This guide uses the e-Transfer terms published by Interac, CIBC, Simplii, Tangerine and Scotiabank to show how long each stage can take and what to do when money has not arrived.

The short answer

An Interac e-Transfer is usually almost instant. Interac says transfers can take up to 30 minutes depending on your bank or credit union. If the recipient has Autodeposit, the money goes straight into their account. If not, it waits until they accept it, and they have 30 days before it expires.

A transfer that has not arrived is usually waiting on the recipient, not lost in the system. Under Simplii’s terms, for example, the bank holds the amount until it is claimed, stopped or re-deposited.

What the banks’ terms say about timing

Interac runs the network, but each bank writes its own terms. The four sets of terms we checked agree on the 30-day window and differ on fees and refunds.

Sources: each bank’s Interac e-Transfer terms and CIBC’s how-to page, checked November 7, 2026. Each of these banks says it makes no promise about the maximum time a transfer takes.

Why an e-Transfer can take longer

If a transfer has been pending for more than 30 minutes, one of these is the likely cause.

• The recipient has not accepted it. Without Autodeposit, the recipient has to open the notice, pick an account and answer the security question if there is one. Simplii’s terms say it holds the amount until the recipient claims it.
• The recipient has no online banking. Tangerine says money deposited through a bank account registered with Interac usually arrives 3 to 6 business days after the recipient accepts. Scotiabank’s terms say 4 to 6 business days.
• The notice went to the wrong place. A typo in the email or phone number means the recipient never sees it. If that happens, our guide on sending an e-Transfer to the wrong person covers how to get it back.
• The bank is checking for fraud. Simplii says it may decline or cancel a transfer if it believes someone is acting fraudulently, and can block or stop one without liability.
• You have hit your limit. A transfer over your limit will not go through, so a large payment may need to be split across several days.

Interac itself cannot help. Its FAQ says Interac does not hold funds and cannot trace them, so questions go to your own bank or credit union.

What happens if a transfer is never accepted

Here is a hypothetical transfer sent on Saturday, November 7, 2026, to someone who never accepts it.

Hypothetical example. Dates were counted in calendar days by script and checked a second way.

In the worst case at CIBC, your own money could be tied up for about two months. At Tangerine and Scotiabank, you get an email when the transfer expires and you reclaim the money through the link. At Simplii, the funds are re-deposited automatically. If someone tells you they never got a transfer, it is faster to cancel it and send a new one than to wait for it to expire.

Sending a large amount: how limits stretch the timeline

Every bank sets its own sending limits. CIBC publishes its limits on its website: up to $3,000 within 24 hours, $10,000 within 7 days and $30,000 within 30 days. It adds that limits may differ for some clients. Scotiabank lets you change your limit in the app under Manage transaction limits, or by calling for a higher one.

We worked out how long it takes to send common large amounts under CIBC’s limits if you send the most allowed each day.

The jump between $10,000 and $15,000 comes from the 7-day cap. After four days of transfers you reach $10,000 and have to wait until the first transfer is more than 7 days old. For a home deposit, a car or anything over about $10,000, ask your bank about a wire or bank draft instead.

Fees can add to the cost

CIBC charges $1.50 per transfer on accounts that do not include e-Transfers, and the same $1.50 when someone fulfills your request for money. It waives the fee on some accounts and for clients 65 and older on any CIBC chequing account. Tangerine’s terms warn that the recipient’s own bank may charge a fee to receive funds.

What to do if your e-Transfer has not arrived

1. Wait 30 minutes. Interac says that is the normal maximum. Check your junk mail and text messages for the notice.
2. Check the status with the sender. Ask the sender to check the transfer in online banking and confirm the exact email or phone number used.
3. Accept it if you can. If you are the recipient, open the notice, choose your account and answer the security question. Ask the sender for the answer by phone, not by email.
4. Cancel and resend if needed. If the details were wrong or the recipient cannot find it, the sender can stop it before it is deposited. Expect a fee at some banks.
5. Call your bank. If a transfer shows as deposited but you do not see the money, contact your bank. If it will not resolve the problem, its complaint process has set response deadlines.

If you are paying someone who prefers a cheque, keep in mind that a cheque can be held for days. Our guide on how long a bank can hold a cheque has the limits, and our guide to stopping payment on a cheque lists the fees.

Frequently asked questions

• Sources, checked November 7, 2026: Interac: Interac e-Transfer FAQ; CIBC: How to send an Interac e-Transfer; CIBC: Interac e-Transfer terms and conditions (document 12569-2024/11); Simplii Financial: Interac e-Transfer terms and conditions (document L10995EINT-2026/10); Tangerine: Interac e-Transfer terms and conditions; Scotiabank: Interac e-Transfer terms and conditions; Scotiabank: How do I change my Interac e-Transfer limit?; TD: Send money with Interac e-Transfer.
• Method: The limit table and chart come from a Python simulation that sends the largest amount allowed each day under CIBC’s 24-hour, 7-day and 30-day limits, treated as rolling windows. Results were checked against a closed-form count of full 7-day blocks plus $3,000 days. Timeline dates were counted in calendar days and checked against a calendar.

Important: This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice. Banks can change their e-Transfer limits, fees and terms without notice, so check your own bank’s terms and the limits shown in your app. Gizly is not paid by any bank mentioned here. See our affiliate disclosure.