Send Money To Spain
The number of Spaniards moving to different countries has been growing year on year for the past decade. Today, over 2.5 million of them live in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania. From 2009 to date, the number of Spaniards abroad has grown by a hooping 70%. Majority of them live in the America and about 35% are in Europe.
The growth in this diaspora population has also seen a corresponding rise in the number of transactions and amounts sent to Spain from the diaspora. In 2017, the Pew Research Centre records that $10,692 million was sent to Spain from different countries around the world. The top 5 busiest remittance corridors are France, Germany, United States, Argentina, and the United Kingdom. Jointly, these corridors account for slightly over 60% of the total remittances.
When sending money to Spain, it helps to know the different transfer methods available, the information you need to send the money, how the recipient will access the money, and the different factors to consider before you send. This guide will explore each of these areas in great detail to help you make an informed decision in your next transfer.
How To Send Money To Spain
Sending money to Spain is simple and easy. Follow these steps to get started.
Find a Trusted Provider
Sign Up and Deposit
Transfer Money
Ways To Send And Receive Money In The Spain
There are multiple ways to easily send and receive money in Spain but these will largely depend on the provider you decide to use. Below you will find everything you need to know about sending and receiving money.
Ways to Send Money to Spain
There are different ways you can send money from the diaspora to Spain. For instance, you can do interbank transfers from the host country to Spain, use online money transfers to bank accounts or pick up locations in Spain or use in-store deposits at agent locations in the host country.
International Wire Transfers
You can transfer money from your bank account in the host country to the recipient’s account in Spain. If you are sending the money from a country in the European Union, the transfer will be faster and could be delivered the following day. Better still, if the transfers are from accounts in the same bank or banking group, transfers tend to be much faster with lower transaction fees.
However, if you are sending from outside the Eurozone such as the United States, Asia, or Africa, the time your transfer takes will be much longer up to 4 business days. The specific charges including exchange rates are determined solely by the banks involved in the transaction including correspondent banks.
Online Money Transfers
Money transfer operators (MTOs) such as Transferwise, OFX, WorldRemit, Xoom, and WorldFirst can help you send money from different parts of the world. The advantage with these methods is that they charge low fees, give you the best exchange rates, and support large amounts in both standard and exotic currencies.
To send money through MTOs, you will need to sign up for an account on their platform, verify your account details, fund your transfer through a debit card, credit card, bank debit, or any other method available. Then, choose the payout method which can be a bank transfer or cash collection.
There two main payout options when sending money through online money transfers: bank transfers and cash pickup.
Bank Transfers – If the recipient has a bank account, you can transfer money directly into their bank account. Depending on how you fund your transfer and the country you are sending from, this can be delivered the same day or the following day. Other providers take 3 to 5 days to complete the transfer.
Cash Pickup – Not all MTOs offer the cash pickup option, but Xoom, Transfast, Western Union, and MoneyGram offer you this option. The recipient collects the money in cash in minutes.
To get you started, we’ve put together a list of top 10 money transfer companies.
In-Store Transfers
Money transfer service providers such as Western Union and MoneyGram offer you the option of depositing cash in person at a store and then send to your family. You can also begin the process online and complete the payment and sending in-store.
Mobile Topup
Providers such as Xoom allow you to top up mobile phones in Spain in an instant. The service supports up to 10 carriers in Spain including Hits Mobile, Lebara Mobile, Digi Mobile, Blau, Wamaya, Euskaltel among others. Simply enter the phone, pick the amount to top up, and give your loved ones the gift of talk.
Some of the providers such as MoneyGram, Western Union, and all online money transfer services have apps that make it easier to send money on the go. These apps also allow you to track transfers, pay for transfers, and recall erroneous transfers.
What Is Needed To Send Money to Spain
For you to send money through online money transfer operators or from a store, you will need the following information:
- A government issued-ID document. If you are sending from the US, you can use a passport, social security card or driving license.
- The recipient’s name as it appears on their official documents
- The address and phone number of the recipient
- If you are sending directly to a bank account, the recipient bank details (bank name, branch and account number)
- The amount of money you want to send
What Are the Ways of Receiving Money in Spain?
There are two main ways you can receive money in Spain: bank deposit and cash pickup.
Bank Deposit
You can receive a transfer directly into your bank account. This may take a few hours or up to 4 days depending on the transfer provider, day of the week, time of day, and the correspondent banks handling your transfer. It is the best way of receiving large amounts of money.
Cash Pickup
Money transfer operators have various locations throughout Spain where you can pick your money. Some of them have partnered with other money transfers and banks to enhance their audience reach. For instance, Transfast has partnered with Mundial Money Transfer to enable its customers to access cash in lots of locations. Xoom has 2078 locations in Spain you can filter through states or cities and identify one closer to you from where you can pick your cash.
What is Required to Receive Money in Spain?
To access your money in Spain, you will need to identify yourself at the cash collection point and give the transaction reference number. The identification can be in the form of a government-issued ID card, passport, or driver’s license. The transaction reference number is normally sent to you via SMS or email when the sender initiates the transfer.
Send Money To Spain
Debit Card
1-2 Hours
Bank Transfer
1-2 Hours
Debit Card
1-2 Hours
Credit Card
1-2 Hours
Bank Transfer
1-2 Hours
Bank Transfer
3-5 Days
Debit Card
3-5 DaysCommon Reasons for Sending Money to Spain
Most of the Spaniards who left the country and ventured abroad at different points in history were mainly driven by economic reasons. The Spanish economy has been shaky and this has forced many people to seek greener pastures elsewhere. This emigration history informs the reasons for the remittances back home.
Family Support
Spaniards in the diaspora have obligations back home to support their families who may include their children and siblings. Because of the fewer economic opportunities, those in diaspora are obligated to send money home to supplement family income and cater for basic needs.
Medical Care
Medicare costs are always on the rise and quality care is expensive. Accessing private care not just in Spain but many other parts of the world is costly. Part of the remittances may be directed towards this expense.
Education
Spaniards in the diaspora often send money for tuition fees and related costs for their families back home. These are often reflected as small regular payments at the beginning of school terms.
Savings and Investments
Not every Spaniard in the diaspora wants to live, work, and retire abroad. Some of them are looking forward to coming back home in their sunset years. The savings and investments play a key role in building a nest egg.
Social Contributions
These remittances are often sent in response to requests from home for social activities such as weddings, funerals, and community development. Money could also be sent for festivals and holiday celebrations. For instance, during Christmas and New Year, diaspora remittances to Spain increase. Other festivals include la Tomatina, Semana Santa, San Fermin, and Feria del Caballo.
Why Send Money with a Money Transfer Service?
Money transfer services have dominated most remittance corridors to Spain because of their efficiency, affordability, and reliability. If you have never used money transfer services, your next transfer could be a perfect opportunity to do that. Here are some of the benefits and reasons for using money transfer services.
Affordability
Ease of Set-Up
Multi-Currency Support
Security and Regulation
Speed of Transfer
Exchange Rates
Things to Consider When Sending Money to Spain
Before you send money to Spain, there are a few considerations that you need to make to avoid inconveniences and costly transfers.
- Foreign Exchange Control – The Spanish government doesn’t control foreign exchange transactions but may require information from time to time when transactions or transfers involve huge inflow of foreign currency or regular payments. This is in line with the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and tax fraud.
- Taxation – Normally, remittances are not taxed in Spain. However, if the remittances represent incomes from abroad such as capital gains, dividends, freelance income, or pension income, they may be subjected to tax at the personal tax rate. Liaise with your tax advisor for more information on how to handle this.
- Bank Withdrawal Limits – To curb insecurity and money laundering, most banks in Spain have capped ATM withdrawal limits. There are banks that allow you to withdraw a maximum of EUR 300 per transaction or per day. Check with your bank to find out your limits and whether it makes sense to receive money through the bank or through cash pickup.
When sending money to Spain, there are few hindrances if any especially if you live and work in the EU. With that said, you should ensure that you cross-check all the money transfer providers for the best rates and transfer times.
Your Questions Answered
Looking to Send Money Somewhere Else?
Sending money anywhere else in the world is as easy as sending money to Spain. If you’re looking to send money to another country, here is the list of the most popular destinations.
Jonathan is the founder and editor of MoneyTransfers.com. Jonathan is highly experienced in the currency transfer market, having previously worked in the FX trading industry, alongside being an avid traveller. Using his knowledge he identified a need for transparency and further education to help people save money on their money transfers, leading to the creation of MoneyTransfers.com