Send money to Pakistan from Spain
Pakistan receives remittances in rupees (PKR) through a highly organised system: the government incentivises sending via official channels, and reduced-fee or fee-free promotions to this destination are common.
The Pakistani community in Spain concentrates very visibly in Barcelona (especially El Raval) and in Valencia and Logroño, with its own network of call shops and stores that often double as transfer agents. Many of the Western Union and Ria agents in our directory in those areas are businesses run by the community itself.
Options for sending money to Pakistan
In cash, from an agent location
The most used method: you bring cash to an agent (Western Union, Ria, MoneyGram), provide the recipient's details, and within minutes it is available for collection in Pakistan. Spain has thousands of agents, many in call shops and neighbourhood stores:
With an app or online service
Services such as Wise, Remitly, WorldRemit or the Western Union and Ria apps let you send from your phone by card or bank transfer. They tend to offer good exchange rates and first-transfer promotions, and the recipient can receive to an account or collect cash in Pakistan.
International bank transfer
An international transfer from your bank is usually the most expensive and slowest option to Pakistan (issuing fees, correspondent fees and exchange margin). For this corridor an agent or a specialised app is almost always better value.
How the recipient gets the money in Pakistan
Money is collected in cash at banks such as HBL, UBL, Allied Bank or MCB, or received directly into a bank account or mobile wallets like JazzCash or Easypaisa, widely used across the country.
Tip: Look for promotions: thanks to the official remittance incentive programme, operators often offer zero fees to Pakistan for certain amounts or methods. If you do not see it advertised, ask at the agent.
What you need to send
To send money you need a valid ID (passport, DNI or NIE) and the recipient's details. To collect money you will also be asked for the transaction number (MTCN / PIN). The amount is paid out in cash at the agent location.
How much it costs to send money
The real cost has two parts: the transfer fee and the margin on the exchange rate. Combined, the total cost typically sits between 2% and 6% of the amount, although it varies by operator, amount and payment method. Always compare how much the recipient will get in their currency, not just the advertised fee.
Frequently asked questions about sending money to Pakistan
How long does money take to arrive in Pakistan?
Cash: minutes. To a bank account or wallet (JazzCash, Easypaisa), usually between minutes and a few hours.
In which currency is money collected in Pakistan?
In Pakistani rupees (PKR) at the operator's exchange rate at the time of sending.
What does the recipient need to collect money in Pakistan?
A valid CNIC (national ID) and the transaction number (MTCN or PIN). For mobile wallets, the phone number linked to the account.