient collects the birr at a Mukuru partner location by showing a valid ID and the pickup reference; nothing to install and no account needed.
How long it takes
Depending on the payment method, transfers typically arrive within a few minutes or up to a few business days. Whatever the path, you can follow every step in the app — and your recipient can be notified the moment it lands.
What it costs
Zero fees on your first transfer — the fee is waived in full. After that, every fee is part of the quote you see before you confirm, never a surprise after. The rate you see in the app is the rate at that very moment, updated regularly to honor our best-rate commitment. Compare us with anyone: our rates are public, on this site, before you sign up.
How much can you send?
Limits depend on your verification level and payment method. The app shows your exact limits during registration and in your account dashboard — and higher limits are available with additional verification.
Before you send to Ethiopia
Three things worth checking with your recipient:
Pick the rail your recipient prefers: Telebirr for convenience, cash pickup for notes in hand.
For cash pickup, enter the name exactly as it appears on their ID.
The birr rate has moved a lot since the 2024 reforms, so check the live rate in the app each time.
See today’s ETB rate for Ethiopia
The live USD → ETB rate, payout methods and answers to common questions — on one page.