Germany → UK · Live Rate

Send Money from Germany to the UK

A specialist broker guide to transferring Euros to British Pounds from German bank accounts — for business payments, relocations, salaries, pensions and family transfers. Stronger EUR to GBP rates than German banks, with no transfer fees.

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Mid-market rate shown for reference. Your transfer rate includes a small broker margin.

Cambridge Currencies helps clients across Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and the wider German regions send larger sums to the UK, typically between £10,000 and £1 million. Whether you’re relocating to the UK for work, making recurring business payments between German and UK entities, repatriating earnings from Germany’s engineering, pharma or financial services sectors, or handling an inheritance from a German estate, all transactions are completed by phone with a dedicated specialist, giving you full visibility on rate, timing and cost before any money moves.

Who sends money from Germany to the UK?

Germany is the UK’s second-largest trading partner in Europe, and the Germany-to-UK corridor is dominated by business payments, professional relocations and cross-border work rather than property or retirement transfers. German home ownership is lower than in the UK or Southern Europe, so British-owned holiday property is less common — but commercial and individual flows are significant.

How does a specialist broker compare with German banks and apps?

German banks — Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, DKB, ING Deutschland, the Sparkassen network and Volksbanken among the main providers — are generally more competitive on retail FX than Southern European banks, with EUR to GBP spreads typically in the 1.5% to 3% range. The gap to a specialist broker is narrower than in Italy, France or Malta, but still significant on larger transfers. For transfers under €3,000, a transfer app like Wise or Revolut is usually the cheapest route.

On a €200,000 relocation or business transfer — typical for a German professional moving to the UK, or a UK-German corporate settlement — a 2% German bank spread costs around €4,000 versus the interbank rate. A specialist broker at a 0.3% spread would price the same transfer at around €600 — a difference of roughly £2,900 in the client’s pocket at current EUR/GBP levels.

How to transfer money from Germany to the UK

Opening an account with Cambridge Currencies is free and takes around 10 minutes. Once you’re verified, every Germany to UK transfer follows the same four steps. A dedicated account manager handles the EUR to GBP pricing and timing — all transactions are confirmed by phone so you know the exact rate before funds move. Most transfers complete in one working day end-to-end via SEPA.

1. Open a free accountRegister online and complete identity verification. UK and German residents can usually be verified within one working day.
2. Confirm your EUR to GBP rate by phoneYour account manager quotes a live rate on the call. Nothing is booked until you confirm — there are no obligations from opening an account.
3. Send Euros from your German bank accountTransfer EUR via SEPA to the safeguarded client account provided. SEPA transfers from Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, DKB, ING Deutschland, Sparkassen and Volksbanken typically settle same-day or next-day.
4. Funds arrive in your UK account as GBPOnce EUR is received and converted, GBP is sent via Faster Payments to your nominated UK account, usually landing the same working day.

Key transfer types explained

Worked example: relocating from Berlin to London with €300,000

This example uses an illustrative interbank EUR/GBP rate of 0.86 so the maths are easy to follow. The live rate above will differ — GBP received scales proportionally.

Tax, documentation and compliance

Cambridge Currencies is not a tax adviser, but here are the key points UK-bound transfers from Germany typically need to consider. Always confirm your position with a qualified tax specialist before a material transfer.

Moving savings or existing assets is generally not taxable

As a general principle, transferring money that is already your existing capital — savings, investment proceeds, inherited funds — from Germany to the UK does not trigger UK tax simply because of the transfer itself. The underlying asset may have tax implications in Germany (Abgeltungsteuer on investment income or Spekulationssteuer on short-term property gains), but the act of moving money across borders is not separately taxed.

German tax considerations

Germany applies a flat 25% withholding tax (Abgeltungsteuer) plus solidarity surcharge on most investment income and capital gains from securities. Property sold within ten years of purchase is subject to Spekulationssteuer on the gain (with owner-occupier exemptions). Inheritance transfers are subject to Erbschaftsteuer with generous spouse and child allowances. For transfers above €12,500 out of German bank accounts, your bank will typically submit a Bundesbank Z4 report — this is statistical reporting, not a tax charge.

The UK remittance basis has changed

From 6 April 2025, the UK’s remittance basis for non-domiciled residents was abolished and replaced with a residence-based foreign income and gains regime. UK residents are generally now taxed on worldwide income, with transitional relief in place. Official guidance is published on GOV.UK — Tax on foreign income.

Documents you may be asked for

• Proof of source of funds — Kaufvertrag (purchase contract), Erbschein (certificate of inheritance), payslips or bank statements
• Proof of identity and address (Meldebescheinigung) in Germany and, where relevant, in the UK
• Notary (Notar) confirmation letters for property-related transfers
• For business transfers, Handelsregister extract and beneficial ownership details

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating a relocation transfer as a standard bank task. Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and DKB all handle transfers competently, but their default FX margin on a relocation-sized transfer can cost £3,000–£7,000 on sums most people move only once or twice in their lives.
• Running business payments through your main German corporate account. Recurring EUR to GBP conversions for UK suppliers, UK-based freelancers or UK subsidiaries add up fast at bank margins. Over a year, a specialist broker typically saves 1–2% of the total EUR volume converted.
• Missing the Bundesbank Z4 reporting threshold. Transfers above €12,500 trigger statistical reporting — your German bank handles the filing automatically, but it can cause unexpected questions or delays if you haven’t prepared source-of-funds documentation.
• Ignoring SEPA cutoff windows. German banks have specific cutoff times for outgoing SEPA transfers, and German public holidays (especially regional holidays like Reformationstag or Allerheiligen) can cause unexpected delays. Your account manager will flag these.
• Leaving broker onboarding until the day you need to transfer. Opening an account takes 10 minutes, but source-of-funds checks on larger transfers can add 24–48 hours. Set up well before you need to send.

EUR to GBP market context

EUR/GBP has traded in a relatively contained range through 2026 so far, averaging around 0.87. The March 2026 low of 0.8623 briefly favoured Euro sellers, while the February 2026 high of 0.8765 created better conditions for sterling sellers sending money out of the UK. For Germany-to-UK transfers, the lower the EUR/GBP rate, the more pounds you receive per Euro — so sterling strength is the outcome a EUR seller wants to see.

Key drivers of EUR/GBP over the remainder of 2026 include the Bank of England’s rate-cutting path, European Central Bank policy, UK inflation data from the Office for National Statistics, and Eurozone growth momentum — with German GDP, ifo business climate, Bundesbank commentary and manufacturing PMI feeding directly into ECB policy expectations. Published ECB reference rates are available at the European Central Bank. For regularly updated outlooks, see our Euro forecast and weekly currency forecast.

Why use Cambridge Currencies for your Germany to UK transfer?

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to send money from Germany to the UK?

For amounts above €5,000, a specialist currency broker is generally the best way to send money from Germany to the UK. You get a stronger EUR to GBP rate than Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, DKB or other German banks, no transfer fees, and a dedicated account manager handling timing and documentation. For smaller transfers under €3,000, a transfer app such as Wise is typically the fastest and cheapest route.

How do I transfer money from Germany to a UK bank account?

The standard route is to open a free account with a specialist currency broker, confirm the EUR to GBP rate by phone, send Euros from your German bank via SEPA to the broker’s safeguarded client account, and receive GBP directly into your UK bank. The full process typically completes in one working day from a German bank.

How long does it take to transfer money from Germany to the UK?

Most EUR to GBP transfers from Germany arrive in a UK account within one working day. SEPA transfers out of German banks typically settle same-day if sent before the bank’s cutoff (usually 2pm CET) or next working day otherwise. The onward GBP payment via UK Faster Payments is then processed the same day the Euros are received, usually within a few hours.

How long does a bank transfer from Germany to the UK take?

A standard bank-to-bank SEPA transfer from Germany to the UK takes one to two working days. SEPA Instant Credit Transfer is available for Euro transfers within the Eurozone but not to UK GBP accounts, so the UK side uses Faster Payments on receipt. Using a specialist broker does not make the SEPA leg faster, but removes the bank’s FX margin from the total cost.

Do I pay UK tax on money transferred from Germany?

Transferring existing savings, investment proceeds or inherited funds from Germany to the UK is not in itself taxable. The underlying asset may have tax consequences — German Abgeltungsteuer on investment income, Spekulationssteuer on short-term property gains, or UK tax on worldwide income under the rules in place from 6 April 2025. Always check your position with a qualified tax specialist.

Is there a limit on how much I can send from Germany to the UK?

There is no official limit on electronic transfers from Germany to the UK. Transfers above €12,500 trigger automatic Bundesbank Z4 statistical reporting (handled by your bank), and larger transfers attract enhanced due diligence under EU anti-money laundering compliance — which usually means providing proof of source of funds. Cambridge Currencies regularly processes transfers between £10,000 and £1 million.

Can I lock in today’s EUR to GBP rate for a future transfer?

Yes. A forward contract lets you fix today’s EUR to GBP rate for a transfer settling up to 24 months in the future. This is particularly useful for German businesses with recurring UK payments, professionals relocating to the UK with a known completion date, or any situation where predictable EUR to GBP costs matter more than chasing the best daily rate.

Is Cambridge Currencies regulated for transfers from Germany?

Cambridge Currencies works exclusively with FCA-authorised payment partners. Payment services are provided by Currencycloud (FRN 900199) and ScioPay (FRN 927951), both authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. For clients based in the European Economic Area, including Germany, payment services are provided by CurrencyCloud B.V., licensed and regulated by De Nederlandsche Bank. Client funds are held in segregated safeguarded accounts.