Source: https://rivet.global/blog/france-international-transfer-fees-for-business
Published: 2026-08-07 · Updated: 2026-08-07 · By Alexia M.

# International transfers from France for business: SEPA, SWIFT and fees

What French companies pay to send money abroad: SEPA within Europe, SWIFT outside it, bank fees, FX margins, OUR and SHA, verification of payee and cheaper local payouts.

## Key takeaways

- Euro transfers within SEPA cost the same as domestic euro transfers under EU rules.
- Since October 2025, euro-area banks check the payee's name against the IBAN (verification of payee) before a SEPA transfer is sent.
- Payments outside SEPA, or in other currencies, go by SWIFT with a fee, an FX margin and possible intermediary charges.
- Paying in the recipient's currency on their local rail is usually cheaper than a SWIFT transfer.

Google's suggestions after "France international transfer" include "france wire transfer" and "revolut france international transfer fee". For companies the answer depends on which side of the SEPA border the money goes.

## The two zones

| Payment | Rail | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR to an EU or EEA country | SEPA | Same as domestic | Seconds to 1 day |
| USD, GBP or another currency | SWIFT | Fee, FX margin, possible intermediary fee | 1 to 3 days |

## Verification of payee

Since 9 October 2025, euro-area banks check the payee name against the IBAN before sending a SEPA transfer. If the name does not match, you are warned. It helps against invoice fraud; keep supplier names in your records exactly as their banks hold them.

## A month for a Marseille importer

- Pays a supplier in Italy €18,000 by SEPA Instant: no extra cost, arrives in seconds.
- Pays a manufacturer in Vietnam $25,000 by SWIFT: fee, margin and possibly an intermediary charge.
- Pays a UK consultant £4,000: conversion plus SWIFT or SEPA depending on the bank.

## Cutting the cost outside SEPA

1. Hold currencies you pay often.
2. Pay on the recipient's local rail where your provider supports it.
3. Use OUR terms on invoice payments.
4. Compare the margin to the mid-market rate at the time.

## Paying into France: the local rail

| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Local rail | SEPA Instant Credit Transfer |
| Run by | European Payments Council scheme, run by each bank |
| Settlement | Under ten seconds, 24/7 |
| Published fee | By the EU Instant Payments Regulation, no more than the bank charges for a standard SEPA transfer |

Source: [European Payments Council: SEPA Instant Credit Transfer](https://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/what-we-do/sepa-instant-credit-transfer). Checked when this guide was last updated; the scheme's own page has the current figures.

## Where Rivet fits

Rivet gives French companies EUR details for SEPA on Growth, plus USD and GBP details, and pays out to 120+ countries on local rails where available, with fee and FX shown before you confirm. Rivet is not a bank; regulated partner institutions hold the funds. See [SEPA Instant and verification of payee](/blog/sepa-instant-and-verification-of-payee).

## Questions

### How much does an international transfer from France cost?

Euro transfers in SEPA cost the same as domestic ones. SWIFT transfers carry the bank's fee, the FX margin and possibly intermediary fees.

### What is verification of payee?

Since 9 October 2025, banks in the euro area check that the name matches the IBAN before sending a SEPA credit transfer, and warn you if it does not.

### How long does a SWIFT transfer take?

Usually one to three business days.

### OUR or SHA?

OUR means you pay all fees and the recipient gets the full amount. Use it for invoice payments.