Send money to Europe
Quick answer: Where you send from decides the cheapest option to Europe. Across the 1 sending route we price, the top-ranked estimates right now are InstaReM from United States (887 EUR for $1,000).
Latest pricing observation: . Quotes are kept per USD→EUR pair, not per country, so check is served before you commit. Methodology.
Cheapest way to send money to Europe, by sending country
The top-ranked estimate on each route we price into Europe, from our own collected quotes. Choose your country for the full provider ranking.
USD → EUR · 20 estimates
InstaReM: $1,000 becomes 887.26 EUR · 0.15% over mid-market · 41 EUR ahead of the lowest
Sending money to Europe (the Eurozone) benefits from the SEPA payment network — the most advanced regional payment system in the world. SEPA covers 36 countries and enables EUR transfers to arrive within 10 seconds via SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst), at near-zero cost between participating banks. EUR is the world's second most traded currency, meaning exchange rates are highly competitive.
- SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) settles EUR transfers between participating banks in under 10 seconds, 24/7/365. Over 60% of European banks now support SEPA Instant.
- All Eurozone bank accounts use IBAN (International Bank Account Number). IBANs are country-specific: DE for Germany, FR for France, ES for Spain, IT for Italy, NL for Netherlands, etc. The format and length vary by country.
- SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) — the standard non-instant version — settles on the next business day. Both are free or near-free between banks; the costs come from FX conversion (for non-EUR senders).
- EUR is the world's second reserve currency and one of the most traded. Rate spreads for EUR are among the lowest globally — typically 0.2–1% above mid-market with specialist providers.
- The European Central Bank (ECB) and national central banks regulate financial transfers across the EU. SEPA transfers require only IBAN + BIC (SWIFT code) — no full bank address needed.
Guides, fees & how it works
What you need to send money to Europe
Full name
Recipient's name as registered on their European bank account
IBAN
IBAN (International Bank Account Number) — length varies by country (e.g. DE: 22 chars, FR: 27 chars, ES: 24 chars)
Example: DE89370400440532013000
BIC/SWIFT code
Optional8 or 11-character bank identifier code (optional for SEPA transfers within EU, required for SWIFT)
Example: COBADEFFXXX
Note: All Eurozone countries use IBAN for bank transfers. For SEPA transfers (the fastest and cheapest option), only the IBAN is required — the BIC/SWIFT code is optional. Each EU country has a different IBAN length and format.
Ways to send money to Europe
SEPA is the gold standard for EUR transfers — it's faster and cheaper than SWIFT. If your provider offers SEPA routing, always choose it over SWIFT for European bank deposits.
How can my recipient receive money in Europe?
Recipients in Europe have 4 ways to receive this transfer: sepa transfer; sepa instant; swift transfer; cash pickup.
SEPA Transfer
Single Euro Payments Area transfer — the standard for EUR payments across 36 European countries. Fast, cheap, and reliable.
SEPA Instant
Real-time euro transfer available at participating banks. Delivers in under 10 seconds, 24/7.
SWIFT Transfer
Traditional international wire transfer. More expensive and slower than SEPA but available for any bank globally.
Cash Pickup
Collect cash at agent locations across Europe.
What are the transfer limits and regulations for Europe?
Regulatory body
European Central Bank (ECB) / National regulators (BaFin, AMF, etc.)
Inbound transfer limits
No general restriction on receiving transfers within the EU/EEA
Documentation you may need
- Sender's government-issued ID
- Proof of address for large transfers
Important things to know
- SEPA transfers are capped at €999,999,999.99 per transaction — effectively unlimited for personal transfers.
- SEPA Instant is available at most major European banks but not all — check with the recipient's bank.
- Post-Brexit, GBP→EUR transfers from the UK may no longer route via SEPA at some banks, resulting in higher fees.
- EU anti-money-laundering regulations require enhanced due diligence for transfers over €10,000.
How long does it take to send money to Europe?
Top-ranked providers advertise 1-3 business days from United States (InstaReM).
Provider-stated speeds for Europe, not our measurement.
Popular banks in Europe
6 banks commonly receive international transfers in Europe, including Deutsche Bank (Germany) and BNP Paribas (France). SWIFT/BIC codes are shown where we could verify them; confirm the rest with the receiving bank.
Deutsche Bank (Germany)
DEUTDEFFXXX
BNP Paribas (France)
BNPAFRPPXXX
ING (Netherlands)
INGBNL2AXXX
Santander (Spain)
BSCHESMMXXX
UniCredit (Italy)
UNCRITMM
N26 (Germany)
—
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about sending money to Europe
What is the cheapest way to send money to Europe?
On USD to EUR, the measured leader is InstaReM, which led on 89 of the last 91 days we could compare; on GBP to EUR it is TapTap Send (49 of 91 days). The EUR's high liquidity keeps rate spreads very tight across providers.
How do I send money via SEPA to Europe?
All EUR bank accounts in the Eurozone (and several non-Euro EU countries) use IBAN. To send a SEPA transfer, you need the recipient's IBAN and BIC (SWIFT code). Specialist providers like Wise, Remitly, and OFX route through SEPA automatically. SEPA Instant arrives in seconds; standard SEPA arrives next business day. Banks charge EUR 0–5 for SEPA; providers often deliver for less.
What is an IBAN and how do I find it?
IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is the standard European bank account identifier. It starts with a 2-letter country code (DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, etc.), followed by 2 check digits, then the domestic bank account details encoded in a standardised format. Length varies: DE has 22 characters, FR has 27, ES has 24, IT has 27, NL has 18. Recipients find their IBAN in their bank's mobile app or on a bank statement.
How long does a SEPA transfer take?
SEPA Instant Credit Transfer: under 10 seconds, 24/7. Standard SEPA Credit Transfer: next business day. Wise uses SEPA Instant for eligible transfers, making EUR delivery one of the fastest in the world. Banks participating in SEPA Instant include most major European banks — check with the recipient's bank if unsure.
Which countries accept SEPA transfers?
SEPA's geographical scope covers 41 countries and territories (European Payments Council): the 27 EU member states plus the UK, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Vatican City, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Moldova and Serbia. The UK stayed in after Brexit, though its euro payments must now carry the BIC and payer's address. SEPA covers EUR accounts; non-EUR countries (e.g. Sweden using SEK, Denmark using DKK, Poland using PLN) participate in SEPA but still require FX conversion.