If you need to send money to Albania, whether for business or personal reasons, only a few companies can help. Albanian leks are considered to be an exotic currency and not something most foreign exchange providers deal with.
While few Canadian banks will send money to Albania, the ones that do tend to charge high transfer fees and offer unattractive exchange rates. Specialist money transfer services will offer more competitive exchange rates and lower fees. Companies like Western Union and MoneyGram can send funds between Albania and Canada.
Read our guide to find out more about sending money to Albania.
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The table below lays out some of the options that you can access to transfer funds from Canada to Albania. You can also use the table headings to sort products by applicable fees and other categories showing differences.
Ardita was born in Albania but moved to Canada to attend university. After studying, she decided to stay in Canada. Ardita wants to send CAD$1,000 back to Albania to help cover her parents’ bills. She has an account with a popular bank in Canada who can send the money to Albania, however she doesn’t think it’s offering a very good deal. She decides to compare the exchange rate and transfer fees offered by two transfer companies and her bank. You can see the results of her comparison below, using exchange rates with Albanian leks at the time of writing in 2018. Check current rates before making a decision.
| Money transfer company 1 – Bank | Money transfer company 2 – Money transfer service | Money transfer company 3 – Money transfer service | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | CAD$1 = ALL78.03 | CAD$1 = ALL79.89 | CAD$1 = ALL80.05 |
| Transfer fee | CAD$40 | CAD$30 | CAD$40 |
| Amount received for CAD$1,000 (in Albanian lek) | ALL78,030 | ALL79,890 | ALL80,050 |
| Transfer time | Three to five days | One to two days | Just minutes |
| Transfer options | Bank account deposit | Cash pick-up or bank account deposit | Cash pick-up only |
| Difference of | + ALL160 |
Correct 9.30PM 29 March 2018
As you can see, Ardita can pay cheaper fees and send more money to her parents if she uses the services of one of the transfer companies instead of her bank.
Have a look at these features when you compare providers who allow transfers to Albania:
Below is a brief description of the process to send money to Albania.
You can likely use the international transfer services of your bank for a fee. Log into your online banking and select the menu that lets you make an international payment. If this is the first time you’ve made a payment to this bank account in Albania, you’ll need to add a the payee as a beneficiary first. You’ll need some information, such as the recipient’s full name, bank name, transit 0information and account number.
Companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram can send cash to Albania in just minutes. These companies have more than a handful of cash collection agents throughout Albania.
This will depend on how the funds are being sent.
Have a look at these options if you need to get cash to Albania in an emergency.
Have a look at the different Western Union and MoneyGram agents in Albania. Many banks act as Western Union and MoneyGram agents in Albania’s major cities.
The Government of Canada recommends that Canadian travellers exercise a normal degree of caution when visiting Albania. Unless it’s essential, travel to the region of Lazarat is unadvisable.
While pick-pocketing and petty theft do occur, instances of violent crime against Canadian tourists in Albania are relatively rare. Travel in a group if you’re picking up cash and avoid using public transportation with large sums of money. Store your money in a safe place once you retrieve it.
To make an overseas transfer from your bank account, log on to your internet banking and look for the option that lets you make an international payment. You’ll need to add the payee as a beneficiary if this your first payment. You’ll need to provide the payee’s details, such as your bank location and bank account number. Ensure you have all of the right information so the funds reach the right bank account.
Register for an account online to use the services of one of the companies compared on this page. Registering for an account is free of charge and will likely only take a few minutes to complete. Provide the following information to setup an account:
You should be issued with a tracking number or code once you lodge the transfer. You can use this information to check on the status of your money transfer to Albania. Provide your recipient with the number so they can retrieve the funds.
While there are only a few ways to send money to Albania, you can still compare your options to determine the service and transfer method that is right for you.
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