Banking
Germany — Banking: International Transfers
People and companies resident in Germany must report payments of more than €50,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) to or from non-residents to the Bundesbank, both incoming and outgoing; this threshold applies from 1 January 2025 and replaced the previous €12,500 threshold. Private individuals report monthly, and a bank's automatic notice on a foreign transfer does not by itself mean a reporting duty exists. Pure transfers between your own domestic and foreign accounts are not reportable. Under the EU Instant Payments Regulation, euro-area payment providers had to be able to receive instant payments from 9 January 2025 and send them from 9 October 2025, and an instant credit transfer may not cost more than the same provider's other credit transfers of the corresponding type; instant transfers are executed immediately, 24 hours a day on any calendar day. The legal per-transaction cap of at least €25,000 applies only to providers outside the euro area.
Key facts
- Residents of Germany must report payments over €50,000 (or equivalent) to or from non-residents to the Bundesbank (AWV § 67); the threshold was €12,500 before 1 January 2025.
- Private individuals report monthly; a bank's automatic hint on a foreign transfer does not by itself create a reporting duty, and pure transfers between your own domestic and foreign accounts are not reportable.
- Euro-area providers had to receive instant payments from 9 January 2025 and send them from 9 October 2025; instant transfers are executed immediately, 24/7.
- An instant credit transfer may not cost more than the provider's other credit transfers of the corresponding type.
- The Regulation's per-transaction limit of at least €25,000 applies only to providers in non-euro-area Member States.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the old €12,500 reporting threshold still applies — it has been €50,000 since 1 January 2025.