SWIFT transfers to Russia have been blocked for most Western banks since 2022. But thousands of expats still send money home every month — they've just found workarounds. Here's what actually works in 2026.
⚠️ Sanctions rules change frequently. Always verify with your bank and the service provider before sending. This is informational, not financial advice.
After 2022, most EU and US banks cut off SWIFT connections to Russian banks. Visa and Mastercard stopped processing transactions in Russia. The result: sending money to Russia became one of the most-asked questions on Reddit's expat communities.
"Almost no country in the world now accepts any Russian issued banking card rendering most of Russians unable to even pay for services abroad."
Wise supports transfers to Russian Tinkoff, Raiffeisen Russia, and some other banks via SWIFT. Not all corridors work — it depends on your sending country and the receiving bank. Always check before committing.
Armenia never joined the sanctions regime. Armenian banks (ACBA, Ameria, Ardshinbank) maintain active SWIFT connections to Russian banks. The most popular route for European expats.
💡 Reddit consensus: The Armenia route is the most reliable for large amounts. TBC Georgia also works as an intermediary.
Paysend supports direct card-to-card transfers to Russia in many corridors. One of the few services that sends straight to a Russian card number.
Both services resumed partial operations in Russia. Recipient picks up cash. Best for smaller amounts or when the recipient doesn't have a working bank account.
Russian money transfer systems with agents in Germany, Georgia, Serbia and other CIS countries. Works well for regular smaller transfers.
Convert EUR/USD to USDT (Tether) → transfer to Russian exchange (Bybit, OKX) → recipient converts to RUB. Popular among tech workers.
⚠️ Check local regulations. Crypto transfers may have tax implications in your country.
Telegram communities in Berlin, Dubai, and other expat hubs facilitate peer-to-peer currency exchanges. Someone in Germany wants RUB, someone in Russia wants EUR — they match. Lower fees but higher risk.
| Method | Fee | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ~0.6% | 1–3 days | Small-medium amounts |
| Armenian bank | $15–25 flat | 1–2 days | Large amounts |
| Paysend | ~1.5% | Minutes | Fast transfers |
| Western Union | 2–3% | Minutes | Cash pickup |
| Crypto | 0.5–2% | 30 min | Tech-savvy, large amounts |
🔍 Compare transfer rates in real time — see which service gives your recipient the most money
Compare now →"For EU → Russia, the best combo is: open an Armenian bank account (takes 15 min with passport), use it as a relay. Fees are predictable and it works reliably even for larger amounts."
The situation changes — check r/AskARussian for the latest community updates before each transfer.