| Provider | Amount Received | Fee | Exchange Rate | Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Moneycorp | EUR €11,256.34 | No Fee | 1.1256 | 1-3 days | more... |
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TorFX | EUR €11,452.00 | No Fee | 1.1452 | 1-3 days | more... |
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OFX (UK) | EUR €11,405.96 | No Fee | 1.1406 | 1-3 days | more... |
Founder & CEO, FXCompared
Daniel is one of the world experts on the money transfer sector. He is widely quoted across the industry with over 20 years of experience in the international finance world focused on international payments, technology, and the property sectors. More about Daniel.
France is a popular destination for many UK nationals, with the beautiful towns, scenic landscapes and delicious foods all making for a wonderful choice to relocate to. Most notably France is a top tier choice for retirees, with the rich culture offering plenty for that post-work period after a lifetime of working.
As such, many UK nationals will need to transfer their UK pension to France. There are many other reasons to send money from France to the UK and thankfully there are no restrictions. You could however be paying more and getting less for your money with bank fees and undesirable exchange rates. Read on for a full guide on sending money from the UK to France, and why using a trusted money transfer provider is a great money-saving option.
One-off payments | Regular payments | Great rates | Safeguarded customer funds
Excellent exchange rates | No transfer fees | Thousands of 5 star reviews
OFX (previously UKForex in the UK), provides secure and speedy international money transfers to over 300,000 people in 55 currencies at better-than-bank rates
Great exchange rates | Specialist services | No added fees, 24/7 transfers | Safe and secure
Great rates | One-off payments | Regular transfers | E-Money Institution | No fees for FXcompared customers
Introduced in 1999, the euro (EUR) is a common currency across much of the EU. It is the national currency for most, though not all, EU countries. The EUR is a highly traded currency, second in trading volume to the USD.
The GBP is also commonly referred to as the pound sterling, and is the official currency of the UK and a number of UK overseas territories. It is generally considered a stable currency and is issued by the Bank of England. As for the EUR/GBP currency pair, it is one of the most frequently traded pairs on global forex markets.
In good news, it has never been difficult to transfer money from the UK to France, and there are a number of options open to anyone wishing to convert their money from GBP to EUR. When deciding how to send money to France from UK, it is worth bearing in mind that transfers can be made by bank wire, with the currency conversion included as part of the transaction.
However, this is not necessarily always the best way to transfer money from UK to France. It may be cheaper to use a money transfer service such as OFX or Currencies Direct, and this can sometimes be more convenient than a bank transfer.
The UK and France are close neighbours that, prior to Brexit, had an exceptionally strong economic partnership. As of 2022, France is one of the top ten destinations for UK exports, although restrictions as a result of Brexit may see its prominence fall in the future.
There is generally a lot of cross-border movement between the two countries, with high numbers of international students, businesspeople and expats travelling between the UK and France, meaning there is a lot of interest in the best and cheapest way to transfer money from the UK to France. There is also a high level of tourism between these neighbouring countries.
The trading relationship between the UK and France continues to be an important one, with the UK exporting over $30bn in goods and services to France in 2022. The UK imports even more, at over $34bn in the same year.
If you are planning to transfer money from UK to France, you have several options. UK citizens can open a French bank account with relative ease, and the money can be sent by bank transfer. A popular option – especially among UK citizens planning to buy property in France, retire there, or study there – as they will undoubtedly need a bank account in France anyway. As a result of Brexit, you will also need to check if there are any restrictions or extra conditions being placed on UK citizens who want to open a bank account in France.
Using a major UK credit card (such as Visa or Mastercard) in France is easy, and it is possible to use credit cards when transferring money from the UK to France if you use a third-party transfer agency that accepts credit cards as payment. It is also usually possible to withdraw money from a bank or ATM in France with a UK credit or debit card, effectively converting your GBP to EUR as you do it. This generally incurs fees and often uses a less favourable exchange rate, so it can be a very expensive way of transferring money.
For frequent payments overseas from the UK to France, finding a suitable money transfer service can be an efficient, money saving method.
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Banks are the most expensive way to do an international money transfer, the quotes from the providers above show you the typical savings that can be made. All providers on FXcompared.com are regulated in the UK by the FCA, in the USA by FinCEN, In Canada SSC and Australia, ASIC.
We check all rates regularly and this quote is an actual quote of the average from UK banks for this month. It includes all major and small banks. Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, Santander, NatWest, RBS, Coutts, Handelsbanken, Metro bank and more - tracked every month. We obtain our rates via our IMTI platform.
The buying and selling of property in France takes a long time. Purchase of a property is controlled by a notaire, who is responsible for examining the agreement to purchase property, which you will sign. One of the best things you could do is speak to other expats who have bought property in the area of your choice or a local estate agent, who can recommend a local notaire.
British expats should understand that in France, inheritance laws are clear, and all property will be divided among surviving children. This is very important for married couples where one or both of them have children from previous relationships. Therefore, if you are buying a property in France, it is advisable to make a will in France at the same time, which can override this automatic split between surviving children.
There are some key differences in UK and French capital gains tax laws, so you should seek advice on this area before buying (or selling) a property in France and before you send money to France from the UK to purchase the property.
While prior to Brexit French and British citizens were free to move to either country at will, there are now restrictions in place that require anyone looking to relocate to apply for a visa.
In France, UK citizens are now subject to the same requirements as other non-EU citizens such as those from the US or Canada. Those planning to move to France must first apply for a long stay visa, after which they may apply for a one-year temporary residency or a longer residence permit.
Meanwhile in the UK, French citizens must apply for a visa under the UK's new points-based immigration system, which prioritises skilled workers and those in shortage occupations.
Over the years, France has become one of the most popular retirement destinations for expats from the UK, with 67,000 people receiving a UK pension there in 2017.
The UK state pension can still be paid to expats in France after Brexit, although some pension providers have warned that they will not be able to send payments to EU bank accounts. Retirees may need to have their pension paid into a UK account and make frequent overseas transfers.
The UK government’s rules and regulations govern the way that the taxman and social services consider and treat UK expatriates in France. They become more complex once they are combined with the rules of France. You are recommended to seek specialist tax and financial planning advice. In particular, make sure that you know the following:
Find the best money transfer provider to send money from UK to France and save on bank fees.
The UK exported $31.36bn worth of goods and services to France in 2019, making it the third most important export destination for the UK.
Yes, all the companies are safe and fully-regulated money transfer services. Each are authorised and regulated by the relevant authority such as the Financial Conduct Authority(FCA) in the UK, FinCEN in the US, FinTRAC in Canada or ASIC in Australia.
The speed of delivery will depend on where the money is being sent from and to and how you are sending and receiving the money. Transfers sent using bank to bank transfers can take anywhere from minutes to days and you should check the time estimates from the relevant provider. Debit and credit card payments sometimes allow for faster transfers for smaller amounts.
First review the comparison results for a given amount of money sending from UK to France. Then select a provider based on factors such as price, speed and its rating and click the green button to be taken to its website. From there, you can register and sign up for an account. Once you have done that and the provider has verified your identity to ensure the money can be sent safely, you will be ready to transfer money.
The results shown above are typically for bank to bank transfers. It is possible via some providers to fund your transfer via cash or debit or credit cards, but this is usually reserved for smaller amounts. Some providers also give you different options for how the money will be received — to a bank account (most common), to a debit card, to cash or to a digital or mobile wallet.
There can be a number of reasons why the final price you are offered may be different to that shown in the table above. Exchange rates between two currencies change all the time and is the most common reason. Additionally, some providers offer different pricing depending on what method you are using to send funds or how the funds will be received. Others may offer you a premium service for faster payments. In some cases, FXcompared has a special rate with a provider and this is reserved for first time customers who sign up to the provider starting from FXcompared’s website. As prices do change often, be sure to confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
We welcome all suggestions for improvements. Send us an email at support@fxcompared.com.
All the providers listed are regulated by the relevant authority (e.g. the FCA in the UK, FinCEN in the US, ASIC in Australia) and have been vetted by FXcompared.
FXcompared.com is an fx money comparison site for international money transfer and to compare rates from currency brokers for sending money abroad. The website and the information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation or advice on any financial service or transaction. None of the information presented is intended to form the basis for any investment decision, and no specific recommendations are intended. FXC Group Ltd and FX Compared Ltd does not provide any guarantees of any data from third parties listed on this website. FX compared Ltd expressly disclaims any and all responsibility for any direct or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from (i) any error, omission or inaccuracy in any such information or (ii) any action resulting therefrom.
