Personal Finance Money transfer

Instant international bank transfer from France: the complete guide

Yasser Tahry

11.11.25

Read time 2 minutes

Instant transfers offered by French banks generally apply to euro transactions within the SEPA zone only. Fast, practical, and simple, this solution is now available in most French banking apps and web interfaces — allowing transfers to be executed in just a few clicks.

With a Wise account and its extensive local network worldwide, you can send money instantly within the SEPA zone in euros — or in less than 24 hours for certain currencies or destinations outside it.

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How long does an international bank transfer take?

SEPA transfers

A SEPA transfer usually takes up to one business day to process once your bank receives the transfer order. By contrast, international (non-SEPA or SWIFT) transfers may take longer.¹

International transfers

According to the Banque de France, international transfers can take up to four business days to complete. Processing times may increase if the transfer is initiated late in the week or on a public holiday, as it will then be processed on the next working day.¹

Thanks to its local payment network across the world, Wise bypasses the SWIFT system to speed up transfers — meaning most payments arrive instantly or within 24 hours. You’ll see the exact estimated delivery time before confirming each transaction, directly in the Wise app.

What are the advantages of instant payments?

According to the National Committee for Scriptural Payments (CNPS), instant transfers offer several advantages:

Perfect for person-to-person payments, allowing immediate settlement and confirmation of receipt.
Encourage merchants to accept payments more easily as an alternative to cards or cheques.
Improve the customer experience — especially in urgent cases (reimbursements, insurance claims, or emergency payments).
Help businesses manage cash flow efficiently for salaries, supplier payments, and other time-sensitive expenses.

List of banks offering instant transfers and applicable fees

In France, less than half of banking institutions — representing around 90% of payment accounts — currently allow customers to send and receive instant transfers.²

Bank	Processing time	Fees
Wise	Instant transfers within the SEPA zone, and usually under 24 hours for transfers outside the SEPA zone thanks to Wise’s global network.	No extra fee for SEPA transfers in EUR
BNP Paribas	Transfers complete in 10–20 seconds, 24/7, within standard SEPA limits. Available via the BNP Paribas app or online.⁴	Free³
Crédit Mutuel⁵	Instant SEPA transfers (in euros) processed within 10 seconds, 24/7, for customers with online banking access.	Free via Paylib or Wero
BoursoBank (formerly Boursorama)⁶	SEPA instant transfers 24/7, with a daily limit of €5,000. Weekend transfers are processed on Monday.	Free
Crédit Agricole Charente-Maritime Deux-Sèvres	Instant SEPA transfers (in euros) processed within 20 seconds, 24/7.⁸	Free via Paylib or Wero⁷
La Banque Postale⁹	SEPA instant transfers under 10 seconds, 24/7, including weekends and public holidays.	Free

International instant transfers: what fees apply?

Instant transfers are only available for SEPA payments — that is, euro transactions within the SEPA zone.
Outside this zone, transfers are processed via the SWIFT network, which can take up to four business days. Fees and delivery times vary depending on the bank, destination, and currency.

However, providers like Wise let you send money faster and at a lower cost. For instance, a USD transfer may reach its destination as early as the next business day.

FAQ: instant international transfers from France

Immediate transfer vs. instant transfer — what’s the difference?

Instant SEPA transfers are faster and available 24/7, unlike standard (immediate) SEPA transfers, which depend on bank processing hours.
An instant transfer credits the recipient’s account in less than 10 seconds. While banks are not legally required to offer this service, most French institutions support instant payment reception.

What is the maximum amount for an instant transfer?

As of October 5, 2025, the €100,000 limit on instant transfers has been removed. However, each bank can still set its own maximum limit for security reasons. Customers can usually request an increase directly from their bank.¹⁰

Send your international transfer in less than 24 hours for certain currencies — with a free-to-open and secure Wise account.

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Sources:

Last verified on October 9, 2025

This article is a translation of the original article published in French and was translated within 365 days of publication. While the content has been translated for accessibility, the data and sources referenced have not been updated since the original publication date.

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This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

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