How to Send Money from Ireland to Nigeria — Best Ways in 2026
Last updated: 7/3/2026 | By Aboki Forex
Ireland has one of the highest concentrations of Nigerians per capita in Europe, with over 50,000 Nigerians living and working across Dublin, Cork, Galway, and other cities. Whether you're sending money home for family, school fees, rent, or investment, choosing the right service makes a meaningful difference in how many naira your family receives. This guide covers every practical option for Nigerians in Ireland in 2026.
Quick Comparison: Best Apps to Send Money from Ireland 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 | €1.99–€3.99 | Minutes–1 day | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good |
| WorldRemit | €1.99–€3.99 | Minutes–1 day | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good |
| Revolut | Low / depends on plan | Hours | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good |
| USDT P2P | <1% | 10–30 mins | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Black market rate |
| Western Union | €3–€15+ | Minutes (cash pickup) | ⭐⭐⭐ OK |
| Bank SWIFT Wire | €20–€40+ | 2–5 days | ⭐⭐ CBN rate only |
Check the current euro to naira black market rate on Aboki Forex as your benchmark before sending.
1. Sendwave — Zero Fees, Best for Regular Transfers
Sendwave is the most popular remittance app among Nigerians in Ireland for good reason — it charges absolutely no transfer fees for Ireland-to-Nigeria transfers. Sendwave builds its margin into the exchange rate, but rates remain very competitive. Transfers arrive within minutes directly to any Nigerian bank account.
How it works: Download Sendwave (iOS or Android), verify your Irish identity (PPS number or Irish passport), enter your recipient's Nigerian bank details, and pay from your Irish bank account or debit card. The naira typically arrives within minutes.
Limits: Up to €2,999 per day for fully verified accounts.
Best for: Regular family support transfers in the €100–€2,000 range.
2. Wise — Best Exchange Rate for Larger Amounts
Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers the mid-market exchange rate — the fairest rate available — with a transparent fee of 0.5–1.5%. For larger transfers (€1,000+), Wise typically delivers more naira than any other service because the percentage fee becomes smaller relative to the amount sent.
How to pay from Ireland: Fund via SEPA bank transfer from your Irish bank (AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, credit union — all supported), Irish debit card, or Wise balance. SEPA bank transfer has no extra fee and settles within 0–1 business day.
Best for: Larger transfers — school fees, rent payments, property investment, or business from €1,000 upward where the best EUR-to-naira rate maximizes naira received.
3. Remitly — Fast, with First-Transfer Promotions
Remitly offers Ireland-to-Nigeria transfers with two speed options: Economy (lower fee, 3–5 business days) and Express (slightly higher rate, within minutes). Remitly regularly runs first-transfer promotions offering zero fees and enhanced rates — always check before your first send.
Supported Nigerian banks: All major banks — Access, GTBank, First Bank, Zenith, UBA, Fidelity, and more.
Best for: Nigerians who want a reliable, easy-to-use app with good customer support. Express option is ideal when funds are needed urgently.
4. Revolut — Good Option if You Already Use It
Revolut is widely used in Ireland and supports international transfers to Nigeria. If you already use Revolut for day-to-day banking in Ireland, it's a convenient option — open the app, select Nigeria as destination, enter your recipient's bank details, and send. Revolut's rates are competitive and fees depend on your plan (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal).
Note: Revolut is purpose-built as a multi-currency account for EU residents — Nigeria support is present but not its core use case. For critical or large transfers, Sendwave or Wise are more purpose-built and have dedicated Nigeria support teams.
5. WorldRemit — Low Flat Fees
WorldRemit charges low flat fees (€1.99–€3.99) and offers competitive EUR-to-naira rates. Supports bank deposit to all major Nigerian banks and also offers cash pickup via MoneyGram agents for recipients without bank accounts.
Best for: Mid-size transfers where a flat fee beats a percentage-based fee, or when cash pickup is needed.
6. USDT P2P Crypto — Closest to Black Market Rate
Sending via USDT (Tether) through peer-to-peer crypto platforms gives rates at or near the black market rate shown on Aboki Forex.
Step-by-step from Ireland:
- Buy USDT on Coinbase or Kraken (both operating in Ireland/EU) using your Irish bank account or debit card.
- Send the USDT to your recipient's Binance or Bybit wallet in Nigeria.
- Your recipient sells the USDT on Binance P2P for naira at near-black-market rates.
- The naira lands in their Nigerian bank account within minutes.
Advantages: Best naira rate, low fees (<1%), fast.
Disadvantages: Requires crypto accounts on both ends. Note: crypto purchases
in Ireland may be subject to Capital Gains Tax — consult a tax professional.
7. Western Union from Ireland
Western Union is available from Ireland via westernunion.com or the WU app. It's most useful for cash pickup in Nigeria — particularly for recipients in areas with limited banking. However, WU's exchange rates are less competitive than Sendwave, Wise, or Remitly.
Best for: Cash pickup only, or when the recipient has no bank account.
8. Irish Bank SWIFT Wire Transfer
A direct SWIFT wire from AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB, or Ulster Bank sends euros to a Nigerian domiciliary account. This is practical for very large amounts or business transactions where you need a full bank paper trail.
- Irish banks charge €20–€40 per outgoing international wire.
- Nigerian bank may charge an incoming fee ($10–$15 equivalent).
- Funds arrive in 2–5 business days.
- The CBN NAFEM rate applies for naira conversion if converting at the bank.
Best for: Large amounts over €5,000, or funding a Nigerian domiciliary account from Ireland.
What Doesn't Work for Ireland-to-Nigeria Transfers
SEPA Bank Transfer — Cannot send to Nigeria. Nigeria is outside the SEPA zone.
Standard AIB/Bank of Ireland Online Transfer — Only supports SEPA/within Ireland. Nigeria not supported in the standard transfer interface.
PayPal — Limited. PayPal supports Nigeria but withdrawal of naira from PayPal to Nigerian bank accounts is restricted. Not recommended.
Use Sendwave, Remitly, Wise, or WorldRemit for reliable euro-to-naira transfers from Ireland.
How to Get the Best Rate from Ireland to Nigeria
- Check the EUR/NGN rate first. The euro to naira black market rate on Aboki Forex is the ceiling — the best rate your recipient could realistically get. Use it as your benchmark.
- Compare total naira received, not just fees. A zero-fee service with a worse rate can deliver less naira than a 1% fee service with a better rate.
- Use first-time promotions. Remitly and WorldRemit typically offer zero fees and enhanced rates for first transfers.
- Send larger amounts less frequently. Per-transfer fixed fees hurt small amounts — €500 once is cheaper than €100 five times.
- Fund via SEPA bank transfer on Wise. Using SEPA to fund Wise (instead of a card) removes the card fee, maximizing naira delivered.