TD Global international transfer: Fee, rates & transfer time

TD Bank customers can send money internationally through TD Bank’s Visa Direct service, via TD’s partnership with Western Union, and using a TD Global Transfer.

If you’re a TD Bank customer and need to send money abroad, you might be wondering: What is a TD Global Transfer? This guide has you covered. TD Global Transfers let customers send payments directly to bank accounts around the world from eligible TD US or Canadian dollar accounts. We’ll walk through TD Global transfer fees and exchange rates, and the TD Bank transfer time to expect.

We’ll also introduce Wise as a smart alternative to sending a TD Global Transfer. With Wise, you can send money online from our website or mobile app, in just a few clicks. Check out Wise today to see how you can save up to 6x compared to regular banks.

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What are TD Global Transfer’s fees in Canada?

As well as TD Global Transfer fees, you’ll also want to know about the costs when sending money with Visa Direct - and wire payments in branch. Here’s the lowdown.

TD Bank Transaction	Regular Fee
Intermediary bank fees	There may be additional charges added by the recipient bank or any intermediary banks who handle the transaction along the way.
Incoming international transfer	C$17.50 (≈$14)²
Outgoing international transfer	TD Global Transfer C$25 (≈$20) Send wire transfer in branch for C$16 (≈$13) to another TD account C$50 (≈$40) to a non TD account Visa Direct transfer fees vary - an estimate will be provided when you set up your payment³
Additional fees may apply	See additional fees section for more on TD bank service charges - you can also check out our TD bank review here.

What are TD Bank’s exchange rates?

When you want to process a transfer, TD Bank will apply a flat fee, but you also need to know the exchange rate that’ll be used for your transfer.

TD Bank’s exchange rate is likely to include a markup. This means that the exchange rate offered may vary quite a bit from the exchange rate offered on Google. The markup can be in the region of 4% - 6% for many banks - which pushes up the costs of the transfer, and makes it harder to see the full fee you’re paying.

In some circumstances, the exchange rate is actually set by the recipient’s bank. In this case, you have no control or visibility of the rates used.

Additional fees from TD Bank

Here are a few of the key additional fees and TD Bank service charges you should know about when you send a TD Global Transfer.

International transfers with TD Bank	Additional fees
Intermediary and recipient bank(s) fees	International money transfers are generally processed using the SWIFT system, which means that up to 3 different banks are involved in a single transaction. These banks might deduct their own fees as they process the payment.
Recipient fee	The recipient’s own bank may charge fees when the payment is received

How long does an international bank transfer with TD Bank take?

How long your transaction will take depends on where it’s headed and how long the recipient’s bank takes to process the transfer on their end. TD Bank advises customers that wire transfers will take between 1 and 5 business days in most cases.

A cheap and fast alternative: Wise

Transferring money abroad using your bank isn’t always the cheapest or most convenient choice - but you do have other options. You might save up to 6x by using a specialist service like Wise.

Use Wise to send money online and pay with your debit card, credit card, or online banking.

At Wise, we never hide extra fees and charges in the exchange rate. We just use the exchange rate – independently provided by Reuters. That means fair, cheap money transfers, every time. There’s just a low, transparent fee to pay which can vary based on the countries and currencies involved.

With Wise, your transfers are usually much faster than a regular wire transfer. Right now, 45% of our transfers are instant money transfers.

Get a free Wise account

How do you make an international bank transfer (Visa Direct transfer) with TD Bank?

If you and the recipient both have an eligible account and hold a Visa debit or credit card, or if the recipient has a Visa prepaid card, you can make a Visa Direct TD transfer. If you’re sending money to someone with a Visa debit card, the funds will be placed in the recipient’s account, much like a wire transfer.

To arrange a Visa Direct payment, you have to register your account online the first time you use this service.

What do I need in order to make an international money transfer?

When you set up your TD Global Transfer - or if you decide to wire money from a TD branch - you’ll need to provide some information about the recipient. Exactly what you have to provide will depend on where you’re sending the money to, but you can expect to be asked for the following:

• Account holder name and full address
• Account number or IBAN if the recipient is in Europe
• Branch number and full address
• Institution number
• The SWIFT/BIC code, or routing number if you’re transferring to the US

If you want to use Visa Direct, you’ll need the 16 digit card number of the recipient, along with their name and address.

What should I give to the sender in order to receive an international bank transfer?

To make sure your wire transfer gets to you safely, you’ll need to give the sender some details including the following:

• Your full name and address, and that of your bank
• Your account number
• The correct SWIFT/BIC code

Unlike some European countries, Canadian banks don’t use the IBAN system, so it’s especially important to give the correct SWIFT/BIC code and branch address.

You should also agree with the sender, who’ll pay the charges associated with the transfer.

If you’ve decided to use Visa Direct to get your money, you need to give the sender your 16 digit card number, along with your name and address. In this case, the sender must pay the relevant fee for the transfer.

Contact / Help - More questions around your transfer?

If you need a bit more help with your transfer, you can always log into online banking, or talk to TD Bank directly:

• Book an appointment at your nearest TD Bank branch to get help in person
• Give TD Bank a call

Moving your money shouldn’t be hard work. However, to get the best possible deal on your overseas transfer, you’ll need to do some research. Often your regular bank doesn’t offer the most cheap or convenient service when it comes to sending money abroad. Using a specialist service like Wise can help you to save time, money and hassle.

Learn more about Wise

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Sources:

1] TD Global Transfer
2] TD account service fees
3] TD Visa Direct

All sources checked on 16 February 2022