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

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

Italy is home to one of the largest Nigerian communities in Europe, with over 70,000 Nigerians resident across major cities including Rome, Milan, Turin, Bologna, and Naples. Sending money home from Italy is straightforward but choosing the right service makes a significant difference in how many naira your family receives. This guide covers every practical option for Nigerians in Italy in 2026.

1. Sendwave — Zero Fees, Best for Everyday Transfers

Sendwave is the most popular choice among Nigerians in Italy for regular family remittances. It charges absolutely zero transfer fees for Italy-to-Nigeria transfers and delivers euros to Nigerian bank accounts within minutes. Sendwave makes money through a small exchange rate margin, but the rates are still very competitive compared to other services.

How to use from Italy: Download the Sendwave app (iOS or Android), verify your Italian identity (permesso di soggiorno or EU ID), link an Italian debit card or bank account (IBAN), and enter your recipient's Nigerian bank details. Naira typically arrives within minutes.

Best for: Regular small-to-medium transfers — family upkeep, grocery money, school fees (typically €100–€1,500 per transfer).

2. Wise — Best Exchange Rate for Larger Amounts

Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers the mid-market EUR/NGN exchange rate — the fairest rate available — with a transparent fee of 0.5–1.5%. For transfers above €500, Wise typically delivers more naira than any other service because the percentage fee becomes smaller relative to the amount sent.

How to pay: Bank transfer via Italian IBAN (SEPA — free and fastest), debit card, or credit card. The recipient needs a Nigerian bank account at any commercial bank. Funds typically arrive within same day to 2 business days.

Best for: Large transfers — rent payments, school fees, property investments, or business transfers from €500 upward where getting the best EUR/NGN rate matters most.

3. Remitly — Fast and Reliable

Remitly is well-established for Italy-to-Nigeria transfers with two speed tiers: Economy (2–5 business days, lower fee) and Express (minutes to hours, slightly higher rate). Remitly regularly runs first-transfer promotions with zero fees and better-than-usual rates.

Supported banks: All major Nigerian banks including Access, GTBank, First Bank, Zenith, UBA, Fidelity, and more. You can pay via your Italian bank account (SEPA) or debit card.

4. WorldRemit — Low Flat Fees

WorldRemit charges low flat fees (€1.99–€3.99) and offers competitive exchange rates for Nigeria. It supports bank deposit to all major Nigerian banks and also offers cash pickup via MoneyGram agents for recipients without bank accounts. Pay via Italian bank IBAN or debit card.

5. Western Union from Italy

Western Union is available at thousands of locations across Italy including many ricevitorie (lottery shops), tabacchi, currency exchange offices, and Poste Italiane post offices. You can also send online at westernunion.com or via the Western Union app. Cash pickup at any Western Union agent in Nigeria is available within minutes, making WU useful when the recipient needs cash urgently and has no bank account.

However, Western Union's exchange rates are noticeably less competitive than Sendwave, Wise, or Remitly. The rate difference can cost your family significantly more on larger transfers. Best for: Cash pickup only.

6. Poste Italiane (Italian Post Office)

Poste Italiane (the Italian national postal service) offers international money transfers through their BancoPosta accounts and via a Western Union partnership at post office branches. You can send money to Nigeria via Western Union at most Poste Italiane offices. However, you cannot send via standard Postepay card to a Nigerian bank — only WU-enabled counter service is available. Rates follow Western Union pricing.

7. USDT P2P Crypto — Closest to Black Market Rate

Sending money via USDT (Tether) through peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms delivers naira at or very close to the euro to naira black market rate.

Step-by-step from Italy:

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

Check the current USDT to Naira rate to estimate how much naira the recipient would receive. Advantages: Best naira rate, low fees (<1%), settles in 10–30 minutes. Disadvantages: Requires both parties to have verified crypto exchange accounts. EU crypto regulations (MiCA) are evolving — use licensed exchanges only.

8. Bank SWIFT Wire from Italy

Any Italian bank (Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Banca Mediolanum, BNL, etc.) can send a SWIFT international wire transfer to a Nigerian domiciliary (dollar) account or directly to a naira account.

• Italian banks charge €15–€40 per outgoing international wire.
• Nigerian bank may charge an incoming wire fee (₦2,000–₦5,000).
• Funds arrive in 3–5 business days.
• Keeping funds in a domiciliary (USD/EUR) account lets the recipient convert when the rate improves.

Best for: Large transfers above €2,000 where app transfer limits are an issue, or for funding a Nigerian domiciliary account.

Getting the Best Euro to Naira Rate from Italy

1. Check the black market rate first. The euro to naira black market rate on Aboki Forex is your ceiling benchmark.
2. 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.
3. Use first-time promotions. Remitly and WorldRemit typically offer zero fees and better rates on your first transfer.
4. Consolidate transfers. Per-transfer fixed fees hurt small transfers. Sending €500 once is cheaper than sending €100 five times.

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