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The short answer
Use the reference your provider gave you: the 10-digit MTCN for Western Union, the reference number plus your last name for MoneyGram, the transfer ID in an app, or the bank reference and UETR for a bonifico. Check the status on the provider's own site or app; Western Union says statuses usually update within two hours and to query a transfer still In progress after 48 hours.
Every transfer from Italy to Nigeria gets a reference the moment you pay. With Western Union it is the MTCN, with MoneyGram a reference number, with apps a transfer ID, and with a bank bonifico the SWIFT reference and, increasingly, a UETR. Knowing which one you have, and what each status means, is how you find out where the money is without waiting on hold.
Which reference you have
| Route | Reference | Where to find it | How to track |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Union | MTCN, a unique 10-digit number | Receipt or History page | Track a transfer page with the MTCN, or without it by sender phone number or sender and receiver names plus date |
| MoneyGram | Reference number | Receipt or email | Tracking page with the reference number and the sender's last name |
| App (Wise, Taptap Send and others) | Transfer ID in the app | Activity or transfer screen | Status in the app; transfer receipt PDF for the recipient's bank |
| Bank bonifico (SWIFT) | Bank reference; UETR on newer messages | Payment confirmation from your bank | Ask your bank to trace using the UETR |
The Western Union details come from its UK tracking FAQ, which also says to share the MTCN only with the receiver or a Western Union representative. The Italian site may word things differently; the MTCN works the same way.
What the statuses mean
Western Union
Western Union's tracking FAQ lists In progress, Available (ready for the receiver, who needs government ID and the MTCN), Received, Paid (to a wallet or bank), Delivered (to a bank), On hold ("verifying a few things"), Cancelled and Refunded. It says statuses are typically updated within two hours, and asks you to send a query if a transfer stays In progress for more than 48 hours.
MoneyGram
MoneyGram's tracking page uses Pending or Processing, Ready for pickup, Deposited to a bank account or debit card, On hold with action needed, Cancelled or Declined, Failed or Refunded, and Complete. It names verification checks, payment method review, incorrect recipient details and local banking schedules as causes of delay, and says to check your email for identity verification or proof-of-funds requests.
Apps
Taptap Send's help page (September 2026) describes In-progress, Processing (checks complete, funds sent to its local partner), Delivered, Failed and Cancelled. It warns that for bank payouts "Delivered" can appear before the recipient's bank has finished processing, and to allow up to two additional business days. Wise explains that "Your money's being processed" means it is still waiting for your payment, and that "Transfer Sent" means the money has gone to the recipient's bank and can take a few working days; it suggests giving the recipient the transfer receipt PDF to trace with their bank.
If the status page and the recipient disagree, believe neither blindly. A status reflects what the provider knows; the recipient's statement reflects what their bank has posted. The gap between the two is usually timing, and the reference is what lets both sides find the same payment.
Tracking a bank bonifico
A bonifico extra-SEPA has no public tracking page. Your Italian bank can trace it through SWIFT. Since November 2025 cross-border payments on SWIFT move to ISO 20022 messages (pacs.008, replacing the MT103, according to eco.com's support notes), and confirmations can show the charge bearer and the UETR, a unique end-to-end reference. Ask your bank for it and send it to the recipient so their Nigerian bank can look for the credit. More on this in delayed transfers from Italy to Nigeria.
Steps when a transfer seems stuck
- Find the reference and check the status on the provider's own site or app, not a third-party tracker.
- If it is On hold or asks for action, check your email and the app for document requests. Most holds are released once you reply.
- If it shows Delivered or Deposited but the recipient sees nothing, allow the extra business day or two that providers mention, especially over a weekend or a Nigerian public holiday, then ask the recipient to give the reference to their bank.
- If it stays In progress beyond the provider's stated window (48 hours for Western Union), contact customer service with the reference.
- Keep the receipt. It is your evidence if you later need a refund or a complaint.
For collection in Nigeria, see collecting with an MTCN in Nigeria; for costs, Western Union fees from Italy.
Where Pryme fits
Transfers sent from a Pryme account show their status in the app, and you can generate a receipt for the payment; a verifiable receipt, made with VerifyDoc.ai, lets the recipient's bank or anyone else check it is genuine and unaltered. See receipts. Outside Nigeria, Pryme works through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
How do I track a Western Union transfer from Italy to Nigeria?
Use the 10-digit MTCN on your receipt on Western Union's tracking page. Without it, Western Union lets you search by sender phone number or by sender and receiver names and the date.
What does On hold mean on my transfer?
The provider is checking something, often your identity or the payment. Look for an email or in-app request and reply; the transfer moves once checks are complete.
My transfer says Delivered but the money is not in the account. Why?
Some providers mark a bank payout Delivered before the Nigerian bank finishes processing. Taptap Send, for one, says to allow up to two more business days.
Can I track a bonifico to Nigeria?
Ask your Italian bank to trace it through SWIFT using the payment's reference or UETR, and give that reference to the recipient's bank.
Sources
- Western Union UK: FAQ, track your transfer · accessed Oct 2026
- MoneyGram: How to track a MoneyGram transfer · accessed Oct 2026
- Taptap Send Help: What happens to my transfer after I send it? (updated 17 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Wise Help: How can I check the status of my transfer? · accessed Oct 2026
- eco.com Support: What is an MT103? Swift wire confirmations and the move to pacs.008 · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.