Guides
How to send money to Tanzania from the US
Updated 2026-10-27
Tanzania’s Tigo network became Yas in late 2024 and Tigo Pesa became Mixx by Yas, but the wallet your family cashes out at the duka is the same. This guide covers sending from the US into that wallet, Zantel lines included.
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 Tigo (Yas) or Zantel number, registered for the mobile wallet in their own name.
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 Tigo Pesa & Zantel and enter their Tigo or Zantel number with the country code. 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 shillings 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 Tanzania
Transfers to Tanzania are paid in shillings (TZS) to the Tigo (Yas) and Zantel wallet. The shillings land in the wallet with a confirmation SMS; your recipient can pay bills and merchants from it or cash out at a Yas or Zantel agent, from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar. Vodacom M-Pesa and Airtel Money are separate networks and cannot receive this payout.
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 Tanzania
Three things worth checking with your recipient:
Confirm the line is Tigo (Yas) or Zantel, not Vodacom or Airtel.
Save the number with the +255 code.
The app lists the wallet under the name you know; the money arrives the same way.
See today’s TZS rate for Tanzania
The live USD → TZS rate, payout methods and answers to common questions — on one page.