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Moving money to Italy and back: methods by route

Where your money starts and where it has to end up - and what people who already moved use for that. The table counts which methods the community talks about on each route; below, their experience with each method, rephrased.

In brief: how people move money to Italy in 2026

  • In H1 2026 (to 23 June) the most-mentioned options were cards and accounts at third-country banks - Belarus (61 messages), Kazakhstan (53), Kyrgyzstan (45) - and crypto (62); these are mentions, not confirmed successes.
  • For bank transfers by account details, 2026 discussion centred on SWIFT via OTP Bank from Russia to Italy (20 messages; fee put at about 3%, odds "50/50") and a euro account at Raiffeisenbank Russia for Italy-to-Russia transfers (23).
  • Unistream (150 messages in 2022-2024, 0 in 2026), Zolotaya Korona (95 vs 2) and Profee (0 in 2026) have nearly vanished from the chats; closures or sanctions reported in 2025-2026 concern Alfa-Bank Belarus, Kyrgyz Keremet Bank and Rosselkhozbank UnionPay.

From open chat messages up to 2026-06-23; routes and fees change monthly - check with the bank or service. Not financial advice.

What the chats report, month by month

A log of community messages from 2026-06-01 to 2026-09-30: 91 messages where people state their own result or relay news about a route (questions and exchange ads are not counted). These are community reports, not recommendations: a route that worked for one person may fail for the next, and routes change month to month. Not financial or legal advice, and not advice on getting around sanctions.

September 2026to 2026-09-30

  • Tsifra Bank -> Freedom Bank (Kazakhstan) mixed 9 reports6 reports: rouble transfers from Tsifra Bank to Freedom Bank Kazakhstan go through "as before", including via the bank's browser version. 3 reports: the link stopped working or "won't let" a transfer through after the EU sanctions.
  • Russian bank -> Kazakh bank card (Kaspi, Halyk) mixed 2 reports1 report: when the Tsifra-Freedom link failed, a transfer from VTB to a Kaspi Gold card went through. 1 report: transfers from Sberbank to Halyk go through, but Sberbank sometimes declines the operation.
  • Kyrgyz bank cards mixed 3 reports2 problem reports: on 1 September an MBank card was blocked; on 26 September Bakai Bank had just made registration mandatory for issuing cards to non-residents, and Kyrgyz banks are tightening card issue. 1 report: a week earlier a Kyrgyz bank card still worked both for payments in Europe and for transfers.
  • Revolut works 2 reports1 report: new Revolut customers in Italy get an Italian IBAN straight away. 1 report: topping up Revolut or Postepay from a Kazakh bank card goes through.
  • "Plati po miru" (virtual travel card) mixed 2 reports2 reports: the card works via Apple Pay, but the exchange rate is noticeably worse than with a plastic card from a CIS bank.

August 2026

  • Tsifra Bank -> Freedom Bank (Kazakhstan) mixed 8 reports6 reports: transfers go through, but only in roubles (earlier Tsifra could send dollars or euros), with conversion inside Freedom; people quoted 25,000 roubles a month free of charge and 0.9% above that (minimum 500 roubles). 2 reports: transfers via Tsifra are "no longer possible". Separately, 1 report: Freedom converts at 2-3 roubles above the official rate, about 5 at the end of August.
  • Opening a Freedom Bank (Kazakhstan) account mixed 3 reports2 reports: Freedom again opens accounts remotely and sends invitations for Russian citizens. 1 report: Kazakh banks open accounts only in person.
  • Revolut mixed 4 reports2 reports: Revolut opens an account on a D visa (one adds that the account gets frozen if the permesso is delayed). 1 report: an account was partly blocked. 1 unconfirmed report: Revolut stopped accepting transfers from outside the EU.
  • Kyrgyz banks mixed 2 reports1 report: Aiyl Bank, which has a Moscow branch, was called the cheapest option. 1 report: its app works with limitations unless Russian Ministry of Digital Development certificates are installed.
  • Belarusian bank card works 1 report1 report: euros arrived on a Belarusian card in the exact amount, on a Tajik card with conversion losses.
  • "Plati po miru" (virtual travel card) mixed 7 reports4 reports: the card worked for payments in Venice, Bologna, Milan and in the Trenitalia and food-delivery apps. 3 reports: the rate is poor - in one example a EUR 46 bill cost USD 54.
  • Italy -> Russia: euros to a Russian card problems 1 report1 report: a transfer from a euro card to a T-Bank card lost up to 10% on the exchange rate.

July 2026

  • Bank CenterCredit (BCC, Kazakhstan): SWIFT in euros mixed 10 reportsEarly July, 5 reports: on 4 July BCC refused transfers even to a customer resident in Italy; some said Kazakh banks had closed SWIFT for Russian passports, others replied there is no general ban, only refusals of specific payments and tighter checks; dollars from BCC to bunq do not go through because the correspondent bank refuses payments from Kazakhstan. From 23 July, 4 reports: euro transfers arrive again - to bunq within 45 minutes and almost instantly, to an Italian bank without problems. 1 report: roubles from Raiffeisenbank to BCC took longer than in spring.
  • OTP Bank (Russia) -> EU account works 5 reports5 reports: OTP keeps sending SWIFT payments, roubles included; money from a property sale reached bunq - bunq asked for source-of-funds documents and released the payment an hour after they were uploaded; routing via Hungary to Italy works but is hard, with a big exchange-rate loss and only with clean documents.
  • Italy -> euro account at Raiffeisenbank (Russia) works 3 reports3 reports: a SWIFT payment from an Italian bank to your own euro account at Raiffeisenbank Russia goes through; fees quoted were about 500 roubles in Russia and EUR 30-50 in Italy.
  • Tsifra Bank -> Freedom Bank (Kazakhstan) mixed 5 reports23-24 July, 4 reports: after the EU's 21st sanctions package Tsifra stopped transfers to Freedom, and Freedom temporarily removed its payment details from its site. 1 report on 24 July: rouble transfers resumed.
  • Kyrgyz banks problems 2 reports2 reports: Kyrgyzstan's Eco Islamic Bank was named in the 21st sanctions package, with warnings that cards may stop working.
  • Revolut mixed 3 reports1 report: Revolut now accepts the ricevuta for a pending permesso. 1 report: a document request was closed with the last three payslips (busta paga). 1 report: the Telegram wallet no longer accepts top-ups from Revolut.
  • EU bank -> Kazakhstan problems 1 report1 report: a Swedish bank refused to send a small sum to Freedom, calling Kazakhstan a risk country.
  • Belarusian bank cards mixed 2 reports1 report: cards from two Belarusian banks stopped working. 1 report: another bank's card goes through in Italy about "50/50", with no visible pattern.
  • Zolotaya Korona stopped 1 report1 report: the service stopped working because of sanctions.
  • "I'll help you transfer" intermediaries problems 1 report1 report: money sent through money-transfer services to an intermediary recommended in the chat was lost, and the intermediary stopped responding.

June 2026

  • Bank CenterCredit (BCC, Kazakhstan): SWIFT in euros mixed 5 reportsEarly June, 3 reports: for SWIFT to Italy non-residents mostly have BCC; the payment goes through if the address is entered exactly as in the bank's profile; a transfer to an EU bank arrived after a delay. 27 June, 2 reports: BCC again, about a month after the previous outage, stopped euro transfers for Russian citizens - officially temporarily, because of the correspondent bank's policy.
  • Tsifra Bank -> Freedom Bank (Kazakhstan) works 3 reports3 reports: people top up Freedom via Tsifra Bank - with non-cash roubles or a cash currency deposit; the transfer is instant, with a fee per the tariff.
  • Freedom Bank (Kazakhstan): SWIFT in euros problems 1 report1 report: Freedom does not send SWIFT payments in euros.
  • OTP Bank (Russia) -> EU account works 2 reports2 reports: transfers from OTP to bunq go through if you prove the source of funds; OTP's limit is 5 million roubles a month.
  • Russian bank -> Kazakh account (roubles) works 1 report1 report: UniCredit Bank Russia sends roubles by account details to any Kazakh bank, up to 30 million roubles a month free of charge, in 2-3 business days; the currency is bought there.
  • Belarusian bank account works 1 report1 report: roubles reached a Belarusian bank account with no fee.
  • Exchange intermediaries problems 1 report1 report: a warning about a scammer who offered help with appointment slots and money exchange and blocked people once they paid.

Official: EU sanctions that affect these routes

  • 2026-07-23 Council Regulation (EU) 2026/1848 of 23 July 2026 (21st sanctions package) added Cifra Bank LLC to Annex XIV of Regulation 833/2014: from 13 August 2026 EU persons are prohibited from any transaction with this bank (Article 5h). eur-lex.europa.eu
  • 2026-07-23 The same regulation added CJSC Eco-Islamic Bank (Kyrgyzstan) to Annex XLIV of Regulation 833/2014: from 13 August 2026 EU persons are prohibited from transactions with it (Article 5ac(2)). eur-lex.europa.eu
  • 2026-01-25 Article 5ac(1) of Regulation 833/2014 (consolidated text as of 24 July 2026): from 25 January 2026 EU entities operating outside Russia may not connect to Bank of Russia systems, including the Fast Payment System (SBP) and Mir. eur-lex.europa.eu

Regulation texts checked on 2026-09-30. Before dealing with an unknown intermediary, check it against the scam red flags.

Which routes people used to move money in 2025-2026

How many messages with experience and advice mention the route per half-year (no questions, ads or duplicates), and the latest month someone said it worked or hit a problem. A measure of discussion, not a success rate.
Route2022-242025 H12025 H22026 H1WorkedProblem
Kazakh banks (Freedom, Kaspi, BCC etc.)Russia -> Kazakhstan -> Italy55716589532026-042026-06
Kyrgyz banks (Ayyl, Bakai, KICB)Russia -> Kyrgyzstan -> Italy995029452026-052026-04
Belarusian banksRussia -> Belarus -> Italy479106135612026-052026-06
SWIFT via OTP BankRussia -> Italy551523202026-042026-01
A euro account at RaiffeisenbankItaly -> Russia3332235232026-032026-05
USDT via P2Pboth ways52713245622026-042025-11
Crypto cards (RedotPay)spending in Italy7236152026-03-
Russian UnionPay cardscash in Italy9148334242026-042026-02
Plati po miruspending in Italy001162026-042026-03
Revolutreceiving in Italy40214673372026-042026-05
Cash carried in personboth ways60213410783--
ProfeeItaly -> Russia7223602025-09-
Zolotaya KoronaRussia -> CIS955222026-02-
UnistreamRussia -> abroad150010--

What people report about fees, limits and timing

Kazakh banks (Freedom, Kaspi, BCC etc.)

  • A Kazakh account/card can be opened remotely via e-residency: about USD 120 for the first year, about 2 days. (2026-03, 2026-05)
  • Cash withdrawal in Italy with a Freedom card: about 2.4-2.5% from Freedom plus EUR 3-5 charged by the Italian ATM. (2025-04, 2025-11)
  • Card-to-card transfer from a Kazakh card to your own EU card (Visa/Mastercard by card number): about 1%, credited instantly. (2025-01, 2025-04)

Kyrgyz banks (Ayyl, Bakai, KICB)

  • A Kyrgyz bank card (most often Ayyl) can be issued in Moscow via power of attorney or the bank office: about RUB 18k, about 10 days. (2025-04, 2025-06, 2026-05)
  • Sanctions risk: Keremet Bank was sanctioned by the US (2025-07) and the EU (2026-04) and abruptly blocked non-resident cards in 2025-12. (2025-07, 2025-12, 2026-04)
  • KICB cards: complaints about a daily cap on the number of transactions (about 10) that cannot be lifted. (2026-01, 2026-05)

Belarusian banks

  • Booking does not accept Belarusian cards directly; the workaround is linking them to PayPal (does not work for everyone). (2025-05, 2025-10, 2026-03)
  • The card is usually opened in person in Minsk in 1-2 days (a same-day trip); remote opening was reported for Alfa-Bank Belarus. (2025-05, 2025-07, 2026-03)
  • Acceptance of Belarusian cards in Italy/EU is put at 80-97%: transport and museums work, some shops and fuel stations decline. (2025-09, 2026-03, 2026-05, 2026-06)

SWIFT via OTP Bank

  • Fee about 3% (a cap of EUR 1,500 was reported). (2026-01, 2026-02)
  • Users put the chance of the transfer going through at about 50/50. (2026-01, 2026-04)
  • The only EUR correspondent is the Hungarian OTP parent; it returns transfers on AML grounds, especially if the money came from a sanctioned bank (e.g. Sber); documents do not help. (2025-12, 2026-01)

A euro account at Raiffeisenbank

  • Italy -> Russia: the recipient opens a free EUR account at Raiffeisenbank, the sender makes a SWIFT by details; incoming fee about RUB 500. (2025-08, 2025-09, 2025-11, 2025-12, 2026-01, 2026-02, 2026-03)
  • The Italian bank charges about EUR 30-50 for that outgoing SWIFT. (2025-08, 2026-03)
  • Timing per the bank: 1 to 7 days; users advise a small test transfer first. (2025-05)

USDT via P2P

  • Scheme: rubles -> USDT via exchange P2P (Bybit) on Russian documents -> EU crypto service/card. (2025-04, 2025-05)
  • Warning: exchanges and crypto services opened on Italian documents report to the tax authority. (2025-04, 2025-11, 2026-02)
  • Bybit stopped opening on EU documents and moves clients to Bybit EU; reportedly no USDT there, ruble P2P uncertain. (2025-04, 2025-11)

Crypto cards (RedotPay)

  • RedotPay is opened only via intermediaries; USD top-up at about the central bank rate +2%; acceptance in Italy/EU put at 99-100%. (2026-02, 2026-03)

Russian UnionPay cards

  • Of Russian UnionPay cards only the ATB (Asia-Pacific Bank) card is reported to still work in Italy, mainly for ATM cash; the card cost about RUB 5,000 (2026-03). (2025-10, 2026-01, 2026-03, 2026-06)
  • Rosselkhozbank UnionPay stopped working in Italy (reports from 2025-07; in 2026-01 "not working for half a year"). (2025-07, 2026-01)
  • When it worked, acceptance in shops was partial: from 10-30% up to 50-80% depending on the city. (2025-03, 2025-05)

Plati po miru

  • Virtual card, about RUB 4,000 to open in a few minutes, topped up via SBP; not usable for car rental; unfavourable rate. (2026-02, 2026-04)

Revolut

  • Since 2025 Revolut in Italy issues Italian IBANs and asks for resident documents (tessera sanitaria, carta d'identità); it does not accept the permit-application receipt. (2025-02, 2025-11, 2026-02)
  • Reports of reviews and freezes: questions about incoming payments, Russian-origin money, expired documents. (2025-11, 2026-02, 2026-05)
  • Top-up from a Russian card by Revolut card number: 0.5-1% (spring 2025); the MilliyPay bridge stopped working in 2025-06. (2025-04)

Cash carried in person

  • EU threshold: cash of EUR 10,000 or more per person must be declared when entering/leaving (up to 9,999.99 without a declaration). (2025-06, 2026-02, 2026-06)
  • Russia: cash currency export is capped at the equivalent of USD 10,000 (about EUR 8,500) per person - stricter than the EU threshold. (2025-08, 2026-06)
  • Taking euro cash from the EU to Russia is banned by sanctions (Regulation 833/2014); chats debate how it is applied when flying via a third country. (2025-08, 2026-02, 2026-05)

Profee

  • Works only to cards of non-sanctioned Russian banks; an Ozon Bank virtual card is often used as the intermediate. (2025-01, 2025-09)
  • Europe -> Russia only; the reverse does not work. (2025-05)
  • Money arrives within minutes; the rate is described as unfavourable. (2025-02, 2025-09)

Zolotaya Korona

  • Mentioned as a way to move money out of Russia to CIS countries "for a percentage"; no 2025-2026 reports of a transfer landing in Italy. (2025-04, 2025-09, 2026-02)

Cash: the official rule

  • Agenzia delle Dogane: cash under EUR 10,000 may be carried freely; above it a declaration must be signed and filed at customs when entering or leaving Italy. source
  • European Commission: all travellers entering or leaving the EU with EUR 10,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent) must complete a cash declaration. source
How many messages in the open chats mention a method on a route (snapshot 2026-09-11, 147,621 messages with experience and advice). A measure of what people talk about, not a ranking.
MethodFrom Russia to ItalyVia a third countryItaly and the EUFrom Italy to RussiaTotal
Cash and exchange offices131124242,356
Third-country cards27267-11,366
SWIFT / IBAN3741138518
Wise, Revolut, PostePay161371471
USDT / P2P16724391
Zolotaya Korona, Unistream, WU155-3134
Route total1,8631,317149133

From the chats: Cash and exchange offices

Upon arrival in Venice, customs officials said that you can export up to 10,000 euros without questions; above that, a declaration is needed. One of them was aggressive, but he was stopped.
- community member, rephrased

Where people most often go wrong

  • Some banks may set high fees for non-residents, and some exchange offices may have high commissions or unfavorable rates. (3 messages)

From the chats: Third-country cards

We have a UnionPay card from one bank, personalized in euros. In most cases, it works. We paid in cafes, shops, and ports. Recently, we noticed an interesting point: in one shop, the card worked at one register, but not at another. Sometimes it doesn't work for contactless payments, but it does work when inserted into the terminal with a PIN code entry.
- community member, rephrased
I have a UnionPay card from one bank. I withdraw from UniCredit ATMs, with a fee only from my bank. I can also withdraw from Intesa, but there the fee is 3 euros plus from my bank.
- community member, rephrased

Where people most often go wrong

  • The UnionPay card may not work in less touristy areas, so cash or another card may be necessary. (4 messages)
  • Not all booking systems accept UnionPay cards, so it's worth choosing portals that support them. (3 messages)
  • Some banks do not accept transfers from Russia, which may complicate financial operations. (2 messages)
  • Not all ATMs accept UnionPay cards, so it may take several attempts to withdraw cash. (5 messages)

From the chats: SWIFT / IBAN

The advantage of an Italian IBAN is that it allows for specific payments. The downside is the fee for incoming transfers and the blocking when a certain code is specified. The card is not activated until the physical card is received.
- community member, rephrased
Banks vary greatly. It's possible that SWIFT will go through, but my transfer from one UniCredit to another did not go through.
- community member, rephrased
The card is in euros, and topping up in rubles is possible through a virtual card and conversion in the app. A transfer from an Italian account will likely not go through; I tried from a Portuguese account, and it didn't work.
- community member, rephrased

Where people most often go wrong

  • Transfer fees can reach up to 4%, especially when sending from Italy, and not all banks offer favorable conditions for SWIFT transfers. (5 messages)
  • Transfers may be returned due to incomplete details or internal SWIFT policies, which can cause delays. (4 messages)
  • For transferring large sums, documentary proof of the legality of the source of funds and a declaration may be required. (3 messages)
  • Some banks may refuse transfers to Italian IBANs or limit transfers in rubles, making international transactions difficult. (4 messages)

From the chats: Wise, Revolut, PostePay

I transfer via P2P on Binance, then to Revolut. With Revolut, it's convenient to send money across Europe. The process is a bit complicated, but it takes no more than 10 minutes)
- community member, rephrased
I haven't set up Postepay yet, that's a separate topic. I received Revolut right after getting the necessary documents. It's the easiest way.
- community member, rephrased

Where people most often go wrong

  • Revolut can block the account while waiting for the renewal of the permesso if the necessary documents are not provided. (3 messages)
  • Some banks may refuse to open an account, even if you have all the necessary documents. (4 messages)
  • Revolut does not accept ricevuta as proof of legal status in Italy for topping up the card. (2 messages)
  • To open an account with Revolut, the original codice fiscale is required, which can be a problem. (2 messages)

From the chats: USDT / P2P

I use Binance P2P for transfers, and then send to Revolut. With Revolut, you can easily transfer money across Europe. The process is a bit complicated, but takes no more than 10 minutes.
- community member, rephrased

Where people most often go wrong

  • EU banks often block accounts when cryptocurrency is detected, which can lead to problems with withdrawing funds. (3 messages)
  • Some exchanges may have restrictions for users with Russian passports, making verification difficult. (3 messages)
  • When using P2P in Italy, it is necessary to choose euros, otherwise there may be difficulties with purchases. (2 messages)
  • It is necessary to declare income from cryptocurrency if there is any, and to consider taxes and local legislation. (2 messages)

From the chats: Zolotaya Korona, Unistream, WU

In Italy, I use Unistream and Valutrans points for transfers only from Russia. Reverse transfers may also be available. To find the nearest Valutrans points, you need to write to the email provided on the website; the response comes quickly.
- community member, rephrased
Hello! I was able to make a transfer on Wise through Western Union with a small fee. I needed my passport and codice fiscale. The limit they informed me about is around 1,000 euros per month.
- community member, rephrased
Unistream collaborates only with Valutrans in Italy. I recommend calling them to find out if there is an office closer. I always call before sending, as there can be technical issues that may last several days.
- community member, rephrased
First, they sent me money to Uzbekistan, where I received it in dollars, and then I transferred it through another system and received it in rubles. The fee was 90 euros for 1000 euros.
- community member, rephrased

Where people most often go wrong

  • The commission for transfers can significantly reduce the amount you receive, especially when sending from a card. (3 messages)
  • There are limits on the amounts of transfers through Unistream that need to be considered, for example, a limit of 750 euros per week. (2 messages)

From the chats: from russia to italy

I transferred money through the bank, but the operation was declined due to the need to confirm the origin of the funds. After approval, everything went smoothly, and the money arrived the next day. The fee was 2%, with a minimum of 60 €.
- community member, rephrased
When leaving the country, you do not need to declare amounts up to 10,000 dollars. I brought jewelry, there were no problems, but upon returning to Moscow, they checked my luggage.
- community member, rephrased
At Crédit Agricole, you can negotiate. I said that my friends had already opened accounts, and I convinced the employee to contact the head office regarding the sanctions. After three weeks and several visits, I finally got my account opened, but they asked me not to make transfers from Russia.
- community member, rephrased
Raiffeisen sends money from 3000€, the commission is fixed. There is no 100% guarantee that the money will arrive. There can be delays. Business payments to Germany are processed faster than before.
- community member, rephrased

Where people most often go wrong

  • Banks may refuse to transfer money if the requirements for confirming kinship or the origin of the funds are not met. (5 messages)
  • When transferring money from Russia to Italy, there may be problems with errors in the recipient's name or the transfer being declined without explanation. (3 messages)
  • It is necessary to declare cash over 10,000 dollars when leaving Russia, and also be prepared for checks upon entering Italy. (2 messages)
  • Not all Russian banks can make direct transfers to Europe, and some may open accounts but do not allow receiving transfers from Russia. (3 messages)

From the chats: via a third country

Previously, I topped up the card of a bank from Kazakhstan, and everything was fine. However, recently, about a month and a half ago, the attempt ended in refusal. In their new list of countries from which transfers cannot be made, there is also the UAE.
- community member, rephrased

Where people most often go wrong

  • Some banks may have restrictions on the number of transactions per day, which should be taken into account when planning transfers. (2 messages)

Rephrased from open chats of Russian-speaking expats in Italy, with names and identifying details removed. Rules, limits and fees change - this is lived experience as of the snapshot date, not financial advice; check current terms with the bank or service.

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