IC Markets
A withdrawal has two stages: the broker approving it, and the money moving. Brokers advertise the second stage and stay quiet about the first, which is where most of the wait is. Here is what the whole process typically looks like from Asia, method by method.
The two stages
- Broker processing: the request sits in a queue, gets a compliance check, and is approved. This is anywhere from a few hours to several business days, and it is the part that varies most between brokers.
- Transit: once approved, the money moves. Local bank transfer and e-wallets are fast here; card refunds and international wires are slow.
Typical end-to-end times
| Method | Broker processing | Transit | Total (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local bank transfer (SE Asia) | Few hours–1 day | Same day–1 day | Same day–2 days |
| E-wallet (GCash, Touch 'n Go, Momo) | Few hours–1 day | Minutes–hours | Same day–1 day |
| FPX / online banking (Malaysia) | Few hours–1 day | Same day | 1 day |
| Easypaisa / JazzCash (Pakistan) | 1–7 days | Hours | Often a week+ |
| USDT | Few hours–2 days | Minutes | Same day–2 days |
| Card refund | 1–5 days | 3–10 days | 1–3 weeks |
| International bank wire | 1–3 days | 2–5 days | 1–2 weeks |
The pattern: if you deposited by a fast local method and withdraw the same way, you are usually looking at same-day to two days once approved. If you deposited by card, the refund route is slow no matter what the broker does. Pakistan is the regional outlier on the slow side, driven by payment-partner verification rather than the broker itself, and traders there should size their account balance with the wait in mind.
One more thing the table hides: these are the times for a well-run broker with your paperwork in order. Add a rejected KYC document, a bonus condition, or a first-withdrawal review and any row can double. The times are a baseline to measure your broker against, not a promise.
Nok withdrew THB 1,000 from an FCA broker to her Thai bank. The request was approved the same evening and the money arrived the next morning, about 14 hours end to end. A friend of hers on the same broker withdrew to a card he had used to deposit; his refund took 11 days. Same broker, same day, completely different experience because of the method.
Why the broker approval step exists
The wait that frustrates people most is the one before the money moves at all: the request sitting "pending" while nothing visible happens. That step is the broker confirming three things. First, that the withdrawal is going back to a verified method in your own name. Second, that you have no open bonus with an unmet trading-volume condition attached to the funds. Third, for larger amounts, that nothing about the pattern looks like layering money through a trading account. A well-run broker does this in hours; a slow one lets it sit for days; a scam one uses it as cover to invent new conditions.
This is why a small test withdrawal in your first week is worth so much. It shows you the broker's real approval speed at a point when you have almost nothing at stake, and it forces you to complete any verification the broker will otherwise spring on you later. If the test takes five business days with no explanation, you have learned that for the price of a minimum deposit rather than your whole balance.
What makes a withdrawal slower than the table
- Withdrawing to a different method than you deposited with, which triggers extra checks.
- Incomplete identity verification, which stalls the request until you finish it.
- A deposit bonus with an unmet trading-volume condition.
- First withdrawal on a new account, which often gets a closer look.
- Weekends and public holidays in the broker's jurisdiction.
- Large amounts relative to your history, which may get an anti-money-laundering review.
Test the round trip on day one with the minimum. It tells you the broker's real processing speed before you have meaningful money in the account, and it flushes out any verification you still need to complete.
| Fastest realistic | Same day (local transfer or e-wallet, same method) |
|---|---|
| Usual | 1–2 business days once approved |
| Slowest common | Card refund, 1–3 weeks |
| Regional outlier | Pakistan mobile money, often a week+ |
| The variable part | Broker approval, not the bank |
A broker that cannot process a small first withdrawal within a few business days, with no clear reason, is telling you something. Do not scale the account up until that round trip works.
Frequently asked
How long does a forex withdrawal take?
Once the broker approves it, a local bank transfer or e-wallet in Southeast Asia is usually same-day to two days. Card refunds take one to three weeks. Pakistan mobile money often takes a week or more due to payment-partner verification.
Why is my forex withdrawal taking so long?
The usual causes are withdrawing to a different method than you deposited with, unfinished identity verification, an unmet bonus condition, a first-withdrawal review, or a weekend in the broker's country.
Is a slow first withdrawal a scam sign?
Not always, but it is a warning. Legitimate brokers process small first withdrawals within a few business days. If yours stalls with no clear explanation, do not add more money.
Can I speed up a withdrawal?
Complete all identity verification before you request it, withdraw to the exact method and account you deposited from, avoid bonuses, and request on a weekday. Beyond that, the broker's queue is the broker's queue.
Why do card refunds take so long?
A withdrawal to a card is processed as a refund to the original transaction, which runs through the card networks and your issuing bank. That adds days on top of the broker's own processing.
Does a bigger withdrawal take longer than a small one?
Often, yes. Amounts that are large relative to your account history can trigger an anti-money-laundering review, which adds a step. Steady, consistent withdrawals clear faster than a sudden large one after months of tiny ones.
Should I withdraw profits regularly or let them build up?
Withdrawing profit regularly is safer, especially with an offshore broker. It keeps the trapped amount small if a payment channel closes or the broker has problems, and a predictable monthly withdrawal draws less scrutiny than an irregular large one.