How to transfer large amounts of money to Brazil from the UK

Sending a large payment to Brazil from the UK? You might be putting down a deposit on a holiday home or investment property there, or you’re moving to Brazil and are transferring money to a local account in your name.

Whatever your plans, you’ll need to know the best way to make secure, cost-effective large transfers to Brazil from the UK. We’re here to help, with a step-by-step guide covering exactly how to do it.

We’ll also look at fees, exchange rates, transfer limits and everything else you need to know. With our help, you can set up your transfer to Brazil in complete confidence.

If you’re looking for a reliable and cost-effective way to transfer large sums to Brazil, consider the money services provider Wise. With low, transparent fees*, great mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, Wise makes international money transfers simple and stress-free. Plus, you’ll receive dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts**.

Get expert support for your large transfer 📞

**The most a recipient can receive is 250,000 BRL (around 34,690 GBP at the time of writing) with a single transfer using Wise. We’re working on increasing this limit in the future.

How to transfer large amounts of money to Brazil from the UK

There are two main ways you can send large payments overseas from the UK - via your bank, or using a specialist international money transfer service.

The process should be similar for either option, and you’ll usually need the same recipient details.

Below are the main steps involved.

1. Get your recipient details together

First things first, you’ll need to make sure you have all the required details for your recipient and their bank.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• The recipient’s full name and address (this can be your own name if you’re sending money to your own Brazilian bank account)
• The name and address of their bank in Brazil
• Their account number or International Bank Account Number (IBAN)
• Their bank’s BIC/SWIFT code.

2. Check the fees and exchange rates

One of the main benefits of using a money transfer service is that you can usually check the fees, rates and estimated delivery time of your transfer upfront. This means you’ll know exactly what you’ll be paying.

It can be a little trickier when using a bank. Some may offer a similar transfer calculator in their online banking portal, but if not then you’ll need to check the fees list for your account. You might also need to contact the bank to find out about exchange rates, or check to see if they have a page on their website with the latest rates.

You can use this information to compare banks and providers, to get the best deal on your transfer.

3. Set up your payment

Once you’ve chosen a transfer method, it’s time to set up your transfer. In most cases, you can do this online.

The only exception is if your bank has limits for international transfers carried out online. For example, Barclays has a maximum limit for online transfers of £50,000 (this is for personal accounts, the limits are higher for Premier or Business accounts).¹

If you need to send more than this, you may need to visit a branch in person. Just make sure to take along some ID and all the details for your transfer.

If you’re sending a payment online, you’ll simply need to follow the on-screen steps and enter the details of the transfer when prompted. This includes:

• The recipient’s details
• The amount you’re sending
• The destination country and currency.

You may also be asked about who will be paying the fees. Banks often give you three options - the sender pays all the charges (OUR), the recipient pays/the amount will be deducted from the payment itself (BEN) or you share the charges (SHA).

If using a money transfer service, you may have to create an account first. Then, either link a bank account or top the account up with funds before making your first payment.

Once you’ve checked everything carefully, you can confirm and send the payment on its way.

Need to send money to yourself? If you need to transfer money from your UK account to a Brazilian bank account in your name, you’ll need to follow the same process as above - just like with any other recipient.

How much money can you send to Brazil from the UK?

Your bank may have daily limits on how much money you can send from online banking, although you can usually make larger payments by visiting a branch in person.

The limits for money transfer services tend to be a little different (and often higher), but still vary between providers.

With Wise, you can send up to 250,000 Brazilian real (approx. £34,690) per transfer online² with our dedicated large amounts transfer service.

How long does it take to send large transfers to Brazil?

When you send money to Brazil using your UK bank account, your transfer will be sent via the SWIFT network. This means it can take anywhere from 1 to 4 days, although it could be quicker or slower than this.

It’s usually much faster with money transfer services, often only taking a day or two.

📚 Read more: How long do international bank transfers from the UK take?

Is it safe to transfer large amounts of money to Brazil?

If you use a registered UK bank or a regulated, reputable money transfer service, it should be safe to send money to Brazil - even for large transfers.

You also need to take common sense precautions though. For example, avoiding sending money to people you don’t know and checking recipient bank details very carefully when entering them.

Fees and charges for transferring large amounts to Brazil

When it comes to sending money internationally, there are nearly always fees involved.

Let’s take a look at the kinds of charges you can expect when making a transfer to Brazil from the UK.

Upfront transfer fee

Both banks and specialist transfer services tend to charge international transfer fees. These may be a fixed amount (usually the case with banks) or vary depending on the destination, currency and amount.

You can pay this fee separately, or add it to the amount you’re sending.

Correspondent/receiving bank fees

When you send money with a bank, it will be sent via SWIFT. This is a network of worldwide banks, who communicate with each other to send and receive transfers.

SWIFT transfers don’t always go straight from A to B - it’s often the case that multiple banks are involved along the way. And they may each charge their own fee, as may the receiving bank in Brazil.

You’ll need to ask your bank about these correspondent/receiving bank fees, as info may not be available upfront.

GBP - BRL exchange rate

Alongside money transfer fees, you also need to factor in the exchange rate for converting your British pounds (GBP) to Brazilian real (BRL).

Money transfer services usually show you the rate you’ll get before you send, while with banks you may need to check in your online banking or on a separate page of the bank’s website.

How do you know you’re getting a good deal? Always compare the rate you’re offered to the mid-market exchange rate, to see how much of a markup the bank or provider has added on top.

Is it a good time to transfer GBP to BRL?

Exchange rates fluctuate all the time, so timing is crucial in order to get the best possible rate on your transfer from the UK to Brazil.

To find the perfect time to send your transfer, you can sign up for exchange rate alerts.

Wise – A low-cost alternative for large transfers

Looking for a secure, convenient and low-cost way to send large sums of money to Brazil? Take a look at the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

With Wise, you can send large amount transfers worldwide to 140+ countries for low, transparent fees* and you get the mid-market exchange rate with no markup.

Here’s an overview of the main benefits of using Wise:

Fast and easy setup with no physical paperwork Send up to 250,000 BRL (~34,690 GBP in a single transfer) Low, upfront, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rates Dedicated support for large transfers Sophisticated security and anti-fraud measures, with your money safeguarded Trackable and fast transfers to 140+ countries Low-cost spending in 150+ countries with the Wise card Earn a return on your GBP, USD and EUR with Wise Interest (capital at risk, growth not guaranteed)**

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

**Investments in funds are never guaranteed and your capital can be at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

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Sources used:

1. Barclays - Daily payments limits in the app
2. Wise - Guide to BRL transfers

Sources last checked on date: 6-Aug-2025