Personal Finance Money transfer

Maximum transfer amount in France: everything you need to know about transfer limits

Soufiane Baba

04.11.25

Read time 2 minutes

The transfer limits you're subject to depend on several factors that are worth knowing before sending money. Generally, these limits are set by the banks or payment providers that process your transfers. So, what is the maximum transfer amount? Can these limits be adjusted if necessary? And what should you keep in mind before sending money from France? Let’s break it down.

If you want to make transfers easily, at low cost, and without restrictive limits, consider opening a Wise account. With Wise, you can transfer up to €1,200,000 to other EUR accounts and up to $1,600,000 to USD accounts. Wise also charges no hidden fees — only a small, transparent commission for currency conversions.

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Maximum transfer amount: key factors to consider

The maximum amount you can transfer depends on several elements, including:

The bank or provider initiating the transfer

Each bank or payment provider is free to set its own transfer limits, as long as they comply with Banque de France regulations.

If you need to send large sums of money from France, it’s best to choose a bank or provider with higher or more flexible transfer limits.

The type of transfer

There are several types of transfers: between two accounts at the same bank, SEPA transfers in euros, instant transfers, or international transfers in foreign currencies.

Typically, international transfers have stricter limits than SEPA transfers made in EUR.

Your account plan or subscription

Many banks and providers offer different plans (free or paid) that include additional services such as higher transfer limits.

In most cases, premium or paid subscriptions allow larger or unlimited transfer limits — a common commercial strategy to encourage customers to upgrade.

Good to know: Some limits, such as those set by the Banque de France or the European Central Bank, cannot be exceeded — even if you have a paid plan.

🚀 Alternatively, open a Wise account and send money within France or abroad with more flexibility regarding transfer limits.

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Can transfer limits be changed?

It can be frustrating to find out your bank transfer has been blocked because you’ve hit your limit. The good news is that most banks and providers let you request a higher transfer limit.

Here are a few ways to increase your transfer limit:

Through your online banking or app: Many French banks allow you to adjust transfer limits directly through your online banking space or mobile app.
By contacting your bank: If you can’t change the limit online, call or visit your branch. Procedures vary between institutions, but it’s often possible to request a temporary or permanent increase.

What does the Banque de France say about maximum transfer limits?

To better understand the rules governing transfers in France, it’s helpful to refer to the Banque de France.

Here’s what it says about transfer limits:

SEPA Instant Transfers: Since July 1, 2020, the maximum limit was set at €100,000, but this limit was removed on October 5, 2025. However, many French banks still apply lower limits for instant transfers.¹
International Transfers: This category covers transfers made to countries outside the SEPA zone, in euros or other currencies. The Banque de France does not define specific limits for these — they depend entirely on your bank or provider.

Make transfers from France without restrictive limits with Wise

If your bank’s limits make transfers complicated, Wise could be a good alternative. With Wise, you can make both SEPA and international transfers without restrictive limits.

Through your Wise account, you can transfer up to €1,200,000 to euro accounts and up to $1,600,000 to US dollar accounts.

Additional benefits include:

No monthly or annual maintenance fees.
Transfers to 140+ countries.
Hold and convert 40+ currencies at the interbank exchange rate, without hidden markups.
Transparent, low conversion commissions.

Open your Wise account

Source:

SEPA instant transfers – Banque de France

Last verified on September 08, 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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