What "Transfer Under Review" Means in Wise
The status "Under review" or "We're reviewing your transfer" means Wise has temporarily paused processing your transfer for additional checks. Your money is not lost — it's held until the review is complete.
As a licensed payment operator, Wise must comply with AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC requirements and manually review certain transactions.
Why It Happens
Large amount. Transfers above certain thresholds (varies by currency and country) are automatically flagged for review.
New recipient. If you're sending to this account for the first time, Wise may request confirmation of the payment's purpose.
Profile mismatch. The transfer amount doesn't match your stated income level or line of work.
Destination country. Transfers to high-risk countries (per FATF classification) are scrutinized more carefully.
Unusual frequency. Many transfers over a short period.
First large transfer. If the account is new and the amount is significant.
Step-by-Step Fix
Step 1 — Check your email
Wise sends a document request to your email. Open the message and read carefully what exactly is being requested.
Step 2 — Prepare documents
Depending on the situation, Wise may request:
- Invoice or contract (for business payments);
- Proof of source of funds (bank statement, payslip);
- Explanation of the transfer purpose (free-form);
- Recipient documents (for large transfers).
Step 3 — Upload documents through the interface
In the Wise app or web version, find the specific transfer and attach the requested documents via the form. The sooner, the better.
Step 4 — Wait for a decision
After receiving documents, Wise typically makes a decision within 1–3 business days. Some reviews take up to 5 business days.
Step 5 — Contact support
If more than 3 days have passed and the status hasn't changed, write to Wise support chat with your transfer number.
FAQ
Can I cancel the transfer while it's under review?
Yes. In most cases, a transfer under review can be cancelled and funds will be returned to your Wise balance.
What if I don't provide the documents?
If documents aren't submitted within the given timeframe, Wise may reject the transfer and return the funds.
Does the review affect future transfers?
If you passed the review and provided documents successfully, similar transfers in the future are generally processed faster.
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