How to track a money transfer with Western Union

At Western Union, we believe there are few things more valuable than peace of mind.

Be informed. Be aware. Protect yourself from fraud.

We encrypt your money transfers

We are committed to keeping your data secure

We’ve sent money around the world for more than 150 years

The peace of mind that comes from knowing that there are no hidden costs with our money transfers, that they are fast and reliable transfers, and that you can monitor your money transfer every step of the way.

Not only will the sender be able to monitor the progress of the money transfer, but the recipient waiting to receive the money will also be able to monitor its progress.

We know the importance of sending money to a loved one and the ability to track its progress in real time. If you are looking forward to seeing a gift arrive in time for someone’s birthday or being able to provide financial assistance for a household expense, Western Union’s money transfer tracking can help you.

How to track a money transfer on the Western Union site

After registering with Western Union and sending money to a loved one, you will receive an online receipt to show that the transfer was approved and an e-mail with your Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN).

Once you have your 10-digit tracking number (MTCN), go to the Track a Transfer page and enter the number. You can also securely share the MTCN number, with the recipient to allow them to check the progress of the transfer as well.

But what happens if you don’t have your MTCN on hand? We know that people can misplace their numbers or accidentally delete e-mails, so if that happens to you, you’ll be happy to know that you can still check the status of your money transfer in a few simple steps:

On the Track a Transfer page, select “Don’t know MTCN?”
Enter the sender’s phone number or both the sender’s and recipient’s names.
Select the recipient’s country and the amount of money sent.
Enter the date of the money transfer
Click “Continue.”

This way you will be able to monitor exactly how the transfer is progressing.

Learn about the various transfer monitoring options below.

Guide to different money transfer tracking statuses

Tracking an international money transfer with Western Union involves a number of statuses to give you useful information.
These include:

In progress: your transfer has been processed and the money is on its way to the recipient.
Available: the transfer is ready for pickup. The recipient must go to a Western Union agency with the government-issued ID and tracking number (MTCN).
Received: the money was picked up by the recipient at one of the Western Union locations.
Paid: the money transfer has been completed and the money has been credited to the recipient’s mobile wallet or bank account.
Delivered: the transfer is completed and the money has been credited to the recipient’s bank account.

In the rare event that there is a problem or delay in transferring money, you may see one of the following statuses:

Waiting: we are taking longer than usual because we are checking some details.
Cancelled: this may be due to self-cancellation or cancellation on our part. In case of cancellation, money is generally refunded within 7 business days.
Refunded: the money was refunded in the original form of payment.

We usually update the status of your money transfer within 2 hours to make sure you have the most up-to-date information possible.

How to track your money transfer with our app

The process of tracking a money transfer via the Western Union app is essentially the same as recording, sending and tracking the status of a money transfer.

Western Union’s app gives you the flexibility to make money transfers wherever you are. This means you can monitor the status of your transfer anytime, anywhere.

The recipient of the money transfer can also check the progress of the transfer with our app.

How to track a money transfer made to a Western Union agency

You can make your money transfer at any of the 150 Western Union locations in the country [1]. Once the transfer is made, you will receive your 10-digit MTCN number as if you had made the transfer through our website or app.

Make sure your loved one has the MTCN handy when he or she goes to pick up the cash transfer at a foreign agency.

Trusted by customers around the world

As specialists in international and multi-currency bank transfers, at Western Union^® we aim to encourage economic growth and create a better world by keeping you connected with the people who matter most to you. The ability to track a money transfer is an important part of our commitment to providing a service you can trust.

Track your transfers for every special moment

Regardless of what you and your loved ones are celebrating, whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, a new business or someone needing a little support, thanks to the ability to track transfers you’ll both know exactly where your money transfers stand.

FAQs around tracking money transfers

Can I track my money transfer through a serial number?

YES. The serial number used for money transfers with Western Union is called the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN).

A money transfer control number (MTCN) is a unique 10-digit tracking number assigned to your transfer and can be used to track your transfer within minutes¹.

You can find the MTCN on the transfer receipt and on the transfer history page once you have registered and made a transfer.

Please do not share your MTCN with anyone except the recipient of the money transfer or a Western Union representative.

Why has my money transfer been cancelled?

The transfer may have been cancelled due to one of the following reasons::

We could not confirm your identity from the information you provided.
You sent money to a corporate account instead of a personal account.
There were insufficient funds in your bank account, debit or credit card²
A technical problem has occurred on the part of your bank.
You provided incorrect recipient data, such as bank details and name.
The recipient did not collect the money within 42 days.

In the rare event that a transfer is cancelled, we apologize for the inconvenience caused.

If you have already received a charge, we will refund your money in the original form of payment within 5-7 business days from the date the refund is processed.

You will also receive a notification when the refund is credited to your bank account, credit or debit card, or when it is ready for pickup.

If your transfer is cancelled, you can always start another money transfer online or at one of our agencies.

¹ Funds may be delayed or services unavailable based on certain transaction conditions, including amount sent, destination country, currency availability, regulatory issues, identification requirements, agent location hours, differences in time zones, or selection of delayed options. For money transfers made by cell phone, the funds will be paid to the receiver’s mobile wallet account provider so they can then be credited to the account linked to the receiver’s cell phone number. Additional third-party charges may apply, including SMS, account over-limit and cash-out fees. See the transfer form to learn more about restrictions.

² If you’re using a credit card, a card-issuer cash advance fee and associated interest charges may apply. To avoid these fees or for reduced fees, use a debit card or check other payment methods.