Paying an International Supplier via SWIFT
You need to pay an overseas supplier on time so they ship the order. Late or rejected wires delay shipments, damage relationships and incur storage / demurrage charges.
Details
You need to pay an overseas supplier on time so they ship the order. Late or rejected wires delay shipments, damage relationships and incur storage / demurrage charges.
How to handle it: Send via SWIFT MT103 with charges instruction OUR (so the supplier receives the exact invoice amount). Confirm the BIC, IBAN, beneficiary name match the supplier's legal entity exactly. Send the UETR to the supplier so they can confirm receipt.
Whatever route you take, every SWIFT payment carries a 36-character UETR (Unique End-to-end Transaction Reference). Paste the UETR into the Ohmyfin tracker to see the latest available SWIFT status in seconds — settled, in flight, pending compliance, or rejected.
Key facts
- Always pay 1–2 business days before the supplier's expected ship date.
- Use SWIFT GPI member banks for transparency.
- Pre-agree the charges instruction; surprises here can break trust on the first payment.
- Keep a running ledger of UETRs against PO numbers for audit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a UETR and why do I need one?
The UETR is the SWIFT-network identifier for your payment, mandatory on every payment since November 2018. It is the only way to track a payment in real time across all the correspondents in the chain.
How long should this kind of SWIFT payment take?
SWIFT GPI same-currency payments often settle in minutes. Cross-currency typically 4–24 hours. Compliance-heavy corridors can take 2–5 business days.
Is Ohmyfin tracking free?
Yes — completely free for individuals worldwide: 10 free trackings per day per IP with no signup, or 15/day plus 100 welcome credits after a free account; no card required.
Can I cancel or recall the payment if needed?
Cancellation works only before the receiving bank credits the account. Recall (after credit) needs the beneficiary's consent. See /help/how-to-cancel-swift-payment and /help/how-to-recall-swift-payment.
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