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Send money to Nigeria, straight to any bank account
Grey is a licensed financial services provider, not a bank, regulated by FinCEN. Sending money from South Africa to Nigeria with Grey costs a 1% conversion fee (capped at $6 on ZAR-to-NGN) plus a flat withdrawal fee. Transfers reach GTBank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, UBA, and all major Nigerian banks typically within minutes from a funded balance.
When you send money to Nigeria through Grey, every transfer goes directly into the recipient's bank account in NGN. Enter the account details and the money lands as a standard local payment. Your recipient does not need a Grey account.
No branch visit. No wire forms. No delays waiting for an agent. The naira arrive in their banking app within minutes from a funded balance of you hitting send. The rate and fee you saw when you confirmed are the rate and fee applied.
How to send money to Nigeria from South Africa
Sign up
Open a free Grey account on your phone in under five minutes. Verify your identity with a valid South African ID or passport. Grey Inc is regulated by FinCEN.
Fund
Fund your Grey ZAR balance via EFT from any South African bank account, including FNB, Standard Chartered, Absa, Nedbank, and Capitec.
Send
Enter your recipient's Nigeria bank account details or account number. Confirm the live ZAR-to-NGN rate and fee. Send. The money typically arrives within minutes from a funded balance.
How much does it cost to send money to Nigeria
Every transfer from South Africa to Nigeria involves two costs: the visible fee and the exchange rate margin. Most services hide their margin in the rate, so a transfer advertised as zero fees can quietly cost more than one with a transparent fee.
The exchange rate is usually the bigger factor in larger transfers. On a ZAR 10,000 transfer, a 1% rate difference changes the naira amount your recipient receives by roughly 1,800 NGN. A provider advertising no fee but applying a 2% rate markup costs more than one charging USD 5 with a rate close to the mid-market.
Grey shows the fee and the exchange rate separately before you tap Send. The naira amount your recipient will receive is on screen before you confirm. The rate shown is the rate applied. There are no adjustments after the fact.
How exchange rates work: ZAR to NGN
The ZAR-to-NGN exchange rate determines how many naira your recipient receives. On a ZAR 10,000 transfer, a 1% rate difference changes the naira amount your recipient receives by roughly 1,800 NGN. On recurring or large transfers, that gap compounds.
Grey shows the live ZAR-to-NGN rate before you confirm. The rate on screen is the rate applied. Grey charges a 1% conversion fee capped at $6 on this corridor, shown before you send.
The only way to compare providers accurately is to look at what your recipient actually receives in NGN, not just the advertised fee. A transfer that advertises zero fees but applies a 2% rate markup costs more than one that charges USD 5 with a rate close to the mid-market.
How fast is each provider?
Grey delivers to Nigeria typically within minutes from a funded balance from a funded balance. Wise typically takes 1 to 2 business days on ZAR corridors. South African bank wires are the most expensive and slowest option for most transfer amounts.
Transfer times apply when funds are already in your Grey ZAR balance. If funding via EFT from your South African bank, allow time for the deposit to post first before the transfer to your destination begins.
What your recipient sees in Nigeria
Your recipient does not need a Grey account. The naira arrive in their bank account as a standard local transfer, the same way any domestic payment would appear.
Bank account delivery
Grey delivers ZAR-to-NGN directly to Nigerian bank accounts. GTBank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, UBA, First Bank, and all major Nigerian banks are supported. Enter the account number in the Grey app.
Transfer speed
ZAR-to-NGN transfers typically arrive within minutes from a funded Grey balance via the Nigerian banking system. If funding via EFT from your South African bank, allow time for the deposit to post first.
GreyTag transfers
If your recipient has a Grey account, send via GreyTag instead. GreyTag transfers are free and arrive within seconds in any currency.
Ways to fund your transfer
Whether you are transferring money to Nigeria for the first time or the fiftieth, Grey gives you three funding options
EFT from South African bank
Fund from your South African bank account via EFT. FNB, Standard Chartered, Absa, Nedbank, and Capitec are all supported. EFT transfers typically post to your Grey balance within 1 to 2 business days.
Grey ZAR balance
If you already hold ZAR in your Grey balance, send without waiting for an EFT to post. Fund your balance in advance, and transfers go out immediately.
GreyTag
If your recipient has a Grey account, send via GreyTag for free. GreyTag transfers arrive within seconds in any currency and do not require bank account details.
Which option is cheapest? Grey displays the fee for each funding method before you confirm, so you can compare and choose. There is no penalty for switching between them.
Send money to Nigeria for every reason that matters
Family in Nigeria
A South African resident sending monthly support to family in Lagos or Abuja. A couple in Johannesburg covering household costs for parents in Nigeria. A worker in Cape Town contributing to a sibling's business in Port Harcourt. On recurring transfers, Grey keeps costs predictable.
Business and trade
A South African business settling invoices with a Nigerian supplier or partner. A Johannesburg company paying a contractor in Lagos. A Cape Town importer paying for goods sourced from Nigeria. Grey supports ZAR-to-NGN without requiring a Nigerian business account.
Investments and property
Sending ZAR to fund a property purchase or investment in Nigeria. Contributing to a business venture in Lagos from South Africa. Diversifying into Nigerian assets from a South African base. Grey shows the live ZAR-to-NGN rate before every transfer.
Education and events
Paying school fees for a child enrolled at a Nigerian institution. Contributing to a family event or celebration in Nigeria. Sending Eid or festive gifts in naira to family across Nigeria. Grey's fee is shown in full before you confirm.
Your reasons may be different, but the need is the same: the money has to get there, the cost has to be clear, and the app has to work the same way it did last month. Do it all on Grey, with the rate and fee shown before every transfer.
Best way to send money to Nigeria from South Africa
A global money app you can actually trust
Over 3 million people across 80+ countries use Grey to move money across borders. Your transfers are protected with bank-grade encryption, and every payout is tracked end-to-end. You'll know exactly when the money lands, and so will the person receiving it. If you have any questions, our support team is one tap away.
FAQs
How long does it take to send money from South Africa to Nigeria?
Transfers from a funded Grey balance to Nigeria typically arrive within minutes. Fund your ZAR balance via EFT from your South African bank first. EFT deposits typically post within 1 to 2 business days.
What is the fee for sending money from South Africa to Nigeria?
The conversion fee on ZAR-to-NGN is 1%, capped at $6. There is also a flat withdrawal fee for the destination. Both fees are shown in the app before you confirm. No hidden margin in the exchange rate.
Which banks does Grey support for transfers to Nigeria?
Grey supports transfers to GTBank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, UBA, and all major Nigerian banks. Enter your recipient's account details in the Grey app. Your recipient does not need a Grey account.
What is the ZAR to NGN exchange rate today?
The live ZAR-to-NGN rate is shown inside the Grey app before you confirm your transfer. The rate at the time of confirmation is the rate applied. There are no adjustments after the fact.
Does my recipient in Nigeria need a Grey account?
No. Your recipient does not need a Grey account. The naira arrive in their bank account as a standard local transfer, the same way any domestic payment would appear in their banking app.
How do I send money from South Africa to Nigeria with Grey?
Open a free Grey account, fund your ZAR balance via EFT from any South African bank, enter your recipient's details, confirm the live ZAR-to-NGN rate and fee, and send. Transfers typically arrive within minutes.
Is there a limit on how much I can send from South Africa to Nigeria?
Transfer limits apply and vary by verification level. Check the Grey app for your current sending limit on the ZAR-to-NGN corridor. Completing full identity verification typically unlocks higher limits.
Can I track my transfer from South Africa to Nigeria?
Yes. Grey shows the status of your transfer in the app. You receive a notification when the transfer is confirmed and when it arrives at your recipient's account.
What happens if my transfer to Nigeria is delayed?
If a transfer is delayed beyond the expected timeframe, contact Grey support through the app. Most delays on the ZAR-to-NGN corridor are caused by EFT funding not yet posting to your Grey balance.
Can I cancel a transfer from South Africa to Nigeria?
Transfers can be cancelled before they are processed. Once a transfer has been sent, it typically cannot be reversed. Contact Grey support immediately through the app if you need to cancel.
Why should I use Grey to send money from South Africa to Nigeria?
Grey shows the live ZAR-to-NGN rate and the full fee before you confirm. The conversion fee is capped at $6 on this corridor. South African bank wires typically charge R300 to R600 in visible fees plus a 2 to 4% rate markup. Grey shows both numbers separately so you can compare the total cost.
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