How to send money from Nigeria to the UK

In short

• Most providers charge you a transfer fee, and give you an exchange rate below the market rate.
• Compare the pounds each provider says your recipient will receive, because that amount already includes the fee and the rate.
• A transfer to a UK bank account needs your recipient's full name, account number, and sort code.
• Juicyway sends pounds to a UK bank account through Faster Payments, and the transfer can arrive in as quickly as minutes.
• Juicyway is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.

People send money from Nigeria to the UK to pay school fees, cover rent, support family, pay business costs, or move their own money between the two countries. You need the same details from your recipient every time, and you usually pay a transfer fee and an exchange rate below the market rate. Pounds sent from a Juicyway GBP account go through Faster Payments, so the transfer can arrive in as quickly as minutes.

What you need to send money to the UK

Most providers ask for:

• Amount you want to send
• Recipient's full name, exactly as it appears on their bank account
• Account number, which is eight digits for most UK bank accounts
• Sort code, the six-digit number that identifies the recipient's bank or branch

Your provider may also ask what the transfer is for, particularly on larger amounts. Enter the details exactly as your recipient gives them to you, and check every digit before you confirm.

Ways to send money from Nigeria to the UK

Money transfer providers

Money transfer providers change your naira into pounds and send the payment in one step. Some charge a transfer fee and give you a rate close to the market rate. Others don't charge a transfer fee and give you a rate further below the market rate. The one without a transfer fee isn't always the cheaper one, so compare the pounds each provider says your recipient will receive.

Some providers also give you a pound balance of your own. With a Juicyway GBP account, pounds you already have go straight to a UK bank account, and you can convert naira to pounds when you want to instead of on the day you send. That's useful for anyone who receives pounds regularly.

Your Nigerian bank

Many Nigerian banks make international transfers to the UK. The bank sets the exchange rate and charges a transfer fee. Banks send international transfers through SWIFT, the network they use to send payment instructions to each other, and the payment often goes through other banks on the way. The other banks in the chain are called correspondent banks, and each one can charge a fee before passing the payment on. Check the exchange rate, the fee, and how long the bank says the transfer takes before you confirm.

What your recipient receives

An exchange rate tells you how much one currency costs in another, like this: £1 = ₦1,753. The mid-market rate is the rate halfway between the buying price and the selling price on the world market, and it's the rate most online currency converters show.

Most providers give you a rate below the mid-market rate. The gap between the mid-market rate and your provider's rate is called the margin. Your provider keeps the margin, and your recipient receives fewer pounds.

On October 5, 2026 the mid-market rate was £1 = ₦1,753. A provider offering £1 = ₦1,850 is charging you ₦97 on every pound. On a ₦1,000,000 transfer, your recipient receives about £541 at that rate and about £570 at the mid-market rate, before any transfer fee.

The transfer fee is what a provider charges you to make the transfer. Some don't charge a transfer fee and widen the margin instead, so the fee on its own doesn't tell you what you're paying.

What to check before you send

• Exchange rate: Compare the rate your provider offers with the mid-market rate that day.
• Pound amount: Use a provider that shows how many pounds your recipient will receive before you confirm.
• Recipient details: Check that the name matches the bank account exactly, and that the account number and sort code are correct.
• Timing: Check how long your provider takes to deliver the transfer, especially when a payment is due on a set date.

Is it safe to send money from Nigeria to the UK?

Use a provider licensed in Nigeria and authorised in the UK. Sign in only through the provider's official app or website. Check your recipient's details before you confirm. Keep the transfer reference until your recipient confirms the transfer has arrived. Don't share your sign-in details or security codes with anyone.

Send pounds with Juicyway

Juicyway is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and authorised in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Juicyway accounts are available in US dollars, pounds, euros, and Canadian dollars in one app.

To send pounds to a UK bank account:

1. Open a Juicyway account and verify your identity.
2. Request a USD account. In your Juicyway app, open USD, tap 'Account details', tap 'Request account', then confirm the request.
3. Request a GBP account. Open GBP, tap 'Account details', tap 'Request account', then confirm the request. A request can take more than five minutes to complete, so refresh the app to see your account details, which sometimes appear before the confirmation email arrives.
4. Tap 'Deposit' and fund your naira balance with a transfer from any Nigerian bank account.

Once your GBP account is ready, tap 'Send', enter your recipient's UK bank details, check them, and confirm. You can send pounds from your naira balance without converting first. Your app converts naira to pounds as part of the payment, at the rate the app shows. Juicyway then sends the pounds to your recipient's UK bank account through Faster Payments, the UK system banks use to move money between UK accounts, and the transfer can arrive in as quickly as minutes.

Converting naira to pounds early

Someone can pay you in pounds, or you can convert naira to pounds in the app. However the pounds arrive, you can send pounds already in your GBP account to a UK bank account when you want to, so you don't have to convert naira on the day a bill falls due. The exchange rate moves from day to day, so the pound amount can change while you wait.

Open a Juicyway account

Key terms

Exchange rate: How much one currency costs in another, such as £1 = ₦1,753.

Mid-market rate: Rate halfway between the buying price and the selling price for a currency on the world market.

Margin: Gap between the mid-market rate and the rate your provider gives you.

Transfer fee: What a provider charges you to make a transfer.

Sort code: Six-digit number that identifies a UK bank or branch.

SWIFT: Network banks use to send payment instructions to each other.

Correspondent bank: Bank in another country that handles part of a payment for your bank.

Faster Payments: UK system banks use to move money between UK accounts.

FCA: Financial Conduct Authority, the UK's financial regulator.

Frequently asked questions

What details do I need to send money to the UK?

Your recipient's full name, account number, and sort code, plus the amount you want to send.

How long does a transfer from Nigeria to the UK take?

It depends on the provider and the route the payment takes. Juicyway sends pounds from a GBP account through Faster Payments, where the money is usually available almost immediately, though it can sometimes take up to two hours. A bank transfer goes through other banks on the way, so the time depends on the route.

What is the cheapest way to send money from Nigeria to the UK?

No single provider is cheapest on every transfer. Compare the pounds your recipient will receive from two or three providers on the transfer you're making.

How do I get a GBP account on Juicyway?

Open a Juicyway account and verify your identity. In your app, open USD, tap 'Account details', then tap 'Request account'. Then open GBP, tap 'Account details', and tap 'Request account'. A request can take more than five minutes, so refresh the app to see your account details.

Do I have to convert naira to pounds before I send?

No. You can send to a UK bank account from your naira balance, and your app converts naira to pounds as part of the payment.

Can I keep pounds in my GBP account before I send them?

Yes. You can send pounds in your GBP account whenever you choose. The exchange rate moves from day to day, so the pound amount can change while you wait.

Is Juicyway regulated in Nigeria and the UK?

Yes. Juicyway is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.