Receiving money with An Post: What are the options?

If you have a current account with An Post¹ you may want to receive a payment - or you might be looking to use An Post to receive money in cash through Western Union.

This guide covers the options, fees and limits to receive money to your An Post money current account, and using their Western Union partner services. Plus we’ll touch on an alternative: Wise. With a Wise Account you can receive money via local account details in 8+ currencies, with no fees.

Discover the Wise Account 💡

Can you receive money through An Post in Ireland?

Yes, you can receive money through An Post in Ireland. Your options depend on whether or not you have an An Post account or want to get your payment in cash. These are the options in Ireland:

• Receive money in euros to your An Post current account if you have one
• Receive money in cash through the An Post partnership with Western Union²

Receiving money via An Post Current Account

To receive money to your An Post Current Account you’ll need to give the sender your account information and full name, and then the money will be deposited into your account once the payment has been processed.

Receiving money at An Post with Western Union

To receive money at An Post with Western Union, you’ll need to take the following steps:

1. Ask the sender for the MTCN - the tracking number they’re given when they send your money
2. Go to an An Post branch with your government issued ID document, like a passport
3. Complete the Western Union form at the post office branch and present it with your ID at the counter
4. A member of staff will give you your payment in cash.

Can you receive international transfers with An Post?

Yes, you can receive international money transfers to your current account through the SEPA network by giving the sender your An Post money account number.

The sender can then arrange a transfer using your An Post details. This option is available for payments in EUR received from the SEPA area only.⁴

If you don’t have an account with An Post you can also receive a payment in person at the post office, through Western Union. In this case the sender will arrange the transfer through Western Union online or in person, and you’ll need to go to a branch to collect your money.

In both cases, the international transfer is received in euros. This means that the payment is converted from the sender’s local currency to EUR, either by their bank, by An Post, or by Western Union. Fees can apply for currency conversion, which might mean you get less than expected in the end.

As an alternative to receive money you could use a Wise Account, which gives you local account details in +8 currencies, so you can get paid in GBP, USD, AUD, CAD and more, without needing to convert to euros immediately.

This lets you hold your money in the original currency for future use, convert back to euros when you spot a good exchange rate, or even convert your money in any of the 40+ currencies available.

How much does it cost to receive money with An Post?

There are no stated incoming payment fees for An Post’s current account.

There is no fee to receive a payment in cash through Western Union at an An Post location.

⏰ How long does it take to receive money with An Post?

The amount of time it takes for a payment to be received by An Post will depend on the payment method, and factors like the country and currency the transfer originates in, the value of the transfer and the service the sender uses.

If the sender arranges the payment through their bank, to be deposited to your An Post current account, it can be processed through the SWIFT network. Payment delivery times vary depending on the sending bank’s processes, but can take 1 - 3 days.

If you’re getting a Western Union payment the delivery time can arrive in minutes if the sender uses the Money in Minutes service. Ultimately, the delivery time scale depends on a range of factors, but the sender can track the payment in their Western Union app if required.

Wise: Receive money for free in +8 currencies

Getting paid from abroad in euros isn’t always the most convenient option. So the Wise Account gives you an alternative, offering ways to get paid for free in +8 currencies via local account details.

By opening a Wise Account you'll get access to local account details for +8 currencies, including in GBP and USD, making it easy to send or receive money. This means you'll be able to use the account details to safely receive money in the local currency, without having to go through an international transfer.

Because your transfer works just like a local payment it’s likely to be free or cheap for the sender - and there’s no Wise fee either.

You can also receive money with Wise by giving the sender your email address or phone number, or your Wisetag. Or you can generate a Wise payment request in a few taps of the Wise app so the sender can securely pass over your payment.

Open your Wise Account
for free 🚀

How much money can I receive with An Post?

There is no limit on the amount of money you can receive to an An Post current account. However, if the person sending you money also uses An Post, they’ll be limited to 2,000 EUR for a digital transfer.³

Western Union doesn't state incoming payment limits, but the sender will likely find limits apply to their account depending on their country and payment type.

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Sources last checked on: 22th September, 2025