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MT103 replaced by ISO 20022 pacs.008: payment proof and UETR tracking

For years buyers proved a wire transfer by sending a copy of the SWIFT MT103. On 22 November 2025 SWIFT ended the coexistence of the old MT messages and ISO 20022 for cross-border payments: the MT103 customer transfer became the ISO 20022 pacs.008. Exporters can still follow a payment, now best by its UETR reference.

Checked against official sources: 2026-10

At a glance

Cut-over22 November 2025: SWIFT ended the MT and ISO 20022 coexistence for cross-border payments
MT103Replaced by the ISO 20022 message pacs.008 (customer credit transfer)
MT202Bank-to-bank transfers moved to pacs.009, including the cover version
UETRA 36-character unique end-to-end transaction reference in UUID format, mandatory on SWIFT payments since November 2018
TrackingWith SWIFT gpi each bank in the chain reports the payment's status against the same UETR
SpeedSWIFT gpi moves the large majority of cross-border payments to the beneficiary bank within an hour
AddressesSince November 2025 a payment needs at least town and country of payer and payee in structured form; fully unstructured addresses are being phased out by November 2026
Remittance dataRicher data such as invoice numbers can travel with the payment

What changed for exporters

Until November 2025 a cross-border customer transfer was an MT103, and buyers often emailed a copy as proof of payment. Since 22 November 2025 SWIFT payments travel as ISO 20022 messages: the customer transfer is the pacs.008 and bank-to-bank transfers use pacs.009. Banks no longer exchange MT103s for these payments, so a buyer's bank gives a payment confirmation from its own system instead, and the most useful detail on it is the UETR.

How to check that a payment is on its way

Give complete bank and address details

ISO 20022 messages carry structured data. Since November 2025 a cross-border payment must include at least the town and country of the payer and the payee in structured form, and fully unstructured addresses are being phased out by November 2026. Exporters should therefore show their full legal name, street, town, postal code and country, together with the bank's SWIFT/BIC and account number or IBAN, on proforma invoices and payment instructions, so buyers' banks can build the payment without queries.

Step by step

  1. Update your proforma invoice and bank details with your full structured address: street, town, postal code and country.
  2. Ask buyers for the UETR after they pay, instead of an MT103 copy.
  3. Track the payment through your bank using the UETR.
  4. Ask buyers to quote your invoice number in the payment details.
  5. Release goods or documents only when the money is credited, if your terms require payment first.
  6. Keep the bank's credit advice with your export records.

Documents you usually need

Common problems and how to avoid them

A buyer says it cannot send an MT103 copy.

What to do: Since 22 November 2025 cross-border payments use the ISO 20022 pacs.008; ask for the payment confirmation and its UETR instead.

A payment has not arrived after several days.

What to do: Ask the buyer for the UETR and have your bank trace it through SWIFT gpi, where each bank reports the status.

A payment is returned because of address data.

What to do: Give your full structured address with at least town and country, and the correct SWIFT/BIC and account number.

A buyer sends a payment copy and asks you to ship at once.

What to do: A copy is not money in your account; check the credit with your bank before shipping on advance-payment terms.

Sources

  1. The end of MT103: what SWIFT's ISO 20022 switchover means for your payments (July 2026) BankPulse
  2. ISO 20022 Swift CBPR+ update (1 September 2026) ING Wholesale Banking
  3. Swift's ISO 20022 cutover: the end of MT (21 November 2025) Payment Expert

Rules change often. This note is practical guidance based on the sources above, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the authority, your importer or a licensed customs broker before you ship.

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Trade notes

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Common questions

Is MT103 still used?

Not for SWIFT cross-border customer payments: since 22 November 2025 they use the ISO 20022 pacs.008.

What replaced MT103?

The ISO 20022 pacs.008 customer credit transfer; bank-to-bank MT202 transfers moved to pacs.009.

What is a UETR?

A unique end-to-end transaction reference of 36 characters in UUID format, carried by every SWIFT payment since November 2018 and used to track it.

How can I track an international payment?

Give the UETR to your bank; with SWIFT gpi each bank in the chain reports the payment status against it.

What address do I need to give buyers?

A complete structured address with at least town and country, as unstructured addresses are being phased out by November 2026.

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