What should I do if an international transfer from France hasn't arrived after several days?

If you’re the recipient, start with the sender: the Banque de France says the sender is generally the bank’s point of contact when an international transfer is blocked. Ask the sender to contact their bank and request a trace; you can also ask your own bank whether it sees a pending or rejected payment. (banque-france.fr)

• Check the type of transfer and count business days, not calendar days. A standard SEPA transfer is generally due within one working day; a non-SEPA international transfer commonly takes about four working days, and weekends or holidays can push that out. (acpr.banque-france.fr)
• Ask the sender to verify the details—your name, IBAN/account number, BIC/SWIFT, currency, and any intermediary-bank instructions—and check whether their bank has requested documents or flagged the payment for review. (banque-france.fr)
• Get the payment receipt and tracking details. For a SWIFT wire, ask the sending bank for its payment reference or SWIFT tracking information, such as an MT103/UETR if available, and give that to your bank.
• Don’t send a second payment until the first is located or confirmed returned; otherwise you could pay twice.

If the sender’s bank doesn’t resolve it, have the sender submit a formal written complaint to that bank. In France, a customer who still has an unresolved dispute can turn to the bank’s mediator after first trying to resolve it with the bank. (service-public.gouv.fr)

If a transfer from France is late, first confirm it really is overdue, then have the sending bank trace it. Don't resend the money yet.

1. Check the timing. Euro transfers within the SEPA area are meant to be credited by the next working day if they were submitted before the cutoff, so a longer delay is worth investigating. SEPA clearing rules require that payments made before the cutoff point on a working day be credited to the recipient's account by the next working day. Other currencies or destinations can take longer. Some providers suggest treating a transfer as concerning after about five business days with no posting or useful status updates. You should worry (and contact support or the banks involved immediately) if it's been over 5 business days for an international transfer with no posting and no helpful status updates.

1. Gather the details. Get the payment reference and the UETR (the tracking code), which is the same across all banks on the route. The UETR is a unique code that travels with the payment through all the banks and is regarded as the standard identifier for tracing international payments. Ask for the MT103 too, which is the standard payment record. The MT103 is your proof of payment that you can use to confirm a transfer, track delays, or resolve a dispute. Also have the date, amount, currency and recipient details ready.

1. Ask your French bank for a trace. The sending bank is usually the best starting point because it can see the route the payment took. The sending institution is normally the best starting point because it can see the payment instruction and the route used to send it. Ask a precise question: is it still processing, under review, rejected, returned or completed? Note the case number and when you'll get an update.

1. Have the recipient check their side. The money is often sitting at an intermediary bank or in an unmatched queue at the receiving bank. The recipient can ask their bank to look for an incoming payment using the reference or UETR.

1. Watch for compliance holds. Delays often come from reviews of the source of funds or purpose. If your bank asks for documents, send them quickly and state the purpose clearly.

1. Don't resend yet. Do not resend the funds until the original transfer has been located, rejected or returned. Otherwise you risk paying twice if the first transfer later arrives.

1. Escalate in writing if needed. In France, formal disputes generally have to be made by letter to your bank, so put your complaint in writing if the trace stalls. To dispute a transfer, you must send a letter to your bank.

If the status shows it was returned or rejected, the funds should come back to your account, though this can take time and may involve fees. Ask your bank to confirm the exact outcome in writing.

If an international transfer from France has not arrived, there is no need to panic. Most delays are simply due to standard processing times, weekends, or intermediary bank checks rather than a lost payment.

Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do.

1. Verify the Timeline and Basics

• Check "Business Days": Transfers are only processed on banking business days. Weekends and public holidays in either France or the destination country can add several days to the process.
• Understand Standard Wait Times:
  • SEPA (within the EU/EEA): Usually takes 1 business day (up to 2 days for paper-based transfers).
  • International (Non-SEPA/SWIFT): Commonly takes 3 to 5 business days.
• Confirm the Status: Check your banking app or transaction receipt. Look for statuses like "Pending" or "Processing". If the funds have left your account, they are likely moving through the banking system or awaiting processing by the receiving bank.

2. Gather Information

Before contacting your bank, collect all necessary details to help them track the transaction:

• The original transaction receipt or confirmation number.
• The exact amount and currency sent.
• The full recipient details (Name, IBAN, and BIC/SWIFT code) used for the transfer.
• Any reference number or Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference (UETR) provided by your bank.

3. Contact the Sending Provider

The sender is typically the only person who can initiate an investigation. If the expected delivery date has passed:

• Request a "Trace": Ask your bank or transfer provider to perform a formal trace on the payment. They can contact intermediary banks to locate where the funds are currently held.
• Check for Errors: Double-check the recipient's details. Even a minor typo in the IBAN or account name can cause a bank to hold or reject a payment.
• Ask about "Compliance Holds": Sometimes banks hold funds for extra security or regulatory checks. Your bank can confirm if this is the case and if they need further information from you to release the funds.

4. What to Avoid

• Do Not Resend Funds: Do not send a replacement payment until the original transfer is confirmed as permanently lost, returned, or rejected by your bank. Sending a duplicate often leads to confusion and further delays.
• Do Not Panic: In most cases, the money is simply in the "banking ether"—moving through a series of correspondent banks—and will eventually be credited or returned to the sender.

Summary: If it has been more than 5 business days, contact your bank to ask for a status update and request a trace. Keep the lines of communication open with the recipient so they know you are actively looking into the delay.

A few business days can be normal for an international transfer from France, especially if it’s outside the SEPA area or involves currency conversion. French government guidance says timing varies and is generally around 24–48 hours for many transfers, while non-SEPA transfers may take longer; weekends, holidays, bank cut-off times and intermediary banks can add delays. ¹²

What to do:

1. Check the transfer details and timing. Confirm when the sending bank accepted the order—not just when it was requested—and verify the recipient’s name, IBAN/account number, BIC/SWIFT code and currency. Check for weekends, public holidays or a request for additional information.
2. Ask the sender to contact their bank. The sender’s bank is usually best placed to investigate. Ask it to confirm the transfer was actually sent and request a trace or recall if needed. For a SWIFT transfer, the bank may be able to provide a payment reference or UETR tracking reference.
3. If you’re the recipient, contact your bank too. Ask whether it can see an incoming payment or whether it needs information from you. Give it the sender, amount, currency, date and payment reference.
4. If it’s beyond the bank’s stated delivery time, complain in writing to the sending bank. Ask it to trace the payment and explain the delay. Keep the transfer receipt and all correspondence. If the bank doesn’t resolve the complaint, use its formal complaints process and then the relevant mediator or consumer complaint channel.

For euro transfers within the EEA, legal execution limits generally apply; transfers outside the EEA may not have the same fixed statutory deadline. ³