Can Foreigners Open A GCash Account In The Philippines?
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GCash is a top wallet in the Philippines. As a digital nomad visiting, you may want to open a GCash account so as to be able to pay using the wallet and be free of cash and ATM fees.
Step 1: Download and open the GCash app
You need to download the GCash application from either the App Store or Google Play Store to your smartphone. After downloading, just open the application and click on "Sign Up" to start the registration process.
Step 2: Enter your personal details
To complete the registration process, you are required to fill in your personal information, including your full name, mobile number, and email address. You'll also need to create a password for your account. Accept the terms and conditions and hit the "Continue" button to proceed.
Step 3: Provide a valid government-issued ID
For verification, you must provide your valid government-issued ID. As a foreigner, you can use your passport or Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) as identification. From there, simply follow the next few steps for verification. You may be asked to take a picture of your ID and answer a few security questions.
Step 4: Load your Gcash account
This is an indication that your account has been authorized and will give you the privilege to use GCash to do these transactions: purchase, money transfer, etc. You may load your GCash account with money via any of the following methods:
Equivalent ReviewTransfer Money from Wise: This is a convenient way to cut down on transfer fees associated with currency conversion. You can easily add money to your Wise account using just about any currency, convert it to PHP, and top up your GCash account directly after that. If you do not have a Wise account yet, feel free to use our referral link to get free transfers for up to a $500 transaction.
Link your PayPal: This allows you to link your PayPal account to Gcash. However, it is not encouraged, as one might have to change his/her PayPal account to the Philippines and also pay for exchanged currency into PHP, which is typically expensive on PayPal.
You may purchase load online through the GCash' official website or GCash app. You may also buy load with your GCash account at authorized GCash partner outlets as convenience stores or pawnshops.
Inevitably, you can ask other GCash users to send money into your GCash account. They can do this just by entering your mobile number and the amount they want to send.
Step 5: Use GCash to make payments and transfer money
Once you have loaded money into your GCash account, you can use it to settle payments and transfer money to another GCash user. To pay someone, you have to input the mobile number of the recipient and the amount to send. With this, you can use GCash to pay bills, buy load for your mobile phone, and much more.
“Transfer” from the main menu is going to allow you to send money to another GCash user; simply follow the prompts. You can send money to another GCash user or to one of the bank accounts. You can also use the “Cash In” feature of GCash to send money to a person without a GCash account.
Aside from sending money and receiving payments, GCash offers a number of other helpful services. For example, you are able to:
- Shop online: GCash has partnerships with a number of online merchants, allowing you to shop online and pay with GCash.
- Buy load for your mobile phone: You can use GCash to buy load for your mobile phone or for someone else’s phone.
How to receive money from GCash from another country - step by step
The easiest way to get paid to GCash is to create a money request via GCash. This can be done in few easy steps once you have logged in to your account:
- Log into GCash and on the homepage tap Send
- Select Request and then New request
- Enter the GCash mobile number of the person you’re requesting money from
- Enter the payment amount and currency
- Tap Send, and your request is on the way
An easier way would be when the sender receives the request. He taps Pay, funds the transfer, and the money is sent to you. If you do not want to request money through GCash, however, the sender can still send you a GCash payment either using a remittance partner for a Cash in or through a GCash transfer.
How long does it take to receive GCash from abroad?
Depending on the payment method, the time taken for funds to reach your account using GCash varies. On the other hand, if you opted not to receive the money via GCash partners remittance service or through GCash standard international transfer and have troubleshooted this issue and the money has yet to arrive, you simply open an in-app chat and seek assistance.
How to send money to GCash internationally
For those seeking to send payments abroad via GCash, there are other options available. Yet, how does the sending of money differ between a bank transaction to GCash and sending cash to GCash from abroad (Cash in)?
Transferring funds from signaling outside of the Philippine archipelago to another account holder is seamless. The operation is restricted to fully verified GCash accounts if you do not have a Philippine registered SIM, and it will be based on the transaction or withdraw limits.
The full explanation of how each of the services available differs can be found on the GCash app. For example, International Express Send, How to send money abroad.
- Log into GCash and on the homepage tap Send
- Select Express Send
- Enter the mobile number and amount you wish to send. Tap Next
- Check the box to confirm that the details are correct. Tap Send
You may also send money via QR code or cash in through global partners and remittance services. The manner in which GCash international Cash-in options work can differ depending on the remittance service you select.
Remittance partners depend on the geographical location of the sender but can include global money transmitters like Western Union or Moneygram, and lower-cost specialist services such as Wise. Compare a few since the fees you will be paying can vary, based on which GCash partner you select. Take note of the fee and of the exchange rate applied to convert the remittance amount into PHP for deposit to GCash and see what impact both have on the final amount ultimately credited to GCash-getting into that next.
GCash payment fees and exchange rates
There’s no GCash fee to receive a Cash in remittance to your account.
When awaiting a payment via GCash, it's important to view the USD-PHP exchange rate. The rate that will be charged may impose an increase which gives you lesser PHP less than was expected. A markup fee is one rolled up into the exchange rate offered to convert to PHP, but it is sometimes hard to spot. Check for markup by comparing the rate that GCash or one of its third-party providers provides with the mid-market exchange rate found on Google. Services like Wise utilize the mid-market rate with no mark-up, however, not all act in this way.
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