What Is SEPA and Which Countries Are Members?
SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) enables fast, low-cost euro transfers across 36 European countries. Learn which countries participate and what it means for your payments.
What Is SEPA?
The Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) is a payment-integration initiative of the European Union that simplifies bank transfers denominated in euros. Within SEPA, a bank transfer works as simply as a domestic payment — same fees, same processing time, regardless of which member country you are sending to.
How Many Countries Are in SEPA?
As of 2024, SEPA includes 36 countries — all 27 EU member states plus several non-EU countries including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and the United Kingdom. See the full list of SEPA countries.
What Does SEPA Mean for Transfers?
Within SEPA, you can send euros using only an IBAN — no SWIFT/BIC code required. Transfers typically arrive within one business day (SEPA Credit Transfer) or instantly (SEPA Instant Credit Transfer, if your bank supports it). Fees are regulated and must be the same as domestic transfer fees.
SEPA vs Non-SEPA Transfers
Outside SEPA, international transfers require both an IBAN and a SWIFT/BIC code, often take 2–5 business days, and may incur correspondent bank fees. Services like Wise and Revolut reduce these costs significantly for non-SEPA transfers.
Does SEPA Only Work for Euros?
SEPA transactions must be in euros. If you are sending money in a different currency (GBP, CHF, etc.) even within a SEPA country, the transfer is treated as a non-SEPA international payment. Validate your IBAN before sending any international payment.