Sending Money from Germany to Australia: Best Options in 2026

The best ways to send money from Germany to Australia in 2026 — Wise, Revolut, bank transfers compared. Exchange rates, fees, speed and which option saves the most money.

Why Getting Currency Transfers Right Matters

For Australians living and working in Germany, sending money home is a regular and significant financial activity. Whether you are contributing to an Australian mortgage, supporting family, topping up a savings account or simply moving accumulated savings back to Australia, the difference between a good and a poor transfer method can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

German banks — like Australian banks — offer international wire transfers, but they are almost universally the worst option for regular transfers due to poor exchange rates and high fees. In 2026, specialist money transfer services offer dramatically better rates and the technology to move money efficiently between Australia and Germany.

Understanding Currency Transfer Costs

Before comparing services, it helps to understand where transfer costs actually come from. There are two main cost components that every transfer involves:

The Exchange Rate Margin

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate you see on Google or XE.com — the real rate at which currencies trade. Every money transfer service applies a margin on top of this rate — they buy euros at the mid-market rate and sell Australian dollars to you at a slightly worse rate. This margin, expressed as a percentage, is often the largest hidden cost of currency transfers. A 2% margin on a €5,000 transfer costs €100 — far more than any stated fee.

Transfer Fees

Most services charge a flat or percentage-based transfer fee in addition to the exchange rate margin. These are visible and easy to compare — the exchange rate margin is not, and is where most providers make their profit on ordinary customers.

The Best Services for Germany to Australia Transfers

1. Wise (formerly TransferWise) — Best Overall

Exchange rate: Mid-market rate (no markup)  |  Fee: 0.4–0.7% of transfer amount  |  Speed: 1–2 business days

Wise is the gold standard for international money transfers and the service most commonly recommended by Australian expats in Germany. It charges the real mid-market exchange rate with no markup, and applies a transparent percentage fee (typically 0.4–0.7% for EUR to AUD) that is clearly shown before you confirm the transfer.

The Wise multi-currency account (formerly "Borderless Account") allows you to hold balances in both EUR and AUD simultaneously and convert between them at the optimal time — useful for Australians who want to time their transfers around favourable exchange rate movements. The Wise debit card linked to this account works in both Germany and Australia.

Setting up a Wise account from Germany requires identity verification (passport and a selfie) and takes 1–3 business days. Once set up, transfers are initiated through the app or website and arrive in the Australian bank account within 1–2 business days in most cases.

Best for: Regular transfers of any size. The transparency of fees and real exchange rate makes Wise consistently the most cost-effective option.

Cost example: Sending €3,000 to Australia via Wise costs approximately €13–€21 in fees at the real exchange rate. The same transfer through a major German bank might cost €25–€40 in fees plus a 2–3% exchange rate margin — a total cost difference of €60–€90 on a single transfer.

2. Revolut — Best for Flexibility

Exchange rate: Mid-market rate (weekdays) / markup on weekends  |  Fee: Free up to monthly limit (paid plans) / 0.5% above limit  |  Speed: Instant to same day

Revolut is a financial super-app that is extremely popular among younger Australians in Europe. The standard free plan allows currency exchange at the mid-market rate up to €1,000 per month with no fee, beyond which a 0.5% fee applies. The Premium (€8.99/month) and Metal (€15.99/month) plans offer higher fee-free limits and additional features.

Important caveat: Revolut applies a 1% markup on currency exchanges made on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) when the forex markets are closed. Always exchange currency on weekdays to avoid this.

Revolut is particularly useful for Australians who also use it as their primary German spending card — it eliminates foreign transaction fees when spending, and transfers between Revolut users are instant. For transferring money specifically to an Australian bank account, Wise is generally slightly cheaper for large amounts.

3. OFX (formerly OzForex) — Best for Large Transfers

Exchange rate: Competitive margin (varies)  |  Fee: No transfer fee on amounts above A$10,000  |  Speed: 1–2 business days

OFX is an Australian-founded money transfer company with strong EUR-AUD capabilities. It is particularly competitive for large transfers — A$10,000 and above — due to its zero-fee structure at that threshold and its ability to negotiate rates for very large amounts. OFX also offers forward contracts (locking in a rate for a future transfer) and rate alerts — features that are useful for Australians who need to transfer large sums (property purchases, major savings movements) and want to manage exchange rate risk.

OFX does apply an exchange rate margin (typically 0.5–1.5% depending on the amount and current market conditions) so it is not as pure as Wise's model, but for amounts above €10,000 the total cost is typically comparable.

4. German Bank SEPA Transfers — For EUR Only

For moving money between German bank accounts or to other European bank accounts in EUR, SEPA transfers are free, instant (within Germany) or same-day (across Europe) and the obvious choice. The problem arises when converting to AUD — German banks' EUR-AUD exchange rates are poor and their international wire fees are high.

Use SEPA transfers for: paying rent, splitting bills with flatmates, paying German invoices, moving EUR between your own German accounts. Never use your German bank's international wire service to send EUR to Australia unless it is an emergency.

5. PayPal — Avoid for Large Transfers

PayPal charges high exchange rate margins (typically 3–4% above mid-market) and transfer fees. It is convenient for small payments to individuals but is a poor choice for regular Germany-to-Australia transfers. The exchange rate cost on a €1,000 transfer via PayPal versus Wise is typically €25–€40 worse.

Comparison Table: Sending €3,000 from Germany to Australia

The cost difference between Wise and a German bank transfer is significant — on €3,000 the saving is approximately €80 per transfer. For an Australian sending money home monthly, that is roughly A$1,200–A$1,500 per year in unnecessary costs avoided by using the right service.

Setting Up for Germany-Australia Transfers

What You Need

• German bank account: Required as the source of funds. N26, DKB and Commerzbank all work seamlessly with Wise and Revolut for outgoing transfers.
• Australian bank account: Required as the destination. The BSB and account number are all that is needed — no IBAN required for Australian accounts.
• Verified Wise or Revolut account: Both require passport verification and take 1–3 business days to set up initially.

Step by Step: Setting Up Wise

1. Go to wise.com and create an account with your email address
2. Choose "Personal account" and complete identity verification with your passport and selfie
3. Once verified, click "Send money" and select EUR → AUD
4. Enter the amount, add your Australian bank details (BSB + account number)
5. Fund the transfer from your German bank account via SEPA bank transfer
6. Funds typically arrive in Australia within 1–2 business days

Exchange Rate Strategy for Australians

The EUR/AUD exchange rate fluctuates significantly — in recent years it has moved between approximately 1.55 and 1.75, a range of over 10%. For Australians making large or regular transfers, timing matters.

• Set rate alerts: Wise, Revolut and OFX all allow you to set alerts when EUR/AUD reaches a target rate. This avoids the need to check rates daily.
• Avoid weekend transfers: Revolut applies a weekend markup. Even with Wise, transfers initiated on Friday afternoon may process on Monday, so mid-week is generally more predictable.
• Large transfers: For transfers above €10,000 — property-related, significant savings movements — consider using OFX or calling a specialist forex broker who can negotiate a rate. The savings can be several hundred dollars on large amounts.
• Regular transfers: If you send money monthly, consider setting a calendar reminder to check the rate once a week and transfer when the rate is favourable rather than on a fixed date.

Australian Tax Implications of Overseas Transfers

For Australians who are Australian tax residents living overseas (which depends on your specific circumstances and the ATO's residency test), international money transfers can have tax implications:

• Moving your own salary or savings from Germany to Australia is generally not a taxable event in itself
• Currency gains — where you receive more AUD than you originally converted to EUR — may be taxable as foreign exchange gains
• The ATO has guidance on foreign currency transactions for Australian residents
• For large transfers or complex situations, an accountant familiar with Australian expat taxation is worth consulting

Transfer FAQs for Australians in Germany

How long does a transfer from Germany to Australia take?

Via Wise or Revolut: typically 1–2 business days from when the EUR leaves your German bank account. The total process (initiating transfer → German bank sends EUR → Wise converts → AUD arrives in Australia) takes 2–3 business days in most cases. Some transfers arrive same-day or next day if initiated early in the German business day.

Is there a limit on how much I can send from Germany to Australia?

German law requires banks to report international transfers above €10,000 to financial authorities — this is automatic and not something you need to do yourself. There is no legal limit on how much you can transfer, but very large transfers (€50,000+) may trigger additional verification questions from Wise or your German bank. For large transfers, having documentation of the source of funds (payslips, property sale documents etc) is useful.

Do I need to declare money arriving in Australia?

Transfers above A$10,000 into Australia are reported by Australian banks to AUSTRAC automatically. You do not need to declare them yourself, but if the ATO queries the source, having records of your German employment or savings is important. Moving your own money between your own accounts is not income and generally not taxable — but get accounting advice for your specific situation.

Related Guides

• Working in Germany — Australian Guide
• Australian Expat Community in Germany
• Study in Germany — Australian Guide