State Bank of India · India → Saudi Arabia
State Bank of India to Saudi Arabia: what it actually costs to send SAR from India
At ₹1,00,000, State Bank of India charges ₹180 — the cheapest of 5 banks for SAR (₹885 less than the next-cheapest, ICICI Bank).
Last updated 7 Oct 2026
Fee breakdown
- Branch Commission ₹0
- Correspondent Charge Remitter ₹0
- GST Exchange ₹180
- Total at ₹1,00,000₹180
SAR rate trend at State Bank of India
Today State Bank of India sells SAR at ₹27.2700 (TT Selling) and buys it at ₹24.5100 (TT Buying). The selling rate is +0.2700 (+1.00%) since 28 Sep and +0.6700 (+2.52%) since 1 Sep.
- 30-day TT Selling range: ₹26.7200 – ₹27.2700 across 10 refreshes.
- ₹1,00,000 bought between 3667.03 and 3742.51 SAR over that window, before charges.
What's specific to SAR at State Bank of India
- Branch Commission: not published for SAR (the bank lists USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD, SGD, NZD, AED only), so our total carries ₹0 for this line — expect the branch to quote it.
- Correspondent Bank Charge (Remitter mode): not published for SAR (the bank lists USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD, SGD, NZD, AED only), so our total carries ₹0 for this line — expect the branch to quote it.
- Charge modes for SAR: Payee, Remitter. Guaranteed is not offered for SAR.
Receiving in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi accounts use a 24-character IBAN starting with SA; SAMA requires the IBAN on every incoming wire, so get it exactly as printed by the beneficiary's bank.
- The beneficiary name must match the account exactly — Saudi banks commonly return wires where it does not, rather than correcting them.
- Most Saudi banks do not charge for incoming personal transfers, but an intermediary bank may deduct a fee unless you choose the OUR charge option so an intermediary bank cannot take its fee out of the credited amount.
Saudi Arabia is 2.5 hours behind IST with a Sunday–Thursday working week; a wire sent on a Friday from India will not credit before Sunday.
How this compares
State Bank of India is the cheapest of 5 banks for sending SAR — by ₹885 vs the next bank (ICICI Bank).
See the full side-by-side →State Bank of India — Things to know
Applies to:Sending money abroad as an individual retail customer via SBI YONO or Internet Banking (rules effective 1 May 2025). The total shown is the Remitter mode, where the recipient gets the full amount; the mode table compares the Payee and Guaranteed options. Currencies outside YONO's 8-currency set are branch-only and not modelled here.
- SBI's own fee is nil. Since 1 May 2025 SBI charges individuals no commission and waives SWIFT for retail — what you pay is the per-currency Branch Commission and correspondent charge, plus GST.↗
- Three ways to split the fees. At YONO you choose who bears the SWIFT charges: Payee (the recipient absorbs the Branch Commission + correspondent, so USD 1,000 lands as ~USD 989), Remitter (you pay both in INR, recipient gets the full amount), or Guaranteed (USD/EUR/GBP only, full delivery).↗
- Most currencies are branch-only. Only 8 currencies are priced online; the other 13 (CHF, HKD, JPY, THB, SAR, OMR, BHD, KWD, QAR, DKK, NOK, SEK, ZAR) are branch-only and not modelled here.
- TCS on large transfers. For general purposes, 20% TCS applies on LRS spending above ₹10 lakh a year — refundable as a tax credit at ITR time.
▸Show 4 more notes
Other things to know
- Rates suit larger transfers. SBI's card rates target the ₹10–20 lakh band; smaller amounts may be quoted differently at the branch.↗
Other ways to save
- Pick 'Payee' on big transfers. Choosing Payee lets you skip paying the Branch Commission and correspondent charge in INR — the recipient gets that much less, which stings least on large amounts.
- Medical & education loans are free. SBI waives outward charges for Medical purposes and Education Loan disbursement — declare the purpose if it qualifies.↗
- Send from FCNR/NRE to save. Outward transfers from an FCNR(B) or NRE account skip the out-of-pocket charges — only the correspondent fee applies.
FAQ — State Bank of India to Saudi Arabia
What is State Bank of India's SAR rate today?
₹27.2700 per SAR is State Bank of India's TT Selling rate today — the rate applied when you send — and ₹24.5100 is its TT Buying rate for money you receive. The selling rate is +0.2700 (+1.00%) since 28 Sep. The full sheet with a 90-day chart is on the State Bank of India forex rates page.
How much does State Bank of India charge to send SAR to Saudi Arabia?
On a ₹1,00,000 outward remittance, State Bank of India's all-in cost today is ₹180 — commission, SWIFT / correspondent charges and 18% GST included, computed at the bank's own TT Selling rate for SAR. The fee breakdown above shows every line item.
Is State Bank of India the cheapest bank to send SAR to Saudi Arabia?
Yes — at ₹1,00,000, State Bank of India is the cheapest of 5 banks in our coverage for SAR, ₹885 less than the next-cheapest (ICICI Bank). Rankings shift when rates refresh, so check the comparison above for today's order.
How long does a State Bank of India transfer to Saudi Arabia take?
A standard SWIFT / TT outward remittance from State Bank of India to a beneficiary in Saudi Arabia typically settles in 1–3 working days, depending on correspondent-bank routing.
What do I need to send money to Saudi Arabia with State Bank of India?
You'll need PAN, a signed A2 form (LRS declaration) with a purpose code, the beneficiary's bank details in Saudi Arabia, and proof of source of funds for larger amounts. TCS at 20% applies above ₹10 lakh per financial year for most non-education purposes and is claimable in your ITR.
Run your own numbers
TRANSFER
You pay in INR; recipient receives USD.
Used to determine if this transfer crosses the ₹10L TCS threshold.
Best deal: Indian Overseas Bank. You save ₹3,948.89 vs the most expensive.
TT Selling rate from Indian Overseas Bank's published forex sheet — edit to model a quoted rate.
BREAKDOWN
Outward remittance
Amount being sent $1,000.00 × ₹96.89 | ₹96,890.00 |
| Outward Remittance Commission (0.075%) | ₹250.00 |
| Swift Payment Message | ₹500.00 |
| GST on Commission + Swift (18%) | ₹135.00 |
| GST on Amount Exchanged | ₹174.40 |
| Total charges | ₹1,059.40 |
| Total payable (INR) | ₹97,949.40 |
- Amount being sent
- ₹96,890.00
- Outward Remittance Commission (0.075%)
- ₹250.00
- Swift Payment Message
- ₹500.00
- GST on Commission + Swift (18%)
- ₹135.00
- GST on Amount Exchanged
- ₹174.40
- Total charges
- ₹1,059.40
$1,000.00 × ₹96.89
Total payable (INR)
₹97,949.40
Indian Overseas Bank
₹97,949.40
Cheapest
TT Selling rate from Indian Overseas Bank's published forex sheet — edit to model a quoted rate.
- Amount being sent$1,000.00 × ₹96.89
- ₹96,890.00
- Outward Remittance Commission (0.075%)
- ₹250.00
- Swift Payment Message
- ₹500.00
- GST on Commission + Swift (18%)
- ₹135.00
- GST on Amount Exchanged
- ₹174.40
- Total charges
- ₹1,059.40
- Total payable (INR)
- ₹97,949.40
State Bank of India
₹98,282.54
+₹333.14 vs cheapest
TT Selling rate from State Bank of India's published forex sheet — edit to model a quoted rate.
- Amount being sent$1,000.00 × ₹97.05
- ₹97,050.00
- Branch Commission
- ₹970.50
- Correspondent Bank Charge (Remitter mode)
- ₹87.35
- GST on Amount Exchanged
- ₹174.69
- Total charges
- ₹1,232.54
- Total payable (INR)
- ₹98,282.54
ICICI Bank
₹99,466.60
+₹1,517.20 vs cheapest
TT Selling rate from ICICI Bank's published forex sheet — edit to model a quoted rate.
- Amount being sent$1,000.00 × ₹98.11
- ₹98,110.00
- Outward Remittance Commission
- ₹1,000.00
- GST on Commission (18%)
- ₹180.00
- GST on Amount Exchanged
- ₹176.60
- Total charges
- ₹1,356.60
- Total payable (INR)
- ₹99,466.60
Kotak Mahindra Bank
₹99,697.01
+₹1,747.61 vs cheapest
TT Selling rate from Kotak Mahindra Bank's published forex sheet — edit to model a quoted rate.
- Amount being sent$1,000.00 × ₹98.34
- ₹98,340.00
- Outward Remittance Commission (Online)
- ₹500.00
- Correspondent Bank Charge
- ₹500.00
- GST on Commission + Correspondent (18%)
- ₹180.00
- GST on Amount Exchanged
- ₹177.01
- Total charges
- ₹1,357.01
- Total payable (INR)
- ₹99,697.01
HDFC Bank
₹99,707.03
+₹1,757.63 vs cheapest
TT Selling rate from HDFC Bank's published forex sheet — edit to model a quoted rate.
- Amount being sent$1,000.00 × ₹98.35
- ₹98,350.00
- Outward Remittance Commission
- ₹1,000.00
- GST on Commission (18%)
- ₹180.00
- GST on Amount Exchanged
- ₹177.03
- Total charges
- ₹1,357.03
- Total payable (INR)
- ₹99,707.03
Axis Bank
₹1,01,898.29
+₹3,948.89 vs cheapest
TT Selling rate from Axis Bank's published forex sheet — edit to model a quoted rate.
- Amount being sent$1,000.00 × ₹98.45
- ₹98,450.00
- Remittance Commission
- ₹1,000.00
- Correspondent Bank Charge (OUR)
- ₹1,772.10
- GST on Commission + Correspondent (18%)
- ₹498.98
- GST on Amount Exchanged
- ₹177.21
- Total charges
- ₹3,448.29
- Total payable (INR)
- ₹1,01,898.29
TCS is refundable when you file your ITR — it's a tax credit, not a fee.
Want the full picture?
- State Bank of India Bank: all remittance charges — every corridor State Bank of India supports, side by side
- Send money to Saudi Arabia from India — all 6 banks compared for SAR