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 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
SEPA legal framework
The legal framework for SEPA is primarily based on the following EU Directives and Regulations.
- Payment Services Directive (PSD)
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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)
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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
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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
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Set the deadlines for EU countries to start using SEPA credit transfer, SEPA instant credit transfer and SEPA direct debit schemes.
- Interchange Fee Regulation
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Harmonises and caps interchange fees for card payments across the EU.