How to send money to South Africa from Nigeria with the best NGN-ZAR rate

A better exchange rate means more Naira being sent to South Africa. This exchange rate determines the price you will pay when buying Rand.

Currently the mid-market rate between Naira and Rand is 0.0123. Getting the best deal on an exchange rate is with Afriex.

The NGN-ZAR exchange rates always changing. Understanding the average, and then waiting a day or two can help you get more ZAR for the same amount of Naira - but time it wrong and you might get a worse deal.

If you’re sending a large amount where this rate could make a significant difference, use a forward contract. This allows you to lock in an agreed exchange rate between Nigeria and South Africa.

A bank transfer through a money transfer company is the cheapest way to send money. Generally, it’s the payment method that will get you the best price on a transfer from Nigeria to South Africa at this moment.

Afriex is the transfer company offering the best price on sending via bank transfer.

Sending to South Africa from Nigeria with a bank transfer is 9.03% cheaper than the second-best option in the market.

Nigeria and South Africa have different financial regulators and ensuring you fully understand how these work will aid in keeping your money safe.

We’ve put together a directory of worldwide financial regulators which contains details on regulation for money transfers between Nigeria and South Africa.

Transfer limits to Nigeria and South Africa will differ per company, this may impact the amount you can send and receive if you hit the limits.

Also, rates and fees for different NGN-ZAR transfer amounts could change - that’s why it’s best to compare companies for your specific transfer amount. Then, for regular transfers to South Africa, shopping around each time can make a huge difference if you feel you are hitting limits regularly.

For sending large or regular amounts of NGN to South Africa we'd recommend using Western Union Agent. They offer a combination of rates and fees when sending from Nigeria to South Africa that is the most competitive.

There are different ways to receive money in South Africa.

The most popular ways are direct bank deposit into Rand, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account.

Not all providers offering money transfers between Nigeria and South Africa will offer every method for incoming Rand.

Understanding where the money will eventually go after its left Nigeria and entered South Africa could impact the provider you use.

The most common (and generally easiest) way to send money from Nigeria to South Africa is directly into a bank account. Western Union Agent is the best company for sending money from Nigeria to a bank account in South Africa.

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

Mobile wallets, P2P services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular because they offer convenience to those who already have them, but they come with more limitations and higher costs.

When sending Rands to South Africa, you will need to verify your ID at the sign up stage.

The documents you need will vary by money transfer company and in some cases you might need a couple of options.

For the most part however, in Nigeria ID can be verified through a government issued ID such as a passport or driver's license.

In South Africa, if the recipient needs an ID to collect money - both should be accepted. We’d recommend checking in advance before sending for any specific requirements on receiving money.

Large transactions between Nigeria and South Africa, are subject to additional checks such as proof of funds. This is for anti-money laundering purposes.

Western Union Agent is one of our recommended providers for transfers to South Africa from Nigeria due to the ease of sign up and ID verification.

When sending money between Nigeria and South Africa there will be tax declarations 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 (or anywhere else there are additional legal requirements).

Depending on age and income in particular, tax limits and personal allowances will change in South Africa.

When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Nigeria or South Africa to discuss the personal circumstances of the transfer. This ensures you are not missing any specific tax declarations associated with your circumstances.