In this guide
For many expats in the Netherlands, sending money to India is a regular task. A fee of a few euros is only part of it: the total cost of a transfer is the fee plus the exchange rate, which is where a margin can sit.
This article covers what is verifiable about the EUR to INR route from the Netherlands: what Wise publishes about its own fees, speed and payout rails, and how to compare a bank transfer without assuming numbers about your bank.
Disclosure: this article contains affiliate links to Wise, an approved partner of ours. If you open an account through one of them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Every Wise figure below is quoted from Wise’s own pages with the date we read it (2 October 2026).
💡 Related: how to send money home from the Netherlands, Wise review for expats, best international money transfer options from the Netherlands.
Wise is not a bank: Wise Europe SA is an authorised payment institution supervised by the National Bank of Belgium. Availability and verification depend on your residence and Wise’s current terms.
Why the exchange rate is the whole story
Every international transfer has two prices. The visible one is the fee. The other is the gap, if any, between the rate you are given and the mid-market rate, the rate you see when you search “EUR to INR”.
Wise’s positioning is built on that point. On its Dutch send-money-to-India page it states that it uses the mid-market rate (“de middenkoers – de eerlijkste koers”) and always shows the costs upfront (wise.com, retrieved 2 October 2026). For a bank, ask which exchange rate it applies, because a margin may not appear as a separate fee.
What Wise publishes about the India route
These are statements Wise makes on its own pages, with retrieval dates, because corridor economics change.
Fees. On 2 October 2026 the Dutch page stated that the cheapest way to send €1,000 to India is from money already held in your Wise account, at €6.16, and that above 22,000 EUR or the equivalent the cost is lowered. Treat the in-app quote as the authority: the fee depends on the amount and funding method.
Speed. Wise’s Dutch India page says transfers usually arrive within seconds. Its INR guide states that once Wise has received and converted your money it usually takes 1 working day to reach the recipient’s account, and that conversion can take up to 3 working days.
Where the money can land. An Indian bank account — including NRE and NRO accounts — or a UPI ID.
Published limits. For instant delivery, up to 500,000 INR via IMPS and up to 200,000 INR via UPI; for larger transfers, up to 100 million INR per transfer to a private individual.
Purpose of payment. Wise asks you to select the purpose from a list and warns you to choose correctly, otherwise you might be asked for more information and the transfer may take longer. It also states that you cannot make transfers to India for investment or charitable donation.
Check the current EUR to INR fee and rate at Wise
The reason to point at a live quote rather than a table: fees and rates change.
How a Dutch bank transfer compares — without invented numbers
India is outside SEPA, so sending rupees through a Dutch bank is a payment outside SEPA. Three cost points can apply:
- The bank’s transfer charge, published in its tariff sheet (tarievenoverzicht) for non-SEPA payments.
- The bank’s exchange rate, which may include a margin over the mid-market rate that is not shown as a fee.
- Intermediary bank deductions, which can reduce the amount received when the payment passes through other banks.
What your bank charges depends on your bank, your package and the day, so here is what to ask — ideally in writing via your bank’s chat, so you have a record:
- What is the charge for a non-SEPA transfer in a foreign currency?
- Which exchange rate is applied, and what is the margin over the mid-market rate?
- Who pays correspondent bank charges — sender, recipient, or shared?
- What is the cut-off time for same-day processing?
Then compare against a live quote for the same amount, using the rupees received as the metric.
Practical points specific to this corridor
Get the recipient details exactly right. IFSC code, account number and name as registered at the Indian bank. A UPI ID suits smaller family transfers; a bank account is the route for larger amounts.
Choose your purpose code deliberately. Wise says a wrong choice can lead to questions about your transfer and a longer transfer time.
Know which account you are sending to. If the money is your own, ask your Indian bank which account type suits your purpose.
Tax is a separate question. This article does not cover Dutch or Indian tax; ask the Belastingdienst or a tax adviser if you hold money in India.
Which route suits which situation
- Monthly family support: a provider that shows its rate and fee upfront, paid out to a UPI ID or bank account.
- One large transfer, such as a property payment: compare providers and your bank on the same day for the same amount, and ask both about limits and documentation.
- You need paperwork the Indian bank will accept: ask which confirmation each provider issues before sending.
For providers beyond this corridor, see our best international money transfer guide and the head-to-head on Wise versus Revolut in the Netherlands.
Final thoughts
If you send money every month, check the exchange rate you are given. Set it up properly once: correct recipient details, the right purpose code, the account you actually want the money in, and a provider whose rate you can check against the mid-market rate in seconds. Then diarise one annual review.
See today's EUR to INR quote at Wise
This article explains publicly documented transfer mechanics and is not financial or tax advice. Wise figures are quoted from wise.com on 2 October 2026 and may change; confirm the current fee and rate before sending.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wise charge to send euros to India?
Wise publishes the fee upfront, before you confirm, and converts at the mid-market rate rather than adding a margin to the exchange rate. On its Dutch send-money-to-India page, Wise stated on 2 October 2026 that the cheapest way to send €1,000 to India is by paying from money already in your Wise account, at a cost of €6.16 (wise.com, retrieved 2 October 2026). That figure is an example for one amount and one payment method on one day, not a fixed tariff; the number you see before confirming is the one that counts. Wise also states that for transfers above 22,000 EUR or the equivalent it lowers the cost.
How does the money actually arrive in India — bank transfer, IMPS or UPI?
Into an Indian bank account (savings or current, including NRE and NRO accounts) using the account number and IFSC code, or to the recipient's UPI ID. Wise's INR guide says you can send up to 500,000 INR instantly to an IMPS recipient and up to 200,000 INR instantly to a UPI recipient, and up to 100 million INR per transfer between private individuals. Wise gives an estimate of the transfer time when you set it up (wise.com, Guide to INR transfers, retrieved 2 October 2026).
Why does Wise ask me the purpose of my transfer to India?
Wise's guide to INR transfers lists the purpose of the payment, chosen from a list, among the details you need, and says to "make sure you choose correctly, otherwise you might be asked for more information about your transfer, and it may take longer". Wise also states that because of how it is regulated, you cannot make transfers to India for investment or charitable donation (wise.com, Guide to INR transfers, retrieved 2 October 2026). Treat the dropdown as part of the transaction rather than an afterthought.
Is my Dutch bank cheaper for a transfer to India?
You cannot know without reading your own bank's tariff sheet, and that is the point. India is outside SEPA, so a transfer from a Dutch bank is a payment outside SEPA, where costs can sit in different places: the transfer charge listed in the tariff sheet (tarievenoverzicht), and a possible margin in the exchange rate, which may not be shown as a line item. Intermediary banks in the chain may also deduct fees. Before you compare anything, look up your bank's current charges for a non-SEPA transfer and ask which exchange rate it applies, then compare the total amount your recipient receives — not the headline fee.
How long should I allow for a transfer to India?
Wise's INR guide says that once Wise receives and converts your money, it usually takes 1 working day to arrive in the recipient's bank account, and that conversion can take up to 3 working days (wise.com, Guide to INR transfers, retrieved 2 October 2026). Wise's Dutch India page says transfers usually arrive within seconds, so use the arrival estimate shown when you set up your transfer. For a bank transfer, ask your bank for its processing time and cut-off times.
Can I send money to my own NRE or NRO account in India?
Yes. Wise's INR guide says you can send INR to a bank account in India, including NRE and NRO accounts (wise.com, retrieved 2 October 2026). Confirm with your Indian bank or an Indian tax adviser which account fits your purpose before you set up regular transfers.