The best, fastest & cheapest ways to send money to Greece

Pay attention to EUR exchange rates, as it determines how much EUR your recipient will receive.

For instance, today’s average USD to EUR rate is 0.9617 but the highest rate over the past 3 months was 0.9616 EUR/USD.

Your aim is to transfer when EUR reaches a higher value so waiting a few days could result in a better rate, hence more EUR received.

For urgent Euro transfers, we recommend Wise. It consistently provided the best EUR rates over the past six months.

How you fund your transfer affects the cost, speed, and the amount of Euro the recipient will receive.

The cheapest way to fund your transfer to Greece is with a Bank transfer via Revolut, which is 0.3% cheaper than the next cheapest service.

Based on our six-month analysis of a $2,000 transfer from to Greece, here are the top options:

• Revolut (bank transfer): Costs $0 + 0.09% markup on top of the EUR mid-market rate.

• Instarem (debit card): Costs $0.12 + 0.52% markup.

• Instarem (credit card): Costs $0 + 0% markup.

Bank transfer is the most expensive deposit method for Euro transfers, so we recommend avoiding it to maximize the amount of EUR received.

Credit card transfers may result in cash advance fees and higher interest rates when sending money to Greece.

For instance, Xe charges $1,727.08 for credit card deposits, while Revolut charges $0 for bank transfers.

Avoid sending EUR over the SWIFT network, as it's slower and more expensive. Instead, consider cheaper options like ACH or account balance for EUR transfers.

Money transfer companies often have minimum and maximum limits on how much EUR you can transfer.

The amount of EUR you send can impact the fees and exchange rate. Some services such as Wise may offer a better exchange rate for large EUR transfers.

There may also be government-imposed restrictions, commercial limitations, and other factors that may affect how much EUR you can send.

To ensure your money transfer to Greece goes smoothly, especially if moving large amounts of Euro, use our comparison tool to find the service that best fits your needs.

The speed of sending Euro to Greece depends on factors like the amount of EUR sent, the chosen deposit and withdrawal methods, and when you send EUR.

As a rule of thumb, faster transfers come with higher fees.

Let’s imagine you want to transfer 2,000 USD to Greece, here are your options:

• For the fastest transfers, use Paysend - Out of 20 companies serving Greece, Paysend appeared 37 times in our searches as the fastest service in the past 6 months.

• For bank and card deposits, use Wise - Wise provides fast and affordable EUR transfers, with fees around $11.41 for bank account deposits and $164.39 for debit/prepaid card deposits, with a small -0.02% markup on the ‘real’ EUR exchange rate.

• For credit card transfers, use Xe - Xe charges $804.21 for credit card transfers to Greece with 0% markup. However, beware of potential cash advance fees and higher interest rates from your credit card company.

• For urgent transfers, use cash transfer services - If you need Euro to be delivered urgently, services like Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria Money will have it ready within minutes for collection in Greece.

Avoid using the SWIFT network for EUR transfers, as intermediary banks slow the process. Instead, opt for faster and more cost-effective alternatives discussed above.

For EUR transfers, you have the following options:

1. Money transfer company - You can transfer money online using an FX broker (managed service) or a self-managed online company like Wise. Based on our 6-month analysis, Wise ranked as the top provider for sending money to Greece, appearing in 79 comparisons involving EUR.

2. Mobile apps and digital wallets - Many services available in Greece offer mobile apps, often giving transfer offers on EUR rates.

3. Cash transfers - You can send cash to Greece through services like Ria Money, MoneyGram, or Western Union. Cash transfers are typically instant, but the recipient must visit a local agent in Greece to collect the Euro.

4. Wire transfers - While you can wire money to Greece through your bank, we advise against it. Banks can charge up to $60 per transfer to Greece and add 5% - 6% to the EUR exchange rate. Instead, use bank transfer to deposit money to Wise and send EUR from there.

There are several ways to receive money in Greece, and choosing the right one will help the recipient get the most EUR. Mainly, these are:

• Deposit to bank account - For direct bank deposits in Greece, we recommend Revolut, which appeared in 60.8% of EUR searches as the cheapest option for bank transfers. EUR will arrive directly to the recipient's bank account in Greece.

• Deposit to digital or mobile wallet - EUR can be sent directly to digital wallets like PayPal, though this option often has more limitations and higher costs compared to services like Revolut. Recipients in Greece will need to transfer it to their account, which may incur more fees.

• Cash pickup or home delivery - If the recipient needs EUR urgently or doesn't have access to a bank account in Greece, cash pickup or door-to-door delivery is a good alternative. Be sure to check if these services are available in Greece. This will require the recipient to visit a nearby agent in Greece.

When making large EUR transfers or sending Euro for cash pickup, the recipient may need the following:

• Government-Issued ID: This can be a non-expired and valid passport, driver’s license, or national ID of Greece.

• Sender’s Details: Full name, address, and other personal information.

• Transfer Details: The amount being received in EUR.

• Transfer number: This is given at the time of transfer.

• SWIFT Code / IBAN: This may be required for bank transfers to Greece from some countries.

*The exact documents may vary depending on the transfer method and service used.

For bank accounts, debit cards, or wallet deposits, the recipient typically doesn’t need to do anything. Euro will arrive without their involvement.

For larger transfers, companies may request additional documents like proof of funds and address verification in compliance with Anti-Money Laundering policies.

We recommend using Wise for transferring large amounts of Euro.

There may be tax implications and government-imposed limits on Euro transfers.

Some Euro transfers may be subject to gift tax, commercial tax, and other types of taxes.

Even if no immediate taxes or limits apply, larger EUR transfers may need to be reported to tax authorities in Greece or your home country.

To be fully safe, we strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional in either Greece or your home country to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and tax laws.