Find the best ways to transfer money from United States to Albania

The exchange rate is the price you will pay when buying Lek in the United States. A better exchange rate means you send more Leks to Albania.

Currently, the mid-market rate between the US Dollar and Lek is 92.082. The company offering the best price on buying Lek is Wise.

Exchange rates between USD-ALL change almost constantly.

Waiting a day or two can help you get more ALL for the same amount of US Dollars, but you may also end up paying more if you do wait.

A better option is to use a forward contract. This allows you to lock in an agreed exchange rate for transfers between the United States and Albania for a set amount of time, this can be up to two years in some cases.

Sending through a money transfer company via a Bank transfer will most often be the way to get the best price when sending money from the United States to Albania.

For a transfer by Bank transfer, Revolut is 1.1% cheaper than the next option.

United States and Albania have different regulators for financial transactions and ensuring you fully understand these regulations will aid in keeping your money safe.

Our directory of worldwide financial regulators has regulation details for money transfers between United States and Albania.

Money transfer companies offering services between the United States and Albania have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can send or receive. These can be daily, weekly or monthly.

In particular, rates and fees for sending different amounts of US Dollar could change. We always recommend comparing USD-ALL rates for your specific transfer amount. Then, with transfers to Albania, shopping around each time can make a huge difference - as some providers offer introductory rates.

If you’re worried about transfer limits, for sending large amounts of USD to Albania, we’d recommend Wise.

There are different options for receiving Lek in Albania. The most popular are direct bank deposit, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account. Not all providers offering transfers from the United States to Albania will offer every method for incoming Lek, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

Sending directly to a bank account is one of the most common ways to send money from the United States into Albania. For most part, this is because it means the recipient has to do very little. Wise is the best company for bank transfers between United States and Albania.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between the United States and Albania.

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 Revolut.

You will need to verify your ID at the sign up stage when sending from the United States to Albania through a money transfer company.

Documents needed will vary and in some cases you might need a couple of different forms of ID.

ID can be verified in the United States through a government issued ID such as a passport or driver's license. If the recipient needs ID to collect money in Albania, both of these will also likely be accepted. Depending on the company you are using and where the money is going in Albania, it’s always best to check ahead just in case.

Larger transactions between the United States and Albania are likely to be subject to additional checks such as proof of funds for anti-money laundering purposes. This could slow down the process of sending money if you’re not prepared for them.

One of the reasons Wise scored so highly for large and regular transfers to Albania, was their easy sign up process in the United States.

When sending money between the United States and Albania there will be tax declarations to consider.

Some transfers into Lek may need to be reported to tax authorities in Albania. This is of particular note where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Personal allowances and tax limits will change in Albania based on age, income and personal circumstance. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in the United States or Albania to discuss your individual needs. This will ensure you are not missing any specific tax obligations associated with your transfer.