There are numerous instances of people transferring money to France. While a French expat might want to send some money back home to his family, a resident of some other country might want to send money to France to pay for a product or a service. Whatever the reason, people are often found looking for the best way to send money to France.
Transfer Money to France
- User RatingTrustPilot or Feefo User Ratings
- Transfer Type
- Coupon
- Fee
- Speed
- Regular Payments
- Mobile App
- Min Transfer Amount
OFX
- 9.1/10
- Online
PhoneOne off transfers Regular transfers - Two Transfers Fee Free
First 2 Transactions Free - USD$0
£0
CAD$15
AUD$15
€10 - 1 - 3 Days
- Their website is also responsive so it auto-scales to your screen size.
- $250 / £100 / €250
WorldRemit
- 9.4/10
- Online OnlyOne off transfers Phone assistance available
- First 3 Transfers Fee Free.
Your first overseas transfer Fee Free! Learn more - $3 - 4For example. Sending €10,000
from Australia would incur
€50 fee + 4-5% exchange
rate fee on top of market rates. - 1 - 3 Days
- Regular payments to PayPal registered merchants is possible.
Regular payments to family or friends PayPal accounts is not currently possible. - Their website is responsive so it auto-scales to your screen size.
- €/£/$1
TransferWise
- 9.3/10
- Online OnlyOne off transfers Regular transfers
- ~0.5%Min and Max Fees apply.. Learn More
- 1 - 2 Days
- £1 / $1Min and Max Fees apply.. Learn More
XE.com
- 9.1/10
- Online OnlyOne off transfers Phone assistance available
- NO FEES
- NO FEESXE.com transaction fees are contained within the exchange rate offered.
- 1 - 2 Days
- Regular payments to PayPal registered merchants is possible.
Regular payments to family or friends PayPal accounts is not currently possible. - Their website is responsive so it auto-scales to your screen size.
- €/£/$1
There is no single best way to send money to France because individual requirements tend to vary from one transfer to the next. If you want to find out which way to transfer money to France suits you best, different factors require your consideration.
Currency Corridors & Swift Codes
Currency Symbol and Swift Codes
The euro (EUR) has been the official currency of France since 1999, when it replaced the French franc (FRF). One euro is divided into 100 cents. While the euro was officially adopted by France in 1999, circulation of euro-denominated banknotes and coins began in 2002. The euro is the second most traded currency in the forex market.
Carrying out a fund transfer to a French bank account requires that you have the bank’s SWIFT code. The table below lists SWIFT codes of some prominent banks in France.
| Bank | Branch | Swift Code |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Agricole | Paris | AGRIFRP1ACF |
| BNB Paribas | Paris | BNABFRPPXXX |
| Societe Generale SFH | Paris | GSFHFRPPXXX |
| Caisse d'Epargne | Paris | CEPAFRPP751 |
Popular Currency Corridors
Considerable sums of money flow in and out of France every year. In 2016, over U.S. $24 billion was sent as remittances to France from other countries. More than U.S. $20 billion made its way out of France as remittances in the same year.
Check the corresponding tables to get an idea of how much money entered and left the country across its popular currency corridors in 2016. The amounts are listed in U.S. dollars.
Incoming
| Country | Currency Pair | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | EUR-EUR | $2,723,000,000 |
| United States | USD-EUR | $2,280,000,000 |
| Belgium | EUR-EUR | $2,227,000,000 |
| Germany | EUR-EUR | $2,040,000,000 |
| Switzerland | CHF-EUR | $1,917,000,000 |
| Italy | EUR-EUR | $1,801,000,000 |
Outgoing
| Country | Currency Pair | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | EUR-EUR | $2,823,000,000 |
| Spain | EUR-EUR | $2,633,000,000 |
| Morocco | EUR-MAD | $2,176,000,000 |
| Algeria | EUR-DZD | $1,638,000,000 |
| Portugal | EUR-EUR | $1,383,000,000 |
| Italy | EUR-EUR | $1,250,000,000 |
How Do I Compare Companies When Sending Money to France?
When transferring money to France, the country of your residence notwithstanding, you need to compare service provider across different parameters.
- Cost effectiveness. Companies that let you transfer money to France tend to offer different exchange rates, and the fees you need to pay might also differ. A simple way to find the cheapest way to send money to France is to look at how much money will get to the recipient at the end of the transfer.
- Processing time. To send money to France in a hurry, consider getting the recipient to collect it from a cash pickup center. This is because these transfers tend to go through almost straight away. Transfers to French bank accounts, on the other hand, may take up to five working days, depending on where you reside, the company you choose, and the recipient’s bank.
- Modes of payment. You may make your payment using a bank account transfer with just about every company. Finding companies that accept debit and credit card payments is not difficult. You can even find companies that let you pay using different region specific methods such as ACH, POLi, iDEAL, and SOFORT.
- Customer service. Pay attention to this aspect if you plan to transfer money to France periodically. Depending on the company you select, you may be able to get in touch with a customer service representative over the phone, via chat, or via email. Review-based websites give you easy means to find out how previous customers of the popular companies rate their services.
How to Transfer Money to France?
You get to start the process of transferring money to France online, over the phone, or in person.
- Online. While your bank might let you transfer money to France using its online system, it might charge steep fees and/or offer a less than favorable exchange rate. As a result, compare its offerings with some of the top money transfer companies before making your transfer.
- Over the phone. Some of the leading companies give their customers the option of transferring money to France over the phone. You may even get access to a dedicated currency broker depending on the company you select.
- In-person. Your local bank might let you send money to France in person. Compare it with money transfer companies that have offices or agent locations in your vicinity to determine if you can save some money and time.
Case Study
Chloe got an opportunity to work in the United States, and she was excited to move to a new country. Only, she was sure she wanted to return to France in the future so she decided not to sell the house she had recently purchased. This meant she would have to keep making repayments toward her existing home loan. Upon getting to the U.S., she decided to compare the services of a leading bank with some of the top money transfer companies. The table below shows you the results of her comparison.
| Bank | Money Transfer Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | $1 = EUR 0.7809 | $1 = EUR 0.8037 |
| Transfer rate | $25 | $0 |
| Amount received for $3,000 | EUR 2,322.18 | EUR 2,411.10 |
| Transfer time | 2 to 5 days | 2 to 3 days |
| Transfer options | Bank account | Bank account |
| Difference of | EUR 87.92 |
While using the services of the money transfer company turned out to be quicker and more cost effective, Chloe benefited in other ways too. The company she chose let her schedule her transfers so she did not have remember making her repayments each month. In addition, it also let het lock in exchange rates for up to six months.
Cash Pickup Locations in France
Transferring money to France quickly is possible if you turn to a company that has offices or agent networks in the country. Some of your options include MoneyGram, Western Union, and Ria.
| MoneyGram in France | |
|---|---|
| Paris Tabac De La Reynie, 26 Rue De La Reynie Paris | ICEF 9 Rue Berger, Metro RER Chatelet-les Halles Paris |
| Marseille Tabac A La Civette Ballard 3 Crs Jean Ballard 3 Crs Jean Ballard Marseille | Bonne Telecom 66 Boulevard Des Dames Marseille |
| Western Union in France | |
|---|---|
| Paris L Hay Services 41 B Rue Paul Hockart L Hay Les Roses, Val De Marne, Paris | La Banque Postale 9 Place De L Hotel De Ville, Paris |
| Marseille GSM and Service 13 B Rue D Aix Marseille | Multimedia Phone 135 Rue Belle De Mai Marseille |
Safety Tips for Picking Up Cash in France
Take precautions to safeguard yourself against petty crime such as bag snatching and pickpocketing as well as vehicle break-ins. Most crimes are reported from tourist areas, public transportation, bus and train stations, as well as department stores. Criminals operate on foot as well as on motorcycles. Thieves working in groups are not uncommon.
If using a bag, carry it across your body instead of on your shoulder. Do not leave your belongings in a parked vehicle. When possible, use secure parking areas. The south of France is prone to a surge in crimes during summers, because of an increased number of travelers. Remain watchful when handling credit cards and cash in public and at ATMs.
What Information Do I Need to Transfer Money to France?
The information you need to provide when transferring money to France depends on the desired transfer method.
- To a bank account. Along with the recipient’s complete name and bank account number, you will need the receiving bank’s name and SWIFT code.
- To a cash pickup center. The service provider you select will need the recipient’s complete name as well as the location of a desired cash pickup center. To collect the transferred money, the recipient will need to carry a valid form of ID and a transaction number.
Regulations When Transferring Money To and From France
France is a member of the eurozone and has no currency controls or regulations in place. Banque de France (the central bank of France) is responsible for overseeing the country’s financial systems, and the European Central Bank (ECB) sets the region’s single monetary policy. The Authorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR) watches over the country’s insurance and banking sectors.
All the transfer regulations that France imposed in the 1970s were done away with in 1989. You may carry out a Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in France without requiring government approval. If you purchase shares in French firms that are publicly traded, you will need to pay a 0.2% tax. Transfers of over EUR 10,000 to and from France are reported to the relevant authorities in France and the European Union.
Pros and Cons of Relocating to France
Pros
- Plenty of options in housing
- Highest number of paid vacation days in the world
- Good urban transportation
- Great wine and food
- Relaxed school schedules
- High quality of life
- Lots to see
- Excellent education and healthcare
Cons
- Most houses are old
- High cost of living
- High cost of transportation
- Child care can be expensive
- Annual residence tax applicable on all tenants
- Bureaucracy still exists
- High value added and housing taxes
- Not everyone speaks or understands English
Next Steps
Sending money to France does not have to be time consuming, complicated, or expensive, provided you know what to look for when comparing different companies. Ongoing promotional offers give you the ability to save even more money.
International Money Transfer Offers
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