International payments in French Overseas Territories: the complete guide for businesses in the DOM-TOMs

Overseas territories: an identical banking framework to mainland France

Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, La Réunion, and Mayotte are overseas departments and regions (DROM). They are part of the European Union as outermost regions, use the Euro, and belong to the SEPA zone. This is also the case for Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, and Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon, as recalled by the National SEPA Committee during the 2014 migration.

Concretely, for a company established in these territories:

• a transfer in euros to mainland France or another European country is a SEPA transfer, with the same processing times as between Paris and Lyon;

• bank accounts have a French IBAN, starting with FR;

• know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering obligations are the same as in mainland France;

• payment service providers licensed in France can support an overseas business just like a mainland company.

Central banking duties there are carried out by the IEDOM, acting on behalf of the Banque de France.

The special case of the Pacific: the CFP franc

New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna operate differently. Their currency is the CFP franc (XPF), issued by the IEOM, with a fixed exchange rate: 1,000 CFP F is worth €8.38. These collectivities are part of the French Republic, but they are neither in the European Union nor in the SEPA zone.

Since 1 February 2014, however, the SEPA COM Pacific scheme has allowed the exchange of credit transfers and direct debits in euros in SEPA format between mainland France, the DROMs, and these three collectivities. Transactions in CFP francs remain in national format, and any payment to a third country remains an international payment.

For a Pacific company, the fixed rate eliminates exchange rate risk against the euro. On the other hand, purchases settled in Australian, New Zealand, or US dollars go through the SWIFT network, with the same cost and rate challenges as anywhere else. Dedicated guides for New Caledonia and French Polynesia are currently in preparation.

Why overseas companies pay so much internationally

The economy of overseas territories relies heavily on imports. In La Réunion, they reached approximately 7.1 billion euros in 2024: 60% come from mainland France, but Asia already represents 20% of purchases, according to the Insee economic review. In Guadeloupe, North America accounted for 13% of imports in 2021 according to the IEDOM. In French Guiana, Brazil and Suriname are among the regional suppliers; in Mayotte, South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.

Every order placed outside the Eurozone results in a payment in foreign currency, and therefore a conversion.

The 4 most common obstacles

1. The exchange rate margin

This is the least visible cost and often the heaviest. The rate applied to the conversion includes a margin over the interbank rate, which is rarely announced in advance. On €500,000 of annual payments in foreign currencies, a one percent margin represents €5,000 per year.

2. SWIFT fees and intermediary banks

A payment outside the Eurozone transits through the SWIFT network and sometimes through several correspondent banks, each of which charges its commission. To understand these circuits: SWIFT, SWIFT GPI, SEPA: what difference does it make for your transfers?

3. The time difference

When it is 9 a.m. in Fort-de-France, it is already 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. in Paris. Conversely, La Réunion is two to three hours ahead of mainland France. Bank processing cut-off times, combined with teams sometimes based in the mainland, can delay a payment by a full day.

4. Exchange rate risk over long periods

Between the order and the payment of the balance, sea freight to the islands often takes several weeks. During this time, the currency can fluctuate. A currency hedge, such as a forward contract, allows you to lock in the rate as soon as you order.

The IEDOM banking fee observatories, dedicated to individuals, still reported in April 2026 fees higher than in mainland France for 9 out of 14 services. Professional rates are not measured there, but the finding encourages comparison.

Overseas and mainland: no reason to pay more

Same currency, same SEPA zone, same regulatory framework, same compliance obligations: a company in Saint-Denis, Pointe-à-Pitre, or Cayenne has access to the same international payment solutions as an SME in mainland France. For a digital payment, distance does not justify a less favourable rate.

A few tips to ensure this:

• Ask for the rate before each transaction and compare it to the current interbank rate.

• Check the fixed fees and the chosen fee option (SHA, OUR, or BEN) on SWIFT transfers.

• Group payments to the same supplier to limit fixed fees.

• Compare a payment in euros and a payment in the supplier's currency: the conversion made by their bank is often reflected in the price.

• Check the authorisation of any provider on the ORIAS register.

Our guides by territory

• International payments in La Réunion: Mauritius, Madagascar, South Africa, and Asia.

• International payments in Martinique: United States, Brazil, and Caribbean.

• International payments in Guadeloupe: North America, Caribbean, and Asia.

• International payments in French Guiana: Brazil, Suriname, and the Guianas shield.

• International payments in Mayotte: Madagascar, Comoros, and Southern Africa.

How OSolto supports overseas businesses

OSolto is an independent payment services broker, registered with ORIAS under no. 26004337. We do not replace your bank: we compare solutions for you from authorised partner specialists in B2B foreign exchange, and we support you with a single point of contact, regardless of your territory.

• negotiated exchange conditions announced before each transaction;

• multi-currency accounts to receive and pay without systematic conversion;

• currency hedging to secure your orders in advance;

• remote communications, taking into account your time zone.

For Pacific collectivities, support is studied on a case-by-case basis, depending on our partners' capabilities.

Do you settle suppliers outside the Eurozone from overseas? Get a free analysis of your currency exchange costs, with no obligation. → Book an appointment

FAQ

Are the overseas departments part of the SEPA zone?

Yes. Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, La Réunion, and Mayotte are part of the SEPA zone, as are Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, and Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon. A transfer in euros to mainland France or Europe is a standard SEPA transfer.

Is a transfer between La Réunion and the mainland an international transfer?

No. Between two euro accounts located in France, including overseas, it is a SEPA transfer, just like a transfer between two cities in mainland France.

Can an overseas company pay its foreign suppliers under the same conditions as in mainland France?

Nothing in the regulatory framework prevents it: same currency, same rules, same authorised providers. The conditions obtained mainly depend on the volume, regularity of flows, and the chosen provider.

Does the CFP franc present an exchange rate risk?

Not against the euro, thanks to the fixed exchange rate of 1,000 CFP F to €8.38. However, the risk exists for payments in Australian, New Zealand, or US dollars.

How to verify that a payment provider is authorised?

By consulting the ACPR's REGAFI register for authorised institutions, and the ORIAS register for intermediaries like OSolto.