How can I submit international transfers in foreign currencies and how much does it cost?

  • Updated

You can now make a foreign currency transfer through our partner Wise which enables you to process it using local networks, in addition to SWIFT.

This solution is quicker, cheaper and offers the same frictionless experience as Wise. You can now send GBP to the UK, INR to India, AUD to Australia (and many more currencies), which will be credited from a few seconds to up to 3 working days. The precise receiving time will be indicated on your app when you will make a transfer.

You will be able to send USD to any country from the list with the SWIFT network. All other currencies than USD are only sendable to their home country (find the list of available countries below).

💡 Good to know: to send USD to the USA, you will have to use ACH network, not SWIFT (requirements shown in the List of accepted currencies table below).

You can make an international transfer with the same level of speed and easiness as with Wise, directly from your Qonto account. You do not need a Wise account.

What is the fee?

The fees for SWIFT international transfers in foreign currencies applied will be as follow.

Please note that they have been revised in order to offer you a more competitive offer with several improvements!

  • Much faster turnaround times (some of them instantly)

  • We will be able to estimate the date of reception of the transfer for your beneficiary

  • The list of accessible countries is much larger

For 75% of your transactions, we will be able to execute your transfers via our partner's national account network.

Here we distinguish between:

  • Standard currencies, such as USD, GBP and CHF

  • Non-standard currencies (INR, AED, CAD, ILS, HKD, TRY, THB, UYU, KES, CRC, CLP, HUF, MXN, GHS, AUD, IDR, MAD, SGD, CZK, ZAR, KRW, JPY, CNY, NZD, VND)

Depending on your subscription, you will have a higher or lower rate.

Cost via our partner's national accounts:

  • minimum fee of €5 or application of the following rate if the fees are greater than €5.

    For USD transfers to a non-US country, a fixed fee of €5 or €15 will be added depending on the payment option chosen by our partner's algorithm and which will be the most advantageous for you: SHA or OUR.

 

  Local rails pricing Local rails pricing SWIFT-SHA pricing SWIFT-OUR pricing
  USD to USA, GBP, CHF All other currencies (INR, MAD, etc.) USD to non-US country USD to non-US country
Basic 0,80% 1,80% 0,80% + €5 0,80% + €15
Smart 0.80% 1,80% 0,80% + €5 0,80% + €15
Premium 0,56% 1,56% 0,56% + €5 0,56% + €15
Essential 0,56% 1,56% 0,56% + €5 0,56% + €15
Business 0,56% 1,56% 0,56% + €5 0,56% + €15
Enterprise 0,56% 1,56% 0,56% + €5 0,56% + €15
  Minimum fee = €5 Minimum fee = €5    

 

 

💡Good to know: the exchange rate indicated will in most cases be the rate applied to the transaction, but in rare cases it may be a different rate.

It can also happen if you delay in validating the transfer or if a request for information is sent to you by our Compliance department.

What's the receiving time?

You will be able to submit international transfers in foreign currencies at anytime and the cutoff for payouts actually differ according to the currency.

It is necessary to consider the bank holidays of the banks through which the transfer will pass.

Different time zones can also affect the delay of transmission and reception of the transfer.

💡 Good to know:

International transfers in foreign currencies can be submitted during markets open hours only for most of the currencies.

This means that most of banks don’t process transfers during weekends and bank holidays. In a case of international transfers in foreign currencies, please keep in mind that you have several holidays around the world, where banks are not working. Your transfers will be processed the next open day during markets open hours for most of the currencies.

At this day, your Qonto account does not allow you to transfer currencies to individuals that are not businesses but professional such as contractors/freelancers are allowed.

In case you want to pay an individual, please provide a contractual agreement that highlights the payment purpose.

Your transfer might be declined if supporting documentation is not provided, and the euro equivalent might be affected when we credit back your account.

List of accepted currencies (outgoing international transfers in foreign currencies)

 

Currency

Information required

Delay

Additional information

AED

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 35 characters
  • Account number: IBAN 23 digits, starting with AE
  • Reference up to 35 characters

up to 1 working day

 

AUD

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 35 characters
  • BSB code: 6 digits
  • Account number: minimum 5 and maximum 9 digits
  • Recipient’s full address (PO boxes are not accepted)
  • Reference up to 18 characters

up to 2 working days

There are no name checks, so it is extremely important to input the account number correctly.

If the incorrect account number belongs to an existing account, it will be credited to there.

CAD

Local bank (local EFT):

Interac E-Payment:

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • E-mail address (must be registered with the bank and Interac)

    Wise emails you with the 6 digit PIN, which they need to enter through the link they receive from Interac in a separate email.

    ⚠️ If you do not claim the funds in 3 days or enter an incorrect PIN 3 times, the funds will be returned to Wise.

up to 1 working day

 

CHF

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • IBAN: starting with CH or LI (so local accounts in Switzerland and Liechtenstein)
  • Reference up to 50 characters

up to 1 working day

Payments to CHF are subject to Swiss banks' compliance checks, which can delay the crediting to the recipient.

CLP

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 35 characters
  • Account number: maximum 20 digits
  • Bank name (from drop-down list)
  • Recipient's RUT number (7-8 digits and a check digit)
  • Acount type: checking/savings/demand
  • Recipient's phone number

1 working day

 

CRC

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • Recipient's IBAN: 22 characters long (letters and numbers) beginning with CR
  • Business registration number (CJU Cedula): 10 digits and must start with 3 (company registration numbers that start with 4 are no longer valid according to our partner)
  • Reference up to 35 characters

up to 1 working day

 

GBP

  • Beneficiary's name or business name Account details
  • Sort code 6 digits
  • Account number 8 digits
  • IBAN : up to 34 characters, starting with GB
  • Reference up to 18 characters

instant

We currently cannot process payments to National Savings & Investments bank (NS&I) sort codes due to their terms and conditions.

HKD

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • 9-12 digit local account number
  • 3 digit bank code (clearing code)
  • Recipient's full address

45minutes on working days

It is not possible to send payments to 2 virtual banks for now, which are Tap&Go and O! Epay.

HUF

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • IBAN: 28 characters containing a mix of letters and numbers, starting with HU
    or Hungarian local account number with 24 characters

    ⚠️ If the recipient's account is 16 digits, Wise will automatically adds 8 zeros at the end of the account number.

up to 1 working day

 

IDR

Local bank (Inter bank transfer):

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • Bank name
  • Account number

e-Wallet:

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • E-Wallet provider
  • E-Wallet number

up to 1 working day

 

ILS

  • Full name of the account holder: up to 35 characters
  • IBAN: 23 digits, structured as follows:

    ILkkBBBNNNCCCCCCCCCCCCC

    • IL = Country code
    • k = Check digit
    • B = Bank identification
    • N = Branch identification
    • C = Account number (13 digits padded with zeros)
  • Beneficiary address
    ⚠️ City, country and post code must be in Latin and not Hebrew.

up to 1 working day

Check that the recipient's name you indicate is identical to the one on their bank account as, although there are no exact name matching rules, beneficiary banks can carry out manual reviews prior or after the settlement. This could result in the reversal of funds.

INR

Local bank (Bank transfer):

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • Account number: minimum 5 digits and maximum 20 digits
  • IFSC: 11 characters (both letters and numbers), usually starts with 4 letters
  • Reference up to 16 characters
  • Transfer purpose is required

UPI:

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • UPI ID
  • Transfer purpose is required

Bank transfer: up to 90 minutes on working days

UPI: instant

It is not possible to send funds:

  • To charities and trusts
  • For investment purposes

We do not provide FIRC certificates.

JPY

  • Beneficiary's full name, usually in Katakana
  • Account number: 7 digits
  • Account type (three options):
    普通: Futsuu - current; general; ordinary; usual
    貯蓄: Chochiku - savings
    当座: Touza - checking
  • Bank name or branch: in English, Katakana, Kanji, or provide a bank or branch code
  • Transfer purpose is required
  • Reference: up to 20 characters

from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the recipient's bank

 

KES

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • Account number: minimum 8 digits and maximum 20 digits
  • Reference up to 20 characters

instant

It is not possible to send funds to business recipients' mobile wallets.

⚠️ The following beneficiary banks are not supported:

  • Bank of India
  • Bank of Baroda
  • Habib Bank
  • M-Oriental Bank
  • Habib Bank A.G. Zurich
  • Consolidated Bank of Kenya
  • Transnational Bank
  • SMB Bank (Kenya) Limited
  • Imperial Bank Limited
  • Giro Commercial Bank
  • Ecobank Kenya
  • SPIRE BANK LTD
  • Development Bank of Kenya
  • UBA Kenya Bank

KRW

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 256 characters
  • Bank name
  • Account number: minimum 11 and maximum 16 digits
  • Reference: up to 35 characters

up to 15 minutes

 

MAD

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 35 characters
  • Account number (RIB): 24 digits, structured as follows:
    • Bank code: 3 digits
    • City/branch code: 3-8 digits
    • Account number: 11-16 digits
    • RIB key: 2 digits
  • Reference up to 50 characters

up to 2 working days

Some banks in Morocco may charge a receiving fee of up to 20 MAD:

  • Al Barid
  • Attijariwafa
  • BMCE
  • BMCI
  • Crédit du Maroc
  • Société Générale Maroc

MXN

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 40 characters
  • Account number (CLABE): 18 digits, structured as follows:
    • Bank code: 3 digits
    • Branch office code: 3 digits
    • Account number: 11 digits
    • Control digit: 1 digit
  • Reference: up to 40 characters

    You can check if the CLABE is valid using this validator.

instant

 

MYR

Local bank transfer:

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 50 characters
  • Account number: minimum 7 digits and maximum 20 digits
  • Bank name
  • Reference: up to 35 characters

DuitNow:

  • Beneficiary's full name: 50 characters
  • Account type:
    • Mobile numbers
    • Army/Police numbers
    • Business registration number
    • NRIC
  • DuitNow ID
  • Reference: up to 35 characters

up to 1 working day

 

SGD

Local bank (Account transfer):

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 35 characters
  • Account number: length varies by recipient bank
  • Bank name
  • Reference: up to 25 characters

Paynow:

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 35 characters
  • Phone number starting with 65/+65
  • Reference: up to 25 characters

up to 1 working day

Transfers of ≤ 200K SGD will be processed as instant transfers. It will take up to 1 working day for transfers above this amount.

THB

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 35 characters
  • Account number: minimum 5 digits and maximum 16 digits
  • Bank name
  • Recipient's full address
  • Reference

from 15 minutes up to 20h on working days depending on the recipient's bank

Due to regulations, you can only send 50,000 THB or more per transfer to the 3 following banks:

  • Bangkok Bank Public Company (BBL)
  • Kasikorn Bank (KBank)
  • Siam Commercial Bank (SCB)

TRY

  • Beneficiary's full name: 50 characters
  • IBAN: 26 digits, starting with TR
  • Reference: up to 35 characters

depends on the amount

Payments to Northern Cyprus should be instructed as regular TRY payments.

USD

USD is the exception where you can use the local payment method or the SWIFT network.


ACH (transfers to the USA)

  • Beneficiary's full name: up to 18 characters
  • Account number: minimum 4 and maximum 17 digits
  • ACH routing number: 9 digits
  • Recipient's full address (PO boxes are not accepted)
  • Reference: up to 10 characters

    The routing number should support ACH payments.

SWIFT (transfers outside the USA)

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • SWIFT/BIC code
  • IBAN/account number
  • Recipient's address (for countries that don't use postal codes, you can enter 99999)
  • Transfer purpose is required

ACH: 1-3 working days

SWIFT: 1-5 working days

We do not support For Further Credit (FFC payments).

ACH payments are for domestic accounts located in the US. We cannot send FFC payments where the final beneficiary account is based outside the U.S., or if the domestic recipient requires sub account details, such as with some brokerage firms.

If you enter FFC details for your recipient, the transfer will either bounce back or be stuck in the intermediary bank.

UYU

  • Beneficiary's full name
  • Account type: checking or savings
  • Account number: maximum 20 digits
  • Business ID number RUT/RUC: 12 digits
  • Bank name
  • Bank branch: required only when sending to Banco Santander
    • needs to be selected from drop-down list
  • Reference: up to 35 characters

up to 2 working days

 

ZAR

  • Beneficiary's full name: 35 characters
  • Recipient's email address
  • Account number: minimum 7 digits and maximum 11 digits
  • Bank name
  • Recipient's phone number
  • Reference up to 18 characters

up to 2 working days

⚠️ Every sender-recipient pair needs to fill in a mandate form once per calendar year when the payment is sent out.

This is a requirement from the South African Reserve Bank.

Our partner emails the recipient with the link to the form, and they will have 7 days to complete it. If they don't, the payment will be returned to Wise.

CNY

Alipay:

  • Recipient name (256 characters PinYin with a space between the first and the last name)
  • Alipay ID - email or phone number

Domestic:

  • Recipient name (256 characters PinYin)
  • Recipient address (69 characters PinYin)

instant

⚠️ The recipient must be a business account.

NZD

  • Recipient full name: 20 characters (Latin alphabet)
  • Account number (16 characters)

up to 1 working day

 

VND

  • Recipient full name: 35 characters (Latin alphabet)
  • Recipient address
  • Account number

instant

 

 

The receiving times indicated above are estimations. The specific delays per currency will be indicated on your interface on the One Last Look screen, before validating the transfer.

💡 Good to know: certain currencies are sendable without an IBAN, such as SGD or USD via ACH network. For more information regarding international transfers in EUR, click here.

List of accepted countries (outgoing international transfers in foreign currencies)

  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Angola
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bahrain
  • Barbados
  • Belgium
  • Benin
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • Dominican republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Egypt
  • Estonia
  • Ethiopia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Polynesia
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Ivory Coast
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Libanon
  • Liberia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Mali
  • Malta
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Palau
  • Paupa New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Romania
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent's & Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • Sao Tome and Principal
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Suriname
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Timor Leste
  • Tonga
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Tuvalu
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States Of America
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vatican

💡 Good to know: The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are two different countries (the first is one of the accepted countries, the second is not).

How can I initiate an international transfer?

For step-by-step instructions on how to make an international transfer, please consult our How do I make an international transfer article.

💡 Good to know: As part of our partnership with Wise, you are no longer able to send the following currencies:

  • TND (Tunisian Dinar)

  • CZK (Czech Koruna)

  • SAR (Saudi Riyal)

  • BHD (Bahraini Dinar)

Please note that our team is working hard to restore the availability of these currencies.In the meantime, as a workaround, you can send USD to those countries (some banks support USD or can convert USD to the intended currency - this can be checked with the beneficiary).