Sendwave money transfer from France: fees and complete guide

Sendwave, a subsidiary of Chime Inc founded in 2014 in the United States, is a UK-based company offering money transfer services from North America and Europe primarily to African and Asian countries. But how exactly does Sendwave work? How do you open an account, and what are the transfer fees? We explain everything in this complete guide.

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How Sendwave Works: What You Need to Know

Before getting into fees and rates, let’s take a look at how Sendwave operates.

How to send money with Sendwave

To send money via Sendwave, follow these steps:

• Download the Sendwave mobile app (available for iOS and Android).
• Sign up and create your Sendwave account.
• Add a recipient in one of the supported countries.
• Enter the amount and recipient details.
• Provide your payment information.
• Verify your identity by submitting your ID.
• Confirm and send your transfer.

Which countries use Sendwave?

Sendwave allows transfers from select North American and European countries to destinations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.¹

You can send money from: France, Belgium, the UK, Ireland, Italy, the United States, Canada, Germany, Spain, and Portugal.²

You can receive money in: Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Gambia, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Morocco, Madagascar, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Thailand, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Brazil, Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Pakistan, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.²

Sendwave Fees: How Much Do Transfers Cost?

Sendwave’s goal is to make international transfers fast, secure, and affordable — avoiding high commissions for both senders and recipients.

Because Sendwave mainly operates between North America or Europe and destinations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, currency conversion is almost always involved. For example, a transfer from France to Morocco would convert euros into Moroccan dirhams.

Sendwave: mid-market or marked-up exchange rate?

Sendwave applies its own exchange rate when converting currencies. The rate used is displayed before confirming the transaction.
The company also charges fees for some transfers (depending on the country) and earns a margin when currency conversion occurs.

Sendwave transfer fees: examples

Sendwave supports transfers in multiple currencies, such as USD, GBP, and EUR, to several countries in Asia and Africa. Below are examples of fees excluding currency conversion charges:¹

Apart from the U.S.-to-Lebanon transfer fee, most Sendwave transfers are free of direct charges.
However, keep in mind that Sendwave adds a markup to its exchange rate — meaning it profits from currency conversion (for example, EUR to MAD). Because almost all Sendwave transfers involve converting one currency into another, this markup always applies.

To save more on exchange rates, you could choose a provider that uses the mid-market exchange rate, without hidden markups — like Wise. With Wise, you can hold multiple currencies, send money to 140+ destinations, and even receive local account details.

Sendwave App FAQ: Money Transfers

How to create a Sendwave account

To create an account on Sendwave:

• Download and open the mobile app.
• Tap Sign up.
• Enter your name, email address, country of origin, phone number, password, and destination country.
• Accept the terms and privacy policy.
• Tap Sign up.

What information is required to send money via Sendwave?

You’ll usually need to provide the recipient’s full legal name and phone number.
In some countries, such as Lebanon, Sendwave also asks you to specify the reason for the transfer using predefined options in the app.

How much can you send with Sendwave?

Sendwave limits depend on your region:¹

• $999 / £999 / €999 per day
• $2,999 / £2,500 / €2,500 per month

You can request a higher limit by submitting additional documents through the app.

Can you use a credit card on Sendwave?

No. Sendwave only supports debit cards, as they involve lower transaction costs — allowing Sendwave to keep its fees down.

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With Wise, sending money abroad from France is fast and transparent.

You can send money to 140+ countries — including many in Africa and Asia such as Morocco, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, or Thailand — and hold 40+ currencies in one account.
All conversions use the mid-market exchange rate, unlike most providers that add hidden markups.

Opening a Wise account is completely free, with no monthly or maintenance fees.

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Last verified on October 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.