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Send money to Germany
Find the cheapest way to transfer money to Germany from the United Kingdom.
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Compare quotes for sending money to Germany
Use this table to compare quotes from transfer specialists that send money from the UK to Germany. Check out what your recipient would receive in Euros with each, then click “Go to site” when you’ve found the best one.
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Please note: You should always refer to quotes you receive from transfer services themselves directly for exact amounts as they may vary from our estimates.
Looking for the best way to send money from the United Kingdom to family, friends or businesses in Germany (or even to your own bank account)? Considering a dedicated online money transfer service could well save you money over just using your regular bank. They nearly always offer better exchange rates and lower fees – which means for the same amount of pounds you send, the recipient will receive more euros.
Here’s our simple process for sending a money transfer to Germany as a cash pickup or bank transfer – the two options are similar:
How to send money to Germany from the UK
- Compare transfer services. Use our table above to compare quotes for sending GBP to Germany.
- Register for an account. You'll need to give your name, address, contact details and confirm your ID (which typically involves submitting a selfie along with a photo of the page in your passport which has your headshot).
- Provide recipient details. Enter your recipient's name and contact information. If you're sending straight to their German bank account, you'll need their account details – namely their "IBAN" and their bank's "SWIFT" code.
- Enter the transfer amount. Double-check you're happy with the fees, exchange rates, transfer speed and the amount of Euros your recipient will receive.
- Complete your transfer. Add your payment details and action your transfer to Germany! Keep any reference safe so you can track your transfer (your recipient may need this).
The whole process can take as little as 1 hour and all you'll need is a smartphone or computer, an internet connection, your passport or driving licence, your recipient's account details and a means of payment.
If you send to a German bank account, your recipient will need to wait for the funds to arrive. For a cash pick up, your German recipient might be able to pick it up as soon as payment has cleared (they’ll need to show some form of photo ID in order to pick up the funds and potentially a reference number too).
Case Study: Lukas sends money to Germany
Lukas is spending two years working in the UK for a restaurant, but he stays in regular contact with his elderly parents back home in Germany. His parents need some funds to help pay off a debt to a previous landlord, so Lukas plans to send them £3,000 from the UK.
Lukas decides to check out an online money transfer specialist to see if it works out any cheaper than his bank
| Bank | Money transfer firm | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | 1 GBP = 1.12 EUR | 1 GBP = 1.16 EUR |
| Transfer fee | £0 | £2.50 |
| Transfer method | Bank account deposit | Bank account deposit |
| Processing time | 2-5 working days | Next day |
| Amount received | 3,353.84 EUR | 3,462.40 EUR |
As you can see, while the transfer fee is slightly higher for the online money transfer company, it allows Lukas to send an extra 108.56 EUR, which is transferred straight to his parents' Commerzbank account.
Ways to send and receive money
Sending money to Germany
- Bank deposit. Most major banks in the UK let you wire money to banks in Germany. However, you might get weaker exchange rates and pay higher fees all for the privilege of a slower transfer.
- Online money transfer services. Online companies like make international money transfers to Germany easy with bank transfers or cell phone top ups often offered as easy delivery options.
- Transfer agents across the UK. Many transfer providers have locations dotted all across the UK, making it easy for you to send money that can be easily picked up in similar agent locations in Germany.
- Cheques and money orders. If speed is not an issue, you can always pick up an international cheque from your bank or the Royal Mail to send to Germany.
Receiving money in Germany
- Bank deposit. If you have a German bank account, you can have money transferred directly into this without having to make any trips to a money transfer agent location.
- Cash pick-up. you to collect cash, even if you don’t have a bank account in Germany.
- Cheques and money orders. Both personal cheques and money orders can be sent directly to you where you live but these tend to be the slower options.
What documents do I need to transfer money to Germany?
To send money from the United Kingdom to Germany, you’ll need the following:
- Photo identification. Most providers require a driver’s licence, passport or other British government-issued ID. You can send transfers without the above but may need to give alternate ID instead.
- Payment method. Your options depend on the provider’s services. Popular methods include cash, debit or credit card payments, bank account transfers and personal cheques.
- Recipient information. You’ll need their name (matching their ID) plus contact details. If sending to a German bank account, you’ll need the account number, SWIFT|IBAN and branch details.
What documents do I need to receive money in Germany?
To collect money in person in Germany, the recipient will need:
- Transfer number. The reference number – sometimes called a PIN, MTCN or tracking number.
- Government-issued ID. A official ID, such as a German passport or driving licence.
- The transfer amount. To know how much has been sent, usually to within 10% of the total.
- Sender information. The sender’s name and address and the country from where the money was sent.
How much does it cost to send money to Germany from the UK?
The cost of sending money to Germany from the United Kingdom depends on the exchange rate between GBP to EUR, the fees, how you want your recipient to receive your transfer and the turnaround time.
- Exchange rates. The “mid-market” or “interbank” rate is the rate banks and transfer services use to trade between one another. It’s the best rate going, but many money transfer providers use a slightly less preferential rate and the difference covers their costs.
- Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer amount? For example, a provider offering to transfer your money to Germany for a flat or low fee might work out better if you plan to send a large amount.
- Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can often pay for a faster delivery. Companies offering instant cash pickups may charge more. Many also let you set rate targets at which a transfer can be actioned.
- Discounts. Some providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up while others may offer you a discount if you transfer more than a certain amount.
Is this a good time to send money to Germany?
Compared to the start of 2022, the pound is weaker against the Euro. Currently £2,000 is equivalent to €2,321.80, whereas at the start of 2022, £2,000 was equivalent to €2,377.40. That's a decrease of 2.34%.
Similarly, compared to mid-2021, the pound is again a little weaker against the Euro. In mid-2021, £2,000 was equivalent to €2,332.40. That's a decrease of 0.45%.
What's more important, however, is where the strength of the pound against the Euro goes from here – which is harder to call. Based on those two quick glances back, your pounds might not go as far as they would have, so shopping around for the best deal on your transfer is key.
Ready to compare rates?
Other frequently asked questions
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.
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