Back from a trip with foreign banknotes filling your wallet? A bureau de change can buy them back from you: here's how currency buy-back works, at what rate and with which practical tips.
Why sell your currency back rather than keep it
Keeping foreign banknotes "for next time" is rarely a good idea. Idle cash earns nothing, notes can be demonetised when a series is changed (this has happened to several currencies), and some currencies are volatile: their value in euros can fall while the banknotes sit waiting in a drawer. If you're not planning to return to the same region in the short term, having a bureau de change buy them back lets you immediately recover the value in euros and cleanly wrap up your trip.
At Paris Change, a bureau de change licensed by the ACPR (Banque de France), we buy back your currency at our shop at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel, in the heart of the Latin Quarter. The buy-back is done commission-free, on more than 53 currencies.
How banknote buy-back works
The principle is simple: you present your banknotes, they are checked and counted, then converted into euros at the day's buying rate. A few points to know:
- Buying rate (counter rate). A bureau displays two rates per currency: the selling rate (when it provides you with banknotes) and the buying rate (when it takes them back from you). The buy-back is done at the buying rate, which is naturally a little less favourable than the selling rate: this is the normal spread that pays for the service. These rates are indicative and change every day according to the market.
- Checking the banknotes. Notes are inspected for authenticity and condition. Clean, untorn notes belonging to the current series are bought back without difficulty.
- Coins. Like most bureaus, we buy back banknotes and not foreign coins: remember to spend your small change before coming home, at the airport or by dropping the coins into one of the charity collection boxes found in many departure halls.
Which currencies are the easiest to sell back
The major international currencies are very easy to buy back: US dollar (USD), pound sterling (GBP), Swiss franc (CHF), Canadian dollar (CAD) and Japanese yen (JPY), which are among the most common currencies for travellers departing from Paris. For rarer currencies, or if you're bringing back a large sum, it's wise to check availability before making the trip.
Finally, beware of countries with a non-exportable currency: some destinations legally prohibit taking their national currency out of the country (this is the case, for example, with the Tunisian dinar or the Moroccan dirham). In these countries, the best option is to convert your banknotes back into euros or dollars on site before departure, keeping the original exchange receipts that are often required at the airport counter.
Practical tips for selling back well
- Sort and smooth out your banknotes. Group them by currency and denomination, remove tickets and receipts: counting is faster and the exchange smoother.
- Favour large, clean notes. They are bought back without reservation; very damaged notes may be refused.
- Compare the buying rate, not just the selling rate. To sell back, it's the "buy" column that counts. A commission-free bureau in the heart of Paris, such as the one at Saint-Michel, spares you the inflated margins of airport counters.
- Keep your supporting documents. For large amounts of cash, keep your exchange receipts: remember that any transport of cash equal to or above €10,000 (or the equivalent in foreign currency) entering or leaving the European Union must be the subject of a mandatory customs declaration.
- Book online, collect in store. You can prepare your transaction on our website and finalise the buy-back at the counter, with no needless waiting.
Why choose Paris Change at Saint-Michel
Our single shop at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel (75005 Paris) is ideally located for travellers: Saint-Michel metro (line 4), RER B and C at Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame. We are open 7 days a week — Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm — which remains rare in Paris and is very handy for dropping by as soon as you get back, even at the weekend. ACPR licence, more than 53 currencies, no commission fees: you recover the fair value of your banknotes in complete transparency.
Frequently asked questions
Does the bureau buy back all the currencies I bring?
We buy back banknotes in more than 53 currencies. For rare currencies or large amounts, check availability before coming. Foreign coins and legally non-exportable currencies, however, are not bought back.
At what rate are my banknotes bought back?
At the day's buying rate, displayed in store and commission-free. Like all counter rates, it varies every day according to the market: we tell you the exact amount in euros before confirming the transaction.
Do I need to show proof of identity?
Proof of identity may be requested, particularly above certain amounts, in accordance with the regulations applicable to licensed bureaux de change.
Coming home from a trip with foreign banknotes? Drop by and see us at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel or prepare your transaction online: we buy back your currency commission-free, 7 days a week.
