Remitly: CAD to PHP

Remitly offers Canadians a straightforward way to send money to the Philippines — with multiple delivery options, competitive exchange rates, and transfers that can arrive within minutes.

The platform handles over $30 billion in annual remittances globally, making it one of the more established services for the Canada–Philippines corridor.

Key Features of Remitly (CAD to PHP)

• Home delivery in select areas
• Mobile wallet transfers (GCash, PayMaya, Coins.ph)
• Express delivery in minutes or Economy in 3–5 business days
• Bank deposits to major Philippine banks (BDO, BPI, Metrobank, PNB)
• Cash pickup at 40,000+ locations (M Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier, Palawan Express)

Whether you're supporting family in Manila, paying tuition in Cebu, or sending emergency funds to a relative in Davao, understanding Remitly’s fees and delivery options will help you save money.

What Do You Need Before Sending?

Gathering required information before starting prevents frustrating delays and failed transactions. Remitly verifies both sender identity and recipient details — missing or incorrect information causes the most common problems.

Sender Requirements

You'll need the following to create and verify your Remitly account:

• Valid email address
• Canadian phone number
• Selfie for identity matching
• Linked funding source (bank account or debit/credit card)
• Government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, or provincial ID card)

First-time users complete identity verification during their initial transfer (the process typically takes 5-10 minutes but may extend to 24 hours for accounts flagged for additional review).

Recipient information

Different delivery methods require different details from your recipient. Remitly's help centre documents the full requirements:

The recipient's name must exactly match their government-issued ID — even small variations (middle initials, suffixes, maiden names) can cause pickup rejections or deposit failures.

Funding options

Remitly accepts several payment methods from Canadian senders:

• Apple Pay (where available)
• Credit cards (higher fees typically apply)
• Interac e-Transfer (often the cheapest option)
• Debit cards (Visa, Mastercard)
• Bank account (direct debit)

Credit card funding usually incurs additional charges — both from Remitly and potentially from your card issuer, which may treat it as a cash advance. Debit and bank transfer funding generally offers better rates.

How do you create a Remitly account?

Setting up your account takes about 10 minutes and requires identity verification before your first transfer can process. The verification protects both sender and recipient from fraud.

Registration steps

Creating your account follows a simple sequence:

1. Visit remitly.com or download the Remitly app (iOS or Android)
2. Click "Sign Up" and enter your email address
3. Create a secure password
4. Enter your Canadian phone number for SMS verification
5. Provide your full legal name and residential address
6. Accept the terms of service

Identity verification

After registration, Remitly requires identity verification before any transfer can proceed:

1. Upload clear photos of your government-issued ID (front and back)
2. Take a selfie that matches your ID photo
3. Confirm your date of birth and address
4. Wait for approval (usually instant, sometimes up to 24 hours)

Keep your ID and face clearly visible in photos — blurry images or glare cause rejection. Natural lighting works better than camera flash for selfies.

Account limits

Verification level determines your transfer limits, as outlined in Remitly's transfer limits documentation:

Most senders qualify for standard limits after completing basic ID verification. Larger or more frequent transfers may require additional documentation (proof of income, bank statements).

How do you initiate a CAD to PHP transfer?

The actual transfer process takes about five minutes once your account is verified. Having your recipient's exact legal name ready speeds things up considerably (and avoids the most common reason transfers get delayed).

Starting the transfer

Begin from the Remitly dashboard:

1. Log in to your Remitly account (app or website)
2. Click "Send Money" or the "+" button
3. Select the Philippines as the destination country
4. Enter the amount you want to send in CAD
5. Review the converted PHP amount and exchange rate displayed

Remitly shows real-time exchange rates before you commit — the rate locks once you confirm, protecting you from fluctuations during processing.

Selecting delivery

Choose how your recipient will receive the funds:

• Home delivery — cash delivered to the recipient's address in select cities
• Mobile wallet — instant delivery to GCash, PayMaya, or Coins.ph accounts
• Cash pickup — recipient collects PHP at partner locations with ID and a reference number
• Bank deposit — funds arrive directly in the recipient's Philippine bank account (1-3 business days for Economy, same day for Express)

Express delivery costs more than Economy but arrives faster — choose based on urgency and budget rather than habit.

Adding recipient details

Enter your recipient's information carefully:

• Full legal name (exactly as shown on their Philippine ID)
• Bank account number and bank name (for deposits)
• Wallet phone number (for mobile wallet transfers)
• Contact phone number (for delivery notifications)
• Pickup location preference (for cash pickup)

Double-check spelling before confirming — Remitly sends funds to the name you enter, and corrections after submission require cancellation and re-sending (if the transfer hasn't completed yet).

What are Remitly's delivery options for the Philippines?

Remitly offers four distinct ways to deliver pesos to your recipient, each with different speed, cost, and accessibility. The right choice depends on your recipient's situation and how urgently the money is needed.

Bank deposit

Direct deposit works with major Philippine banks. Remitly's Philippines page lists supported institutions including:

• UnionBank
• Security Bank
• Philippine National Bank (PNB)
• Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
• Landbank of the Philippines
• BDO Unibank
• Metrobank

Express deposits arrive the same day (often within hours). Economy deposits take 1-3 business days but cost less. Funds appear in the recipient's account without requiring a branch visit.

Cash pickup

Recipients collect PHP in person at partner locations across the Philippines:

• SM Business Centers
• Robinsons Department Stores
• M Lhuillier (14,000+ locations)
• Palawan Express (3,000+ locations)
• Cebuana Lhuillier (2,500+ locations)

Cash pickup requires the recipient to present a valid ID and your transfer reference number. Same-day availability is common, though some rural locations may take longer.

Mobile wallets

Digital wallet transfers typically arrive instantly:

• GCash (the most widely used wallet in the Philippines)
• PayMaya (now Maya)
• Coins.ph

Recipients need an active, verified wallet account linked to their phone number. Funds can be used immediately for purchases, bill payments, or cash withdrawals at partner locations.

Home delivery

Door-to-door cash delivery is available in select Philippine cities, including Metro Manila, Cebu City, Davao City, and other major urban areas. Delivery typically takes 1-2 business days, and the recipient must present ID when accepting funds. This option works best for recipients without bank accounts or nearby pickup points.

How much does Remitly charge for CAD to PHP?

Remitly's pricing combines a transfer fee and an exchange rate markup — and understanding both reveals the true cost. According to Remitly's fee information page, fees vary based on delivery speed, method, transfer amount, and funding source.

Fee structure

Remitly occasionally offers fee-free or reduced-fee transfers for new users — checking their current promotions before sending can save a meaningful amount on a first transfer.

Exchange rates

Remitly offers two rate tiers based on delivery speed:

• Express rate — slightly less favourable exchange rate, faster delivery
• Economy rate — better exchange rate, 3-5 business day delivery

Compare Remitly's offered rate against the mid-market rate (available on XE or Google Finance) to understand the markup. The difference typically ranges from 1% to 3%, depending on the amount and delivery option.

For example, sending $1,000 CAD to PHP via bank deposit: