Airwallex Canada: SWIFT SHA vs OUR Fees

How do SHA and OUR fees compare?

Airwallex offers two SWIFT charge options in Canada: SHA costs C$20 per payment and OUR costs C$35. These fees were verified on 1 November 2026. The C$15 difference is a provider payment-fee difference, not proof that every beneficiary receives exactly C$15 more under one option.

Charge options describe how charges are handled in the transfer process. Before choosing, confirm Airwallex’s current explanation of the selected option and any intermediary or beneficiary-bank treatment for the destination. The schedule alone does not justify guaranteeing the amount received across every bank and country.

What belongs in the total transfer cost?

Read the final quote rather than estimating the whole transaction from this table. Currency classification, booking choices and route can affect the applicable cost. A payment that uses a balance already in the invoice currency does not have the same conversion step as one funded by converting CAD immediately beforehand.

How much does payment frequency matter?

For ten SWIFT payments at these fees, SHA payment fees total C$200 and OUR payment fees total C$350. The difference is C$150 in these provider fees alone. This arithmetic assumes each payment qualifies for the stated option and excludes FX, quote-validity and third-party charges.

Consolidating payments might reduce the number of fixed fees, but only if it respects supplier agreements, due dates and your approval controls. Do not postpone an invoice solely to save a payment fee without assessing the operational consequences. A lower count of payments is not automatically a better outcome.

When might a local route be worth comparing?

Airwallex charges C$0 for transfers within Canada and the USA via local transfer networks, while international local-transfer fees vary by currency and route. A local route should therefore be checked when both the provider and the recipient support it. The word local does not mean every international payment is free.

Compare eligibility, recipient details, arrival expectations, limits and charge treatment before substituting a route. A supplier requiring SWIFT instructions may not be able to accept the local method available in your account. Use a written comparison of the actual available options rather than promising a route based on a general marketing page.

How do conversion and quote fees affect the choice?

Airwallex charges FX customer margins separately from quote-validity fees. The quote-validity durations have different percentages, so a quote held open for longer can carry a different charge. Verify whether these fees apply to your booking and are included in the price shown before accepting.

Do not add a generic percentage to a remembered exchange rate and present it as today’s delivered amount. The live rate, chosen currency pair, conversion amount and booking terms are all needed. Ask for the total amount debited and expected beneficiary amount in the actual quote, with the charge option clearly identified.

What should accounts payable record?

Record the invoice amount and currency, the selected route, charge option, planned payment date and full quote. Check whether the invoice requires a net amount to reach the supplier or permits charges to be deducted. This commercial obligation determines whether a lower sender fee actually meets the payment requirement.

Keep payment confirmation and any recipient report with the invoice. If a shortfall occurs, identify its source rather than assuming the FX margin caused it. A conversion charge, a fixed payment fee and an intermediary deduction are different events and should remain distinguishable in the cost review.

What is Treasi’s verdict and next step?

Choose SHA or OUR around the invoice obligation and the confirmed charge treatment, not just the C$20-versus-C$35 headline. Airwallex’s schedule provides a useful starting point, but the transaction quote and recipient route determine the practical result.

Read the wider Canadian Airwallex account review for plan and onboarding context, compare FX providers, and use the provider action below to discuss the actual supplier-payment requirements. Your Treasi Score can help assess whether recurring payment costs and currency risks warrant a broader review.