Send Money from Nigeria to the UK: A Fast, Secure & Low-Cost Guide

Sending money abroad from Nigeria used to be a major headache. Endless paperwork, long bank queues, hidden fees, and agonizing delays were the norm. But the landscape of international transfers has been transformed.

Today, you can send funds to the UK quickly, securely, and without surprise charges. This guide will walk you through the old challenges, what’s changed for the better, and how you can leverage modern solutions like SimlessPay to save both time and money.

The Old Way: Why International Transfers Were a Struggle

Not long ago, sending money to the UK was a stressful and inefficient process. Here’s what made it so difficult:

Traditional International Transfers: The Old Painful Reality

Bureaucratic Nightmare with Banks and Paperwork Your only choices were conventional banks or services like Western Union. This required completing piles of forms, submitting detailed identification documents, and enduring lengthy KYC (Know Your Customer) verification processes. Once submitted, the transfer relied on the SWIFT network, which frequently took several days to complete.

Expensive and Opaque Fees The true cost was never clear upfront. You were hit with bank handling charges, transfer fees, and often surprise “incoming” fees charged by the receiving bank in the UK. A large chunk of your money simply vanished in fees before the recipient ever saw it.

Frustratingly Slow Processing Times Transfers typically took 3–5 business days or even longer. Manual reviews, public holidays, and issues with foreign-exchange availability introduced constant delays and uncertainty.

No Transparency or Real-Time Tracking After pressing “send,” you were completely in the dark. There were no mobile apps or online dashboards to check status. The only way to get an update was to visit your bank branch in person, leaving both sender and recipient stressed and anxious.

Heavy Regulatory and Forex Restrictions Policies from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), combined with volatile foreign-exchange markets, created serious bottlenecks. Transfers were routinely delayed or blocked due to shortages of available foreign currency or overly complicated documentation demands.

The New Era: What’s Changed for the Better

The rise of financial technology (fintech) has revolutionized cross-border payments. Here’s how the experience has improved:

• Streamlined Regulations: The CBN has introduced clearer guidelines for International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs), creating a more stable and predictable environment for transfers.
• Fintech Competition & Transparency: New players like SimlessPay are forcing the industry to be more transparent. You now see the exact exchange rate and all fees upfront before you confirm the transfer, eliminating nasty surprises.
• Faster, Near-Instant Transfers: Why wait days? Modern platforms leverage digital systems to process transfers much faster, often within the same day.
• Higher User Expectations: Nigerians now demand better service. We compare apps, read reviews, and expect live rate trackers and responsive customer support. This demand pushes all services to improve.
• Fully Digital Experience: The dependency on bank branches is over. You can now complete everything from identity verification to tracking from your smartphone, making the entire process seamless.

How to Send Money to the UK with SimlessPay: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to experience the new way of transferring funds? Here’s how to get money from Nigeria to a UK bank account quickly and securely with SimlessPay.

1. Create Your Free Account: Download the SimlessPay app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Sign up with your email and phone number, and verify your identity using your international passport.
2. Enter the Transfer Amount: Tap “Send Money” and input the amount you wish to send (minimum 10,000 NGN). The app will instantly show you the real exchange rate and the exact amount in GBP your recipient will get, no guesswork.
3. Add Your Recipient’s UK Bank Details: Enter your beneficiary’s information accurately. You will need:
   • Account Holder Name (must match bank records exactly)
   • Account Number
   • Bank Name
   • Sort Code (the 6-digit code that identifies their bank branch)
4. Confirm and Pay: Review all the details. The app will then generate a unique Nigerian Naira account for you to transfer the funds to. Once you’ve made the payment from your bank, simply tap ‘Confirm payment made’ in the app.

Conclusion: Send Money with Confidence

The era of stressful, expensive international transfers is over. Thanks to regulatory reforms and fintech innovation, you can now send money from Nigeria to the UK with speed, transparency, and control.

Whether you’re paying for school fees, supporting family, covering rent, or sending a gift, you deserve to know the exact cost and delivery time. SimlessPay gives you that peace of mind.

Ready to get started? Download the SimlessPay app today and experience the difference for yourself.