Send money from Canada to Nigeria
See today's CAD→NGN rate, compare every service on fees, speed and delivery, and see what your recipient keeps after cash-out fees and taxes — before you send.
Today's CAD→NGN exchange rate
This is the reference interbank rate — the starting point before each service's fee and margin.
Interbank rate updated 29 Jul 12:00 UTC (2h ago)
Calculate for your amount:
The Canada–Nigeria route is smaller than the US and UK routes but among the fastest-growing, tracking a young, recently-settled Nigerian diaspora. As with every naira route since the 2023 float, the day's rate swings widely — compare the final amount received, not the fee alone.
Sending from Canada: funding, speed & rules
From Canada, you fund a transfer by Interac e-Transfer (a free, near-instant bank email-money push) or by debit/credit card. Interac is the backbone of Canadian person-to-person payments, so most remittance apps accept it; Interac-funded sends are typically the cheapest and quickest from Canada.
Canadian money services businesses register with FINTRAC and follow PCMLTFA reporting rules. The Nigeria diaspora in Canada — concentrated in the Greater Toronto Area, Calgary and Brampton — is fast-growing, and senders often combine monthly support with seasonal lump sums.
Our verdict: the best way to send Canada to Nigeria
Best for the lowest total cost to Nigeria
LemFi and Sendwave: a free email transfer from your bank to the app is both the cheapest and the quickest way to pay. The apps that waive the up-front fee and keep the tightest rate margin net the most, especially as the money drops into a fintech wallet or a bank account over the country's instant rail, usually within seconds.
Best for speed to an OPay or PalmPay wallet or a bank account
Sendwave, LemFi and Remitly's Express tier: the funding clears almost immediately, and the money drops into a fintech wallet or a bank account over the country's instant rail, usually within seconds — so a send can complete end to end in minutes.
Best for large transfers and rate transparency
Wise: with funding free and fast even at size, the exchange-rate margin is what separates the apps on a large send.
Best for cash pickup / a recipient without a wallet
WorldRemit and Western Union: cash pickup matters less here because almost everyone receiving has a wallet or a bank account, but their agent networks pay out cash if your recipient has no wallet.
Best for Nigeria wallet support
The listed services deliver to the local mobile-money wallet or a bank account; some add cash pickup — compare the final amount received.
In plain terms: Because a free email transfer from your bank to the app is both the cheapest and the quickest way to pay, the right pick from Canada to Nigeria mostly comes down to your amount: LemFi and Sendwave for the lowest cost, Wise when the FX margin dominates on a large send, WorldRemit and Western Union if your family has no wallet. Either way, the money drops into a fintech wallet or a bank account over the country's instant rail, usually within seconds, and a bank deposit of ₦10,000 or more carries Nigeria's one-off ₦50 EMTL stamp duty.
Comparing the services: fees, rates, speed & delivery
| Service | Fee model | Rate | Speed | Delivery | Best for | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Transparent percentage fee, shown upfront | Mid-market (interbank) rate | Often within ~24h | Bank deposit; some mobile money | Transparency and larger sums | Go to Wise → |
| Remitly | Low or zero fee by speed tier | Competitive; promo rates for new users | Instant (Express) to a few days (Economy) | Bank, cash pickup, mobile money | Flexible delivery and cash pickup | Go to Remitly → |
| WorldRemit | Very low; often free to some destinations | Competitive margin over mid-market | Instant to about an hour | Bank, cash, mobile money, airtime | Multi-route reach and an established network | Go to WorldRemit → |
| Sendwave | Usually zero up-front fee | Earns on the rate margin (~1-3% over mid-market) | Instant to minutes | Mobile money focused | Ultra-fast mobile money delivery | Go to Sendwave → |
| LemFi | Typically $0 on core African routes | Small markup over mid-market | Instant to minutes | Bank and mobile money | Fast zero-fee app-to-app, African focus | Go to LemFi → |
| Taptap Send | Small flat or percentage fee by route | Solid rates | Minutes | Bank and mobile money | Low-cost app transfers | Go to Taptap Send → |
| Western Union | Higher and variable fee | Wider rate margin | Flexible, including instant cash | Huge agent network: cash, bank, mobile | Cash pickup reach | Go to Western Union → |
Some provider links are referral links, marked sponsored. They never change the figures or the order shown.
Which services reach Nigeria's mobile wallets
In Nigeria, mobile money means OPay, PalmPay, Moniepoint or a bank account — the table shows what each service actually reaches: wallet, bank account or cash pickup.
| Service | Mobile money OPay / PalmPay | Bank | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Remitly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| WorldRemit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sendwave | ✓ | — | — |
| LemFi | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Taptap Send | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Western Union | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What your recipient actually gets in Nigeria
Cash-out / withdrawal cost
Receiving is free, but Nigeria charges a ₦50 EMTL stamp duty on incoming bank deposits of ₦10,000 or more (taken once). On fintech wallets (OPay, PalmPay), withdrawals and transfers carry their own small fees. So the recipient keeps almost everything, but these small costs exist.
Receiving to a bank vs a wallet
In Nigeria, your recipient can receive into a bank account or a fintech wallet — OPay, PalmPay or Moniepoint — depending on what the service offers. Bank deposits arrive over NIP (NIBSS instant rail), often within seconds.
Choosing the right receive channel matters: a direct deposit to OPay or PalmPay is often instant and handy for spending, while a bank account suits larger sums.
How to send: methods, limits & safety
Funding and delivering the send
From Canada, funding by Interac e-Transfer is free and near-instant, making it the cheapest and quickest option; card is a paid alternative. The leg into Nigeria follows on mobile-first apps; bank deposit suits larger sums.
Transfer limits & KYC
In Canada, apps are FINTRAC-registered and verify identity at signup. Caps rise with verification. For a first large send to Nigeria, expect an extra verification step.
Official vs parallel rate to Nigeria
Interbank official rate; the parallel applies the tracked P2P premium. Interbank rate updated 29 Jul 12:00 UTC (2h ago). Premium source: Bybit P2P USDT/NGN median (top trimmed-50%).
Full parallel-rate tracker →Other routes to Nigeria
Frequently asked questions
How do I fund it and which app from Canada to Nigeria?
How long does a transfer to Nigeria take?
Is money received taxed in Nigeria?
Bottom line
Bottom line: the funding clears almost immediately and the money drops into a fintech wallet or a bank account over the country's instant rail, usually within seconds. Compare LemFi and Sendwave first on the final amount received, switch to Wise for large sums, and WorldRemit and Western Union if cash pickup is needed. In Canada, Interac is almost always the cheapest way to fund the send.
We describe each service's published model (fees, rates, speed, delivery) from public information, without reproducing live quotes or marketing copy. Always check the final fee and rate in the app before sending.