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Published: Jun 03, 2023 10 min read
Last Updated: Aug 15, 2026

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Sanctions and the resulting provider restrictions have reduced the number of ways to send money to Russia from overseas.

International remittance service availability to Russia now depends on the sending country, the provider, the purpose of the transfer, the recipient, the recipient bank and any intermediary institutions.

Some Russian banks have also been removed from SWIFT or are subject to transaction restrictions, whilst other banks are not covered by the same measures. In case you have not heard of SWIFT before, it is a global payments network that connects various international banks, and drives international wire transfers between banks in various countries worldwide.

Additionally, most popular global money transfer companies like Western Union, MoneyGram, Wise and others suspended or restricted Russia-related services after 2022.

If you are trying to support family or friends in Russia, this article details various aspects to check before choosing a transfer service.

Note that this article provides general information, not legal advice, and does not help determine whether a particular transaction to Russia is permitted or not.



An image of Moscow St Basil'S Cathedral with people walking by in the front



What Is The Best Option To Send Money To Russia From Abroad?

There is no single transfer option that is available or appropriate for every sender. A personal transfer may be possible through a regulated provider that supports the relevant corridor and can complete the required sanctions and compliance checks.

For instance, in the United States, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) states that personal, noncommercial remittances to or from Russia are not generally the target of US sanctions.

OFAC also notes that non-sanctioned Russian banks, subsidiaries of foreign banks and money-service businesses may process legitimate transfers that do not involve blocked persons or other prohibited activity (see OFAC FAQ 12021).

Given these guidelines, we recommend that before starting a transfer to Russia, you should confirm all of the following:

  • The provider currently supports transfers from your sending country to Russia.
  • The recipient and receiving bank are eligible under the provider's screening process.
  • The purpose and type of transfer are permitted; rules for personal transfers should not be assumed to cover business payments.
  • The displayed exchange rate, fees, payout method and expected delivery time are current.

The transfer provider, not RemitFinder, determines whether it can process the transaction under its policies. RemitFinder does not process Russia money transfers, determine sanctions eligibility or recommend methods intended to avoid provider or government controls.



Which Countries Can I Send Money To Russia From?

Provider availability and rules to send money to Russia differ by providers as well as by sending country. For example, a provider that supports one Russia corridor may not support another, and availability may also depend on the currency, recipient bank and payout method.

Can I send money to Russia from USA?

You could potentially send money to Russia from USA, but practical availability is limited. US sanctions do not create a blanket prohibition on personal, noncommercial remittances to Russia.

Additionally, a transfer must not involve blocked persons, prohibited institutions or other prohibited activity. Also note that a provider may apply even more narrower restrictions.

Most US banks as well as money transfer companies that support sending money from the United States have suspended their operations when it comes to remitting funds to Russia.

Check the provider's live destination list and confirm that it supports the recipient's bank and payout method. Do not assume that general availability means a specific transfer will be accepted.

The only exception to this is if you wanted to send funds to a US citizen in Russia who is under economic distress. In such cases, the US Department of State may be able to facilitate an emergency funds transfer. Your best bet in this case is to contact the government or engage help from the requisite foreign embassy in Russia.


Can I send money to Russia from the UK?

A transfer may be available from UK to Russia only where a provider supports the corridor and the transaction complies with UK sanctions. UK rules3 restrict dealings with designated persons and certain financial institutions and prohibit sanctions circumvention. The provider may also impose additional restrictions.


Can I send money to Russia from Europe?

Remittance transfer to Russia service availability differs across Europe and by provider. EU measures restrict transactions4 with designated persons and listed banks and impose broader financial restrictions. Check the rules that apply in the sending country and the provider's current eligibility requirements.


Can I send money from Australia to Russia?

Availability for Australia to Russia money transfers is limited and provider-specific. Australian sanctions5 prohibit making assets available to designated persons and dealing with their assets, while some Australian financial institutions apply broader restrictions. Confirm the live route with the provider and the recipient bank.


Can I send money from India to Russia?

Do not assume that a transfer is either available or prohibited solely because of SWIFT restrictions. Availability from India depends on the provider, currencies, recipient bank, intermediary banks and the rules applicable to the transaction. Verify the complete route before proceeding.

Note that RemitFinder may publish general provider and corridor information, but it does not arrange Russia transfers or determine whether an individual transaction is permitted.

Make sure to confirm availability and eligibility directly through a regulated provider's official website, app or customer-support channel.



Are There Any Other Options To Send Money To Russia?

There may be additional ways to send money to Russia from overseas.

For example, you could purchase cryptocurrency overseas, and send it to your overseas recipient in Russia. Be aware though that using cryptocurrency does not make a prohibited transaction lawful or remove sanctions-screening requirements.

Wallet providers, exchanges and other intermediaries may restrict Russia-related activity, and sanctions can apply when blocked persons or prohibited transactions are involved. Cryptocurrency also carries volatility, fraud and recovery risks.

The use of cryptocurrency is not a way to bypass sanctions or other legal and regulatory controls. Make sure to do proper due diligence before trying to send cryptocurrency to Russia.

Do not use cryptocurrency or another intermediary to conceal the parties, reroute a blocked payment or bypass sanctions and provider controls (see OFAC FAQ 10212).

If no regulated provider supports a corridor, that absence should not be treated as an invitation to create a workaround.

Additionally, most global money transfer companies have shut down their remittance services to Russia. Below are some FAQs with specific availability on some popular money transfer operators.


Can I send money to Russia using Western Union?

Western Union states that it suspended money-transfer services in Russia6 across all channels effective March 24, 2022. Confirm its current status directly before trying to send money to Russia with Western Union.


Can I send money to Russia using MoneyGram?

MoneyGram announced in March 2022 that it would suspend services in Russia7. Confirm current availability through MoneyGram's official service flow before attempting a transfer.


Can I send money to Russia using XE Money Transfer?

Xe's help center, updated June 24, 2026, states that payments to Russia are temporarily suspended8. Check the help center periodically to see if there are any updates.


Can I send money to Russia using Wise?

Wise currently lists Russia among the countries and regions where it does not offer services9. Confirm Wise's current supported-country list before you try to send money to Russia with Wise.


Can I send money to Russia using WorldRemit?

WorldRemit has discontinued international money transfers to Russia so it is not an option at this time.


Can I send money to Russia using Revolut?

Revolut states that it does not currently offer or support services in Russia10. Check Revolut's current help center for any change.


Can I send money to Russia using Skrill?

Skrill has also suspended money transfers to Russia and you cannot use their remittance service to send funds from abroad to Russia. Confirm future availability within Skrill's official transfer flow or with customer support before trying to send money to Russia with Skrill.


Can I send money to Russia using Paysend?

Paysend's international remittance services to Russia have been halted in response to the economic sanctions on Russia. Currently, you cannot use Paysend to send money to Russia.


Can I send money to Russia using TransferGo?

No, you cannot use TransferGo to send money to Russia. All money transfers to Russia are not operational at this time given the sanctions on Russia.



Conclusion

Sanctions and provider policies have made transfers to Russia more limited and corridor-specific. They do not always amount to a blanket ban on personal remittances, but a transfer may be unavailable or prohibited if it involves a designated person, a restricted bank, a prohibited purpose or sanctions circumvention.

If you are supporting family or friends, use a regulated provider that explicitly supports the route, rely on the provider's compliance process and confirm that the recipient bank is eligible.

Unfortunately, there are no money transfer operators supporting money transfers to Russia at this time. If you need to send money urgently to your loved ones back home in Russia, you may have to check with your government agencies to explore any possible one-off or emergency provisions.

RemitFinder provides general comparison and provider information. It does not process transfers or decide whether a particular transaction is legally eligible. Availability and restrictions can change, so verify all information directly with the provider before sending money.



Do You Need To Find the Best Remit Exchange Rate for Sending Money Internationally?

RemitFinder is an online service that helps you track remit exchange rates. By checking and comparing the latest remit exchange rates, you can get the best exchange rate for your money transfers. RemitFinder, thus, helps you to get the best return for your hard-earned money.

Find the cheapest rate to transfer your hard-earned money - visit our site or download the app on Google Play or Apple App Store now.






Want to explore by country? Browse all destination countries on our send money to hub or sending countries on our send money from hub.



References:
1. OFAC FAQ 1202 - personal, noncommercial remittances
2. OFAC FAQ 1021 - virtual currency and sanctions
3. UK Russia sanctions statutory guidance
4. EU sanctions against Russia explained
5. Australia Russia sanctions framework
6. Western Union Russia and Belarus service notice
7. MoneyGram suspension of service to Russia statement
8. XE supported destination guidance
9. Wise supported-country restrictions
10. Revolut Russia service statement



Author
RemitFinder Editorial Team

The RemitFinder Editorial Team is a collaborative group of writers, researchers, and fintech specialists dedicated to bringing you the latest insights, comparisons, news, and guides on remittances, exchange rates, eSIMs, and the financial technology shaping the global payments landscape.

We create clear, easy-to-understand content to help you compare money transfer providers and eSIM plans based on transparent data and publicly available information. Our goal is to provide independent, research-driven information to support informed decision-making. RemitFinder is an independent comparison platform and does not provide financial or telecommunications advice.

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