Halifax international transfer: Fees, rates and limits [2026 Guide]

This article covers everything you need to know about Halifax international transfers including: how much they cost, how long they take, and how to make one. 📝

Despite being part of the largest banking group in the UK, Halifax might not be your best option if you want to send money overseas. There are plenty of other services like Wise, Xe money transfer, and OFX, which can be cheaper, faster and easier to use. 🏦

Key info on transferring money overseas with Halifax

Halifax international money transfer comparison 🔍

Let’s start with a comparison of the costs and delivery times on offer from Halifax against a few specialist providers. In this example, we’re sending an online payment to a friend, and we are sending 1,000 GBP to France:

*Fees and rates correct at time of research - 22nd June 2026

Halifax exchange rates include a markup on the mid-market rate, which varies by currency. Since banks frequently add markups of up to 3%, this can noticeably increase the total cost of your transfer.

You might also encounter unpredictable intermediary fees if your payment travels via the SWIFT network, making it difficult to calculate your exact upfront costs.

In contrast, international money transfer specialists like Wise, Xe Money Transfer, or OFX often provide better exchange rates and faster delivery times. 📲

💳 Halifax international transfer fees

Halifax international bank transfers can involve up to 3 different charges:

• Halifax transfer fee

• Exchange rate markup

• Correspondent bank fees

Which fees apply - and the total amount you’ll pay - will depend on where you’re sending money, and the currencies involved. 🌍

Often the cost you need to look out for the most is the exchange rate markup. We’ll look at the Halifax international transfer exchange rate in more detail in a moment.

Although Halifax doesn’t charge a transfer fee for euro payments, there are transfer charges when you send other currencies - here are the Halifax bank international transfer fees you should know about:

*Information correct at time of writing - 22nd June 2026

📊 Halifax exchange rate

International payments with Halifax use their standard exchange rate. This isn’t the same as the rate you’ll find on Google.

Instead, Halifax adds a markup - an extra fee - onto the mid-market exchange rate to create the rates they pass on to customers.  📉

The markup varies by the value of the payment being made:

As you can see, the bigger the payment you’re making, the smaller the percentage exchange fee you’ll pay. However, overall, in many cases the exchange rate markup costs far more than the transfer fee or any correspondent bank charges.

Here’s what you’ll pay in exchange rate markups for a few different transfer values:

• Sending 1,000 GBP - 35.50 GBP exchange rate markup fee

• Sending 10,000 GBP - 355 GBP exchange rate markup fee

• Sending 50,000 GBP - 1,200 GBP exchange rate markup fee

Need a cheaper alternative? 💸

Banks tend to have higher exchange rate markups compared to specialist providers. Some specialist providers don’t use exchange rate markups at all.

Halifax additional fees ⚠️

When you send an international payment through the SWIFT network, intermediary banks may deduct an extra fee called a correspondent or agent bank fee. With Halifax, this can add an unexpected £12 to £20 to your transaction costs. 💸

If you set up your transfer online or send money to the EEA, the recipient automatically covers these charges, meaning they might receive less than you intended. For transfers arranged inside a branch, you can usually choose whether you pay the extra fees yourself, share them, or pass them on to the recipient. 🏦

How long does a Halifax international money transfer take? ⏳

If your transfer is arranged before the relevant cut-off time (2pm to 3pm) on a working day you can expect the following delivery times:

Need a faster alternative? 🚀⏳

Depending on the type of transfer you’re making Halifax may not be your quickest option.

If you’re sending a payment to the EEA in euros, Halifax will deliver it the next day as long as you set up the transfer before their cut-off time. Cut-off times are between 2pm and 3pm, and transfers are only processed on working days because they rely on the SWIFT network to get moving.

Let’s see how the Halifax international transfer delivery times measure up against the other providers we looked at earlier:

⚖️ Pros and cons of transferring money abroad with Halifax

Sending money with your bank is familiar and secure. But specialist international transfer services usually offer better overall costs and delivery time.

Specialist providers offer convenient payments which can often cut out the SWIFT network. That means your money can move faster and at a lower cost - while still being just as safe as when you make a payment with your bank.

How to make an international transfer with Halifax 📲

Make international bank transfers with Halifax online or in the mobile app, in a branch, or over the phone. The costs are the same whichever option you choose, although online transfers tend to be quicker and more convenient. ⚡

Here’s how to send an international transfer with Halifax using their online banking service:

1. Log into your online banking and select More actions, then Payments and transfers

2. Select Send money outside the UK

3. Click Pay someone new for first time transfers, or Select an international recipient if you’ve paid your recipient before

4. Check over or enter the recipient’s details

5. Enter the value and currency of the payment you want to make

6. Select Continue to review payment details, and Confirm Payment if everything is good to go

You may be asked to enter your password online, or if it’s the first time you’ve made a payment to that recipient you may need to confirm the request through a phone call. 📞

What information do you need to make an international transfer with Halifax?

How to track your Halifax transfer

Once your outbound payment is submitted, you can check if the money has left your balance by logging into your Halifax mobile app or online banking profile to review your transaction history. 📲

Because Halifax processes transfers through the SWIFT network, there is no interactive, self-service tracking link available online.

If your funds have not arrived within five working days, you can contact customer service directly so an advisor can check their internal systems and trace the payment for you. ☎️

🎯 Halifax international transfer limits

Halifax places caps on the maximum amount of money you can send overseas within a single day. Limits may apply to the maximum amount you can send, based on the payment type: ⏱️

Need to send a larger transfer? 📊

🏦 How to send a high amount transfer with Halifax internationally

If you are planning to send a payment that exceeds the standard digital cap of £100,000, you will need to complete your transaction in person by visiting a Halifax branch. 🏢

Arranging your wire transfer face-to-face inside a branch removes maximum limit restrictions, enabling you to move large balances easily. For any large transactions set up inside a local branch, you must carry a valid physical photo ID, such as a passport or driving license, along with your debit card and a current proof of address to clear identity protocols. 🗂️

Supported countries

Halifax accounts allow customers to send international wire transfers in over 30 currencies to destinations 🗺️ You can easily handle SEPA transactions in Euros across the EEA or arrange payments to popular major trade routes, like the US, Australia and Canada.

📥 Receiving money from abroad with Halifax

You can receive an international payment in pounds or other currencies into your Halifax account. If the payment arrives in a foreign currency, Halifax will convert it to pounds before depositing it into your account. In this case, exchange rate markups will apply which may mean you receive less than you’re expecting in the end.

There’s a fee to receive an international transfer:

• Payments under 100 GBP in value - 2 GBP

• Payments over 100 GBP in value - 7 GBP

Halifax SWIFT code

When you need to receive an international transfer you’ll have to give the sender your IBAN and your SWIFT code. The SWIFT code is a unique identifier assigned to each bank which helps payments be received quickly and securely.

The Halifax Bank SWIFT code is HLFXGB22XXX.

For your payment to be transferred as quickly as possible, you’ll also need to give the sender:

More about the alternatives to Halifax

Specialist money transfer providers can often be cheaper and faster because they avoid processing your payments through the global SWIFT banking network. Instead, companies like Wise, OFX, and Xe use their own internal payment networks. This allows them to eliminate costly intermediary bank fees and deliver your money abroad significantly faster than a building society or bank. 🎉

*Information correct at time of writing - 22nd June 2026

*The speed of transaction claims depends on individual circumstances and may not be available for all transactions

Halifax bank address for incoming wires

If someone is sending you a wire transfer from abroad into your Halifax account, they may need the central bank address alongside your personal IBAN to ensure the payment routes smoothly. 🏦