Receive money from abroad or from the UK

Western Union offers money transfer services in more than 200 countries and territories around the world, and in many of those countries we will be able to facilitate a bank transfer from their bank account directly to your UK bank account.

Whereas receiving money from the UK would only require providing a name, account number and sort code, receiving an international bank transfer is likely to require an IBAN (International Bank Account Number), or a SWIFT/BIC code, depending on which sending method and/or countries are involved.

If you need more information on this topic, visit our IBAN page or our SWIFT/BIC code page.

Yes, you can receive money from abroad or from the UK without a bank account. From many countries around the world, your loved one will be able to send money for you to collect as a cash pickup at any of thousands of agent locations around the UK.

Simply take your tracking number (MTCN) and valid ID to collect your money. Find a nearby Western Union^® agent location today ready for your cash pickup.

Please have these details to hand to receive money from abroad:

• The sender’s full name (first, middle and last name)
• The country where the money was sent from
• The approximate amount that was sent
• The unique number of the money transfer (MTCN)
• Your government-issued identification document(s) as required

The following identification documents are accepted in the UK:

• Current signed passport
• Current full driving licence or provisional licence
• National identity card (EU only with the exception of UK)
• EU residency card
• Emergency/temporary passport, emergency travel documents
• Ship’s passport

When it comes to how much money you can receive from abroad to the UK, it will depend on where the money is being sent from, and which payment method is being used.

For example, if your loved one in France is sending you money, they can send up to 5000 EUR for cash pickup in the UK, or up to 50,000 EUR direct to your bank account. Whereas if they are sending from Spain, they can send up to 3,000 EUR for either cash pickup or to a bank account.

The best way to confirm how much you can receive is again for your loved one to go to the Western Union site in their country of residence, where they will be able to check on sending limits from their country to the UK.

Similarly, when it comes to how long it takes to receive a money transfer from abroad to the UK, it will also depend on where the money is being sent from, and which payment method is being used.

In many cases, money can be sent for cash pickup in minutes¹, while if the money is sent directly to your bank account, it could take several business days¹. Again, if your loved one goes to the Western Union site in their country of residence, they will be able to see time estimates for different payment methods.

The best way to receive money from overseas is to use a trusted money transfer service and find the sending and receiving methods which suit you and your loved one best.

When you utilise Western Union’s^® international money transfer services, we can offer a range of options for both you and your sender. In the UK these methods are a bank transfer or cash pickup at an agent location, while in many other countries you can also have funds sent to, debit card² or Western Union Digital Banking account.

Better yet, you can both track the transfer using a unique tracking number (MTCN). This can help ensure you know where the funds are at every stage of the transfer process.

In a similar fashion to finding the best way to receive money, the easiest way to receive money will be to select the sending and receiving methods which suit you and your loved one best.

It may seem easier to select a method where the money will arrive within minutes¹, but if it is difficult for you to get to an agent location in the subsequent days for cash pickup, then it may be easier to receive the money directly to your bank account even if that method takes several business days¹.

We would recommend your loved one checks the stated time periods on the Western Union site for the country where they reside, and then you decide on the easiest method between you.