How to track an international wire transfer: Banks & Online Providers [2026]

Sending a payment overseas can feel risky - particularly if you’re sending a higher value transfer. However, as long as you choose a reputable and regulated bank or money transfer service to process your payment you should be able to rest easy.

Knowing how to track an international wire transfer can also help you keep up with your money as the payment moves through the system to your recipient’s bank.

This guide covers all you need to know about how to track an international bank  transfer. Plus we’ve got a few fast international transfer providers you may want to compare, like Wise and OFX, which can be ideal if you’re in a hurry.

💡 Quick summary: Are international bank  transfers traceable?

Yes. Once you’ve sent an international bank  you can often track it in your bank or provider’s app or online banking system.

If you’re concerned that there may be a problem with your payment - or if it doesn’t arrive when you expect it to - you can also request a bank trace which will help you locate the money.

• ⏳ Speed: International wire transfers sent with a bank usually use the SWIFT network and may take 1 - 5 days to arrive

• ⭐ Faster methods: Payments processed with specialist services like Wise or OFX may arrive quicker - Wise transfers can even be received instantly in some cases

• 🎯 Tracking: When you send money, most banks and providers offer digital tools to let you track your payment as it is processed, often with optional SMS or push notification updates

• 🔎 Delayed payments: If you don’t receive a payment when you expect it, your bank can usually trace it for you if you give them the transfer’s SWIFT Unique End-to-end Transaction Reference (UETR)

• 📞 Contacting: Check your bank or payment provider has a good reputation for customer service, and convenient communication channels like in-app chat, in case you have queries about your transfer

How to track an international money transfer

If you’ve sent a payment yourself you can usually log into your bank or provider app and view the transaction there. You’ll see the payment status and may be able to get details about the expected delivery time.

If you can’t find the detail you’re looking for you’ll also be able to ask your bank or provider’s customer service team for help, by giving them details of the transfer reference.

💡 If you’re waiting to receive a payment and want to trace it you’ll need to give your own bank a reference number to help them find your money. For an incoming international payment you need the SWIFT Unique End-to-end Transaction Reference (UETR). The person sending you money may be able to get this number for you, so you can start the trace.

Bear in mind that your bank may advise you that the sending bank or provider needs to initiate a trace on the payment to find your money. We’ll look at how that works in a moment.

📌 How to track an international bank  transfer with a reference number?

The reference you need is usually the payment UETR. Provide the reference to your bank, along with other details of the payment including value and currency, and ask them to help you track down your payment.

If you’re the recipient your bank may refer you to the institution which sent the money in the first place if they’re unable to find the transaction. If the sending bank needs to start a formal trace to find the money a fee may apply.

⬇️ How to track a bank  transfer as a receiver 🌍

If you’re waiting for a payment to arrive it can be frustrating. The first thing to do is to talk to the sender and ask them to double check the payment has left their own bank. They may be able to view the transfer status in their digital banking service which can help you understand if there’s a delay.

If there’s no obvious cause for the delay that the sender can see, you’ll have to reach out to your own bank to ask for some help. The information you’ll need to provide includes:

• The payment SWIFT Unique End-to-end Transaction Reference (UETR) - your sender can give you this

• The amount and currency of the payment you’re waiting for

• Details of the bank or provider which processed the payment

It’s possible your own bank will have received the payment and there’s been a delay in posting it to your account. In this case, your bank can advise you of the likely timeline.

If that’s not what’s happened, your bank is likely to ask you to contact the sending bank instead. You’ll need the same details, and can ask the sending bank or provider to trace the payment from their end to see what’s happened.

How long do international wire transfers usually take? ⏳

International transfers sent by a bank usually use the SWIFT network. The ultimate delivery time depends on a range of factors including the value and destination of the payment, the bank’s own processing methods and any holidays or weekends in Canada or in the destination country.

To give an idea, TD Bank states that international wire payments usually take from 1 to 5 business days to arrive. RBC on the other hand says most payments arrive in 2 working days - but some transfers may take as long as 7 working days to be deposited.

⚠️ Bear in mind that banks may not be able to give an indication of the delivery time before you send your payment.

⭐ If you need a faster payment you might find a specialist provider which avoids the SWIFT network is a better bet. We’ve got a few options you might want to look at coming up a little later.

Why is my bank  transfer taking so long? 🤔 Common reasons for delays

There are some more common issues which can crop up and delay an international payment. Here are a few:

• Errors in the instructions: Giving incomplete or incorrect banking information can mean your payment is delayed, returned or sent to the wrong account entirely

• Missing cut off: Banks usually have a daily cut off time, after which payments are not processed until the next working day. Get your request in before cut off for the fastest possible delivery

• Holidays and weekends: Payments are not processed during public holidays or weekends, in Canada or in your destination country

• Compliance checks: You may need to provide additional information or documents for verification - especially for high value payments

🎯 5 Fast ways to transfer money internationally ⭐

Online money transfer specialists may be able to offer faster transfers than banks, as they have often built their own payment networks which are optimised for secure, speedy payments across borders. Here’s a summary of the providers we’ll look at in this guide, with more detail on each right after the table.

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2026 *The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions

Wise

Wise supports payments to 140+ countries which are arranged online or in the Wise app.

Once you’ve initiated your payment you can track it if you need to, in the Wise app, or using the 24/7 chat service.

Wise payments use the mid-market exchange rate with no markup added, and a low transfer fee from 0.48%.

Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2026 *The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions

Currencyfair

You can send money to 150+ countries from Canada with Currencyfair.

It’s simple to arrange your payment online or in the Currencyfair app.

Currencyfair has a flat fee for payments, of 3 EUR or the currency equivalent. Exchange rates have a small fee added which is 0.53% on average.

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2026

Remitly

Remitly supports overseas payments from Canada to 170+ countries, with all transfers set up online or in app.

Remitly fees depend on the specific transfer you're making, and rates can include a markup.

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2026

OFX

With OFX you can send money to 170+ countries in 50+ currencies, online or in app, or using the 24/7 phone broker service if you prefer.

You can also track your payment as it passes through the payment network, in the OFX app.

OFX has no transfer fee from Canada, but does include a variable makeup in the exchange rate used to convert your funds.

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2026

Currencies Direct

Send to 120+ countries from Canada with Currencies Direct. You can set up your payment  in app or online.

Currencies Direct uses variable transfer fees and rates which you can see in the app or online when you initiate your payment.

*Details correct at time of research - 4th March 2026

💡 4 tips for successful international bank  transfers

Let’s finish up with a few final tips to make sure everything goes smoothly:

• Double-check you have all the correct bank information for your recipient - incorrect or incomplete details can cause delays or mean your payment is lost

• Check your bank’s cut-off times - missing cut off means your money won’t even start to be processed until the next day

• Only use reputable banks and providers - make sure you’re confident your service is regulated and has easy to use customer support if you run into any problems

• Ask if you need extra documents for verification - large payments may be subject to compliance checks so you might need to prove where the money came from before your transfer is sent

Other important points & FAQs 🗒️

How long does it take to trace an international wire transfer?

Your bank can confirm how long a trace may take once you have given them your payment reference information - timings depend on the payment type and what issues are causing delays.

What can I do if the recipient hasn’t received the payment yet?

If your recipient has not got their money you may be able to track the transfer in your banking app, or ask your own bank to confirm the payment is on the way.

Is it possible to speed up international bank  transfers?

Some providers offer expedited services for international transfers - or you can pick a provider which shows the delivery estimates up front like Wise, so you can choose the quickest method based on your available options.

Why is my international money transfer delayed?

International transfers may be delayed if they have used incorrect or incomplete banking information, if they need compliance checks, or if the payment is arranged over the weekend or a bank holiday.

Can international bank  transfers be cancelled?

You may not be able to cancel your international bank  once the money is being processed. Banks have their own policies on this, but may not be able to get your money back if it’s already been sent on to the recipient.

Can my bank track an incoming overseas wire transfer?

If you give your bank the transfer reference number, they may be able to track your payment if the money has arrived in the bank but not yet been posted to your account. If not, you’ll need to ask the sender’s bank to track the payment instead.

How do I know when an international wire transfer is received?

Some banks and providers offer payment updates which can show when the money has been deposited using an SMS, email or push notification.

Can money get lost in an international wire transfer?

If you use incorrect banking information it's possible that your payment is deposited to an incorrect account. Double check all the details before you make your payment.

How much does it cost to trace an international wire transfer?

Banks have different fees for international wire transfer tracking services which may depend on how long it takes to review your specific case and trace the payment.