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The short answer
To send money from Italy to Nigeria you need a valid photo ID that the provider accepts: a current passport, an Italian residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) or a European national ID or driving licence. Some firms, such as WorldRemit, also ask for proof of address issued in Italy and no more than six months old, and they can ask about the source of your money at any amount.
Every regulated money transfer firm in Italy has to know who you are before it moves your money. What differs is which document each one accepts, when it asks, and whether it wants proof of address too. This guide sets out what the providers' own pages said in October 2026, so you can have the right papers ready before you stand at a counter or open an app.
The documents that usually work
Across the pages we read, three kinds of photo ID come up again and again. Your Nigerian passport is the one most Nigerians in Italy already carry, and it is accepted for identity by every provider below. The question is whether it is enough on its own.
- Passport
- A current, unexpired passport. Your Nigerian passport proves your name and date of birth. WorldRemit lists "current passport" as accepted ID for Italian senders.
- Permesso di soggiorno
- Your Italian residence permit card. WorldRemit lists a "current European residence permit"; Taptap Send lists resident permits among the documents it accepts in Europe.
- Carta d'identità
- If you hold an Italian electronic identity card as a resident, it is a national ID card of the kind Taptap Send lists for Europe. Ask your provider before relying on it alone.
- Driving licence
- WorldRemit accepts a "current European driving licence". A Nigerian licence is not on its list.
Why proof of address can matter more than the passport
WorldRemit's FAQ for senders in Italy is the strictest page we read. Besides photo ID, it accepts utility bills, bank statements or a photo ID that shows your address as proof of address, and it says all documents and bills "need to be no more than 6 months old". It then adds: "Documents issued and / or certified by authorities from countries other than Italy will not be accepted."
Read literally, a Nigerian passport proves who you are but not that you live in Italy. If you are asked for address proof, an Italian bank statement, a recent utility bill in your name, or your permesso di soggiorno is the safer choice. If your permesso is being renewed and you only hold the post office receipt, ask the provider whether it accepts it before you start; none of the pages we read addressed it.
What each provider's page says
| Provider | What its page says about ID (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Western Union (Italy) | At an agent, bring "a valid form of ID", the amount, destination country and recipient's full name. Online, you can send up to €1,000 within a 3-day period before identity verification; once verified, up to €5,000 per transfer. |
| WorldRemit (Italy) | Current passport, European driving licence or European residence permit; address proof under six months old, issued or certified in Italy. |
| Taptap Send (Europe) | Passports, national IDs, resident permits, travel visas, driving licences, plus a selfie. Original document, four corners visible, no screenshots or photocopies. |
| Remitly (Remitly Europe) | May ask for name, date of birth, address, passport or other government ID, a utility bill, occupation, source of income, reason for sending, and bank statements or pay slips. |
| Ria (Italy) | Registration asks for full name, date of birth and contact details, and more depending on country of residence. No Italian document list on the Nigeria page. |
When the questions go beyond ID
ID is the first layer. Providers also have to understand why money is moving. Remitly's limits page says it may ask about your occupation, source of income and reason for sending, and for bank statements or pay slips, especially when you want a higher limit. WorldRemit's blog says extra checks can include proof of address, origin of funds and ID. These are normal anti-money-laundering steps, not an accusation; the transfer usually waits until you answer.
In shops, Italian cash rules add another layer. A notice from Banca Etica, updated on 1 January 2026, sets the general cash threshold at €5,000 but a separate threshold of €1,000 for money transfer services. If you plan to pay cash at an agent, expect the agent to look more closely at larger sums. Our guide to agent ID rules in Italy covers this in more depth, and the codice fiscale guide explains why many agents also ask for your tax code.
Steps before your first transfer
- Check your passport or permesso expiry date. Renew first if it runs out within the next few weeks.
- Make sure the name on your account matches your ID exactly, including middle names, in the same order.
- Keep one Italian address document under six months old: a bank statement is usually easiest.
- Photograph documents in good light, all four corners visible, without flash glare. Upload originals, not photocopies.
- Have your recipient's full name as it appears on their Nigerian bank account or ID; a mismatch on their side delays the transfer just as yours would.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account can be opened from Italy, and you verify your identity once when you open it. It holds euro and naira in one account, and you can send to Nigerian accounts when you are ready; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners. See how it works.
Questions people ask
Can I send money from Italy with only my Nigerian passport?
For identity, yes: providers such as WorldRemit accept a current passport. Some also want proof of an Italian address under six months old, which a passport does not show.
Is the permesso di soggiorno accepted for money transfer?
WorldRemit lists a current European residence permit and Taptap Send lists resident permits for Europe. It must be in date.
Do I need ID to send small amounts with Western Union in Italy?
Western Union's Italy page says agents need a valid ID. Online, you can send up to €1,000 within three days before identity verification.
Why is the app asking for my payslip?
Remitly and others may ask for source of income or bank statements to meet anti-money-laundering rules, often when you send more or ask for a higher limit.
Sources
- WorldRemit FAQ: Sending from Italy · accessed Oct 2026
- Western Union: Send money from Italy to Nigeria · accessed Oct 2026
- Taptap Send Help: How do I verify my identity (updated 19 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Remitly: Increase your sending limits (Ireland page, Remitly Europe) · accessed Oct 2026
- Banca Etica: Avviso limitazioni all'uso del contante (aggiornamento 1 gennaio 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ria: Send money to Nigeria from Italy · 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.