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Send money to France
Find out how you can save money and enjoy fast transfers when you send money to France from Australia.
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If you need to send money from Australia to France, you have plenty of options. However, it pays to compare your options and shop around to find the best deal. Check out some of the most popular providers below, or read our guide further down on what you should keep in mind.
Send money to France with TorFX
TorFX International Money Transfers Offer
- No extra fees
- Fix your exchange rate for up to 2 years
- Price-match guarantee
- Personal account manager
Send money to France with TorFX
TorFX guarantees to match any competitor's exchange rate. Conditions apply.
Send money overseas in 30+ currencies with competitive rates for transfer amounts over $2,000.
- Minimum transfer amount: $2,000
- Online transfer fee: $0
Compare options for sending money to France
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
What's in this guide?
Tonio travels to Australia
Before settling down after university, Tonio, a Paris native, would like to spend time abroad. Hearing of the working holiday maker program he sees Australia as a good opportunity to learn how to surf and work at the same time.
The only concern Tonio has is continuing to pay his student loan while abroad. He does some research online to see how much it would cost to send $1,000 AUD to France monthly, and how many Euro (EUR) that would exchange to.
Bank | Money transfer company | |
|---|---|---|
Exchange rate | 1.00 AUD = 0.6881 EUR | 1.00 AUD = 0.71773 EUR |
Fee | 22 AUD | 3.99 AUD |
Amount for $1,000 AUD | 703.24 EUR | 717.73 EUR |
Transfer options | Bank transfer | Bank transfer |
Transfer time | Three to five business days | One to three business days |
Difference | + 14.49 EUR |
Tonio finds out that sending money through the money transfer service will his money to France quicker, and save him almost 15 EUR per month (over 170 EUR in a year).
Turn fee money into your money by comparing transfer options effectively
There are a number of things to consider when transferring money from Australia to France as you can see from Tonio’s example. To ensure that you are getting the service you want at the best value look closely at the following:
- Exchange rate. Exchange rates will fluctuate with the market, so this is something you will need to look at frequently. Always apply it to a larger Australian Dollar amount to see the true difference in value.
- Fees. As you can see from the above example, there could be a significant difference in the amount of fees you're charged. This amount may also change if you send higher dollar amounts.
- Transfer options. Banks can offers the convenience of completing the transfer online, while some transfer companies require you to go to their office.
- Pick up options. As with the transfer, this is a matter of personal preference and ease for the person who will be receiving the money.
- Turnaround time. If sending money in an emergency situation, the transfer company is the best option.
Choose the right transfer option to France depending on your situation
With the Euro being a highly recognised currency, you are going to find a few options available when choosing a money transfer company:
- WorldRemit. WorldRemit allows you to transfer money to a bank account in France using money debited from a transaction account.
- Western Union and MoneyGram. Both of these providers give you the option to send money and have it available as a cash pick up.
- Travelex. If you're sending a minimum of $500 AUD you can use Travelex to send money to France. They have a $15 (or equivalent) fee for transfers under $10,000, with transfers above this being free.
Use our comparison table to find out what options you have when transferring money to France
Tax and regulations for sending money to France
Gift taxes are just one part of France's complicated inheritance laws, which are generally based on your relationship to the beneficiary of your gifts of cash or property. In France, children and spouses are considered equal "protected heirs", which limits how much you can legally give each.
It's possible for your French family to receive one-off gifts of cash tax free. These amounts range from $115,000 to children to about $35,000 to grandchildren and $18,000 to siblings.
Note that inheritance laws may not apply to remittances sent from another country. But given the complexity of these laws, which are deeply entrenched in legal requirements and exclusions, your loved ones will benefit from an expert in French laws when receiving large amounts of cash.
What are the penalties for not filing a large remittance?
French citizens are required to submit a déclaration des revenues each year. If your recipient fails to declare a large remittance on their tax returns, they could be on the hook for stiff financial penalties equal to 5% or more of the remittance amount. If the government determines that they've wilfully ignored the law, tax penalties can soar to a severe 50% or more.
French banks are required to record the source of large transfers and report any suspicious deposits to the government. Encourage your family and friends in France to declare any large remittance on their general tax returns.
Do I have to report large transfers out of Australia?
You won't have to report any amount of money you send to France. If the transfer is above $10,000, or it's classed as "suspicious", your bank or money transfer company automatically reports this to AUSTRAC (Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre). This is the government agency set up to monitor financial transactions and to help prevent money laundering.
Find out more about sending money into Australia
DISCLAIMER: This article is general advice. It does not consider your own personal circumstances and may not be applicable to you. You should obtain professional advice and consider your own situation before acting on anything contained in our article.
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Get your hands on emergency cash in France
France is one of the most visited countries in the world, including approximately 100,000 Australians annually. If you are travelling in France and are robbed of your cash, you have a few ways of replacing at least a portion of it for the rest of your trip:
- Money transfer company. With your Australian passport and the tracking code, you will be able to pick up cash from a money transfer agency that has been sent to you from Australia.
- Emergency cash from your credit card. A credit card may have an international travel insurance that will cover you for lost cash while traveling abroad. They will make arrangements for you to receive that money.
- Travel insurance. An insurance policy is always recommended when traveling abroad. In the event that you are robbed, this policy could cover the cash that was lost and send you a replacement. Remember to save a police report to use when filing your claim.
Cash pickup locations in France
Western Union
Paris
La Banque Postale
9 Place De L’hotel De Ville
Paris, 75004
+33-825009898
Open Monday through Friday 8am to 6:30pm, Saturday 8am to 11:30am, Closed on Sunday.
La Banque Postale
4 Rue De Moussy
Paris, 75004
+33-825009898
Open Monday through Friday 8am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 12pm, Sunday closed.
Lyon
La Banque Postale
3 Rue Du President Edouard
Herriot
Lyon, 69001
+33-825-009898
OPen Monday through Friday 8am to 6:30pm, Saturday 8am to 11:30am, Sunday closed.
Global Cash Sud
3 Rue De La Republique
Lyon, Lyon 69001
Phone. +33-4-78273545
Hours. Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm, Sunday closed.
MoneyGram
Paris
MGF Agence Paris – Sebastop
45 Boulevard De Sebastopol
Paris, 75001
+014-0289439
Open Monday through Saturday 9am to 7pm, Sunday closed.
Tabac Saint Michel
22 Rue Saint Andre Des Arts
Paris, 75006
+331-46330808
Open seven days a week from 6am to 8pm.
Lyon
Tabac Presse De La Bourse –Lyon
55 Rue De la Bourse
Lyon, 69002
+047-8371318
Open Monday through Saturday 8am to 2pm. Sunday closed.
Terreaux GSM – Lyon
31 Rue Romarin
Lyon, 69001
+095-4380240
Open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm.
Pick up cash the right way when in France
If you are visiting France and need to travel to a cash pick up agency, call ahead to confirm their hours and to ensure that they have enough cash available. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recommends that tourists practice normal safety precautions, but when picking up cash you should heighten your awareness of your surroundings and choose an agency in a well trafficked area.
Back to topSend money to France effortlessly in four steps
If using a money transfer service to send money to France from Australia the company you choose will dictate whether the transaction is completed online or at an agency. In either event you are going to need to following information:
- Recipient name. When picking up cash, the recipient is going to have to show a photo identification. The name on that ID must be the same as the name on the transfer request.
- Complete address. You will be asked to give the mailing address of your beneficiary.
- Contact information. The phone numbers of both you and the recipient.
- Security question. For added security you could request that the recipient be asked a question created by you.
A reference number will be given to you at the end of the transaction that you will need to give to your friend or family member in France. Make sure that you save that paperwork in the event of a dispute.
As the amount of young people coming to Australia to work and vacation from France continues to rise, the need for reliable means of transferring money will grow. By going over the choices you have carefully, you can find the company that stretches the Australian Dollar further in Euros.
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