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The short answer
To wire US dollars to a Nigerian domiciliary account you need the recipient's exact account name, their 10-digit dollar account number, the bank's SWIFT code and, usually, the bank's US correspondent details. Under the CBN's FX Manual in force from June 2026, as reported, holders of ordinary domiciliary accounts have unrestricted access to their balances for eligible transactions, and no disclosure of source of funds is needed to open or fund one.
What a domiciliary account is
A domiciliary ("dom") account is a foreign-currency account at a Nigerian bank. It holds dollars, pounds or euros as that currency, so a dollar wire lands as dollars, with no conversion to naira unless the holder chooses one later. It has its own account number, separate from the holder's naira account, even at the same bank. Sending dollars to a naira account number instead usually means the Nigerian bank converts on arrival at its own rate.
For how a Nigerian opens and uses one, see saving in dollars in Nigeria: domiciliary accounts and risks.
Details your US bank will ask for
| Field on the US form | What the recipient gives you |
|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | The name on the dom account, exactly as the bank holds it |
| Beneficiary account number | The 10-digit number of the dollar account, not the naira one |
| Beneficiary bank and SWIFT | For example Fidelity Bank Plc, FIDTNGLA |
| Intermediary bank | The bank's US dollar correspondent, for example Citibank N.A. New York (CITIUS33) for Fidelity |
| Bank's account at the intermediary | Given on the bank's instruction sheet |
| Purpose | For example family support, school fees, property |
The intermediary rows come from the Nigerian bank's own instructions. Fidelity's 2025 document, for example, places the beneficiary's name and account number in field 59. Our guide to intermediary banks explains why they are needed.
What the receiver can do with the dollars
The CBN's Foreign Exchange Manual, fourth edition, took effect on 1 June 2026. We have not been able to read the manual itself; the points below come from two Nigerian reports of it, and where they differ we say so.
- TheNigeriaLawyer reports that ordinary dom account holders have "unfettered and unrestricted access" to their balances for eligible transactions, and that Form A is not mandatory for remittances funded from such accounts.
- TheCable reports that no disclosure of source of funds is required to open or fund a dom account.
- Both mention a US$10,000 per day figure but describe it differently: TheCable as a limit on dom account telegraphic transfers, TheNigeriaLawyer as a cap on cash deposits through telegraphic transfers. Ask the bank how it applies the rule.
- TheCable reports that cash withdrawals of inbound money-transfer-operator receipts are capped at the naira equivalent of US$200; that rule is about MTO payouts, not ordinary wires to a dom account.
In practice, the holder can keep the dollars, transfer them to another dom account, use them for eligible payments abroad, or sell them for naira at the bank's rate. Dollar cash withdrawal, and its charge, is a matter for each bank's own terms.
Why dom account wires get held up
Most delays on dollar wires to Nigeria come from a short list of causes, and nearly all are avoidable before you send:
- The naira account number used by mistake. Many people have both; the bank may convert on arrival or return the wire.
- An outdated correspondent. Banks change correspondents, and a wire sent to the old one can be rejected or bounced back.
- Name differences. "Chukwuemeka Obi" on the wire and "Obi Chukwuemeka Daniel" on the account may trigger a query.
- Missing purpose. Large or unusual amounts with no stated purpose attract compliance questions on either side.
If a wire does come back, our guide to returned US wires explains what you can expect to recover.
Costs on both sides
- Your US bank's outgoing international wire fee.
- Any correspondent deduction on the way.
- Any charge the Nigerian bank applies on receipt or on later transfers out.
- If the holder later converts to naira, the gap between the bank's rate and the market rate.
Funding the wire from your US bank account means the 1% federal remittance tax does not apply: section 4475 exempts transfers where funds are withdrawn from an account at a financial institution.
Worked example
Example only. Ada sends $3,000 from her US checking account to her father's UBA dollar account. Her bank charges a $45 wire fee and a correspondent takes $20, so $2,980 arrives and $3,045 left her account. Her father keeps $2,000 in dollars and later sells $980 to the bank for naira at the rate UBA quotes that day.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account opened from the US holds US dollars and naira, with local details for each, and Naira deposits are held by a licensed Nigerian microfinance bank, regulated by the CBN and insured by the NDIC up to the applicable limit. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners. If the money is meant to end up as naira for spending at home, you can hold dollars and convert with Swap when you choose, then pay a Nigerian account with Send; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve.
Questions people ask
Can I wire dollars from the US to a Nigerian dom account?
Yes. You need the dom account name and 10-digit number, the bank's SWIFT code and usually its US correspondent details from the bank's instruction sheet.
Can my family withdraw the dollars in cash?
That depends on the bank's terms and charges. The $200 cash cap reported under the 2026 FX Manual applies to money-transfer-operator receipts, not to ordinary wires into a dom account.
Does my family need to show where the dollars came from?
TheCable's report of the 2026 FX Manual says no source-of-funds disclosure is needed to open or fund a domiciliary account. The bank may still ask questions under its own checks.
What if I send dollars to a naira account by mistake?
The Nigerian bank will usually convert on arrival at its rate, or return the wire. Ask the recipient's bank before sending which happens.
Sources
- TheNigeriaLawyer, CBN grants domiciliary account holders unrestricted access to dollar balances (2 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable, CBN FX Manual 2026: rules on cash, PTA and domiciliary accounts (3 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Fidelity Bank Plc, Details for SWIFT transfers 2025 · accessed Oct 2026
- Federal Register (public inspection), Excise Tax on Remittance Transfers, proposed regulations REG-114499-25, 13 Apr 2026 · 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.