The high standard of living of the Germans encourages Russians to look for work in Germany. Someone leaves for permanent residence, the lucky ones receive an inheritance, the majority find work and earn good money. Often, savings and savings need to be sent home. We need to figure out how to transfer money from Germany to Russia in 2021, faster and necessarily with minimal losses. This is possible, because the German financial system, like the Russian one, is closely integrated into the world one. You just have to take into account some local features of integration.
Options for sending money from Germany
Every German has a personal bank account. The bulk of transfers within and outside the country are carried out with reference to it.
Russians may not have such a tool at their disposal. Once in Germany, many open accounts in German or Russian banks, but not all and not always. You can send money transfers to Russia from Germany in the following ways:
- Through a bank account.
- Without using a checking account.
- Transfer from hand to hand.
The Germans are active users of banking “plastic”. However, like the Russians. The card is always linked to the account with the bank that issued it.
Germans, like Russians, also actively use e-wallets, international transfer systems and Internet banking.
It should be noted that the situation is approximately the same in both Russia and Belarus. And you can send euros to Belarus from Germany in the same ways. The movement of funds from the sender to the recipient is impossible without intermediaries, which are entered by the operators of payment systems: banks, international transfer systems, mail.
Through a bank account
For a long time, the main way to send money from almost any country was considered to be using the services provided by financial institutions. It works like this:
- The sender prepares the transfer, the bank conducts the transaction.
- Funds are transferred from the account or card of the sender, and credited to the account / card of the recipient or issued in cash.
- The operator charges a fee for the service.
The sender and the recipient can be a person with any legal status. This is the general scheme.
Let's say right away whether it is possible to transfer money from Germany to a Sberbank card, because in Russian pockets and wallets there are basically just such plastic cards. Yes, of course, this can be done.
There are many foreign partners among the partners of the largest Russian financial institution, including German ones. The work with foreign transfers is fine-tuned, however, it will be possible to transfer money from Germany to Russia to a Sberbank card if it is attached to an account in euros.
A German card can be obtained by registering a Girokonto current account with Comdirect or DKB banks. The best way to send money is from a Visa card linked to your foreign currency account with Postbank.
For the transfer of an amount up to 5 thousand euros, you will have to pay only 11 euros, and the funds will come in 5-7 days. If you use Internet banking, the commission is only 1.5 euros, regardless of the amount. All you need to send is a passport. Both a tax resident and a non-resident over the age of 18 can ship.
To send outside the single payment euro area (SEPA), you will have to make a money transfer using the following details:
- Legal name of the Russian financial institution;
- Bank SWIFT code in the Russian Federation.
- Recipient's passport data (full name).
- Beneficiary's card and account number.
- The address of the bank branch where the transfer will be received.
The most commonly used for this are Sparkasse and Volksbank (property of Sberbank).
The main correspondent bank of Sberbank for transfers in euros is Deutsche Bank. Others can be used, for example:
- Commerzbank;
- JP Morgan;
- ING Belgium.
If an amount over EUR 12,500 is sent via a German bank, documentary evidence of the need for the transfer may be required. Such transactions must be reported to the German Federal Bank. A certificate from the recipient about the need to pay for education or treatment will do.
Some banks offer to make a transfer to an account in national currency. In fact, there is an automatic conversion at the internal rate, which is unprofitable. The commission varies from 3 to 5%.
Transfer without a bank account
Millions of Germans use electronic money. For migrants, such online transfers are the most convenient and profitable solution.
The once traditional translation by mail is still in demand, but it is notable for its low speed. The funds are usually received by the recipient in 7-30 days. The sender will need a passport and proof of legal stay in Germany.
Money in the ruble equivalent is sent to a specific post office (an index is required) in the name of the recipient. Sending is possible only to a private person. The cost of such a transaction will be 1-2%.
International transfer systems are especially popular in Germany:
- Western Union;
- Moneygram;
- Moneybookers;
- TransferWise;
- PayPal.
The Russian systems Unistream, CONTACT and Zolotaya Korona are also well represented there.
Sending through Western Union is quick, the main thing is to send funds to an international card (Visa is preferred). This cannot be done on MIR cards.
To send money, you need:
- Visit any branch of the operator in Germany with a passport.
- Write an application for transfer, in which indicate the details of the recipient: country, town, address, full name, as well as the amount and currency of the transaction.
- Choose a payment method: cash or card.
- After payment, the employee will transfer the secret code to the sender, which must be communicated to the recipient.
Sending will not be cheaper than through a bank. The commission will be approximately 4.9%, and the conversion losses will be 2-3%. But the transfer will come within one business day. You can send no more than 5 thousand euros per day.
- About the same functionality is provided by the MoneyGram payment system. The commission here will be slightly higher - 3-5%.
- Working with TransferWise, which offers the best conversion conditions, is practically the same. For translation, they charge 2.3% plus 0.5 euros. The money is transferred on the same day.
- It is even more profitable to send via Moneybookers. To do this, you need to register on the official website using your e-mail address and open a foreign currency account in the bank, the client of which is the recipient, and then register it in the system.
For verification, you need to make a test translation: 15-20 euros. The recipient will receive a verification code in the comment to the payment, which will be required for subsequent transfers. The procedure is carried out once.
Transfer fee ─ 1% of the amount, but not more than 0.5 euros. Withdrawal fee ─ 1.8 euros. That is, in total you will have to pay only 2.30 euros. As a bonus, the service offers a credit card for 10 euros. The payment includes an annual service.
- Unistream makes instant money transfers from any bank card. There are collection points for this system in more than 240 German cities. The Unistream service point in Leipzig or any convenient sender in Germany can be found on the website http://geo.unistream.ru/en/2577/.
The maximum amount of a single transfer (direct or non-address) is 1,000 euros. You can send no more than 15 thousand euros per day. The system takes 2.4% of the amount. To use, you need:
- Arrive at the service point,
- Show your passport and tell the clerk where the money is sent to, and how much.
- Receive the control code of the transfer and send it to the recipient.
The conversion rate is set at the time of sending. It is possible to receive it immediately. The online service in Germany is not yet available.
- Zolotaya Korona sends funds to Russia from several dozen German cities. At the service point you will need:
- Verify your identity (provide your passport).
- Tell the operator the name, country and city of the recipient, mobile phone numbers. An exact address is not required. The recipient can choose where it is more convenient to receive money.
- Agree to the terms of the company and deposit funds.
Transfer to an individual is carried out in a few minutes. Commission ─ 1.5%. By the way, the service is very convenient and beneficial for repaying loans. You can choose the nearest service point on the service website https://koronapay.com/transfers/Pages/default.aspx#addressObjectId:DE/.
Cash transfer
It would seem that there is nothing easier to transfer money from hand to hand. Moreover, Germany is not so far away, and compatriots often ply back and forth. It's not a problem to find a courier. But the risks are great:
- The courier must be a reliable person, otherwise you can become a victim of deception.
- There are restrictions on the import of undeclared currency into Russia. Here you can be exposed to legislation.
It is not necessary to send euros in an equivalent exceeding 10 thousand dollars. The import of such amounts without declaring is punishable by law.
It is useful to first familiarize yourself with the exchange rates and take into account how much of your cash in total the courier himself is carrying.
On the other hand, this method of transferring money takes place without a commission, and is available even to those who are not at all knowledgeable in technology.
For violation of the rules of import and declaration in accordance with Art. 16.4 of the Administrative Code, faces an administrative fine in the amount of half to two times the amount of the undeclared amount or its confiscation.
The import of an undeclared amount over $ 20 thousand is punishable as smuggling: a prison term or correctional labor for two years.
Conclusions
In general terms, we looked at how to transfer money from Germany in 2021. There are options, and their number is increasing every year. The process is worth following. The German electronic settlement market is growing very rapidly. Gradually, new players appear on it, change the rules and old tariffs. We recommend that you often visit the sites of payment systems, especially Russian ones.
