How to send money to South Africa from Italy with the best EUR-ZAR rate

Comparing the different providers offering services between Italy and South Africa, is the best way to send money with confidence.

Here are your top options for sending money from Italy to South Africa

• Wise is our top choice for EUR to ZAR transfers. For example, sending 7,000 EUR to ZAR will cost you €44.18 in fees, and you will receive 130,813.24 ZAR. The delivery time usually is same day, but it depends on the day you make the transfer.

• Cheapest company to send money to South Africa from Italy is Key Currency. They offer a fee of 0 EUR and exchange rate between EUR-ZAR that is 0.25% different to the mid-market rate. Sending money from Italy to South Africa through Revolut will cost you 70.5 EUR in fees.

• Fastest money transfers from Italy to South Africa is with Revolut.

The 17 providers we've compared ensures you will get the best options for your transfer to South Africa from Italy. By taking the time to compare you can save yourself in the region of 3% of the total transfer amount.

Whilst we rate Wise as the best overall, comparing gives you a comprehensive view of all the options for transferring Euro to South Africa.

The exchange rate determines how much Rand you will get for every Euro you want to send. A better exchange rate is the best way to save money on transfers from Italy to South Africa.

The current rate between the Euro and Rand is 18.8457.

With currencies, the exchange fluctuates constantly, and the EUR-ZAR exchange rate is no different. Tracking the rate and understanding the averages can help get a better deal. Even waiting a day or two can help you get more ZAR for the same amount of Euro. Also, a forward contract allows you to lock in an agreed exchange rate between Italy and South Africa.

The total cost of money transfers from Italy to South Africa is a combination of fees and exchange rates. Get the best of both, and you will be getting a good deal.

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: The mid-market rate for EUR-ZAR is currently 18.8457 ZAR per Euro. Providers offering services closer to this rate will ensure more Rand for your Euros.

• Fees: Transfer fees are charged alongside a transfer. The company offering the lowest fee is Key Currency, just 0 EUR per transfer. In all cases, we recommend searching for your exact send amount as fees may change.

• Amount Received: Money transfer companies will show you the amount eventually received in Rand. Simply, the higher the amount received in Italy, the lower the cost of sending from South Africa.

The most cost effective way to send money from Italy to South Africa is via a bank transfer.

Here are all the ways to send money from Italy to South Africa:

Bank transfers

Bank transfers are often the fastest option, and normally the cheapest, for sending money from Italy to South Africa.

By opting for a money transfer company such as Key Currency for transfers from Italy to South Africa, you can send money via a bank transfer while benefitting from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Using a debit card, or prepaid option, for sending money from Italy to South Africa is easy with Wise.


Wise is a market leader in debit card payments for transfers from Italy to South Africa, this is among a total of 17 money transfer companies compared.

Credit cards

When it comes to credit card transfers from Italy to South Africa, we recommend running a quick comparison to get the best deal as not many companies offer direct credit card deposits.

Regulations are important for keeping your money safe, Italy and South Africa have different regulations to consider.

Our directory of worldwide financial regulators contains details on regulation for money transfers between Italy and South Africa.

Some companies offering money transfers between Italy and South Africa will come with minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can send or receive and this could cause rates or fees to change.

Comparing EUR-ZAR rates for your specific transfer amount will factor in these rates and fees changes, so you’ll get the best provider for your specific needs. For regular transfers from Italy to South Africa, it’s best to check any changes in fees and rates every time you send.

For large transfers of money transfers from Italy to South Africa we’d recommend Wise. They offer a competitive combination of rates and fees when sending from Italy to South Africa, even at larger amounts.

Also, be sure to check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money entering South Africa from Italy.

Receiving Rand in South Africa has a few different options. The most popular ways to receive are through a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, a mobile wallet or receiving money into a multi-currency account.

Not all companies offering money transfers from Italy to South Africa will cater for every method for incoming Rand, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

One of the more popular ways is sending money from Italy directly to a bank account in South Africa. This is because it means the recipient in South Africa has to do very little. Wise is the best company for bank transfers between Italy and South Africa.

Whilst cash pickup is popular, it is not always supported and can be costly compared to cheaper options.

Mobile wallet or P2P services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp operate in South Africa and are popular because of convenience, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Key Currency.

When using a money transfer provider to send Euros to South Africa, you will need to verify your ID at the sign up stage.

Documents needed will vary and in some cases you might need a couple of options.

Generally speaking, those in Italy can verify through a government issued ID such as a driver’s license or passport. If the recipient needs an ID to collect money or open a multi-currency account in South Africa, both can also be used there as well.

Large transactions between Italy and South Africa will be subject to additional security measures such as proving where the funds originated, these will be for anti-money laundering purposes.

Wise has scored highly for transfers to South Africa because of the easy sign up process in Italy.

There will be tax declarations to consider when sending larger amounts of money between Italy and South Africa.

Transfers into Rand may need to be reported to tax authorities in South Africa as well, where regular income, large amounts (such as property or inheritance) and business payments will all be subject to tax checks.

Based on the recipient, tax limits in South Africa, as well as personal allowances will change. When in doubt, we’d recommend contacting a tax professional in Italy or South Africa to discuss your personal circumstances. This ensure you are not missing any specific tax declarations associated with your circumstances.