Send money from Europe to India(EUR → INR)

Based on our latest comparison data, Wise and Instarem consistently deliver the most Indian rupees per euro on the EUR to INR corridor. Wise uses the real mid-market exchange rate with a transparent fee of approximately 0.4%–0.6% for SEPA-funded transfers, ensuring the quoted cost is the total cost with no hidden margin. Instarem offers a competitive rate with a small percentage-based margin and no flat fee, making it cost-effective for both small and large amounts. Remitly is also strong on this corridor, particularly for first-time users who benefit from promotional zero-fee offers and enhanced exchange rates. For a €1,000 transfer, the difference between the cheapest specialist provider and a traditional European bank can exceed ₹3,000–₹4,000. Always fund via SEPA bank transfer rather than debit or credit card to avoid additional processing surcharges of 1%–3%.

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) and SWIFT are two fundamentally different payment networks. SEPA is a European system that handles euro-denominated transfers between 36 member countries — it is fast (same-day or next-day), cheap (usually free or under €1), and the standard way to fund transfers with specialist providers like Wise and Remitly. When you fund a transfer via SEPA, you send euros to the provider's European bank account, and they handle the currency conversion and delivery to India. SWIFT is the traditional international banking network used for cross-border wire transfers. A direct SWIFT transfer from your European bank to an Indian bank involves correspondent banking intermediaries, each potentially charging fees of €15–€40, and the exchange rate markup applied by banks is typically 3%–5%. A SWIFT transfer also takes 2–5 business days compared to 1–2 days for a SEPA-funded specialist transfer. Using SEPA to fund a specialist provider saves both time and money.

Transfer speed depends on the provider, funding method, and delivery option. The fastest route is funding via SEPA Instant (supported by most major European banks) and choosing express delivery through Remitly or Wise — this can deliver rupees to an Indian bank account via UPI or IMPS within minutes to one hour. Standard SEPA-funded transfers take up to one business day for the provider to receive your euros, plus 1–2 business days for delivery via NEFT to Indian banks. Cash pickup through Western Union or MoneyGram in India is available within minutes of the provider processing your transfer. Traditional SWIFT bank wire transfers from a European bank directly to an Indian bank are the slowest option at 2–5 business days. Overall, using a specialist provider with SEPA Instant funding and express delivery can complete the entire process in under an hour.

Transfer limits vary by provider and your verification level. Wise allows up to €1,000,000 per transfer for fully verified business accounts and up to €30,000–€50,000 for personal accounts depending on your country. Remitly sets limits of around €2,950–€9,000 per transfer depending on the sending country and verification status. Under EU PSD2 (Payment Services Directive 2) regulations, all licensed money transfer providers must perform Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for electronic payments, and enhanced due diligence is required for transfers above €1,000. On the Indian side, the Reserve Bank of India does not impose a cap on incoming remittances — there is no limit on how much foreign currency an Indian resident can receive from abroad. For very large transfers above €50,000, providers like OFX and XE offer dedicated relationship managers, better exchange rates, and forward contracts to lock in rates.

Yes, specialist providers like Wise, Remitly, and Instarem accept transfers from all 27 EU member states plus SEPA-affiliated countries including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein — covering 36 countries in total. The key requirement is that you can fund via SEPA bank transfer in euros. Some providers also support local funding methods in specific countries — for example, iDEAL in the Netherlands, Bancontact in Belgium, and SOFORT in Germany and Austria. Availability of specific features like delivery speed options and transfer limits may vary slightly by sending country due to local regulatory requirements. All providers operating in the EU must be licensed under PSD2 and registered with the relevant national regulator — such as BaFin in Germany, AFM in the Netherlands, or ACPR in France. Wise is headquartered in Belgium for its EU operations and holds a licence from the National Bank of Belgium.