Source: https://rivet.global/blog/germany-international-transfer-fees-for-business
Published: 2026-07-28 · Updated: 2026-07-28 · By Alexia M.

# International transfers from Germany for business: SEPA, SWIFT and FX

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

## Key takeaways

- Euro payments within SEPA cost the same as domestic euro payments under EU rules, and SEPA Instant delivers them in seconds.
- Payments outside SEPA, or in other currencies, go by SWIFT with a bank fee, an FX margin and possible intermediary fees.
- SHA splits fees between sender and recipient; OUR has the sender pay them all.
- Paying in the recipient's currency on their local rail usually costs less than a SWIFT payment.

Google's suggestions after "Germany international transfer" include "germany money transfer services" and "germany money transfer limit". For a business, the line to understand is the SEPA border.

## Inside and outside SEPA

| Payment | Rail | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR to an EU or EEA country | SEPA | Same as domestic | Seconds (Instant) to 1 day |
| EUR to the UK or Switzerland | SEPA, where both banks participate | Often lower than SWIFT; check your bank | Same |
| USD, GBP or other currency | SWIFT | Bank fee, FX margin, possible intermediary fee | 1 to 3 days |

## A month for a Munich exporter

- Pays a supplier in Spain €20,000 by SEPA: no extra cost.
- Pays a US logistics firm $15,000 by SWIFT: a bank fee, the margin on EUR to USD, and possibly an intermediary fee if sent SHA.
- Pays a UK designer £3,000: SWIFT or SEPA depending on the bank, plus conversion.

## Reporting

German residents report certain payments to and from abroad above €12,500 to the Bundesbank under the Foreign Trade and Payments Regulation. Many companies file these monthly. Check whether your flows are covered.

## Cutting the cost outside SEPA

1. Hold the currencies you pay often, funded from revenue in that currency.
2. Pay on the recipient's local rail where your provider offers it: ACH in the US, Faster Payments in the UK.
3. Send invoice payments on OUR terms so they arrive in full.

## Paying into Germany: 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 German 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 transfer from the US](/blog/sepa-transfer-from-the-us) and [SWIFT vs SEPA vs ACH](/blog/swift-vs-sepa-vs-ach-vs-faster-payments).

## Questions

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

A SEPA euro transfer costs the same as a domestic one. A SWIFT payment outside SEPA carries the bank's fee, often an FX margin, and possibly intermediary fees.

### How long does a SWIFT transfer take?

Usually one to three business days, depending on currency, cut-off times and intermediaries.

### Should I choose OUR or SHA?

Choose OUR if the recipient must receive the full amount, such as an invoice payment. It costs more but avoids short payments.

### Do I need to report foreign payments?

German companies report certain cross-border payments above €12,500 to the Bundesbank under the Foreign Trade Regulation. Check whether your payments are covered.