How to send money abroad from France without fees

Many expats in France need to send money abroad regularly — to family, for travel, or to manage finances in another country. Some providers claim to offer international transfers with no fees, but many of these services hide commissions within the exchange rate.

When you send money abroad from France, exchange rate changes can affect the final cost. Between the time you set up your transfer and when your bank processes it, the currency’s value may have fluctuated.

As a result, it’s often impossible to know the exact amount the recipient will receive, since the rate your bank uses is the one in effect when the transaction is completed.

Traditional banks in France don’t usually offer tools to help manage these fluctuations — unlike Wise, which, through its multi-currency account, lets you choose the exact moment to convert your money. This gives you full control over your transfers.
On Wise, the rate applied isn’t inflated; it corresponds to the mid-market exchange rate you can check directly on Google.

Choosing the best time to send money abroad from France

Exchange rate movements can work in your favour or against you. If the rate improves, the recipient gets more. If it worsens, they get less.

Keeping exchange rates up to date with Wise

On Wise, exchange rates are updated every minute — not just once a day like many banks or bureaux de change in France.

The rate displayed is the mid-market exchange rate: the average between the buying and selling prices on the interbank market.

Wise also guarantees you a stable rate for a specific period, meaning it won’t change between the time you set up the transfer and when it’s processed.

Setting up an alert

To take advantage of fluctuations, Wise allows you to create alerts delivered straight to your inbox:

• A daily update showing your chosen currency’s exchange rate.
• A notification when the rate crosses a threshold you’ve set.
• An alert when a currency reaches its highest rate in the last two weeks.

How to minimise fees when sending money abroad from France

Comparing the mid-market rate and the applied rate

To accurately estimate your transfer cost, it’s useful to compare your bank’s rate with the market rate. You can use an online currency converter for reference.

The converter shows the mid-market rate, which is generally more favourable than the one offered by French banks or exchange offices, since it reflects the average value used in global currency trading.

Comparing transfer fees

The different fees when sending money abroad

When you make an international transfer through a bank in France, several fees can apply — reducing either the amount you send or what the recipient receives.

Here are the most common examples:

• Commission: A fixed or variable charge for the bank’s transfer service.
• Correspondent bank fees: Applied when the transfer goes through intermediary banks.
• Receiving fees: Possible charges from the recipient’s bank.
• Exchange rate margin: The markup applied when converting your euros into another currency.

Avoiding hidden fees

Most French banks list standard commissions and fees in their price guides. However, hidden costs are often embedded in the exchange rate itself.

For instance, if the mid-market rate is €1 = $1.15 but your bank applies €1 = $1.10, it’s taking a $0.05 margin per euro — meaning you lose €50 on a €1,000 transfer without realising it.

Comparing different international transfer services available in France

Several providers allow you to make international transfers directly from France.
To compare them effectively, check both the applied exchange rate and any fees involved.

Example: sending money from France to the UK

Here’s what happens when sending €2,000 from France to a British pound account in the UK:

As shown above, the recipient receives more with Wise — even though Western Union advertises “no transfer fees.” This example highlights how hidden costs within the exchange rate can significantly reduce the amount received.

How to choose the best transfer method

Transfer costs depend on several factors:

• Type of provider
• Exchange rate used
• Transfer amount
• Additional fees (conversion, receiving, correspondent banks)

The cheapest option isn’t always the best. Consider the provider’s processing time, limits, and available payment methods (bank card, wire transfer, etc.).

So, what’s the best way to send money abroad from France?

Plan your transfer in advance. Compare options to find the best combination of speed, transparency, and cost.

Run a simulation to see how much your recipient will receive and what the total cost will be.
If you’re sending a large amount, keep in mind that the main cost often comes from an inflated exchange rate.

To get a better deal, choose a provider like Wise, which always converts your money at the mid-market exchange rate — helping you save on every transfer.

With a Wise account, you can even decide when to convert your euros to another currency to get the most favourable rate.

Send money with Wise

Last verified on September 10, 2025.

This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.