How to send money to South Africa from Germany with the best EUR-ZAR rate

The exchange rate determines the price you’ll pay for Rand when you send Euro to South Africa.

The current exchange rate between the Euro and Rand is 18.8532, and it constantly fluctuates.

When calculating the cost of sending money from Germany to South Africa, a combination of fees and exchange rates ensure the best deal:

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The current EUR-ZAR mid-market rate is 18.8532 ZAR per Euro. Finding a provider as close to this number as possible will ensure more Rand for your money.

• Fees: Transfer fees are charged on top of a transfer. Key Currency currently offers the lowest fees of 0 EUR per transfer (based on €7,000 transfer). Although, we recommend searching for your exact send amount for an exact fee.

• Amount Received: The total amount received in Rand is the biggest indicator in the total cost of sending money to Germany from South Africa. The higher the total amount received in South Africa, the lower the cost of sending from Germany.

It’s possible that waiting a day or two can help you get more ZAR for the same amount of Euro. But, the best way to lock in a price between Germany and South Africa is by using a forward contract.

A bank transfer is our recommended option for money transfers between Germany and South Africa. Key Currency offers the best price on a bank transfer.

Here are all the ways to send money from Germany to South Africa:

Bank transfers

Bank transfers are often the best payment method for money transfers from Germany to South Africa.

A money transfer company like Key Currency offer bank transfers between Germany and South Africa with lower fees and better exchange rates than you would get from a traditional bank.

On average, Key Currency is the cheapest provider for bank transfers of the 17 we tested when sending EUR to South Africa.

Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from Germany to South Africa with a debit or a prepaid card is very simple with Wise.


Wise is a leader in debit card payments for transfers from Germany to South Africa, competing among a total of 17 active money transfer companies on this route.

Credit cards

We recommend avoiding credit cards where possible due to a lack of support and high fees.

If you have to use a credit card, we recommend comparing your options to find the company with the lowest fees.

Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities in both Germany and South Africa to ensure funds are protected.

Please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide for key regulatory bodies for money transfers between Germany and South Africa.

Some services have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can transfer from Germany to South Africa.

Companies will offer different rates and fees for different transfer amounts. Some companies will become more expensive after certain thresholds are hit.

We’d recommend using Wise if you need to send large amounts of EUR to South Africa. The combination of rates and fees when sending to South Africa is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

Also, always check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money leaving Germany, or entering South Africa. Mis-understanding these could result in a slower, or even failed, transfer.

There are different ways to receive money in South Africa. You can do a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, use a mobile wallet or receive money into a multi-currency account. It’s likely not all providers serving transfers from Germany to South Africa will offer every method, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

A direct transfer to a bank account is one of the more common ways to transfer from Germany into Rand. Wise is the best company for bank transfers between Germany and South Africa.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between Germany and South Africa.

Mobile wallet services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular too, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Key Currency.

When signing up to a money transfer company to send between Germany and South Africa, you will need to verify your ID.

The exact documents you need might vary and in some cases you will need more than one.

For the most part, in Germany this will be a government ID like a passport or driver's license. In South Africa it will be a similar set of documents, although this should only be needed if you are opening a new account in South Africa, or collecting in cash.

Big transactions between Germany and South Africa, are subject to additional checks. A provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where the money comes from.

We recommend Wise in part due to their easy sign up process in Germany.

When sending large amounts of money between Germany and South Africa there will be tax implications to consider.

Some transfers into Rand may need to be reported to tax authorities in South Africa, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances differ in South Africa based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Germany or South Africa to discuss your personal circumstances.