Akif Hazarvi
Key Takeaway
An IBAN is a standardized international bank account number used in 80+ countries. Here's how it works and why it matters.
In this guide (6 sections)
In this guide
What Is an IBAN?
Quick answer: An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardized bank account number format used in 80+ countries, containing up to 34 characters including a country code, check digits, bank code, and account number. IBANs are required for transfers to Europe and many other regions. Providers like Wise and XE accept IBANs directly and handle routing automatically. See our UK to Europe corridor page for IBAN-based transfer options.
An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standardized format for bank account numbers used in over 80 countries. The IBAN standard is maintained under ISO 13616 by the International Organization for Standardization. It was created to reduce errors in international transfers by providing a uniform way to identify bank accounts globally. The IBAN.com registry provides IBAN structure details for all participating countries.
An IBAN contains the country code, check digits (for validation), bank code, and account number — all in a single string of up to 34 characters. When sending to Europe (e.g., UK to Europe), you'll almost always need the recipient's IBAN.
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| Category | Provider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Wise | Accepts IBANs, 0% markup, 70+ countries |
| Fastest Transfer | Remitly | Simple IBAN entry, Express delivery option |
| Cheapest Option | XE | No fees, rate alerts, handles IBAN routing |
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How to Read an IBAN
An IBAN consists of:
- Characters 1–2: Country code (e.g., GB, DE, FR)
- Characters 3–4: Check digits (for error detection)
- Remaining characters: Bank code + account number (format varies by country)
Examples by country:
- UK: GB29 NWBK 6016 1331 9268 19 (22 characters)
- Germany: DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00 (22 characters)
- France: FR76 3000 6000 0112 3456 7890 189 (27 characters)
- Pakistan: PK36 SCBL 0000 0011 2345 6702 (24 characters)
IBAN lengths vary by country — from 15 characters (Norway) to 34 characters (Jordan).
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Which Countries Use IBANs?
IBANs are mandatory for international transfers in:
- All of Europe (EU, UK, Switzerland, etc.)
- Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc.)
- Parts of Africa (Tunisia, Mauritania, etc.)
- Parts of South America (Brazil, Costa Rica)
- Pakistan, Turkey, Israel
Countries that do NOT use IBANs:
- United States (uses routing number + account number). See the Federal Reserve's payment systems for US wire transfer details.
- Canada (uses institution number + transit number + account number)
- Australia (uses BSB + account number)
- India (uses IFSC code + account number). See our USA to India guide for Indian transfer details.
- Most of Asia and the Pacific. For Philippines transfers, see the USA to Philippines corridor guide.
For a complete country-by-country reference, the ECB's SEPA documentation covers all EU/EEA IBAN requirements.
How to Find Your IBAN
Your IBAN can be found in several places:
- Online banking — Look in your account details or settings page
- Bank statement — Usually printed at the top of your statement
- Bank app — Tap on your account for full details
- Use our IBAN validator — Enter your bank details and we'll generate and validate your IBAN
- Contact your bank — Call or visit a branch
Once you have the IBAN, use our comparison tool to find the cheapest way to send money to that account. Also read our guide to SWIFT codes — you'll often need both for European transfers.
IBAN Validation: How to Check an IBAN Is Correct
IBANs have built-in error detection through check digits. You can validate an IBAN in two ways:
- Use our IBAN validator tool — Instantly checks if an IBAN is valid and identifies the bank and country
- Manual check — Verify the country code matches where the recipient banks, and that the length matches the expected length for that country. See the IBAN.com structure guide for country-specific lengths.
Common IBAN errors:
- Transposed digits (switching two numbers)
- Wrong country code
- Missing or extra characters
- Using spaces when the system expects none (or vice versa)
An invalid IBAN will cause your transfer to be rejected (and possibly delayed by days). Always validate before sending. For guidance on international payment standards, see SWIFT's data standards.