How to Send Money from Ireland to India in 2026: Best Providers, Fees and EUR to INR Rates

Send money from Ireland to India and the provider you choose decides whether your family in Kerala, Punjab or Gujarat receives roughly EUR 20 or EUR 45 out of every EUR 1,000 you part with. That spread is the whole game on this corridor. India is the world's largest remittance market — the World Bank put inflows at about USD 129 billion in 2024 — and Ireland's Indian community has grown into one of the largest and fastest-growing non-Irish groups in the State, working across healthcare, IT, pharmaceuticals, hospitality and construction.

Because Ireland is a euro country, most people assume a transfer to India is a simple euro payment. It is not. Your euro has to be converted to rupees, and the conversion happens at whichever rate the provider decides to give you — not at the rate you see on Google. This guide compares the providers that genuinely work from an Irish account to an Indian bank account: Wise, Revolut, Remitly, Ria, Western Union, NALA, Xe and TorFX, plus AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB. All comparisons use the live mid-market rate of 1 EUR = 106.26 INR recorded at 00:02 UTC on 24 October 2026.

Quick answer: the best option depends on how much you send

• Best overall for most people: Wise — mid-market rate with a transparent fee of roughly 0.4% to 0.6%, payout to Indian bank accounts by IMPS/NEFT and, increasingly, direct to UPI IDs.
• Cheapest for small, frequent transfers: Revolut (if you already hold an account) or Remitly Economy — low or zero headline fee, and SEPA funding from your Irish bank is free.
• Fastest when it must land today: Remitly Express or Western Union — minutes to a few hours on most Indian bank rails, at a higher all-in cost.
• Cash pickup for a recipient without a bank account: Western Union or Ria, both with large agent networks across India.
• Large transfers (EUR 10,000+): a specialist broker such as TorFX or Xe, where a 0.3% better rate is worth EUR 30 on a EUR 10,000 send.
• Worst value: an AIB or Bank of Ireland SWIFT transfer — typically EUR 15 to EUR 25 in fees plus a 2% to 3% FX margin, and two to five business days in transit.

The live EUR to INR rate (24 October 2026)

The mid-market rate — the one banks use between themselves — stood at 1 EUR = 106.26 INR at 00:02 UTC on 24 October 2026. No consumer provider gives you that rate; they earn money on the gap between the mid-market rate and the rate they quote you. That gap is called the FX margin, and it is usually far more expensive than the visible "transfer fee".

Read that table again with a EUR 1,000 transfer in mind: the difference between a 1% and a 2.5% margin is about ₹1,600, roughly a month of groceries for a family in Kochi. The lesson is simple — compare the rupees that actually arrive, never the advertised fee.

Provider by provider: who is actually good on Ireland to India

Wise — the benchmark for rate transparency

Wise converts at (or extremely close to) the mid-market rate and charges a separate, upfront fee that is typically between 0.4% and 0.6% of the amount on EUR to INR, funded by a SEPA transfer or debit card. Recipients in India are paid into a bank account via IMPS or NEFT, and Wise also supports payout to a UPI ID in many cases. Delivery is usually within minutes to one business day. The practical advantage is that you can see the exact fee and the exact rate before you confirm — there is no hidden margin folded into the exchange rate.

Revolut — cheapest if the money is already in the app

Revolut offers international transfers to India from an Irish (en-IE) account with a low headline fee and a rate close to mid-market during the week. Two things to watch: the free plan has a monthly fair-usage allowance, above which a percentage fee applies, and a markup is added on weekend conversions. If you are paid in euro into Revolut and send on a Tuesday morning, Revolut is often the cheapest route for EUR 100 to EUR 500. Send on a Sunday night and the same transfer can cost meaningfully more.

Remitly — best speed-to-cost balance

Remitly runs two speeds on the Ireland to India route. Economy is cheaper, with a low fee and a rate slightly below mid-market, arriving in three to five business days. Express costs a few euro more and typically lands within minutes to a couple of hours. Payout options include bank deposit (IMPS/NEFT), UPI and cash pickup. New customers usually get a promotional first-transfer rate — treat that as a one-off discount, not the long-run price.

Ria Money Transfer — strong cash pickup network

Ria is widely available in Ireland and pays out to Indian bank accounts as well as through a large agent network, including Ebix Cash, Delphi and Supreme Securities outlets. Fees are competitive on card funding and the rate margin is moderate. Ria is the sensible pick when the recipient prefers cash or does not have a bank account in the right name.

Western Union — everywhere, at a price

Western Union has an Irish-facing site and app with bank deposit, UPI and cash pickup options in India. Convenience is unmatched — there are pickup points in small towns where no fintech has a presence — but the all-in cost is usually the highest of the digital providers, particularly when you fund with a card and choose cash pickup. Use it for reach and speed, not for value.

NALA — app-first, good for recurring sends

NALA (formerly NALA Money) has built a following among African and South Asian diaspora communities in Europe, with an Ireland to India route that shows the EUR/INR rate, supports Apple Pay and Google Pay funding and offers transfer tracking. Rates are competitive for mid-sized transfers; check the fee line carefully because card funding can add cost.

Xe and TorFX — for larger amounts

Xe (owned by Euronet) and TorFX are currency specialists rather than remittance apps. On a EUR 10,000 transfer their rate can be around 1% off mid-market — comparable to Wise — but with dedicated dealers, forward contracts and better pricing as the amount grows. Below EUR 2,000 the fixed costs make them uncompetitive.

AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB — convenient, expensive

An Irish bank transfer to India is a SWIFT payment: EUR 15 to EUR 25 in charges, a 2% to 3% FX margin, possible intermediary bank deductions, and two to five business days. On EUR 1,000 that can quietly cost EUR 35 to EUR 55 — three to five times a Wise transfer. Banks are the right tool for a same-day SEPA payment to another euro country, not for a euro-to-rupee conversion.

Cost comparison: EUR 1,000 from Ireland to India

All figures below are indicative, modelled on the 24 October 2026 mid-market rate of 106.26 with typical published fee structures. Live quotes move daily and vary by payment method — always confirm the final rupee amount in the provider's app before you confirm.

The pattern is consistent: the digital providers cluster within about EUR 12 of each other, and the banks sit roughly EUR 30 to EUR 40 behind. On a EUR 1,000 monthly send, choosing a bank over Wise costs you about EUR 400 a year — a return flight to India.

How the money actually reaches India

Understanding the rails helps you spot a bad quote and set expectations with your family.

IMPS, NEFT and RTGS

Almost every provider ultimately pushes your rupees into an Indian bank account through one of three domestic systems. IMPS is instant and runs 24/7. NEFT settles in batches and is effectively same-day on working days. RTGS is for high-value transfers and only operates during banking hours. You will be asked for the beneficiary's account number and IFSC code — the eleven-character code that identifies the exact branch.

UPI payouts

A growing number of providers can pay directly to a UPI ID (something like name@okhdfcbank). This is the fastest route for a recipient who uses a phone-first bank account, and it removes the risk of typing a wrong IFSC code. Availability depends on the provider and on the recipient's bank, so confirm in the app before you promise an instant arrival.

Cash pickup

Western Union and Ria can pay out cash at agent locations. The recipient needs photo identification and the reference number, and larger amounts may require the branch to hold the cash in advance. Cash is the right choice only when the recipient has no usable bank account.

Step by step: your first transfer from Ireland

1. Pick the provider with a live quote. Enter EUR 1,000 and read the rupee figure, not the fee. Compare at least two providers on the same day.
2. Verify your identity. Irish anti-money-laundering rules require photo ID and often proof of address. Approval is usually instant, occasionally a few hours.
3. Add the recipient. Name exactly as it appears on the Indian bank account, account number, IFSC code, and the bank's name. A mismatch in the beneficiary name is the single most common cause of a failed transfer.
4. Fund by SEPA, not by card. A SEPA credit transfer from your Irish bank account is free or nearly free and avoids the 0.5% to 1.5% card surcharge most providers add.
5. Check the purpose code. Indian banks require the remitter to declare why the money is being sent — family maintenance, education, medical treatment and gift are the usual categories for personal transfers.
6. Keep the receipt. Save the SWIFT/UTR reference. It is what your provider and the receiving bank need if anything goes missing.

Five cost traps on the Ireland to India route

• The "zero fee" illusion. A provider advertising no fee simply moves the cost into the exchange rate. A 2% margin on EUR 1,000 is EUR 20 — four times a visible EUR 5 fee.
• Weekend conversions. Revolut and several banks apply a markup when the FX market is closed. A Friday-night transfer can cost 1% more than the same transfer on Tuesday morning.
• Card funding surcharges. Paying by debit or credit card is convenient but routinely adds 0.5% to 1.5%, and some providers treat it as a cash advance.
• Intermediary bank deductions. On SWIFT payments, correspondent banks can shave EUR 10 to EUR 25 off the amount before it reaches India — and the fee is invisible until the money lands short.
• Stale rates. A quote held for 24 hours is not the rate you get. Confirm the rate at the moment you hit send, and never rely on a comparison screenshot from last week.

For a deeper breakdown of how margins are buried in quotes, see our guide to hidden fees in international money transfers.

Tax and compliance: what Ireland and India each require

From the Irish side, sending your own after-tax money abroad is not a taxable event and there is no routine reporting requirement for personal transfers. Banks and providers must run AML checks, and a transfer that looks unusual relative to your profile can trigger a request for source-of-funds documentation. Keep payslips or bank statements handy if you regularly send large amounts.

On the Indian side, inward remittances are governed by FEMA and must fall within a permitted purpose category, which is why your provider asks for a purpose code. Money sent by a relative for family maintenance or as a gift is generally not taxable in the hands of the recipient in India; income such as rent, salary or business receipts is a different matter and should be declared normally. If you are sending for a property purchase or an investment, take Indian tax advice before you send — the treatment changes.

Large transfers and monthly senders

If you send the same amount every month, small percentage differences compound. A EUR 1,000 monthly transfer at a 0.45% margin costs about EUR 54 a year in FX spread; at 2.5% it costs EUR 300. Set a reminder to re-shop the corridor every six months — promotional rates expire and fee structures change.

For a one-off transfer above roughly EUR 10,000, ask two specialists for a firm quote on the same day and compare the rupee amount, not the rate. TorFX and Xe will quote a rate for a specific value date, and some will let you lock a rate for a future transfer with a forward contract. For amounts over EUR 50,000, a dealer will usually beat any app.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending to a different name. The beneficiary name must match the Indian bank account. Family members often share a surname but not an account.
• Using an NRE account by mistake. If the recipient holds an NRE account, the tax and repatriation rules differ from a normal savings account. Confirm which account type you are crediting.
• Ignoring the receiving bank's charges. Some Indian banks deduct a small inward remittance fee. Ask your provider whether the amount quoted is the amount that lands.
• Assuming instant means instant. "Minutes" usually refers to the payout leg after compliance checks; a first-time transfer to a new beneficiary can sit in review for a few hours.
• Not checking the rate on the day. The euro-rupee rate moved more than 2% within a 30-day window in late 2026 — timing alone can outweigh a fee difference.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to send money from Ireland to India?
For most amounts between EUR 100 and EUR 5,000, Wise and Revolut are the cheapest options, because they convert close to the mid-market rate and charge a small explicit fee. Fund the transfer by SEPA rather than card to avoid a surcharge, and send on a weekday if you use Revolut.

How long does a transfer from Ireland to India take?
Remitly Express and Western Union typically deliver in minutes to a few hours. Wise usually lands within minutes to one business day on IMPS or NEFT. Economy options take three to five business days, and SWIFT transfers through an Irish bank take two to five business days.

How much does it cost to send EUR 1,000 to India?
With a digital provider, expect an all-in cost of roughly EUR 3 to EUR 20 — that is, EUR 980 to EUR 997 actually converted at close to the mid-market rate. An Irish bank SWIFT transfer can cost EUR 35 to EUR 55 once the FX margin and intermediary charges are included.

Can I send money to a UPI ID in India?
Yes, several providers now support UPI payouts, including Wise on many routes, Remitly and Western Union. UPI is the fastest option for a recipient with a phone-first account and avoids IFSC errors, but availability varies by provider and bank.

Do I need to declare the transfer in Ireland?
No. Sending your own money abroad is not a taxable event and there is no routine reporting for personal transfers. Providers must run anti-money-laundering checks, so large or unusual transfers may require proof of source of funds.

Is the money taxable in India?
Remittances sent by a relative for family maintenance or as a gift are generally not taxable for the recipient in India. Income such as rent or business receipts is taxable and must be declared. For property or investment remittances, get Indian tax advice first.

What details do I need for an Indian bank account?
The beneficiary's full name as held by the bank, the account number, the IFSC code of the branch, and the bank name. For UPI, you need the UPI ID instead. Name mismatches are the most common cause of delayed or returned transfers.

Are Irish banks really that expensive for India?
Yes, for this corridor. AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB send euro to India over SWIFT, with fees of about EUR 15 to EUR 25 plus a 2% to 3% FX margin, and correspondent banks may deduct more. On EUR 1,000 that is typically three to five times the cost of Wise.

Verdict

For a typical Ireland to India transfer, Wise is the default choice: near mid-market conversion, a fee you can see before you commit, and payout on IMPS, NEFT or UPI. Revolut wins when the euros are already in the app and you send on a weekday. Remitly is the best balance of speed and cost when the money must land today, and Western Union or Ria remain the answer for cash pickup. Skip the SWIFT transfer through your Irish bank unless someone is paying the fee for you.

Related guides on this site: sending money from Ireland to the Philippines and to the United States, the UK to Ireland route, incoming transfers from the United States to Ireland, the India corridors from the Netherlands and France, our provider comparison method, and the head-to-head tests of Wise vs Remitly vs WorldRemit and MoneyGram vs Western Union.

Tags: #SendMoneyIreland #India #EURtoINR #Wise #Remitly #Revolut