---
title: SWIFT or local rail
slug: concepts/payments/international-payments/swift-or-local-rail
description: SWIFT enables secure international payments, settling T+0/T+1 with possible fees. Local rails, like SEPA, settle T+0 to T+2 with no fees, and payees receive the full amount.
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-03-20T09:13:40.889Z
---

## SWIFT

SWIFT, the [Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication](https://www.swift.com/about-us), makes sending international payments easier by providing a secure messaging system between financial institutions.

When you send a payment by SWIFT it settles quickly, typically within T+0 or T+1. However, because intermediary financial institutions along the payment route may charge handling fees or commissions, SWIFT has additional charges. These charges are not always the same. The amount depends on the specific financial institutions involved in the transaction.

## Local rail

When you pay through a local rail, such as SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area), typically you'll have no handling fees or commissions, because this payment rail uses banks in the recipient country to make international payments easier. Payments sent by local rails settle efficiently, typically within T+0 to T+2.

:::hint{type="warning"}
**IMPORTANT**
With both SWIFT and local rails the payee receives the full amount. The sender pays any fees or commissions.
:::

Certain Local Rail currencies are subject to transfer limits. For the full list of applicable limits by currency, refer to [Supported countries](docId\:p_Cb7wXlzG8of31c9xlgj).

For certain countries your only option is to use SWIFT because no local rail is accessible. The table of [countries supported](docId\:p_Cb7wXlzG8of31c9xlgj) shows which countries are limited to SWIFT transactions.

In the [Request payment quote](docId\:OnbkGeBIHVb4ihvB1haKL) endpoint, set `priority` to **TRUE** to transfer funds using the SWIFT network. Set `priority` to **FALSE** to use a local rail in the recipient country.