How to Send Money from France to Nigeria — Best Ways in 2026

Last updated: 7/3/2026 | By Aboki Forex

France is home to one of the largest Nigerian communities in continental Europe, with over 100,000 Nigerians residing across Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and other major cities. Whether you're supporting family, paying school fees, or sending remittances, choosing the right transfer service can make a significant difference in how many naira your family receives. This guide covers every practical option for sending euros from France to Nigeria in 2026.

Quick Comparison: Best Apps to Send Money from France to Nigeria

Service Fee (EUR → NGN) Speed Rate Quality
Sendwave €0 fee Minutes ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great
Wise 0.5–1.5% 0–2 days ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best rate
Remitly €2.99–€3.99 Minutes–2 days ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good
WorldRemit €1.99–€2.99 Minutes–1 day ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good
Western Union €5–€15+ Minutes (cash) ⭐⭐⭐ OK
USDT P2P <1% 15–30 mins ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Black market rate

Use the current euro to naira black market rate as your benchmark. Any service delivering close to that rate is giving you an excellent deal.

Why SEPA Cannot Send Money to Nigeria

SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) is a European payment integration system that allows fast, low-cost euro transfers between 36 participating countries — all EU member states plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the UK, and a few others. Nigeria is not part of SEPA, so a standard French bank transfer to a Nigerian account will either be rejected or routed as a much more expensive international SWIFT wire.

The same applies to mobile payment apps built on SEPA infrastructure: Lydia, PayLib, N26 (for Nigeria), and standard Revolut free-tier transfers to Nigeria are not supported or not practical.

1. Sendwave — Zero Fees from France

Sendwave supports France-to-Nigeria transfers with zero transfer fees. Transfers go directly to any major Nigerian bank account, typically arriving within minutes. Sendwave is available on iOS and Android and is licensed in France under EU payment regulations.

How to pay from France: Sendwave accepts French debit cards (Carte Bancaire, Visa, Mastercard). Link your card and the transfer is processed immediately.

Limits: Typically up to €2,999/day for unverified accounts, higher with ID verification.

Best for: Regular family support in the €100–€1,500 range where zero fees make a meaningful difference.

2. Wise — Best Exchange Rate for Larger Amounts

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate — the fairest rate available — with a transparent 0.5–1.5% fee. For transfers of €1,000 and above, Wise typically delivers more naira than any other service because the mid-market rate is significantly better than the spread built into "zero-fee" services.

How to pay from France: Bank transfer via SEPA (free, arrives in 1–2 days), debit card (same day, small card fee), or credit card. Recipient needs a Nigerian bank account.

Best for: Large transfers — school fees, rent, property investments, or business payments where maximizing naira received matters.

3. Remitly — Reliable with Strong Customer Support

Remitly supports France-to-Nigeria transfers with both Economy (2–5 days, €2.99 fee) and Express (minutes, €3.99 fee) options. First-time Remitly users from France typically receive a promotional rate with zero fees.

Best for: Nigerians in France who want a well-supported app with a clear fee structure, English and French language support, and the Express option for urgent transfers. See our full Remitly Nigeria guide.

4. WorldRemit — Low Flat Fees

WorldRemit charges flat fees of €1.99–€2.99 for France-to-Nigeria transfers with competitive exchange rates. It supports bank deposit to all major Nigerian banks and cash pickup via MoneyGram agents in Nigeria for recipients without bank accounts.

Best for: Moderate transfers (€200–€500) where a low flat fee beats a percentage-based fee, or when your recipient needs cash pickup.

5. USDT P2P — Closest to Black Market Rate

For the best possible naira rate from France, sending USDT (Tether) via peer-to-peer crypto is popular among Nigerians in France who want rates closest to the euro to naira black market rate.

Step-by-step from France:

  1. Buy USDT on a EU-accessible exchange (Binance EU, Kraken, or Coinbase) using your French bank account or debit card.
  2. Send the USDT to your recipient's Binance wallet in Nigeria.
  3. Your recipient sells the USDT on Binance P2P for naira at near-black-market rates.
  4. Naira is deposited directly into their Nigerian bank account within minutes.

EU note: Crypto purchases in France are subject to capital gains tax on profits. For simple remittance (buy-and-send same day), the tax impact is minimal, but consult a French tax advisor for larger or regular transactions.

6. Western Union from France

Western Union is available from France via westernunion.com or the Western Union app. It supports cash pickup at thousands of Western Union agent locations across Nigeria, which is useful for recipients without bank accounts or in rural areas.

However, WU's exchange rates are less competitive than Sendwave or Wise. For bank deposits, use Remitly or Wise instead. Western Union France is best reserved for cash pickup only.

7. MoneyGram from France

MoneyGram also supports France-to-Nigeria transfers via moneygram.com, with cash pickup at MoneyGram agent locations in Nigeria. Fees and rates are similar to Western Union. For most bank transfers, apps like Sendwave and Wise are cheaper and faster.

What French Apps Don't Work for Nigeria

Virement SEPA / French bank transfer — Cannot reach Nigeria. SEPA is EU-only.

Lydia — French domestic app. No Nigeria support.

PayLib — French domestic mobile payment. No international transfers.

PayPal — Nigeria support is limited; withdrawals to Nigerian banks are restricted.

Use Sendwave, Remitly, Wise, or WorldRemit for reliable euro-to-naira transfers from France.

How to Get the Best Rate from France to Nigeria

  1. Check the euro to naira black market rate first. The euro to naira black market rate on Aboki Forex is the realistic ceiling. Any service within 2–5% of that rate is excellent.
  2. Compare total naira received. Don't compare fees alone — a zero-fee service with a worse rate can deliver less naira than a small-fee service with a better rate.
  3. Use first-time promotions. Remitly and WorldRemit typically offer improved rates for your first transfer.
  4. Send larger amounts less often. Fixed flat fees hurt small transfers. €500 once is more efficient than €100 five times.

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Related Pages

Does Aboki Forex Trade (Exchange) Currencies?
No, we do not trade any currency pair. Aboki Forex is purely an information platform that provides real-time black market and official CBN exchange rates. To exchange currency, contact a licensed Bureau de Change (BDC), your bank, or a trusted local forex dealer.
Is AbokiFx the same as Aboki Forex?
No, Aboki Forex (abokiforex.app) and AbokiFx are two separate and unaffiliated platforms. We are not connected to AbokiFx in any way. Aboki Forex provides live black market and CBN exchange rates for all major currencies versus the Nigerian Naira.
How can I Exchange Currency in Nigeria?
To exchange foreign currency in Nigeria, you have several options: (1) Visit a licensed Bureau de Change (BDC) — these are regulated by the CBN and found in major cities. (2) Use your commercial bank — they offer official CBN rates for account holders. (3) Use a trusted local forex market dealer — these operate in parallel/black market and typically offer higher rates than banks. Always verify the current rate on Aboki Forex before exchanging to ensure you get a fair deal.
Are the Black Market Rates accurate in all Markets?
Aboki Forex provides average black market rates collected from multiple dealers across major Nigerian cities including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt. Because the parallel market is unregulated, actual rates vary by location, dealer, and transaction size. The rates on Aboki Forex are a reliable benchmark, but always confirm the exact rate with your dealer before completing any transaction.
What is the difference between CBN, I&E and Black Market Rates?
The CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) rate is the official government exchange rate used by commercial banks and regulated financial institutions. The I&E (Investors and Exporters) window was a market-based rate that has now been merged with the official CBN rate following Nigeria's forex unification policy. The Black Market rate (also called the parallel market or street rate) is typically higher than the official rate and reflects actual supply and demand dynamics for foreign currency in Nigeria outside the regulated banking system.
How often are the exchange rates updated on Aboki Forex?
Black market exchange rates on Aboki Forex are updated every hour throughout the trading day. The rates reflect real-time data collected from parallel market dealers across Nigeria. CBN official rates are updated daily, typically after the Central Bank of Nigeria publishes its official rates each business day.
What is the best way to send money from the USA to Nigeria?
The best way to send money from the USA to Nigeria depends on the amount: Sendwave charges zero fees for everyday transfers, Wise gives the best exchange rate on larger amounts, and USDT P2P delivers naira closest to the black market rate. Note that Zelle, Cash App, and Venmo cannot send money to Nigeria. See our full guide on how to send money from the USA to Nigeria, and check the live dollar to naira black market rate before you send.
Why is the black market dollar to naira rate higher than the official CBN rate?
The black market dollar to naira rate is higher than the official CBN rate because of the gap between foreign currency supply and demand in Nigeria. The Central Bank of Nigeria controls access to dollars at the official rate, limiting who can buy forex through official channels. Businesses and individuals who cannot access dollars through banks must turn to the parallel market, where higher demand relative to supply drives up the exchange rate.