How long an Interac e-Transfer takes depends mostly on one thing: whether the recipient is registered for Autodeposit. With Autodeposit the money lands on its own, usually within minutes. Without it, the transfer waits until the recipient answers the security question and deposits it. (For how sending and receiving work, see our Interac e-Transfer guide.)
This page is one of our guides to sending and receiving money in Canada.
How long do e-Transfers take?
With Autodeposit (fastest)
If the recipient has registered their email address or mobile number for Autodeposit, the transfer deposits into their account with no action on their part.
Typical timing: within minutes
- Most transfers arrive within a few minutes.
- Some take longer, for example during maintenance or when a bank holds a transfer for review (see delays below).
Autodeposit is offered by most Canadian banks and removes the security question and the manual deposit step. Setting it up takes a few minutes in your bank’s e-Transfer settings; the steps are in the Autodeposit section of our e-Transfer guide.
Without Autodeposit
If the recipient isn’t registered for Autodeposit:
- You send the transfer. The recipient gets an email or text notification, normally right away.
- They open it, either from the link or from their own banking app.
- They answer the security question and choose an account.
- The money appears in their account, typically within minutes of acceptance.
Total timing: this depends on when the recipient acts. A transfer can sit pending for days if the notification isn’t seen, and one that is never claimed eventually expires and goes back to the sender (what happens when an e-Transfer expires).
Typical Autodeposit timing by bank
| Bank | Autodeposit timing |
|---|---|
| RBC | 1 to 5 minutes |
| TD | 1 to 5 minutes |
| BMO | 1 to 5 minutes |
| Scotiabank | 1 to 5 minutes |
| CIBC | 1 to 5 minutes |
| Tangerine | 1 to 10 minutes |
| Simplii Financial | 1 to 10 minutes |
| EQ Bank | 1 to 10 minutes |
| KOHO | 1 to 10 minutes |
| National Bank | 1 to 5 minutes |
These are typical ranges, not guarantees. Timing varies with system load and the specific transfer.
Weekends and holidays
Unlike cheques and wire transfers, which follow banking days, Interac e-Transfers run around the clock, every day of the year. A transfer sent late on a holiday evening moves the same way as one sent on a weekday morning.
Why is my e-Transfer delayed?
The recipient hasn’t accepted it (no Autodeposit). Without Autodeposit, the transfer only moves when the recipient acts. The notification may be in their spam folder; they can also deposit from their bank’s app.
A security review. Banks can hold an unusual transfer, such as a large first transfer to a new contact, for a manual review, which adds time.
A wrong email or phone number. If the notification bounced or went to the wrong person, the transfer stays pending. Our guide to money sent to the wrong person covers what to do if someone else deposited it.
Sending limits. A transfer above your bank’s daily or weekly limit won’t go through at all. Each bank’s limits are in our e-Transfer limits by bank comparison.
System maintenance. Interac and individual banks occasionally have maintenance windows, and transfers sent during one can be delayed.
Can a slow e-Transfer be cancelled?
A transfer that is still pending can usually be cancelled from your bank’s app, while one sent to an Autodeposit recipient deposits right away and can’t be. Our guide to cancelling an e-Transfer or other bank transfer covers the steps and what happens to the money afterwards.
How e-Transfer timing compares
- A wire transfer moves on banking days and cut-off times: see how long a wire transfer takes.
- A deposited cheque can be held before the money is available: see how long a cheque takes to clear.
- Pay and government deposits follow their own schedules: see when a direct deposit arrives.