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RBC Wire Transfer Limit Canada 2026 | Domestic & International

Updated

Wire transfers are the appropriate payment method when an e-Transfer is too small in amount or not accepted by the recipient — large real estate transactions, international business payments, or sending money to countries where Interac does not operate. RBC supports both domestic and international wires online (up to $50,000) and in-branch for any amount.


RBC Wire Transfer Limits at a Glance

Transfer Type Online Limit In-Branch Limit Notes
Domestic (CAD) $50,000/day No published cap Teller discretion; ID required
International $50,000/day No published cap Teller discretion; AML checks apply
Business clients Higher (negotiated) Higher Contact RBC Business Banking

The $50,000 online daily limit is a default. Clients who regularly send larger wire amounts can speak with RBC to arrange higher online limits.


RBC Wire Transfer Fees

Transfer Type Fee (approx.) Notes
Domestic wire (outgoing) $25 CAD Same-day settlement if before cut-off
International wire (outgoing) $40–$65 CAD Varies by currency and amount
International wire (incoming) $15 CAD Charged to the RBC account receiving funds
Currency conversion 2.5% FX spread Applied if converting between currencies

These fees are in addition to any fees charged by the recipient’s bank or correspondent banks in the payment chain. For international wires, total costs can include your sending fee, an intermediary bank fee, and the recipient’s bank receiving fee — confirm with the recipient what they expect to receive net of fees.


Processing Times

Transfer Type Typical Time Cut-Off Time
Domestic CAD wire Same business day 4:00 PM ET
International wire (US) 1–2 business days 3:00 PM ET
International wire (UK, EU) 1–3 business days 3:00 PM ET
International wire (other) 2–5 business days 3:00 PM ET

Wires initiated after the cut-off time are processed the following business day. Weekend and holiday submissions are queued for the next business day.


How to Send a Wire Transfer Through RBC Online Banking

  1. Log in to RBC Online Banking at rbcroyalbank.com
  2. Navigate to TransfersWire Transfer
  3. Select the account to debit
  4. Choose Domestic or International
  5. Enter recipient details:
    • Full legal name
    • Bank name and address
    • Transit/routing number (domestic) or SWIFT/BIC code (international)
    • Account number or IBAN (where applicable)
  6. Enter the amount and currency
  7. Review the fee and exchange rate confirmation
  8. Submit and save the confirmation number

For first-time recipients, RBC may require additional verification. Keep the wire confirmation number until the recipient confirms receipt.


How to Receive an International Wire at RBC

Provide the sender with all five pieces of information:

Detail Value
Bank name Royal Bank of Canada
SWIFT/BIC code ROYCCAT2
Your transit number 5 digits (find in RBC Online Banking)
Your account number 7 digits
Bank address 200 Bay Street, Royal Bank Plaza, Toronto, ON M5J 2J5

Missing any one of these — especially the transit number — can cause the wire to be delayed or returned. Some senders also ask for the IBAN; Canada does not use IBANs, so provide the transit + account numbers instead.


Wire Transfer vs E-Transfer vs Bank Draft

Method Limit Fee Speed Best For
Interac e-Transfer $3,000/transaction $0–$1.50 30 min Everyday payments
Domestic wire $50,000+ $25 Same day Large CAD payments
International wire $50,000+ $40–$65 1–5 days Cross-border payments
Bank draft Up to account balance $8.50–$15 Immediate Guaranteed payment (real estate, vehicles)

For most personal transactions under $3,000, an e-Transfer is simpler and free. Wire transfers are worth the fee when the amount exceeds e-Transfer limits, the recipient is outside Canada, or the transaction requires a guaranteed same-day settlement.


In-Branch Wire Transfers

For amounts above the online daily limit ($50,000), initiate the wire at any RBC branch:

  1. Bring government-issued photo ID
  2. Provide the recipient’s full banking details in writing (transit/routing, SWIFT, account number, name)
  3. A teller processes the wire and provides a receipt
  4. Large transfers may require additional AML verification under FINTRAC regulations

FINTRAC reporting applies to cash transactions of $10,000+ and may apply to certain electronic fund transfers over threshold amounts. These are regulatory requirements and do not affect the transfer itself.