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The short answer
Use the reference your provider gave you: with Western Union it is the 10-digit MTCN, found on the receipt, confirmation email or the app's History page, which you enter on its Track a Transfer page. App-based providers show status in the transaction history. Western Union says status usually updates within 2 hours and to send a query if a transfer shows In Progress for more than 48 hours.
The reference you need, by type of transfer
Every transfer has an identifier, but it is called different things depending on how you sent it. Find yours before you call anyone, because support teams will ask for it first.
| How you sent | Reference to look for | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Western Union, online, app or agent | MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number), 10 digits | Receipt, confirmation screen or email, app History |
| Remittance app (Taptap Send, WorldRemit, Wise and others) | Transaction or transfer ID in the app | Transfer details in your activity or history |
| UK bank international payment | The bank's payment reference | Online banking payment details or statement |
| Once credited in Nigeria | Session ID for the local NIP credit | From the provider or the receiving bank |
Western Union's own blog explains that MTCN stands for Money Transfer Control Number, that the receiver needs it to collect cash along with valid identification, and that "you should only share your MTCN with your intended receiver". Treat it like a PIN: anyone with the number and a false ID could try to collect a cash transfer.
Tracking a Western Union transfer step by step
- Open Track a Transfer on the Western Union UK site or app.
- Enter the 10-digit MTCN.
- If you have lost it, choose "Don't know the MTCN?" and enter the sender's phone number, or the sender's and receiver's names.
- Enter the date of the transfer and continue.
- Read the status, then match it against the table below.
What each status means
- In progress
- Processed and on its way.
- Available
- Ready for cash pickup.
- Received
- Picked up by the receiver at an agent.
- Paid
- Credited to the receiver's mobile wallet or bank account.
- Delivered
- Credited to the receiver's bank account.
- On hold
- Taking longer because Western Union is verifying something, such as your identity, or your bank is reviewing the payment.
- Cancelled
- Stopped; Western Union says the money is usually refunded within 7 business days.
- Refunded
- Returned to your original form of payment.
Western Union says statuses are typically updated within 2 hours and that delivery typically takes up to 1 to 2 business days after the transfer is processed, varying by country and amount. Those are its own statements on its UK FAQ page, which carries no date, so treat them as a guide.
Tracking in remittance apps
App-based providers show progress inside the app rather than on a public tracking page. Look in the transfer's detail screen, which normally shows the stage reached and any action needed from you, such as answering a verification question. Providers publish their own speed claims for Nigeria: Taptap Send says 95% of its transfers are delivered in under 3 minutes, and Wise says 77% of its transfers arrive in under 20 seconds and 95% in less than a day, noting that this varies by route. WorldRemit says bank transfers can take up to an hour. These are averages; your transfer can be slower if it is checked.
For what usually causes delays, see how long a UK to Nigeria transfer takes.
When the tracker says paid but the money is not there
A "paid" or "delivered" status means the provider's partner in Nigeria has sent the naira to the recipient's bank or wallet. If the recipient cannot see it, the next reference is the session ID of the local credit, which the receiving bank can search. Ask the provider for it, then give it to the recipient. What a NIP session ID is explains how banks use it, and when the Nigerian bank has not credited a transfer covers the escalation.
When to chase
- Status On hold: open the app or email and answer any request; Western Union says you may contact it with the MTCN to avoid further delay.
- In Progress for more than 48 hours with Western Union: send a query, as its FAQ advises.
- App transfer past the time the app estimated: use in-app support with the transaction ID.
- Pending for days: see transfer pending for days.
Where Pryme fits
When you send with Pryme's Send, the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners. Each payment can have a regular or verifiable receipt (receipts), useful when a recipient's bank asks for proof of payment.
Questions people ask
How many digits is a Western Union MTCN?
Ten. It is on your receipt, the confirmation email or screen, and in the History page of the app or website.
Can I track a Western Union transfer without the MTCN?
Yes. On the tracking page choose 'Don't know the MTCN?' and enter the sender's phone number or the sender's and receiver's names, plus the date of the transfer.
Is it safe to send the MTCN to my relative on WhatsApp?
Western Union says to share the MTCN only with your intended receiver. Send it to them directly and never post it in a group or to someone who contacted you first.
My transfer shows delivered but my mum has not got it. What next?
Ask the provider for the payout reference or session ID of the Nigerian credit and give it to her bank, which can trace the incoming payment with it.
Sources
- Western Union UK: Track your transfer FAQ · accessed Oct 2026
- Western Union: What is an MTCN number? (16 Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Taptap Send: Send money to Nigeria · accessed Oct 2026
- Wise: Send money to Nigeria · accessed Oct 2026
- WorldRemit: Send money to Nigeria · 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.