There are lots of companies and banks that let you send money to Italy, and by comparing exchange rates and fees, you can find the best deal for your next transfer.
Top picks are our selection of some of the best money transfer products and services, based on our extensive research and market experience. Our top picks are displayed at the top of some pages to help you make decisions faster, but our top pick may not be the best pick for you.
Compare services that send money to Italy from the UK
Table: sorted by a combination of service offering and the amount your recipient will receive
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
How do international money transfers work?
An international money transfer allows you to send money to a recipient overseas. Generally, a transfer involves you providing funds to a bank or an independent transfer provider, which then sends the money to your recipient in another country — in this case, Italy.
You can send money to Italy using cash, a credit or debit card, or transfer funds from your bank account, which will then either be deposited into your recipient’s bank account or mobile wallet, or made available as cash for them to pick up at a location in their country.
Banks vs money transfer companies
Although a local bank might be an obvious choice if you want to send money to Italy, you can expect high exchange rates and multiple fees to get your money into the hands of the person who needs it.
If you need a quick option, banks also fall short — it could take up to a week to send money to Italy, while money transfer companies may be able to exchange your money in a few hours.
Specialist money transfer companies are the best place to start. These companies — such as OFX and WorldRemit — offer fast, secure and much more affordable services. The fees are usually lower than what you’d find at a bank, exchange rates are higher and the transactions can be handled from the comfort of your own home. This gives money transfer companies a competitive edge over banks, so consider one when you need to send money to Italy.
Case Study: Filippo Sends Money to Italy
Filippo is climbing the career ladder in London. He wants to send a £1,000 gift to his sister back home in Florence for her 30th birthday, but the idea of paying his bank’s £50 transfer fee is too much to bear. He compares two money transfer companies that both send money to Italy in the hope of finding a more affordable solution.
Money transfer company 1
Money transfer company 2
Exchange rate
1 GBP = 1.135 EUR
1 GBP = 1.121 EUR
Transfer fee
£4
£0
Transfer method
Bank account deposit
Bank account deposit
Processing time
1-2 days
2 days
Amount received in EUR for £1,000
1,131 EUR
1,121EUR
Although there’s little difference in the overall costs here, Filippo can send a bit more money to his sister more quickly if he uses the first transfer company.
How to compare transfer companies that send money to Italy
Exchange rates. A better exchange rate means more money for your recipient, so look for a company that offers attractive exchange rates.
Fees. A hefty transfer fee can easily turn an affordable transaction into an astronomically expensive one, so check how much each provider will charge for handling your transfer.
Transfer methods. Can you send money to Italy through online transfers, through a mobile app, by calling the company or visiting one of its branches?
Transfer options. Can you lock in an ideal exchange rate now and transfer the money later, known as a forward contract? Does the institution offer limit orders, which allows you to take advantage of changing market conditions by executing the money transfer when a certain exchange rate is met? Can you schedule recurring payments?
Turnaround time. How long will it take for your money to arrive? Processing times can vary from a few minutes to several days.
Minimum limit. Some companies will impose a high minimum limit on all transfers, a fact that can be quite restricting if you don’t want to transfer very much money.
Pickup methods. Can the cash you send be collected from a branch in Italy, and if so, how many branches does the provider have? Alternatively, can you send funds via bank account transfer?
Customer service. If you ever have a question or a problem, when will customer support be available and how can you access it?
Foreign exchange rates explained
Exchange rate determines how much money you can get when you convert it to the currency of another country. The GBP and EUR have traditionally been competitive with one another, but for the most part, the pound is the stronger currency. This means if you want to send money to Italy you’ll get just over one euro for every pound. Exchange rates for Italy
How to send money to Italy from the UK
Bank transfers. A transfer from your bank account to an Italian bank account is a secure option but will typically cost you more.
Online money transfer providers. Send money all around the world and enjoy cost-effective transfers when you use a specialist online transfer company.
Money transfer companies with cash pickup options.Ria, MoneyGram and Western Union all offer this convenient service.
Choose from among the numerous transfer providers who send money to Germany.
Register with the provider of your choice on their website providing your name, address, contact information and date of birth. A valid photo ID will also be required.
Provide your recipient’s name, address and contact details. Depending on the transfer method you may also have to supply their bank account information.
Enter the amount you want to send, complete your transaction and save your tracking or receipt number to follow up on the progress of your transfer.
Same-day cash transfers in Italy
If you need to send money to Italy urgently, some companies can get the funds to your recipient in minutes – but you’ll have to pay extra for the privilege of a rapid transfer. Higher fees and lower exchange rates may apply, so check the fine print to determine the total cost of your transfer first.
Tips for picking up cash in Italy
Italy is a popular travel destination for tourists from the UK, but you should still take care whenever you pick up cash from a transfer agent. This means staying aware of your personal safety at all times and taking a few steps to prevent yourself becoming a target for thieves.
Call ahead. Learn the company’s business hours and choose a safe time to pick up your cash. Daylight hours are best.
Bring a friend. Carrying money when alone can be dangerous. Ask a friend to come along.
Deposit your money immediately. The likelihood of losing your money to theft or simple carelessness grows the longer you have it with you. Go straight to a bank and deposit your cash as soon as possible.
Keep your cash hidden. Place your money in your purse or wallet before leaving the office. Carrying cash out in the open could make you a target.
Shirley Liu is Finder's global program manager. She was previously the publisher for banking and investments and has also written comparisons for energy, money transfers, Uber Eats and many other topics. Shirley has a Master of Commerce and a Bachelor of Media, Journalism and Communications from the University of New South Wales. She is passionate about helping people find the best deal for their needs.
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
You’ll need the following in order to receive your money transfer from Moneygram:
– Government-issued identification (ID) that displays your legal name
– Reference number – request the reference number from the person who sent the money transfer
Please note that the name on the transfer record, completed by the person sending the transfer, must exactly match the name as it appears on the official ID. And requirements vary by country so please ask your local MoneyGram agent for details about their process and procedures.
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
It would depend on how the money was transferred. Money transfer companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram let you send money to bank accounts and cash pickup locations. A list of cash pick up locations are listed on the page.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Advertiser Disclosure
finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
Can a non Italian visitor pick up a Moneygramm with just their passport? Or do they need additional identification to pick it up?
Hi Bre,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
You’ll need the following in order to receive your money transfer from Moneygram:
– Government-issued identification (ID) that displays your legal name
– Reference number – request the reference number from the person who sent the money transfer
Please note that the name on the transfer record, completed by the person sending the transfer, must exactly match the name as it appears on the official ID. And requirements vary by country so please ask your local MoneyGram agent for details about their process and procedures.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle
How to pick up money transfers for a visitor to Italy?
Hi Bre,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
It would depend on how the money was transferred. Money transfer companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram let you send money to bank accounts and cash pickup locations. A list of cash pick up locations are listed on the page.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle