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Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)

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Thanks to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), customers can make cashless euro payments to anywhere in the European Union – and to a number of non-EU countries – in a fast, safe and efficient way, just like within their own country.

Harmonised standards across all SEPA countries have eliminated differences between domestic and cross-border payments. This has helped make the European economy more efficient and competitive.

SEPA was launched by the European banking and payments industry with the support of national governments, the European Commission and the Eurosystem. The Eurosystem was very invested in the success of the SEPA project, as SEPA harmonised the way non-cash euro payments are conducted.

SEPA payment instruments

The SEPA payment instruments are based on agreed technical standards and business rules formalised in the SEPA payment schemes. These schemes are developed and administered by the European Payments Council, an international not-for-profit association made up of payment service providers and associations of payment service providers.

Credit transfer

A payment transaction from the payer’s account to the payee’s account, initiated by the payer.

Instant credit transfer

Instant credit transfers are credit transfers that make funds available in a payee’s account within ten seconds of a payment order being made.

Direct debit

A payment transaction from the payer’s account to the payee’s account, initiated by the payee based on the payer giving their consent to the payee (via a direct debit mandate).

SEPA countries

The SEPA region consists of 41 European countries, including countries which are not part of the euro area or the EU, as well as several territories with historical ties to those countries (status: 22 May 2025).

While the SEPA scheme rules apply in all SEPA countries, other rules stemming directly from EU legislation (such as rules on the equality of charges for euro transactions or interchange fees) do not apply outside the EU/EEA.

Interactive map of countries in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)

Please select a country

Austria

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1995

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Belgium

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Bulgaria

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2007

Cyprus

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2008

Czech Republic

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004

Germany

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Denmark

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 1973

Estonia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2011

Spain

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1986

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Finland

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1995

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

France

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Greece

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1981

Euro since 2001 (cash since 2002)

Croatia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2013

Euro since 2023

Hungary

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004

Ireland

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1973

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Italy

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Lithuania

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2015

Luxembourg

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Latvia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2014

Monaco

Non-EU country

Malta

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2008

The Netherlands

EU member using the euro

EU founding member in 1957

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Poland

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2004

Portugal

EU member using the euro

EU member since 1986

Euro since 1999 (cash since 2002)

Romania

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 2007

Sweden

EU member not using the euro

EU member since 1995

Slovenia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2007

Slovakia

EU member using the euro

EU member since 2004

Euro since 2009

San Marino

Non-EU country

The legal framework for SEPA is primarily based on the following EU Directives and Regulations.

Payment Services Directive (PSD) 

Establish a comprehensive set of rules applicable to all electronic payment services, promote innovation and competition in retail payments, enhance the security of payment transactions, and improve the protection of consumer data.

Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2)

Applies to payments in EU/European Economic Area (EEA) currencies between payment service providers based in the EU/EEA.
In some cases, it also applies to payments in non-EU/EEA currencies (e.g. US dollar or pound sterling) and to payment service providers based outside the EU/EEA.

Cross-Border Payments Regulation

Ensures that cross-border payments in euro in the EU/EEA are no more expensive than domestic transactions in euro or in the national currency of a non-euro area Member State. 
The Regulation also makes currency conversion charges more transparent.

SEPA Migration End Date Regulation

Set the deadlines for EU countries to start using SEPA credit transfer, SEPA instant credit transfer and SEPA direct debit schemes.

Interchange Fee Regulation

Harmonises and caps interchange fees for card payments across the EU.

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