How long your payment takes depends on your payment method, bank or payment provider processing times, and whether additional review is needed.
Check your Flywire tracking page or account for your current payment status. The timelines below explain what to expect at each stage and when to contact us for help.
How long does my payment take?
1. Receiving your funds
The time it takes for Flywire to receive or confirm your funds depends on how you pay:
- Bank transfers: Funds typically reach Flywire within 2–3 business days after your bank releases them.
- Online payment methods: Methods such as PayPal or Trustly may take 1–2 business days for your bank or payment provider to release the funds to Flywire.
- Card payments: Most card payments update shortly after authorization. Some require additional review before the payment status updates.
💡 Paying by card does not mean your institution receives the funds immediately. A successful authorization or an update confirming your payment is an earlier step. Flywire still needs to process and deliver the funds.
2. Processing your funds
Once Flywire receives or confirms your funds, processing and delivery typically take 2–3 business days. This period starts from receipt or confirmation by Flywire, rather than from the date you created your payment request or instructed your bank to send the funds.
Some payments need additional review or verification, depending on the payment method and the country or region you are paying from. If we need information or documents, we will email the payer with instructions.
Payments undergoing additional checks or placed On Hold may take longer than the usual estimate.
3. Delivering funds to your institution
After processing is complete, Flywire delivers your funds to your institution or organization. This delivery is included in the 2–3 business days described above.
Once your payment shows Delivered, you can download your Flywire payment receipt from your tracking page.
Your institution may then need 2–3 business days to update your student or customer account balance, depending on its internal process. This is separate from Flywire’s processing and delivery time.
If you are concerned that your balance still shows as unpaid after delivery, share your Flywire payment receipt and Payment ID with your institution so they can check their records.
💡Count business days for your current stage. Business days generally exclude weekends and applicable bank holidays. Holidays and time-zone differences in the countries or regions involved can affect processing. If Flywire has already received your funds, use the processing and delivery estimate above.
What payment notifications will I receive?
Flywire sends automated emails when important payment updates are available. The emails you receive depend on your payment method and stage.
- Bank transfers: We usually send an email when we receive or confirm your funds.
- Online payment methods and cards: You may not receive a separate email when we receive or confirm your payment. Check your tracking page for the latest status; the timing of the update depends on your payment method and any required review.
- All payment methods: When your payment is delivered, we send a confirmation email with access to your Flywire payment receipt.
If SMS notifications are available for your payment route and you opted in, you may also receive text updates at key milestones.
If an expected email has not arrived, see Why haven’t I received any payment notifications?.
When will my payment status update?
Your tracking page updates as your payment progresses—for example, when Flywire receives or confirms your funds, when review is required, or when your payment is delivered.
Check your current status and any instructions shown on the page. For an explanation of each status and what to do next, see What does my payment status mean?
Why might my payment take longer?
Common reasons include:
- Your bank or payment provider has not yet released the funds.
- Your payment was initiated on a weekend or applicable bank holiday.
- The Payment ID or payment reference was missing or incomplete.
- The amount received differs from the amount in your payment request.
- Your payment requires manual, compliance, regulatory, or document review.
- Your bank, an intermediary bank, or your payment provider needs additional processing time.
If we need information or documents, we will email the payer. Check the payer’s inbox and spam or junk folder, and follow the instructions provided.
If you have already supplied the requested information but need an update, contact Flywire Support with your Payment ID and any existing support ticket number. Let us know what you submitted and when.
What should I do if my payment is taking longer than expected?
Start with the status on your tracking page:
- Still Pending: If more than 3 business days have passed since your bank or payment provider confirmed that the funds were sent, contact Flywire Support with your Payment ID and proof of payment.
- Received: Allow the usual 2–3 business days from Flywire’s receipt or confirmation for processing and delivery. If that period has passed, check for any requests from Flywire and contact Support if you need help understanding the delay.
- Verification or On Hold: Follow any instructions from Flywire. If you cannot find the requested information, are unsure what to do, or have already responded and need an update, contact Support.
- Delivered: Allow time for your institution to update its records. Contact the institution with your receipt and Payment ID if you need help confirming that the payment has been credited.
You can contact Flywire Support here. Include your Payment ID, current status, relevant dates, and any existing support ticket number.
What if my institution’s payment deadline is approaching?
Allow time for your funds to reach Flywire, for processing and delivery, and for your institution to update its records.
Your institution’s payment deadline may differ from the date shown in your Flywire payment instructions for sending funds. Contact your institution if you are unsure what it requires by its deadline.
If you have already paid and your payment is within the expected processing time, share your Payment ID with your institution. Your institution can also track your Flywire payment’s status and advise you on its deadline requirements while the payment is in progress.
For questions about the date in your Flywire payment instructions, see What if I can’t transfer the funds to Flywire before the due date?