Sending money from Europe to Pakistan: what you need to know
Pakistan is one of the world's largest remittance recipients — annual inflows are 27 billion (2023). While we don't have a dedicated guide for Europe senders yet, the providers above are licensed for outbound transfers from Europe to Pakistan.
How recipients in Pakistan receive funds
Your recipient in Pakistan can receive PKR in several ways. The fastest method depends on whether they have a bank account, a mobile wallet, or need cash:
- Bank Account (IBFT) — Interbank Funds Transfers to all Pakistani banks via RAAST payment system.
- EasyPaisa / JazzCash — Mobile wallet delivery widely used across Pakistan for instant receipt.
- Cash Pickup — Available through HBL, MCB agents, Western Union, and local exchange companies.
Confirm the delivery method with your recipient before you send. Most providers let you choose the method during checkout, but the fee and speed can vary — bank transfers are typically cheapest, cash pickup is typically fastest.
Which EUR → PKR provider is best for you?
There is no single 'best' provider — the right choice depends on whether you prioritise the recipient amount, the fee, the speed, or the institution type.
- If you want the most for your money: Moneygram delivered the highest recipient amount in our most recent live snapshot.
- If you want zero fees: Moneygram charges no upfront fee — just check the exchange rate margin in the table to see what you actually receive.
- If you'd rather use a bank: ABN AMRO Bank is one of the licensed bank options in this corridor — slower (typically 1–3 days) and usually more expensive than money-transfer operators, but some senders prefer the familiarity.
Recommendations refresh with the live data above. The provider that wins today may not win tomorrow — always check the live table immediately before sending.
Receiving foreign currency in Pakistan
Pakistan's rules around inbound foreign currency are usually permissive for personal remittance, but it's worth knowing the framework:
- SBP Roshan Digital — State Bank of Pakistan's Roshan Digital Account allows overseas Pakistanis to receive and invest remittances through a special account.
The hidden cost: rate margin vs upfront fee
In the EUR to PKR corridor right now, 13 providers are competing for your transfer — and the gap between the best and worst deal is ₨15,069 on a €1,000 send. Moneygram delivers ₨3,08,966 while Deutsche Bank delivers only ₨2,93,897. That difference comes almost entirely from rate margin, not the headline fee.
The mid-market rate — the one banks use among themselves — is currently 1 EUR = 308.83 PKR. At that rate, €1,000 would convert to exactly ₨3,08,826. Moneygram's rate of 308.97 means a margin of roughly -0.05%, while Deutsche Bank's rate of 305.05 embeds a 1.22% margin. Even small-sounding percentages add up: on a €5,000 transfer, that worst-case margin costs you ₨75,347 compared to the best option.
Moneygram, Ria Money Transfer, Remitly, Instarem, WorldRemit, Xoom, Skrill all advertise zero upfront fees on this corridor — but "no fee" does not mean "no cost". Each of those providers builds a margin into the exchange rate they offer. Compare their recipient amounts in the table above: the differences prove that zero-fee offers vary widely in actual value.