IC Markets
A withdrawal that shows as "pending" is not the same as a withdrawal that is stuck. Almost every broker runs a manual or semi-manual approval on payouts, so a pending status for a day or two is routine. The question is how long is too long, and what each stage of the process actually involves. This guide walks through the timeline so you know when to wait and when to act.
The two stages of every withdrawal
A withdrawal moves through two separate steps, and "pending" can mean either one.
- Broker approval. The broker checks your identity is verified, that you are withdrawing to the method you deposited from, and that no compliance flag is open. This is where the time varies, from a few hours at a well-run broker to several working days.
- Payment processing. Once approved, the money leaves the broker and travels through a card network, an e-wallet, or the banking system. Card refunds can take three to five working days to appear, bank transfers one to three, and e-wallets minutes to hours.
| Method | After broker approval | Total typical time |
|---|---|---|
| E-wallet (Skrill, Neteller) | Minutes to hours | Same day to 1 day |
| Local bank transfer | 1 to 2 working days | 1 to 3 working days |
| Card refund | 3 to 5 working days | 3 to 6 working days |
| International bank wire | 1 to 4 working days | 2 to 6 working days |
Normal reasons for a pending status
- Manual approval queue. Many brokers batch payouts once or twice a business day. A request made at 6pm is processed the next morning.
- Weekend or public holiday. Approvals and bank settlement both pause. A Friday-evening request often completes the following week.
- First withdrawal. Some brokers review a first payout more closely, especially if it is large relative to the deposit.
- KYC not fully cleared. If your proof of identity or address is still under review, the withdrawal waits for it.
- Return-to-source rule. Anti-money-laundering rules mean the broker refunds your deposit method first, up to the amount deposited, before paying any profit to a different method.
When to contact the broker
Contact support when the pending status passes the broker's own stated processing time, which is usually in its withdrawal policy or FAQ. Give it one full business day beyond that first, because published times assume no weekend and no verification gap. When you do write in, include your withdrawal reference, the date and time you requested it, the amount, and the method. Ask for a specific completion date rather than a general reassurance.
Farah requested a withdrawal on Saturday afternoon and worried when nothing moved by Sunday night. It was approved Monday at 9am and reached her bank Tuesday, about one working day after approval. Her second withdrawal, requested on a Wednesday morning with verification already complete, was in her account the next day. Nothing had gone wrong; the weekend and the first-payout review were the whole delay.
Warning signs that it is not just processing
- Support asks for a new document each time you respond, and verification is never quite complete.
- The published processing time has passed by several days with no clear answer.
- You are told to deposit more, pay a "release fee", or pay "tax" before the withdrawal can be released.
- The broker is not on any regulator's register, or its licence status has recently changed.
- The rules you are quoted change between one withdrawal and the next.
No legitimate broker ever asks you to pay a fee, a tax, or an extra deposit to release your own withdrawal. That request is a definitive sign of a scam, and paying it only deepens the loss. Stop sending money and gather your records.
How to keep future withdrawals fast
- Complete every verification document when you open the account, not when you want to withdraw.
- Do one small test withdrawal in your first week, so the first-payout review is out of the way while the stakes are tiny.
- Withdraw to the same method you deposited from where possible.
- Request payouts early on a weekday, not on a Friday evening.
- Avoid deposit bonuses, which usually lock withdrawals behind a trading-volume condition.
The honest answer to "why is my withdrawal pending" is usually boring: a manual queue, a weekend, or a KYC document that has not cleared. Those resolve in a day or two. The version that does not resolve is a broker that keeps moving the goalposts or asks you to pay to get paid. Test the withdrawal process while your balance is small, and use a regulated broker, so you are dealing with the boring version.
Frequently asked
How long should a forex withdrawal take?
At a well-run broker, one to two working days in total for an e-wallet or bank transfer: a few hours to a day for the broker to approve, then the payment rail's own time. Card refunds can take three to six working days because of how card networks process refunds.
Why is my withdrawal still pending after three days?
Check whether a weekend or holiday fell in that window, whether your identity verification is fully cleared, and whether you are withdrawing to your deposit method. If none of those apply and the broker's stated processing time has passed, contact support with your withdrawal reference and ask for a completion date.
Does a pending withdrawal mean my money is safe?
A pending status alone is normal and does not indicate a problem. What matters is whether the broker is regulated, whether it processes the payout within its stated time, and whether it ever asks you to pay a fee to release funds, which is always a scam.
Can I cancel a pending withdrawal?
Usually yes, while it is still pending and not yet approved, from the withdrawal or transaction history section of your account. Once it has been approved and sent to the payment processor it cannot be recalled.
Why do card withdrawals take longer?
A card withdrawal is processed as a refund to your original card, and card networks and issuing banks typically take three to five working days to post a refund, regardless of how quickly the broker approved it.