You can use Wise to send US dollars to a bank account in India. Your recipient does not need a Wise account for a bank deposit. Start with the US-to-India quote, then compare the payment options available for your amount before choosing how to fund it.
For this route, getting dollars to Wise and delivering rupees to the recipient are separate stages. A fast card payment does not by itself guarantee that the recipient’s account will be credited immediately.
New to Wise? An invite link can waive Wise's fee on your first eligible transfer: see how the invite offer works.
Prepare the recipient details
For bank delivery, Wise asks for the recipient’s full name, account number, IFSC and payment purpose. Its INR guide also lists UPI delivery and NRE/NRO accounts.
Ask the recipient to verify the details against their bank records. For a tuition payment or invoice, obtain the beneficiary details from the institution or supplier through a trusted contact channel.
ACH versus card: what changes?
| Funding method | How it works | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Connected bank account (ACH) | You link and verify a US bank account, then authorize a debit. | Allow for bank processing and keep sufficient funds available. |
| Debit card | You choose an eligible card when Wise shows the available methods. | Review the fee and arrival estimate before authorizing payment. |
| Credit card | Available only when the card and transfer meet Wise’s requirements. | Compare its price with debit and bank funding, including your issuer’s charges. |
| Bank transfer | You send money using the payment instructions Wise supplies for that transfer. | Check your bank’s fee, cutoff and the exact reference and bank details requested. |
Wise says connected-account ACH funding usually takes up to four business days to reach Wise. The debit can appear in your bank before Wise has received the funds. Your account’s actual ACH limits are under the profile’s limits settings. See Wise’s US ACH guidance.
For cards, Wise lists Visa, Mastercard and some Maestro cards; it excludes American Express and Discover. The card must be in the appropriate account holder’s name. Credit and business cards carry higher processing costs. See Wise’s card requirements. Choose from the methods shown in your own transfer rather than assuming every listed method will be available.
How long does delivery to India take?
Wise quotes usual bank delivery of one working day after receipt and conversion, with conversion taking up to two working days. These are stage estimates; use your transfer’s displayed arrival date. INR timing guidance.
For planning, write down the date the recipient needs the money, then check whether the quoted arrival leaves room for a delay. If the deadline is tomorrow and your selected method’s estimate is later, choose another available option or discuss the deadline with the recipient before sending.
Set up and check the transfer
- Enter USD as the sending currency and INR as the receiving currency.
- Choose whether you are fixing your dollar budget or the rupees the recipient needs.
- Enter the verified recipient details and accurate payment purpose.
- Compare total payment, final INR and arrival time across available funding methods.
- Complete any verification requests and review the final summary.
- Follow the selected payment instructions and monitor the transfer in your account.
For help reading the calculation, see Wise fees for India transfers. For another provider’s options, see Wise vs Remitly for India.
Check eligibility before a large or unusual payment
Check both funding and payout limits. Wise prohibits India transfers for investment or charitable donation, and restricts payments from nonprofit organizations. Verify your purpose against the INR rules.
Questions about US-to-India transfers
Can I use ACH to pay the Indian recipient directly?
In this Wise flow, ACH funds the dollar side of the transaction from your US bank. Select the recipient’s Indian bank or UPI details separately in the delivery step.
Does an ACH debit on my statement mean the recipient has been paid?
No. Check the Wise tracker for the transfer’s delivery stage. If it is past the estimate, follow the transfer delay guide to identify which stage needs attention.