<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001273931</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MGI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001490439</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lee Nigel</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1550 UTICA AVENUE SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55416</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, EMEAAP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.36</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-04-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Non-qualified stock option granted pursuant to MoneyGram International, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended, pursuant to the Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated April 22, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options for 50% of the shares are considered &quot;Time Vested&quot; and options for 50% of the shares are considered &quot;Performance Vested.&quot;  The Time Vested options will vest in equal installments over five years on the anniversary of the grant date.  The Performance Vested options will vest as follows: Options for 50% of the shares will vest when the value of the common stock of the Corporation has reached $4.00 per share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days during the 5-year period following the grant date; and options for 50% of the shares will vest when the value of the common stock of the Corporation has reached $5.25 per share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days during the 5-year period following the grant date.  If the shares of common stock of the Corporation are not publicly traded, then vesting for the options that are Performance Vested will be vested in the manner set forth in the stock option agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Timothy C. Everett on behalf of Nigel Lee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
