Barclays international transfer: fees, rates and transfer time

Need to transfer money abroad? If you’re a Barclays customer in the UK, you can send international payments online, using the app, by phone or in branch. There's a pretty long list of options, with different fees and processes for each.

This guide walks through everything you need to know about Barclays international transfers, including fees, exchange rate costs, transfer times and limits, so you can see the total cost more clearly.

We’ll also introduce Wise as a smart alternative for international transfers – with over 18.9 million people worldwide moving £52 billion each quarter.

With Wise you get low, transparent fees, mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, with dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts. On a £50,000 transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank.

➡️ Learn more about sending money with Wise

What are the fees for an international transfer with Barclays?

When you send a transfer overseas, there will usually be some fees to pay. This isn't always as obvious as you might expect though, as some costs are harder to spot than others.

The full costs of international payments can include:

• Upfront transfer fees, usually clearly shown in your account fee schedule
• Exchange rate markups, a percentage charge added to the rate used for currency conversion
• Third party fees, paid to intermediary banks and not always easy to see.

We'll look at all these different costs in more detail in a moment. With Barclays, some European payments have no transfer fee, but you'll still want to check the exchange rate and any third party costs.

Barclays international transfer fees

Barclays international transfer fees can vary depending on the payment type and how you arrange it:¹

It's important to note that digital payments have variable limits, which may be lower than the amount you can send in a branch. Some countries also require you to visit a branch, which can mean paying the branch fee instead of the online fee-free option.

Barclays exchange rates and conversion charge

Barclays says it uses its own reference exchange rate, which it sets based on market exchange rates for the two currencies. If your transfer needs conversion, Barclays adds a currency conversion charge on top of that reference rate.

For personal and Premier customers, Barclays says the conversion charge is no greater than 2.75%, and that it reduces for payments above £25,000.¹

In practice, that means the exchange rate you get for your transfer may be worse than themid-market exchange rate, which is the rate used as a benchmark between banks.

A simple way to spot a markup is to compare the Barclays rate shown before you confirm your transfer with the mid-market rate for the same currency pair at the same time. If the Barclays rate is lower after conversion, the gap is part of your total transfer cost.

Additional fees from Barclays: third party costs

The other important charge to look at is third party costs. Third party costs usually creep in when payments are sent using the SWIFT system. They can be paid by the sender, recipient, or both, depending on the payment type.

These costs are deducted as the payment passes through the system, so if you're not aware of them, they can mean your recipient gets less than you’re expecting.

For some destinations, you’ll need to pay all of the applicable third party costs as the sender. For others, you may be able to choose whether charges are paid by the sender, the recipient, or shared.

One thing worth knowing is that a payment with no Barclays transfer fee can still end up costing more once SWIFT charges and exchange rate markups are included.

Shopping around, including looking at providers such as Wise, can help you see whether you can avoid some third party SWIFT costs.

How do you make an international bank transfer with Barclays?

The easiest way to send money abroad with Barclays UK is using its online banking system. Here's how:

1. Log into Barclays online banking
2. Click on ‘Move Money’
3. Choose ‘International Payment’ from the menu
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter the transfer details, including choosing or adding a recipient
5. Complete the verification step for security
6. Check the details carefully and confirm your transfer.

You may also be able to arrange your payment in the Barclays app, by phone, or in branch, depending on the country and currency involved.

What do you need to make an international money transfer with Barclays?

The exact details you need to send an international payment vary by destination country. That's simply because different countries have different banking protocols, so you'll need to double-check the full details for the country you're sending to before you get started.

To make a SEPA payment in euros, or an international payment in other currencies, to a country in Europe, you'll usually need:

• The transfer amount
• The full name and address of the person or business you're sending the money to
• The recipient's IBAN or account number
• The recipient bank's SWIFT/BIC code for non-SEPA payments

When making a payment to someone in the USA, you'll usually need:

• The transfer amount
• The full name and address of the person or business you're sending the money to
• The recipient's bank account number
• The recipient bank's SWIFT/BIC code or routing number.

When does a Barclays international transfer arrive?

The length of time your transfer takes depends on where you're sending to and whether you meet the daily cut-off time. If you set up the payment after the cut-off, Barclays may process it on the next working day instead.

Barclays says payments to Europe usually arrive within one working day, and payments to the US usually arrive the same day or the next working day.²

As a broader guide, SWIFT transfers can take up to 4 to 5 working days to arrive.

What's the maximum transfer limit with Barclays?

You can send up to £50,000 a day online from a Barclays personal account, while Premier customers can send up to £100,000 a day.³ If you need to send more, you may need to visit a branch.

A common question is whether splitting a larger payment helps. Barclays says its exchange rates are usually better for higher-value transactions, so splitting a payment to work around the limit could mean paying more overall.

Read more: Guide to sending large payments with Barclays Business UK, including transfer limits

How to contact Barclays

If you need help with your transfer, you can call Barclays on 0345 600 2323 (for help with online banking) or 0345 975 7575 (for help with a payment you’ve already made).⁴

Other contact options include:

• Verified social media channels,
• In-app or Online Banking chat
• Visiting your nearest branch.

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Send international transfers without hidden fees with Wise

When you’re comparing international transfer providers, it's worth focusing on the total cost of the payment rather than any single fee. A provider that appears cheaper upfront may not always offer the best overall value.

Banks and other providers may claim to have “no fees” but they could be adding a sneaky mark-up to their exchange rate. This can impact your budget by up to 2% when sending money abroad. On a £50,000 transfer, you could save up to £1,000 with Wise vs your bank.

Wise has built its own payment network that allows customers to send money internationally for less. You’ll get the mid-market exchange rate (close to the one you see on Google) with no hidden markups and low, transparent fees.

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

**Investments are not guaranteed, and your capital is at risk.

Wise is an Electronic Money Institution (EMI), so features like Interest and Stocks may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). For standard cash balances, we safeguard your funds to meet regulatory obligations.

In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets, the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 839689).

We do not provide investment advice, and taxes may apply. If unsure, seek qualified financial advice. Full fund information is available on our website.

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Barclays international transfer FAQs

How much does Barclays charge for an international transfer?

Many Barclays international payments arranged online have no Barclays transfer fee, while branch payments cost £25. You may also see a £3 USD cover charge in some cases, an overseas bank charge of £4 to £12, exchange rate costs, and possible third party fees.¹

How long does a Barclays international transfer take?

Payments to Europe usually arrive within one working day. US payments usually arrive the same day or the next working day,² but longer timelines can apply depending on the route, cut-off time and destination country.

What is the maximum you can send with Barclays?

Barclays personal customers can send up to £50,000 a day online, and Premier customers can send up to £100,000 a day.³ If you need to send more than that, Barclays may ask you to use a branch instead.

What details do I need to send money abroad with Barclays?

You'll normally need the recipient's full name, address, account number or IBAN, and the receiving bank's SWIFT/BIC code. Some countries also ask for extra information, such as a routing number or a reason for payment.

Does Barclays charge an exchange rate markup?

Barclays applies a currency conversion charge when it converts your payment into another currency. This should be no greater than 2.75% for personal and Premier customers.¹

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Sources used:

1. Barclays - Barclays tariff for personal customers
2. Barclays - Sending international payments
3. Barclays - Help - Daily payments limits in the app
4. Barclays - Contact Us - Payments

Sources last checked: 20-Jul-2026