Relay offers two ways to send international wire transfers: Local Network and Swift Network.
Both options allow you to send money internationally, but they differ in cost, speed, tracking, and supported currencies.
Quick Summary:
- Local Network: Lower cost, faster delivery, limited tracking
- Swift Network: Higher cost, slower delivery, full MT103 tracking
Eligibility
- Available to businesses of any industry or entity type, including non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), religious organizations, and charities
- You must have appropriate account permissions to initiate wires
- You must be a primary organization member to initiate an international wire. All members who own 25% or more of the business are primary organization members. If no member meets that threshold, whichever member(s) are tied for the highest ownership percentage are primary organization members.
If you meet the ownership criteria above but still don't see the option, contact our team — your account may need an update to its records.
Why can’t I send an international wire?
- You may not have a primary organization member on your account. Only members who own 25% or more of the business — or, if none do, whichever members are tied for the highest ownership percentage — can initiate international wires. If you meet the ownership criteria above but still don't see the option, contact our team — your account may need an update to its records.
- Additionally, Relay is unable to provide International Wire services to Relay accounts with Beneficial Owners of certain citizenships. See Country Restrictions for Sending or Receiving International Wires for more details.
| Local Network | Swift Network | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | From $1.50–$5 per wire | From $20–$25 per wire |
| Settlement Time | 0–3 business days | 5–7 business days |
| Tracking | No MT103 available | MT103 available |
| Best For | Frequent, smaller payments | Large payments requiring full traceability |
Supported Currencies
- Local Network: EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
- Swift Network: Most global currencies (see full list here)
What is the Difference Between Local Network and Swift Network wires?
Local Network
Lower cost • Faster delivery
- Cost: From $1.50–$5 per wire
- Speed: 0–3 business days
- Tracking: No MT103 available
- Currencies: EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD
- Best for: Frequent, smaller payments
Swift Network
Global coverage • Full tracking
- Cost: From $20–$25 per wire
- Speed: 5–7 business days
- Tracking: MT103 available
- Currencies: Most global currencies
- Best for: Larger payments needing traceability
What is the Difference Between the Local Network and a Domestic Wire?
A domestic wire is for wires made from one U.S. bank account to another U.S. bank account. The Local Network is still for international wires; it just accesses a country’s Local Network to complete the international wire. For more information about domestic wires on Relay, please see Sending a domestic wire.
Payment Security
Keeping your money and data safe is our top priority at Relay. On occasion, when sending payments from your account, you may be prompted to verify that you've authorized the transaction with an SMS code sent to your mobile device as an added layer of security. For more information, please see: Verifying Payments using SMS Verification Codes.
Please note: The payment threshold which prompts 2FA SMS codes will soon be customizable for our customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I send an international wire?
You may not have a primary organization member on your account. Only members who own 25% or more of the business — or, if none do, whichever members are tied for the highest ownership percentage — can initiate international wires. If you meet the ownership criteria above but still don't see the option, contact our team — your account may need an update to its records.
Additionally, Relay is unable to provide International Wire services to Relay accounts with Beneficial Owners of certain citizenships. See Country Restrictions for Sending or Receiving International Wires for more details.
Payment networks by currency
- EUR: SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) / SEPA Instant (SCT Inst.)
- GBP: Faster Payment Service (FPS)
- CAD: Electronic Funds Transfer
- AUD: Direct Entry
- Swift Network: Swift
Cutoff times for same-day processing (UTC)
Note: Times are guidelines, not guarantees.
- EUR: Local 2pm UTC (SCT), Instant 24h • Swift 2:30pm UTC
- GBP: Local 24h • Swift 4:15pm UTC
- CAD: Local 4pm UTC • Swift 4:45pm UTC
- AUD: Local 1:30pm UTC • Swift 2pm UTC
Maximum payment amounts
Relay accounts may have additional limits. See how to view your account limits.
- EUR Local: €100,000 SCT (check receiving institution for SCT vs SCT Inst.)
- GBP Local: £1,000,000
- CAD Local: $200,000 CAD
- Swift: No limit
Which option is faster?
Local Network wires typically arrive within 0–3 business days, making them the faster option.
When should I use Swift?
Use Swift when you need detailed end-to-end tracking via an MT103 report, especially for larger payments.
Can I track a Local Network payment?
While an MT103 is not available, our Customer Experience Team can help confirm the payment status.