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The short answer
Wise holds a transfer when it needs extra information to meet regulations, and it tells you by email what it needs. Reply quickly: Wise's help centre says that if it does not hear back within 2 working days it has to cancel and refund the transfer, though one not yet refunded can often be resumed once you answer. Typical requests are a clear photo ID, a statement for the account you paid from, or an explanation of the money's source and purpose.
What a verification hold means
Wise's Australia-to-Nigeria page, as read in October 2026, says AUD to NGN transfers are available and that many arrive within seconds. A hold breaks that pattern, and it is usually the reason a transfer that normally lands in minutes is sitting for hours. Wise's status help is direct about it: "Sometimes we need extra information to meet regulations. If we do, we'll send you an email explaining what we need."
A hold is a pause, not a decision. It is how a regulated money transfer business meets its anti-money laundering duties, and it can happen on a first transfer, a larger-than-usual amount, a new recipient, or a payment from an account that is not obviously yours.
What tends to trigger a hold
Wise does not publish its triggers, and no provider does, because a published list would help people get round it. From the situations its own help pages describe, these are the patterns worth knowing about:
- Paying from a bank account whose name does not clearly match your Wise profile, or from a joint account.
- Recipient details Wise thinks may be wrong, which it treats under the same 2-working-day rule.
- A first transfer, or a transfer much larger than your usual pattern.
- Details on your profile that are out of date, such as an expired ID or an old address.
None of these means you have done anything wrong. Keeping your profile current and paying from an account in your own name removes the most common causes before they arise.
The 2-working-day window
Wise's article on cancelled transfers sets the clock. If it asks for information and does not hear back within 2 working days, it cancels and refunds the transfer. The same article says that if your transfer has not been refunded yet, it can often be resumed once Wise has what it needs. It applies the same 2-working-day rule when it finds a problem with the recipient's details.
- Check the email address on your Wise account, including spam and promotions folders.
- Open the request in the Wise app or website and answer there.
- If you miss the window and the money is refunded, set up a new transfer once you have answered.
What Wise may ask for
Wise does not publish a single list for held transfers, so what follows separates what its help pages say from what is common practice.
Identity
Wise's documents article accepts a passport photo page, a photo driving licence (it says electronic driving licences are not accepted) and a national ID card photographed on both sides. A Nigerian international passport photo page will do if it is in date. Make sure the photo is sharp, all four corners are visible and the name matches your Wise account.
The account you paid from
Wise's joint account article says you can send from a joint bank account if you are one of the holders, and that if your bank does not pass the account names to Wise, the transfer is paused until Wise approves a statement showing both holders' first and last names, the account number and the bank's name. The same logic applies when the paying account's name does not obviously match yours.
Source of funds and purpose
For larger sums, providers commonly ask where the money came from and what it is for. Useful evidence is a recent payslip, bank statements showing savings building up, or a sale agreement, together with a document from Nigeria such as a school fee invoice or a building quotation. Keep the stated purpose consistent with what you selected when setting up the transfer.
Answering well
- Read the request and send only what is asked, in the format asked.
- Use full, uncropped documents; a statement should show your name, the account number and the bank's name.
- Explain briefly and plainly, for example "monthly support for my mother in Ibadan".
- If you cannot provide something, say so and offer an alternative.
- Note the date and time you replied.
If it is cancelled anyway
Wise's article says it cannot process transfers that go against its Customer Agreement and may close the account in that case. A recipient's bank can also reject a payment even when everything is correct, in which case the money returns to Wise and the recipient should contact their bank. If you think a decision is wrong, complain to Wise in writing; the steps after that are in complaining to AFCA. For general delays, see transfer from Australia delayed, and for the Wise route as a whole, sending AUD to Nigeria with Wise.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme also verifies customers, as any regulated service must. When you send from a Pryme account, the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve, and account security uses an authenticator app rather than SMS codes.
Questions people ask
How long does Wise verification take?
Wise does not give a fixed time for reviews. It does say that if it asks for information and does not hear back within 2 working days, it cancels and refunds the transfer, so answer quickly.
Can I use my Nigerian passport to verify on Wise?
Wise accepts a passport photo page. An in-date Nigerian passport photo page should work if the name matches your account.
Why does Wise want my bank statement?
Its joint account help says a transfer is paused until it approves a statement when your bank does not pass account names. Statements are also commonly used to show source of funds.
My Wise transfer was cancelled. Can I restart it?
Wise says a transfer not yet refunded can often be resumed once it has the information. If the money has been refunded, set up a new transfer.
Sources
- Wise Help: How can I check the status of my transfer? · accessed Oct 2026
- Wise Help: Why was my transfer cancelled? · accessed Oct 2026
- Wise Help: What documents can I use to verify my identity? · accessed Oct 2026
- Wise Help: Can I send from a joint bank account? · accessed Oct 2026
- Wise: Send money from Australia 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.