International transfers from Colombia: costs and options

To make an international transfer from Colombia, you can use your bank, a remittance company or an app. Bancolombia and Davivienda publish a fee in dollars for the transfer, and on the pages we reviewed, no bank publishes the margin on its exchange rate. Which one suits you depends on what you need: send money, pay abroad, receive money or have a dollar account. This guide is organized by need, with published, dated fees, and links to our more detailed guides.

The essentials, fast

How much does it cost to send from a bank? Through the Sucursal Virtual Personas (Bancolombia's online banking), Bancolombia charges 4.5% of the amount in dollars plus USD 5, with a minimum of USD 12 and a maximum of USD 29, plus VAT (IVA). Through its digital channels, Davivienda charges USD 25 plus VAT when you send dollars. BBVA does not publish a fee for individuals on its transfers page.

What do they ask you for? Bancolombia asks for the reason for the transfer, Davivienda says it applies foreign exchange checks, and Bancolombia warns that the GMF (Gravamen a los Movimientos Financieros, Colombia's 0.4% financial transactions tax, known as the 4x1000) could apply to the purchase of foreign currency. Below is what each bank says, with dates.

What about apps? It depends on the app and the destination. Wise says you can't pay in pesos. VIIO lets you transfer from a personal account to bank accounts in Colombia (COP), the U.S. (USD) and Europe (EUR).

How do I send money to another country from Colombia?

There are three ways: your bank, a remittance company or an app. Wise and VIIO are apps, and we cover them separately. We reviewed each one's official pages on October 26, 2026, except where another date is given.

From your bank. It's a Swift transfer (the network banks use to move money between countries).

• Bancolombia: from the Sucursal Virtual Personas (Bancolombia's online banking), under Transacciones > Internacionales > Transferir plata (Transactions > International > Transfer money). You need your Clave Dinámica (Bancolombia's one-time security code) and the destination account registered in advance. You choose who pays the costs. Help article dated March 24, 2026.
• Davivienda: from the app or the website, under Mis operaciones internacionales (My international operations). You need an active savings or checking account, an active clave virtual (online password) and enough funds. You can send from USD 1 up to USD 50,000 or the equivalent.
• BBVA: from the BBVA app, under Transferir > Transferir al exterior (Transfer > Transfer abroad), with money from a BBVA account. Its page says that from your phone you can buy or sell foreign currency up to USD 50,000 per month, with a minimum of USD 30. According to its press release of October 21, 2025, the service runs Monday to Friday from 12:01 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and all day on weekends.

With a remittance company. Western Union Colombia says you can send online from its website, with a verified profile, up to USD 1,500 per transfer. The online service is provided by two partners: Acciones & Valores S.A. (5 countries) and Banco Unión (31 countries). You pay through PSE (Pagos Seguros en Línea, Colombia's online bank payment system), with a Colombian bank account or with a PayU-compatible account. Western Union Colombia's home page warns that the content of those sites is the sole responsibility of the partners and that additional restrictions may apply.

With an app. Global66 says it sends to more than 70 countries. You create a Cuenta Global (Global Account), choose Enviar > Internacional (Send > International) and enter the beneficiary's name, their bank, the account type and number, and the SWIFT or IBAN depending on the country.

Wise. Wise says you can't pay in pesos. Its own pages (from July 2024, March 2025 and November 2025, reviewed October 27, 2026) say you can pay with your Wise balance, by SWIFT from a dollar or euro account, or in another currency with an international card. Those pages don't say whether a card issued in Colombia works today. Before counting on Wise to send from Colombia, check in its app how you will pay.

VIIO. A personal VIIO account can transfer to bank accounts in Colombia (COP), the U.S. (USD) and Europe (EUR). In Europe, VIIO uses SEPA (the system for euro transfers within Europe). Other destinations are not available. Withdrawals to an account in your name in the U.S. (USD) or Europe (EUR) have no VIIO fee and take up to 3 business days; the applicable limits are shown in the app. Withdrawals to third-party bank accounts are not enabled as a regular operation in VIIO. However, they can be authorized in specific cases. To request one, the user must register the beneficiary's bank details. The request goes through an internal review, during which the responsible VIIO team verifies the information directly with the user before authorizing the operation. To have a balance, you can top up your account with Colombian pesos through PSE or a bank transfer from an account in your name and receive the equivalent in digital dollars.

How much does it cost to send money abroad?

These are the fees each provider publishes on its pages, reviewed on October 26, 2026 (Bancolombia's on October 27). Where there is no figure, we don't estimate one.

Option	Published fee, rate and timing
Bancolombia, Sucursal Virtual Personas	4.5% of the amount in USD plus USD 5; minimum USD 12, maximum USD 29; plus VAT. Applies only to that channel. Digital rate, which you see before confirming. Delivery time: not published
Davivienda, app or website	Dollars: USD 25 plus VAT. In other channels, dollars: USD 30 plus VAT. For Swift, no rate rule is stated. Timing: not published
BBVA	Does not publish a fee for individuals on its transfers page. Says you negotiate the rate in the app
Western Union Colombia	Does not publish fees or margin on its Colombia pages. Timing: not stated in its FAQ
Global66	Does not publish a fixed table: the cost varies by amount, country and service, and you see it before sending. Timing: from minutes up to 24 business hours

A dated example, not a published fee: on October 26, 2026, the calculator on Global66's page showed, for sending COP 1,300,000 to dollars, a sending cost of COP 46,800 (3.6% of the amount, our calculation), a rate of USD 1 = COP 3,135.31 and arrival on October 28. That came to about USD 400 for the recipient (399.71 by our calculation). That figure changes with the amount, the country and the timing.

Two more things the pages say. Bancolombia warns that, when dealing with other banks, your transfer "may be reduced by third-party costs," and it doesn't name the intermediary banks. And none of the pages we reviewed publishes its margin on the exchange rate; that's why it pays to compare the end result, not just the fee.

To compare two options, ask both the same questions:

1. How many pesos leave your account in total.
2. What rate the money is converted at (the TRM, Tasa Representativa del Mercado, the official exchange rate, or the provider's own rate).
3. Who pays the intermediary banks' costs.
4. How long it takes to arrive.

What do banks ask for when you send money abroad?

This is what the banks' pages say, with the date we reviewed them (October 26, 2026). It is not an explanation of the regulations.

• Bancolombia: in its help article dated March 24, 2026, it asks you for the reason for the transfer ("Specify the reason for the transfer," reviewed October 27, 2026). On its in-branch transfers page, it asks for the foreign currency sending and request form and supporting documents, and it debits the pesos from your Bancolombia account. That same page says: "The purchase/sale of foreign currency could be subject to the GMF (Gravamen a los Movimientos Financieros, 4x1000)".
• Davivienda: says operations are subject to "foreign exchange and anti-money laundering checks" and that you may be asked for more information. The page doesn't explain what they involve.
• BBVA: its press release of October 21, 2025 says that no additional documents are requested in BBVA Móvil and that limits adapt to each user's profile. Its foreign currency page talks about having the documents that support the operation and, elsewhere, says you don't need to attach them. Ask the bank which applies to your case.

This guide doesn't explain which foreign exchange or tax rules apply to you as an individual or what you must declare. It depends on your situation: check with a lawyer or an accountant before sending large amounts.

How do I pay abroad?

If what you need is to pay on a foreign website or at a foreign merchant, you don't always need a transfer: you can use a card. We have two guides:

• International card without a bank account in Colombia: which document each app asks for and how to top it up.
• Digital dollar card: how it works, costs and limits.

The VIIO Card works on the Visa network. With the physical card, users can withdraw cash at ATMs in any currency the ATM supports. For costs and limits, see the guide Digital dollar card: how it works, costs and limits. The VIIO Visa Card is operated by Persimon S.A.S.

How do I receive money from abroad?

To get paid from abroad (by a client, a platform or a family member), compare the options in our guides:

• How much you keep when you get paid on Upwork: Wise, Payoneer and VIIO compared.
• Receiving payments from abroad in Colombia: VIIO, Littio, Wise or Payoneer.

In VIIO, the virtual dollar account receives via ACH (the system for transfers between U.S. banks) or via Wire (electronic bank transfer), and it is enabled at the user's request through support, which is available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Colombia time (VIIO FAQ, October 26, 2026).

What is an international dollar account and who offers one?

It's an account with U.S. bank details (account number and routing number, the number that identifies the bank) that whoever pays you can send to via ACH or Wire. This is what each provider says in its own words, reviewed on October 26, 2026:

Option	What it offers and what its page clarifies
VIIO	Virtual dollar account with details for receiving via ACH or Wire, at the user's request. Does not state cost or timing
Wise	Account details for receiving in several currencies (22 on wise.com/co, not including the Colombian peso). Its help pages don't clarify whether a resident of Colombia can get dollar account details
ARQ	U.S. account number and routing number for ACH and Wire. Page updated October 22, 2026

If you're a foreigner or digital nomad arriving in Colombia, read our guide to money for foreigners and digital nomads in Colombia. On dollar accounts in general, we have a guide to dollar accounts in Colombia.

What are digital dollars and when are they useful for moving money?

"Digital dollars" is what we call digital assets such as USDC and USDT. In VIIO, your balance corresponds to digital assets (USDC and USDT), not to dollars or to a bank deposit. To understand how they differ, read USDC vs USDT.

What you can do with them in VIIO:

• Transfer to another VIIO account: VIIO says it doesn't charge a fee for transfers between VIIO accounts. You use the recipient's mobile number, and it takes a few minutes.
• Send to an external wallet: on the Polygon network it's free. On Tron and other available networks, the fee is the greater of USD 5 or 0.3%.
• Receive: you can deposit USDC or USDT on the Polygon network.

Platforms may use different models for the custody of digital assets. Before using one, review its terms and conditions to understand who holds the assets and what risks exist.

If what you're looking for is to keep dollars from Colombia, we have a guide on how to keep dollars from Colombia.

VIIO is not a financial institution, does not take deposits from the public under Colombian law, and is not supervised by the Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia (Colombia’s Financial Superintendence). The digital assets available on VIIO are not legal tender or foreign currency, and they are not covered by FOGAFÍN or any government guarantee.

The VIIO Visa Card is operated by Persimon S.A.S.

Frequently asked questions

Can I send money abroad without an account at a traditional bank? It depends on how you put in the pesos. With VIIO, pesos come in through PSE or by bank transfer from an account in your name. Western Union Colombia, in its online service, accepts PSE, a Colombian bank account or a PayU-compatible account. Bancolombia, Davivienda and BBVA send from an account of your own.

Do I pay taxes when I send money abroad? Bancolombia says on its page (October 26, 2026) that the purchase or sale of foreign currency could be subject to the GMF (4x1000). If anything else applies to your case, such as a tax filing, this guide doesn't cover it: check with an accountant.

Can I use Wise to send money from Colombia? Wise says you can't pay in pesos. Its pages list other ways to pay: Wise balance, SWIFT from a dollar or euro account, or an international card in another currency. Its pages don't say whether a card issued in Colombia works today. Check in the Wise app before sending.

Note from our team: this content is for information only and is not financial or legal advice. Each provider's fees, requirements and conditions may change; confirm them directly with each one before deciding.

Sources

Pages reviewed on October 26, 2026, except where another date is given.

• Bancolombia: How to make transfers through the Sucursal Virtual Personas (help center, article dated March 24, 2026, reviewed October 27, 2026)
• Bancolombia: Outbound international transfers, physical branch
• Bancolombia: Send international transfers
• Davivienda: International transfers and remittances
• BBVA Colombia: BBVA lets you make international transfers fully digitally and with extended hours (press release of October 21, 2025)
• BBVA Colombia: Foreign currency, individuals
• Western Union Colombia: FAQ about sending money online
• Western Union Colombia: home page
• Global66: Money transfers (checked on the evening of October 26, 2026)
• Wise: COP transfers (help center)
• Wise: International transfer in Colombia (blog, November 13, 2024)
• Wise: Wise card in Colombia (blog, July 15, 2024, reviewed October 27, 2026)
• Wise: Wise in Colombia (blog, March 17, 2025, reviewed October 27, 2026)
• Wise: Wise vs Global66 (blog, November 18, 2025, reviewed October 27, 2026)
• Wise Colombia
• ARQ: How to send and receive payments from the U.S. (help center, updated October 22, 2026)
• VIIO: How to receive dollars from abroad in your VIIO account (FAQ)
• VIIO: How to withdraw funds from your VIIO account and receive USD (help center)
• VIIO: How to withdraw funds from your VIIO account and receive EUR (help center)
• VIIO: How to transfer funds to a VIIO account (help center)
• VIIO: written confirmation from the VIIO team on bank transfer destinations (Colombia in COP, the U.S. in USD, Europe in EUR) and ATM withdrawals, October 27, 2026, and on withdrawals to third-party accounts, October 28, 2026