| Provider | Amount Received | Fee | Exchange Rate | Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Moneycorp | EUR €10,956.59 | No Fee | 1.0957 | 1-3 days | more... |
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Currencies Direct | EUR €11,147.04 | No Fee | 1.1147 | 1-3 days | more... |
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TorFX | EUR €11,147.04 | No Fee | 1.1147 | 1-3 days | more... |
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There are no restrictions when transferring money from the UK to Spain. The UK has become a popular destination for Spaniards, particularly younger people seeking employment opportunities given their home country’s economic weakness. Spain, meanwhile, has long been a popular destination for UK retirees, with there being an estimated one million British ex-pats in Spain.
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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
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The euro (EUR) was introduced in Spain in 1999, replacing the peseta. It is the national currency of Spain, and many other EU countries. The EUR is the second most highly traded currency in the world, after the US dollar. The EUR/GBP is a major currency pair available to trade at all major forex brokers around the world and is one of the most frequently traded pairs on global forex markets.
The GBP is sometimes referred to as the pound sterling and is another very popular and frequently traded currency. It is the national currency of the UK and a number of UK overseas territories. It is issued in the UK by the Bank of England. Generally speaking, it is easy to transfer money from UK to Spain and vice-versa for those that wish to send money to Spain from the UK. Importantly, various methods are available to those wishing to convert their money from GBP to Spanish euro.
Money can be sent by bank transfer from a UK bank to a Spanish bank, with the currency conversion included as part of the transaction, but this is not always the best way to transfer money to Spain. It may be quicker, and sometimes cheaper, to use a money transfer service instead.
The UK and Spain are close allies and trading partners, and prior to Brexit there was complete freedom of movement between the two countries as part of the EU. Although there are now changes following the UK's departure from the EU, it is unlikely that the existing close ties will be cut. Spain is one of the top 10 destinations for British exports, and there is usually a lot of cross-border movement between the UK and Spain in terms of business travel and tourism, as well as international students and ex-patriots travelling back and forth.
The volume of trade between the UK and Spain is significant, with the UK exporting almost $14bn in goods and services to Spain in 2018 and importing even more at over £21bn.
UK citizens who have appropriate visas to reside in Spain can open a Spanish bank account with relative ease, although they will need to present various paperwork and obtain an NIE number. Money can then be easily sent by bank transfer. This is can be highly convenient, especially with so many UK citizens retiring in Spain, buying property there or studying there long-term. As a result of Brexit, the process of banking in Spain as a UK citizen may become harder, with extra conditions being placed on UK citizens who want to open a bank account in Spain.
Major UK credit cards are generally accepted throughout Spain, and it is possible to use a credit or debit card to transfer money from UK to Spain if you use a third party transfer agency that accepts such cards as payment. In most areas, it will be possible to withdraw money from a bank or ATM in Spain with a UK credit or debit card, which means you will convert GBP to EUR as part of the transaction. Many cards levy fees for international transactions, however, and further fees for foreign cash withdrawals, so this can be a very expensive way of transferring GBP to EUR.
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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.
While prior to Brexit, Spanish 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 Spain, 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 Spain must first apply for an appropriate visa, after which they may apply for additional residency documents. Spain also has a specialist visa for those wishing to buy property worth at least €500,000, known as a Golden Visa.
The number of Spanish domestic properties bought by British nationals has seen a decline from its peak of more than 17,000 in 2007, with 8,500 purchased in 2018. This is thought to be the result of the value of the pound falling, combined with uncertainty regarding residency.
It is difficult to get a mortgage in the UK against a foreign property, so any mortgage will likely come from a Spanish lender. There are specialist brokers in the UK that focus on overseas property purchases. Whether borrowing or buying outright, it is essential to budget for buying costs, such as a mortgage and lawyers’ fees, taxes and insurance – around 10% of the purchase price is generally advised for Spain. Securing such expert property, legal and tax advice is absolutely essential before making any overseas money transfer. The British government has a dedicated website offering advice on buying property in Spain.
Spain has become one of the most popular retirement destinations for expats from the UK, although Brexit has seen a drop in numbers. As of 2020, around 105,000 retirees from the UK lived in Spain, compared to around 107,000 in 2017.
Following Brexit, retirees wishing to move to Spain to live will need to apply for a visa and be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to be able to live there.
If you live in but have never worked in Spain, you must contact the International Pension Centre in the UK in order to claim your UK state pension.
The UK state pension can be paid to a Spanish bank account, but it may be better value to receive the money into a UK account and send money to Spain. Given that the British government is not obliged to raise pensions in line with inflation, using a broker may be the best way to make sure that you receive as much as possible. If you become a non-UK resident, you will not pay UK tax on your state pension but may still pay tax in Spain.
With Britain and Spain having a double taxation agreement, people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. In accordance with Spanish and international law, all residents in Spain, both nationals and non-nationals, are obligated to declare assets held outside Spain. Assets may include bank accounts, securities, rights, insurance, annuities, property, etc. The Spanish government requires all residents to file an annual declaration of overseas assets by 31 March each year. This agreement is not thought to have been impacted by Brexit.
Spain was the most popular tourist destination for UK citizens in 2019, and the second most popular destination for British ex-pats.
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 transferred 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 to be sent from the UK to Spain. Then select a provider based on factors such as price, speed, 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 send 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 pay in your funds for the transfer via cash, debit or credit cards as well, 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 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.
