How to Send Money to Europe

If you’re looking to send money to Europe from the USA, start with the country.

Europe may share borders, currencies, and banking systems, but sending money to the United Kingdom isn’t the same as sending to Spain, Poland or Ukraine. Available payout methods, currencies and recipient requirements can all change depending on the destination.

Direct to bank is especially important across Europe, where sending money directly to an eligible account is a familiar way to receive funds. Cash pickup may also be available in some countries.

Choose your recipient’s country below for information specific to that destination, or keep reading to see how sending money to Europe works.

Countries we serve in Europe

You can send money to Europe with MoneyGram across a range of destinations. Choose the country where your recipient lives to see the current options available for that corridor.

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How to send money to Europe

How to send money to Europe depends on the destination, but the basic process starts the same way.

1. Choose the destination country. Start with where your recipient lives so you can see the MoneyGram services available there.
2. Choose how your recipient will receive the money. Direct to bank is an important option across Europe, while cash pickup and other payout methods may be available depending on the country.
3. Enter your recipient’s information. For bank transfers, you’ll need the required account details. For cash pickup, make sure the recipient’s name matches the identification they’ll use to collect the transfer.
4. Choose how you want to pay. Available payment methods will be shown when you set up the transaction.
5. Review your transfer. Check the recipient information, payout method, fee, exchange rate, and expected receiving amount before sending.
6. Share the reference number when needed. If your recipient is collecting cash, make sure they have the transfer information required for pickup.

You can send money online with MoneyGram and see the current options for your destination as you set up the transfer.

How your recipient can receive money in Europe

For many recipients in Europe, direct to bank is the most natural place to start.

European banking works a little differently from the US system, though, and two terms are particularly useful to understand before you send: IBAN and SEPA.

Direct to bank and IBAN

If your recipient wants to receive money to a bank account internationally, they may give you an IBAN rather than the account and routing numbers you’re used to seeing in the US.

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It’s a standardized way of identifying a specific bank account and is widely used across Europe.

Don’t try to convert US banking information into a European format yourself. Ask your recipient for the account details exactly as their bank provides them and enter the information requested when setting up the transfer.

A wrong character or number can create problems with a transfer that otherwise would have been straightforward.

What SEPA means

You may also hear your recipient mention SEPA, or the Single Euro Payments Area.

SEPA is a framework designed to make euro-denominated payments work more consistently across participating European countries.

For a US sender, the important thing to understand is that European bank payments don’t necessarily work like a traditional US wire.

A MoneyGram transfer sent to an eligible bank account also isn’t automatically the same thing as arranging an international wire directly through your bank. You’re using MoneyGram’s transfer service and the payout route available for that transaction.

Cash pickup

Cash collection may also be available in supported European countries.

For someone without an eligible bank account or someone who prefers physical cash, it can still be a useful option.

The recipient will need to meet the requirements for collection and visit a participating location.

The bigger point is that payout methods shouldn’t be treated as equally common just because they’re available. In much of Europe, bank account transfers fit naturally into how recipients already manage their money.

For a closer comparison, see choosing between cash pickup, direct to bank, and mobile wallet.

How long transfers take

Transfer timing depends on the destination country, how you pay and how your recipient receives the money.

Bank account transfers can also be affected by banking hours, weekends, and local holidays. Cash pickup has a different consideration: even when a transfer is available, the recipient still has to reach a participating location during its opening hours.

For the best estimate, check the timing shown for your specific destination and payout method when you set up the transfer.

What your recipient will need

For a bank account transfer, you’ll need the recipient and account information required for their country. That may include an IBAN in many European markets.

For cash pickup, your recipient will generally need the transfer reference number and an accepted form of photo identification. Check what your recipient needs to collect cash before they go.

If another payout method is available, the recipient will need the eligible account or information required for that service.

Getting those details before you start is easier than trying to fix them after you send.

Currencies of Europe

A lot of Europe uses the euro, but not all of it.

That distinction matters when you’re checking an exchange rate or expected receiving amount.

So sending money to France and sending money to Poland, for example, can involve different receiving currencies even though both destinations are in Europe.

If your recipient lives in a euro-area country, you’ll want to look at the US dollar-to-euro exchange rate used for the transaction. For a non-euro destination, check the rate for that country’s receiving currency instead.

That gives you a much more useful picture than treating Europe as one currency zone.

Fees and exchange rates

The transfer fee is one part of the cost of sending money internationally. The exchange rate is another.

Both can vary depending on the destination, amount, payment method, payout method, and other transaction details.

The exchange rate becomes particularly important when you’re sending a larger amount. As more money is converted, differences in the rate can have a greater effect on how much your recipient ultimately receives.

Don’t stop at the fee. Compare the full transaction.

Most popular corridors to Europe

For payout options, recipient requirements and other country-specific information, use the MoneyGram page for your destination.

United Kingdom

If you need to send money to the UK, start with the United Kingdom corridor page rather than regional guidance.

You’ll be able to see the current transfer options available for that destination and the information needed from your recipient.

Germany

For a transfer to Germany, check the current country-specific options before sending.

If your recipient wants the money deposited into a bank account, ask them for the exact account information required for the transfer rather than trying to adapt US banking details.

Spain

Sending to Spain may involve different payout and recipient requirements from another European destination.

Use the Spain corridor page for current information about how your recipient can receive the transfer.

Ukraine

If your recipient is in Ukraine, current country-specific information is especially important.

Use the Ukraine corridor page for the latest available transfer options.

France

For a transfer to France, start with the France corridor page to check current receiving methods and requirements.

The country page should always take priority over general regional information when you’re ready to send.

Frequently asked questions

Which European countries can I send money to with MoneyGram?

MoneyGram serves multiple destinations across Europe.

The complete approved list should appear in the country grid at the top of this page, with each country linking to its MoneyGram corridor page.

Does my recipient need a bank account?

Not always.

Direct to bank is an important receiving method across Europe, but cash pickup may also be available in supported countries for eligible transfers.

Check the payout methods available for your recipient’s destination before sending.

What is an IBAN?

IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number. It’s a standardized account identifier widely used in Europe.

If an IBAN is required for your transfer, ask your recipient for the information exactly as their bank provides it.

What is SEPA?

SEPA stands for Single Euro Payments Area. It’s a framework for euro-denominated payments across participating European countries.

If you’re sending money from the US, you don’t need to become an expert in European banking to make a transfer. Provide the recipient and banking information MoneyGram requests for the destination and payout method you select.

Is sending money to a European bank account the same as a wire transfer?

No.

A MoneyGram transfer sent to an eligible bank account uses MoneyGram’s transfer service and the payout route available for that transaction. A traditional international wire sent directly through a bank is a different way of moving money.

What if my recipient’s country isn’t listed?

First, make sure you’re checking the current complete country list.

If MoneyGram doesn’t currently support the destination, you can’t use a neighboring European country as a substitute. The transfer needs to be sent to a supported destination where the recipient can actually receive it.

How can my recipient find a cash pickup location?

If cash pickup is available for the destination, use the MoneyGram location finder to find a MoneyGram location near your recipient.

Before they travel, confirm the location offers the service they need and check the identification and transfer information required for collection.

How do I know how much my recipient will receive?

The receiving amount depends on the details of the transaction, including the destination, amount, payout method, applicable fee and exchange rate.

Use MoneyGram’s live calculator to check the current rate and review the expected receiving amount before completing the transfer.

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