In certain circumstances, you may need to wire money to Spain. For example, your landlord for a vacation rental may require payments in euros in advance, or your child may need extra cash when traveling abroad in Spain. Wiring money to Spain is not complicated but can be expensive. On top of the charges to exchange your dollars to euros, bank and wire services may charge you transaction fees for the international wire transfer. Compare the exchange rates and transaction charges with a few different banks or wire services before wiring your money to Spain.
Determine the type of wire transfer that works best for your purposes.
If you are wiring money to a business in Spain or to a Spanish resident, transfer money directly from your checking account to the Spanish account. This direct bank transfer is your cheapest and quickest option. Most major U.S. banks, such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citibank, will directly wire money to an international account.
If you are wiring money to a person that does not have a Spanish bank account, use a wire service that will send funds to Spain to be picked up in person at the service's local office. Wire services, such as Western Union or Xoom, are set up to wire money to an agent in Spain for pickup. The recipient of your transfer will visit the agent's office in Spain and must present photo identification or a passport to receive the money. Companies that provide international wire transfers generally have dozens of agent offices in Spanish cities. For example, Western Union has about 50 offices in Barcelona.
Visit the bank or wire transfer service in person or, if you are comfortable transferring funds online, visit the bank or wire service's corresponding website.
Specify the name of the business or the person receiving the funds.
For a business or Spanish resident with a direct bank transfer, you will need the name, International Bank Account Number (IBAN), bank routing number and personal account number to directly wire funds into the account.
For a person using a wire service, you'll need his or her name, city and country.
Specify the amount of the transfer.
If you are transferring money in person at your bank's branch or local Western Union office, you can use cash, a credit card, or your bank account number to supply the funds for transfer.
If you are wiring money online, you must pay by credit card.
Remember that the transfer will exchange your dollars for euros at the current exchange rate. You also may have to pay additional fees for the international wire transfer.
Keep your receipt as proof the wire transfer occurred on the right date, for the right amount, to the right recipient. You will need this information if there are problems transferring your funds to Spain.
