How long do international transfers take to go through – and why?
Last update: 9 Sep 2025
Standard international transfers can take up to six working days. This is because most cross-border transactions use the SWIFT network, which transfers money through a string of intermediaries.
While most cross-border transactions do settle a bit more quickly than this, delays can stall your cash flow and hurt your business. (Plus, they aren’t cheap.)
Fortunately, solutions like WorldFirst can significantly reduce settlement times for international transactions, by using local payment networks and multi-currency tools.
In this article, we’ll break down what you need to know. We share the most common international transfer methods and show you how WorldFirst empowers businesses to move money faster. We cover:
- How long do international transfers usually take?
- How to send money faster with a WorldFirst account
- How to open a World Account
- How Fresh4U Produce grew from market stall supplier to global business with WorldFirst
Ready for faster international transfers? Open a World Account for free now, in just minutes.
How long do international transfers usually take?
While SWIFT transfers are the most common form of international transaction, they’re not the only one. Here’s a closer look at how long some of the most common international transfer methods typically take:
| Method | Examples | Typical transfer time | Business use cases? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-currency accounts | WorldFirst | Instant to 1–2 business days | Yes. Typically offer more favourable exchange rates, pricing visibility, fast transfer speeds and tools for compliance and reporting |
| International bank transfers | SWIFT, traditional international wire transfers | 1–5 business days or more | Yes, but can be too slow and/or expensive to meet business goals. |
| SEPA transfers | Transfers within the Eurozone | 24–48 hours | Yes, within 36 participating countries |
| Money transfer platforms | Wise, Payoneer | Instant to 1–2 business days, depending on provider, currency, country and method used | Sometimes, depending on the exchange rates, fee structure and currency in which you’re trading |
| Cryptocurrency | Bitcoin, Ethereum | Instant to a few hours | Yes, for certain audiences and niche use cases. High learning curve and volatility concerns |
| Online payment services | PayPal, Skrill | Instant to 1–2 business days; more if held for fraud prevention or compliance concerns | Sometimes, for niche use cases. Fees can be prohibitively high for regular use |
| Money transmitters, aka cash-to-cash or cash-to-bank transfer services | Western Union, MoneyGram | Typically 1–5 business days | Sometimes, for niche use cases. High fees, fraud concerns and little support for business functions |
| Credit cards and debit cards | Visa, Mastercard | Payment is instant, but transactions can take 1–3 days to clear | Yes, where accepted, but fees can be very high and exchange rates are often unfavourable. There may be transaction limits or other restrictions, plus higher fraud and chargeback risks |
Why do international transfers take a long time?
Traditional wire methods like SWIFT don’t actually move money; they pass along instructions to different banks on how to move money. The funds themselves move through multiple intermediaries, called correspondent banks, in order to get to their final destination.
Delays can occur at any point along the way, for various reasons including:
- Time zone differences and banking hours: Funds must pass through financial institutions in different countries, all with different time zones, business hours and bank holidays. When one or more banks in the chain is closed, transfers must pause until operating hours resume
- Compliance and regulatory checks: Every bank in the chain must screen transactions for anti-money laundering (AML), fraud, sanctions compliance and other regulatory requirements. This takes time, and if a transaction is flagged for review, it can be held even longer
- Currency conversion: Rate negotiations, batch processing, verification procedures and other logistics can add further delays. For example, if batch processing only takes place at a certain time each day, a transaction that misses the batch cut-off time will have to wait for the next round. Larger transactions can also result in protracted negotiations between the sender’s bank and recipient’s bank, over special rate agreements
- Manual processing and error handling: Missing or incorrect details can cause a transfer to be paused or rejected until corrected
- Fraud checks and risk prevention procedures: Financial institutions typically use algorithms to screen for fraud and risk, and may impose mandatory waiting periods or hold certain transactions for review
- Legacy infrastructure: Outdated technology and slow interbank communication protocols can delay processing times, especially in certain regions or payment networks
Find out more: How to send international payments: 6 options for businesses
How to send money faster with a World Account
WorldFirst is an online international payments platform that partners with financial institutions like Barclays, Citibank, J.P. Morgan and Mastercard. Over the last 20+ years, we’ve empowered over one million businesses to scale across global markets, handling over $300 billion in total transaction value.
With a multi-currency World Account, you can make payments to 210+ countries, with 80% of payments landing on the same day. Your World Account also lets you manage all your international payments in one dashboard, for simpler payments and greater visibility.
Here are some of the ways you can use your World Account to simplify international money transfers:
Make affordable business payments in 100+ currencies to 210+ destinations
With your WorldFirst account, you can pay in 100+ different currencies to 210+ countries and territories. You pay right from your dashboard, with the vast majority of payments landing by the next working day.
Our competitive, transparent pricing lets you know ahead of time exactly what you’ll pay. We charge no monthly fees, no annual fees and no setup fees, and it’s free to hold and receive currency. All of our other prices are listed here: WorldFirst UK Pricing.
WorldFirst is also ideal for business payments. Unlike other transfer services that can eat into your profits with high percentage-based fees, WorldFirst offers competitive rates that scale with you.
Read more: How to choose a multi-currency business account (+ 6 options)
Get account details in 20+ currencies to pay fast
With your WorldFirst account, you get free local account details for over 20 currencies, including GBP, EUR, USD, CNH, SGD, AUD, NZD and JPY, to sell on regional marketplaces and other platforms that require a local bank account.
Local payment rails also enable faster, cheaper payments to suppliers, partners and vendors. They’re an easy way to make sure suppliers get paid on time, in their preferred currencies – and that your inventory arrives right on schedule.
| Country | Currency | Required Account Details | Sample Details | Format / Digit Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | USD | Account Number + Routing Number | Account: 987654321, Routing: 026009593 | Account: 9 digits, Routing: 9 digits |
| United Kingdom | GBP | Account Number + Sort Code | Account: 76543210, Sort Code: 20-45-67 | Account: 8 digits, Sort Code: 6 digits (XX-XX-XX) |
| Eurozone (Germany) | EUR | IBAN | IBAN: DE44 5001 0517 5407 3249 31 | IBAN: 22 characters (letters + digits) |
| Australia | AUD | BSB + Account Number | BSB: 032-001, Account: 87654321 | BSB: 6 digits (XXX-XXX), Account: 8 digits |
| Canada | CAD | Institution Number + Transit Number + Account Number | Institution: 010, Transit: 54321, Account: 8765432 | Institution: 3 digits, Transit: 5 digits, Account: 7-12 digits |
| Japan | JPY | Bank Code + Branch Code + Account Number | Bank: 0005, Branch: 456, Account: 2345678 | Bank: 4 digits, Branch: 3 digits, Account: 7 digits |
| Singapore | SGD | Bank Code + Branch Code + Account Number | Bank: 7171, Branch: 002, Account: 987654321 | Bank: 4 digits, Branch: 3 digits, Account: 9-11 digits |
| New Zealand | NZD | Account Number (BBAN format) | Account: 01-2345-6789012-00 | BBAN: 15-16 digits (AA-BBBB-CCCCCCC-SS) |
Use your virtual World Cards to pay anywhere Mastercard is accepted
When you open your World Account, you can get up to 25 virtual cards that you can use to pay all kinds of costs, including:
- Marketplace seller fees
- Inventory costs
- Marketing and advertising costs
- Shipping and logistics costs
With your World Cards, you pay zero FX fees on 15 currencies when you spend from your World Account balance. You also get up to 1.2% unlimited cashback on all business purchases.
World Card payments, like credit and debit card payments, are practically instant – much faster than making a transfer. World Cards also come with advanced security features to protect your payments, like 3D Secure protection and the ability to freeze or cancel your cards instantly right from your World Account dashboard.
Related: How a multi-currency virtual card helps your business grow
Transfer funds instantly, for free, between World Accounts
One of the fastest, easiest ways to transfer funds is by sending them directly to another World Account holder. Transfers are free and instant between World Accounts, and you can set them up in seconds, right from your World Account dashboard.
If your suppliers and partners aren’t currently WorldFirst members, they can sign up to take advantage of free instant transfers. It only takes a few minutes to apply for a free account, with no monthly fees and no obligations.
How to open a World Account
To open a World Account:
- Head to our Sign up page
- Enter some basic personal and business details
- Share all of the required verification documents
- Set up your World Account requirements
- Start making faster international transfers
Need a bit more assistance? See our official Help Centre guide.
How Fresh4U Produce grew from market stall supplier to global business
Danial Paisawala was working part-time at the local markets to pay for university when he and his business partner Hatim established Fresh4U. On vacation to Kenya in 2008, he met some exporters, and began traveling to the airport to pick up two or three products at a time.
But buying from overseas meant daily price fluctuations due to changing currency conversion rates. He often needed to be able to pay very quickly in order to take advantage of limited-time deals.
With WorldFirst, the company can secure better foreign exchange rates and land the deals Daniel needs to grow a successful business. Now, the company has five branches, including a catering arm, a stand and warehouses in Western International Market and West London.
Read the full case study here: Fresh4U savours the success of global trade
Get faster transfer speeds for less, with WorldFirst
Slow international transfers can lead to lost deals, inventory shortages, frustrated suppliers and other setbacks. But your funds should be working for you, not “awaiting review” and tied up in outdated pipelines.
The right financial partner can help you pick up the pace and lock-in the transfer rates and speeds you need to keep business moving. For faster payments, transparent pricing and dedicated support, open a World Account today.
Frequently asked questions
How long do international transfers take?
International transfers can take as many as six days with SWIFT and other traditional transfer methods. With WorldFirst, 80% of international transfers land on the same day, 90% by the next day, and some are even instant.
Why do some transfers arrive instantly while others take days?
Transfer speed depends on the payment method, the countries involved, the currencies being exchanged and the banking networks used. Payments made via local payment rails or between World Accounts can be instant, while SWIFT or cross-border wire transfers may take days due to intermediary banks, compliance checks and time zone differences.
Are there extra fees for faster international transfers?
Some banks and providers charge premium fees for expedited transfers, but with WorldFirst, there’s no additional cost for faster payments. In fact, many transfers land the same day without any rush fees, thanks to local account details and efficient payment routing.
How long do international transfers take – and why?
International transfers can take as long as six business days to settle. In this guide, we share a much faster method with WorldFirst.
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- Almost 1,000,000 businesses have sent USD$300B around the world with WorldFirst and its partner brands since 2004
- Your money is safeguarded with leading financial institutions
