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The short answer
Cash pickup still works in Nigeria, but since 1 May 2026 remittances through licensed money transfer operators are paid out in naira only, and the CBN's 2026 Foreign Exchange Manual caps over-the-counter cash at the naira equivalent of $200 per transfer, as reported by TheCable; anything above that goes into a bank account. The recipient collects at an agent or bank branch with the reference number and a valid ID such as an international passport, driver's licence, voter's card, national ID card or BVN.
Cash pickup was once the default way to get money to family in Nigeria: you paid in London, Houston or Toronto, and your mother walked into a bank hall with a reference number and came out with dollars. That picture has changed. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) now requires international money transfer operators (IMTOs) to pay out in naira, and it has set a small ceiling on how much can be handed over as cash. Cash pickup has not disappeared, but it now suits small, urgent sums rather than school fees or rent.
The two rules that changed cash pickup
Two CBN instruments shape what a recipient can collect today.
- Naira-only payouts from 1 May 2026. A CBN circular dated 24 March 2026, "Measures to Further Deepen Diaspora Remittances and Compliance", took effect on 1 May 2026. A March 2026 note from the law firm Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie says the IMTO Guidelines require payment to customers only in naira and that disbursements must run through designated naira settlement accounts. In practice that means no more dollar cash at the counter for these retail transfers.
- A cash ceiling of about $200. TheCable's summary of the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026 (3 June 2026) reports that inbound IMTO transfers are paid in naira, that over-the-counter cash is limited to the naira equivalent of $200, and that anything above that is credited to a bank account.
Some older bank and provider pages, written before the circular, still describe dollar cash pickup or a credit to a domiciliary account. Where an undated page and the 2026 circular disagree, expect the circular to apply at the counter, and ask the branch before your recipient travels.
What still works, and for whom
Cash pickup remains useful when the recipient has no bank account, has an account that is restricted, or needs a small sum the same day. The main operators still list it for Nigeria on their own pages:
| Provider | What its page says about cash pickup in Nigeria | What the recipient brings |
|---|---|---|
| Western Union | Collection at agent locations; "money transfers will generally be paid in cash" | MTCN, sender's full name, sending country, expected amount, valid ID |
| MoneyGram via GTBank | Naira cash pickup at any GTBank branch; over $200 equivalent must go to an account | Reference number and a regulatory ID such as BVN or international passport |
| Ria | Naira at "over 4,000" Ria partner locations | Government-issued photo ID and the transfer PIN; name must match the ID |
| WorldRemit | Pickup at its pickup locations (partners not named) | Valid photo ID with matching full name and the transaction reference |
Each line reflects that provider's or bank's own page as read in October 2026. Pages are not always dated, so check the live page or app on the day.
The ID your recipient needs
Western Union's Nigeria receive FAQ lists the accepted documents as a valid international passport, driver's licence, permanent voter's card, national identity card or BVN, and asks for proof that the receiver is 18 or older. GTBank's MoneyGram page refers to "regulatory ID" such as BVN or an international passport, so a bank counter may want the BVN as well as a photo ID. The name on the transfer must match the ID: Ria and WorldRemit both say so in terms.
A worked example
Example only: you want to send your uncle the naira equivalent of $500 for a medical bill, and he prefers cash.
- Under the reported cap, only the naira equivalent of $200 can be handed over the counter for that transfer.
- The remaining $300 equivalent must be paid into a bank account in his name, so the full $500 cannot be collected as one cash pickup.
- The practical options are a bank-account payout for the whole amount, or a smaller cash transfer for the urgent part and a bank deposit for the rest. Splitting one payment into several cash pickups to stay under the cap can be treated as structuring; see why split transfers get flagged.
What to check first
- Confirm the amount is small enough for cash. If it is above about $200 equivalent, choose a bank deposit.
- Check the recipient's name against their ID and enter it exactly.
- Ask the provider which branches or agents near the recipient pay out, and their opening hours. Bank halls generally pay out on weekdays only.
- Share the reference (MTCN, PIN or transaction reference) only with the recipient: whoever holds it and a matching ID can collect.
- If the recipient has no account, read sending money to someone without a bank account before you choose cash.
If a transfer is paid in dollars or arrives in a different form than you expected, see transfer paid out in dollars, not naira. For the recipient's side of the process, the Nigeria library has a full guide to receiving money from abroad, step by step.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme does not offer cash pickup. If the person you support can open an account, a Pryme account can be opened from any country and holds naira alongside dollars, pounds and euros, so money can arrive in naira without a trip to a counter. When you send, the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Naira deposits are held by a licensed Nigerian microfinance bank, regulated by the CBN and insured by the NDIC up to the applicable limit. See how it works.
Questions people ask
Can my family still collect dollars in cash from Western Union in Nigeria?
Not for IMTO remittances after 1 May 2026. The CBN circular of 24 March 2026 requires naira payouts, and the 2026 FX Manual caps cash at the naira equivalent of $200 per transfer, as reported by TheCable.
What ID is accepted for cash pickup in Nigeria?
Western Union's Nigeria FAQ lists an international passport, driver's licence, permanent voter's card, national identity card or BVN. Banks may also ask for the BVN alongside a photo ID.
Can someone collect cash pickup for another person?
The providers' pages describe collection by the named receiver with ID matching the transfer name. Assume a third party cannot collect unless the provider confirms otherwise.
Is there a fee for the person collecting the money?
Western Union says receiving is free unless the receiver chooses another currency, GTBank says the MoneyGram beneficiary is not charged, and WorldRemit says neither it nor its partners charge the recipient. The sender pays the fee.
Sources
- Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie: CBN directive to IMTOs (circular of 24 Mar 2026), Mar 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable: CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026, 3 Jun 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
- Western Union Nigeria: Receive money FAQ · accessed Oct 2026
- GTBank: MoneyGram (IMT services) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ria: Send money to Nigeria (US) · accessed Oct 2026
- WorldRemit FAQ: Cash pickup · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.