International card transactions generally settle how many days after the transaction date?

International card transactions typically settle about three days after the transaction date due to various factors involved in cross-border payments. When a card transaction occurs internationally, it involves multiple entities including the cardholder's bank, the merchant's bank, and often intermediary banks that facilitate the transaction between different currencies and regulations.

The time taken for these transactions to settle includes currency conversion processes, compliance checks, and the need for various banks to communicate and confirm the transaction details across different time zones. Each of these steps contributes to a longer settlement time compared to domestic transactions, which often settle faster.

Additionally, the international payment networks have specific protocols to follow for ensuring that the funds are adequately verified and that all regulatory requirements are met, which can introduce delays. Therefore, three days is a standard estimate for when the transaction is fully processed and settled, making this option the most accurate among those presented.