Many people in South Africa send money to family in Pakistan every month, for rent, groceries, school fees, and the unexpected things life brings. You want it to arrive quickly, safely, and without losing too much along the way.
With Mama Money you can do all of that from your phone in a few steps, with fees from 5% and no hidden costs. This guide walks you through how to send money to Pakistan, the ways your family can receive it, what it costs, and how long it takes.
If you are new to Mama Money, here is how to get started and send your first transfer.
Download the Mama Money app on Google Play, the Apple App Store, or Huawei AppGallery, or register on WhatsApp at +27 60 091 5591. Use your passport, foreign ID, SA ID, or asylum or refugee document. No proof of address needed.
Upload a clear photo of your ID document and take a quick selfie when asked. Mama checks your details and activates your account, usually within a few hours and up to 24 hours.
Add your recipient's name and mobile number, and choose how they will receive the money: bank account, mobile wallet, or cash pickup.
Choose your payment method, check the fee and exchange rate shown in full, then confirm. You will get updates as the money moves, so you always know where it is.
Sending money the old way can be slow and stressful. Wire transfers and cash can be lost or stolen, traditional bank transfers can take days, and the fees often climb to around 10%. Mama Money was built to fix this. Your transfer is secure, most options arrive in minutes, and the fee is shown upfront before you send. There are no branch visits and no long queues, because everything happens on your phone.
Your family can collect the money in the way that suits them best. Here are the three options and when each one works well.
Mobile wallet
Within minutes
Sent straight to your recipient's phone through partners like JazzCash and Easypaisa. Best for fast, everyday support.
Bank account
5 to 48 hours
Deposited directly into the recipient's bank account, ready to use at ATMs and branches across Pakistan. Best for larger or planned transfers.
Cash pickup
Within minutes
Collected as cash at a partner location. A real help where bank access is limited. Best when your recipient prefers cash in hand.
Whichever way you choose, your transfer is secure and the amount your family receives is shown to you before you send. If you are not sure which to pick, ask your family how they would prefer to collect the money. Many choose mobile wallet for everyday support because it is instant, and bank transfer for larger amounts they want kept in an account.
Many money transfer services charge around 10%. Mama Money keeps fees low, from 5% and often less, with no hidden costs. Over time, those extra rupees really add up for your family.
Here is what that difference looks like. On a R1,000 transfer, a 10% fee takes R100, leaving R900 to convert into rupees for your family. At 5%, only R50 comes off, so R950 reaches them. If you send money every month, that saving repeats every single time, helping cover rent, food, or school fees.
| What you pay or send | Standard | Upgraded |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer fee | From 5% | From 5% |
| Per order limit | R25,000 | R50,000 |
| Per month limit | R25,000 | R100,000 |
| Hidden fees | None | None |
To send more, tap "Increase Limits" in the Mama Money app to upgrade your account. The fee and exchange rate are always shown in full before you confirm, so what you see is what your recipient gets.
Fair and clear
Fees from 5%, shown before you send. You always know exactly how many rupees will reach your family.
It depends on how your family collects the money.
| Receive method | Typical arrival time |
|---|---|
| Mobile wallet | Within minutes |
| Cash pickup | Within minutes |
| Bank account | About 5 hours on average, up to 48 hours |
Bank arrival times can vary depending on the recipient's bank. For urgent support, mobile wallet and cash pickup are the fastest options. You can track your transfer in the app at any time, so you always know whether the money has been sent and when it has arrived.
Getting started is simple. Here is everything you need.
That is it. Where many banks turn foreign nationals away, Mama makes it happen.
Mama Money is independently owned and built for the people it serves. The mission is simple: to help foreign nationals in South Africa send money home easily, fairly, and safely. That is why the fees stay low and the process stays simple, so more of what you earn reaches the people who depend on it.
"Best app for sending money home to my family, I only pay 5% for all my orders."
Fees from 5%. Bank, wallet, or cash pickup. Money in minutes. Send to the people you love in Pakistan, the fair and easy way.