The catch was the exchange step, not the transfer. Rachel converted dollars to euros on a Saturday and paid Revolut’s weekend fee without noticing. A Revolut SEPA transfer is usually free or cheap, and often instant. What it costs you depends on your country, your plan and when you convert. Once you know which of those applies to you, the transfer itself takes about a minute to set up.
A Revolut SEPA transfer is free for European customers sending euros anywhere in the SEPA zone. Most arrive within seconds through SEPA Instant, and standard SEPA takes up to 2 business days. US, UK and other non-EEA customers can send euros too, but conversion fees, weekend fees or a small transfer fee may apply.
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Revolut SEPA Transfer at a Glance
A Revolut SEPA transfer moves euros from your Revolut account to a bank account in one of 36 SEPA countries and territories. Revolut uses SEPA Instant when the receiving bank supports it and standard SEPA when it doesn’t. You need the recipient’s full name and IBAN. A BIC is only needed if the app asks for one.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Fee for EEA customers | Free for euro transfers within SEPA on the Standard plan |
| Fee for US customers | Small transfer fee shown in the app, plus any exchange fee |
| SEPA Instant time | Seconds to a few minutes |
| Standard SEPA time | Up to 2 business days |
| Weekends | SEPA Instant works 24/7. Standard SEPA waits for the next business day |
| Details needed | Recipient’s full name and IBAN |
| Transfer limit | No Revolut limit for most transfers. Receiving banks may set their own |
New to the system itself? Our guide to the Single Euro Payments Area explains which countries are in it and how SEPA payments work.
How to Make a SEPA Transfer With Revolut
To make a SEPA transfer with Revolut, open Payments, tap the plus button, choose a bank transfer and enter the recipient’s full name and IBAN. Pick the euro amount, review the fee and arrival time, then confirm. Revolut chooses SEPA Instant automatically when the recipient’s bank supports it, so there’s no separate setting.
- Add euros to your account, or let Revolut convert from your main currency during the transfer.
- Open the Payments tab and tap the plus button.
- Choose to send to a bank account, then select euros as the currency.
- Enter the recipient’s full name exactly as their bank holds it, plus their IBAN.
- Check the name match result, the fee, the exchange rate and the estimated arrival time.
- Add a reference, such as an invoice number, and confirm.
The Name Check Before You Send
Since 9 October 2025, eurozone payment providers must offer Verification of Payee on every euro transfer. Revolut checks the name you typed against the name on the receiving account. You’ll see a match, a close match or no match before you confirm. A “no match” result is worth stopping for, because it’s a common sign of a scam or a typo.
For a bank-by-bank walkthrough, including Wise and UK banks, see how to make a SEPA payment. If the recipient sent you account details you don’t recognise, what an IBAN is explains how to read one.
Revolut SEPA Transfer Fees
For customers in the EEA, a Revolut SEPA transfer in euros is free on every plan, including Standard. For US customers, Revolut charges a small transfer fee that it shows before you confirm, with discounts on Premium and Metal. The bigger cost for most people is currency exchange, especially above the monthly allowance or on weekends.
| Where your account is | Transfer fee | Exchange allowance (Standard) | Weekend exchange fee (Standard) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Small fee shown in the app. 20% off on Premium, 40% off on Metal | $1,000 a month, then 0.5% | 1% |
| Europe (EEA) | Free for euros within SEPA | €1,000 a month, then 1% | 1% |
| UK, Canada and Australia | Shown in the app before you confirm | Set by your local plan | Check your plan |
How to Avoid Exchange and Weekend Fees
- Convert dollars or pounds to euros on a weekday, then send the euros whenever you like.
- Keep conversions under your plan’s monthly allowance, or upgrade if you regularly go over.
- Compare the rate in the app with the mid-market rate on Google before you confirm.
- Send to another Revolut user instead of a bank where you can, because Revolut-to-Revolut transfers are free.
Fees the Receiving Bank May Charge
Some Revolut customers outside the EEA, including in Switzerland, have euro accounts with a GB IBAN rather than an EU one. A few EU banks treat payments from GB IBANs as non-EEA and charge the recipient a fee. If your euro account shows a GB IBAN and a recipient reports a deduction, ask their bank how it treats UK-issued IBANs.
How Long Does a Revolut SEPA Transfer Take?
A Revolut SEPA Instant transfer arrives within seconds to a few minutes, any day of the week. A standard SEPA transfer takes up to 2 business days, and Revolut says most arrive within 1 day. Transfers sent late on a Friday or before a bank holiday can take longer if the receiving bank doesn’t support instant payments.
| Transfer type | Typical time | Works on weekends? |
|---|---|---|
| Revolut to Revolut | About 20 seconds | Yes |
| SEPA Instant | Seconds to a few minutes | Yes, 24/7 |
| Standard SEPA | Up to 2 business days, usually within 1 | No, waits for a business day |
| SWIFT (non-SEPA) | Up to 2 business days from Revolut, longer through other banks | No |
Revolut SEPA Transfers on Weekends and Holidays
SEPA Instant runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so a Sunday evening transfer can land in seconds. Standard SEPA follows bank business days. A standard transfer sent on Saturday usually starts moving on Monday. Under SEPA rules, the TARGET holidays, including 1 January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 May and 25 to 26 December, aren’t business days.
Revolut SEPA Instant Explained
Revolut SEPA Instant is the real-time version of a SEPA transfer, and Revolut uses it by default whenever the receiving bank supports it. Under the EU Instant Payments Regulation, instant euro transfers must reach the recipient within 10 seconds. Eurozone providers also can’t charge more for an instant transfer than for a standard one.
Since January 2025, every EU payment provider has had to accept instant euro transfers. That’s why far more Revolut SEPA payments now arrive instantly than a few years ago. Our full guide to SEPA Instant Payments covers the limits, the rules and which banks still lag behind.
When Revolut Falls Back to Standard SEPA
- The receiving bank is outside the eurozone and hasn’t joined SEPA Instant yet.
- The recipient’s bank has set a lower instant limit than your payment amount.
- The payment is flagged for an extra compliance check before it leaves Revolut.
Receiving SEPA Payments Into Revolut
To receive a SEPA payment, share your Revolut euro IBAN and the name on your account with the payer. You’ll find both under your euro account details in the app. Most incoming SEPA payments arrive within a day. Revolut says a pending incoming transfer is usually cleared within 3 business days.
If a payment shows as pending, Revolut is running final checks or waiting for details from the sending bank. Its pending transfer help page suggests waiting up to 5 business days before reporting it. Freelancers paid by European clients from outside the EU should also read what a SWIFT code is for non-euro payers.
LT IBAN or Local IBAN?
Many EEA customers have a Revolut IBAN starting with LT, because Revolut Bank UAB is licensed in Lithuania. It works for euro payments anywhere in SEPA. Some employers and utilities still ask for a local IBAN, so Revolut now offers local IBANs to eligible customers in several countries. Refusing an EU IBAN on country grounds breaks the SEPA Regulation.
Sending Euros From the US, UK, Canada and Australia
From the US, Revolut converts your dollars and sends euros through local European payment networks where it can. That’s usually far cheaper than a bank wire. UK, Canadian and Australian customers can also send euros to SEPA accounts, with any fee shown before confirming. The recipient sees an ordinary euro payment either way.
| Sending from | How it works | Main cost to watch |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Convert USD to EUR and send to the recipient’s IBAN | Exchange fees above $1,000 a month and on weekends |
| United Kingdom | Convert GBP to EUR in the app and send to an IBAN | Exchange fees and any recipient bank charge on GB IBANs |
| Canada | Convert CAD to EUR and send as an international transfer | Transfer fee and exchange rate shown in the app |
| Australia | Convert AUD to EUR and send as an international transfer | Transfer fee and exchange rate shown in the app |
Businesses collecting euros from European customers have other options too. Our guide to Stripe SEPA bank transfers covers taking euro payments through Stripe.
Why a Revolut SEPA Transfer Is Delayed or Returned
Most delayed Revolut SEPA transfers are held for a compliance check or sent as standard SEPA to a bank without instant payments. Weekends and holidays slow them too. Returned transfers usually have a wrong IBAN, a name mismatch or a closed receiving account. A domestic return takes about 5 business days to reach the sender.
What to Do If Your Transfer Hasn’t Arrived
- Open the transfer in the app and check its status and estimated arrival date.
- Confirm the IBAN and recipient name match the recipient’s bank details exactly.
- Download the payment confirmation and send it to the recipient so their bank can trace it.
- Answer any document request from Revolut quickly, such as an invoice for a large payment.
- If nothing has moved after 2 business days, contact Revolut through in-app chat.
Worried about holds on larger amounts? Our guide on whether Revolut is safe covers account reviews, deposit protection and how to keep a freeze short.
Revolut vs Wise for SEPA Transfers
For euros you already hold, Revolut is usually cheapest, because SEPA transfers are free for EEA customers and use SEPA Instant by default. For converting dollars or pounds to euros, Wise is often cheaper on larger amounts or at weekends. Wise uses the mid-market rate with a visible fee and has no weekend markup.
| Feature | Revolut | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Sending euros you already hold | Free for EEA customers | Small fixed fee |
| Converting USD or GBP to EUR | Free within the monthly allowance on weekdays | Mid-market rate plus a fee shown upfront |
| Weekend conversion | 1% fee on Standard | No weekend markup |
| SEPA Instant | Used by default where supported | Used where supported |
For a full fee breakdown across travel, spending and transfers, read our Wise vs Revolut comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the Revolut SEPA questions people ask most.
Is a Revolut SEPA transfer free?
For EEA customers sending euros within SEPA, yes, on every plan. US customers pay a small transfer fee shown in the app, with discounts on Premium and Metal. Everyone can pay exchange fees when converting into euros above the monthly allowance or at weekends. Transfers to other Revolut users are free.
How long does a Revolut SEPA transfer take?
A SEPA Instant transfer arrives in seconds to a few minutes, including at weekends. A standard SEPA transfer takes up to 2 business days, and Revolut says most arrive within 1 day. Revolut picks the faster option automatically when the receiving bank supports it, and the app shows the expected arrival time before you send.
Does Revolut support SEPA Instant?
Yes. Revolut sends euro transfers through SEPA Instant by default whenever the receiving bank supports it, with no extra fee. Since 2025, EU rules require every eurozone provider to accept and send instant euro transfers at no extra cost. That’s why most Revolut SEPA payments to EU banks now land within seconds.
Does Revolut use SEPA or SWIFT?
Both, depending on the payment. Euro transfers to banks in the SEPA zone go through SEPA or SEPA Instant. Payments in other currencies, or euros to banks outside SEPA, usually go through SWIFT, which can add intermediary bank fees. The app shows which route and fee apply before you confirm the transfer.
Can I send a SEPA transfer from a US Revolut account?
Yes. US customers can convert dollars to euros and send them to a European IBAN. Revolut uses local euro networks where available and shows a small transfer fee before you confirm. To keep costs down, convert on a weekday and stay within the $1,000 monthly allowance on the Standard plan.
Why is my Revolut SEPA transfer pending?
A pending transfer is usually waiting for a compliance check, details from the other bank, or the next business day for standard SEPA. Revolut says incoming pending transfers normally clear within 3 business days. Wait up to 5 business days before reporting one, and answer any document requests in the app quickly.
Do Revolut SEPA transfers work on weekends?
SEPA Instant transfers do, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Standard SEPA transfers wait for the next business day, so one sent on Saturday usually moves on Monday. Watch the currency side too. Standard plan customers pay a 1% weekend fee on conversions between 5pm Friday and 6pm Sunday, New York time.
Is there a limit on Revolut SEPA transfers?
Revolut doesn’t set a transfer limit for most currencies and destinations, though payment partners and receiving banks may set their own. Large transfers can take longer because of extra checks, and some banks cap instant payments at a lower amount. Keep an invoice or contract handy for big payments to avoid delays.
Can I cancel a Revolut SEPA transfer?
A SEPA Instant transfer can’t be cancelled once it’s sent, because the money arrives in seconds. A scheduled or still-pending standard transfer may show a cancel option in the app. If the money has already left, ask the recipient to send it back, or contact Revolut to request a recall.
Can I receive SEPA payments on Revolut?
Yes. Share your Revolut euro IBAN and account name with the payer, and the money arrives like any SEPA payment. EEA customers usually have an LT or local IBAN. If your Revolut app doesn’t show euro account details, freelancers often use a Wise or Payoneer euro account instead.
Send Smarter, Not Just Faster
Rachel pays the Berlin photographer every month now, and she’s changed one habit. She converts dollars to euros on a Tuesday, when there’s no weekend fee, then sends the transfer whenever the invoice arrives. The SEPA part has never been the problem. It usually lands in his German account within seconds, and he always receives the full amount. She also saved his IBAN as a contact, so the name check passes every time.
That’s how a Revolut SEPA transfer works best. The transfer itself is free or cheap and often instant. The savings come from converting on weekdays, staying inside your plan’s allowance and double-checking the name match before you send. If you’re paid in euros rather than paying out, set up an account that gives you a proper euro IBAN, so clients can pay you by SEPA too. Small habits like these save more over a year than any one-off fee. What’s your next euro payment, and when will you convert for it?
