A delay or rejection in SWIFT transfer can be frustrating, especially when deadlines are tight or payments are urgent. With years of experience handling international outward remittances, we can totally understand your concern. So that is why our experts at ExTravelMoney have curated this simple and actionable guide to help you understand what went wrong with your international money transfer, how to fix it, and how to prevent it next time.
How Long Does SWIFT Transfers Take?
A typical international money transfer gets completed within a few hours or up to 5 working days.
Common Reasons Why SWIFT Transfers Get Delayed
- Compliance checks / KYC reviews
- Weekends/bank holidays in India or the receiver’s country
- Intermediary bank issues
- Currency conversion delays
- Cut-off time missed
- Technical errors at the sending or receiving bank
Common Reasons for Rejected SWIFT Transfers
- Wrong account/IBAN/SWIFT code
- Mismatched beneficiary name
- Missing purpose code
- Insufficient documentation
- Non-sanctioned countries/entities
- Bank flagging the transaction as suspicious
Steps to Take When International Money Transfer is Delayed
- Request your processing bank or money transfer agent to share the SWIFT copy of the transaction.
- Verify the details in the SWIFT copy, including sender and beneficiary information, account number, and amount. For overseas university fee payments, ensure that the special SWIFT message required by the university to recognise the student is included with the SWIFT transfer.
- In case of any discrepancy in details, talk to the bank or forex partner and clarify the doubt and rectify mistakes quickly.
- If the details are correct, request the bank to raise a transaction tracer. It locates where the SWIFT transfer is stuck and checks if queries have been raised by the sender, intermediary, or beneficiary bank. They can then analyse the reason for the delay and resolve the issue accordingly.
- If the issue is with the sender bank or intermediary bank, provide the necessary information or documents to clarify the query and speed up the transfer. However, if the tracer spots that the receiver bank is holding the transfer amount, send the SWIFT copy to your beneficiary and instruct them to contact their bank.
What is a SWIFT Copy?
A SWIFT copy is a document issued by the sender bank to confirm the initiation of the SWIFT transfer. It serves as proof that the transfer is in transit and includes all the sender, beneficiary, and transaction details.
Steps to Take When International Money Transfer is Rejected
- Contact your bank or money transfer agent and enquire about the reason behind the SWIFT transfer rejection.
- Once the reason for rejection is identified, provide the necessary information or documents to clear the query raised by the bank.
- Reinitiate the transfer with the correct sender and beneficiary details and compliance with RBI regulations.
- The cancelled transfer amount shall be credited back to your account within 1 week or even 1 month.
Tips to Avoid SWIFT Delays or Rejections
- Always double-check the sender and beneficiary details while filling in the A2 Form to avoid typos.
- Honestly declare the number and amount transferred abroad in the financial year to comply with TCS tax requirements.
- Do not hesitate to provide the essential documents and information to the service provider when requested.
- Use correct RBI purpose codes (like studies, family maintenance, etc.)
- Plan and send the amount early at the start of the week, before the bank’s daily cut-off time to eliminate delays due to bank verification, processing, and weekend offs.
- Ensure that the sender’s Aadhaar Card and PAN card are linked.
- Use reliable and RBI-authorised international money transfer service providers.
SWIFT delays and rejections can happen for many reasons, but knowing when and how to act makes all the difference. If your outward remittance exceeds the normal timeline or you are not getting clear updates, escalating the matter is your right as a consumer. To avoid such delays and rejections in the future, choose ExTravelMoney for smooth, fast, and expert-backed international transfers.
Also Read: How to Reverse or Redirect SWIFT Transfers
Ann Mariya Job is the Associate Content Writer at ExTravelMoney.com. Holding a Bachelor’s in Journalism, she excels in creating deeply researched, engaging, and crisp content. Her work helps readers understand the complexities of foreign exchange, overseas money transfers, and international travel.