How long does FTMO take to pay out?
Short answer
A FTMO payout takes same day to 48 hours after approval from approval to money received. The first withdrawal becomes eligible around 14 days after your account is funded, and the cycle after that is bi-weekly on demand. Plan for the full chain — eligibility window, request, internal approval, then processor time — rather than just the number the firm advertises.
First payout eligible
~14 days after funding
Cycle
Bi-weekly on demand
Processing
Same day to 48 hours after approval
Minimum
$100
The four stages of a FTMO withdrawal
Traders almost always quote one number — the processor time — and then get frustrated when the money is a week later than expected. There are four stages, and only the last one is the one the firm advertises.
Stage one is eligibility: on FTMO that is roughly 14 days of funded activity before your first request can be made. Stage two is the request window — bi-weekly on demand — which means a request submitted just after a window closes waits for the next one. Stage three is internal review, where the firm checks your trades against the rulebook, and where KYC is completed if you have not done it yet. Stage four is the processor: same day to 48 hours after approval via Bank wire, Deel / Rise, Crypto (USDT/USDC).
- Eligibility: ~14 days of funded trading
- Request window: Bi-weekly on demand
- Internal review: same day to 72 hours, longer if KYC is incomplete
- Processor: same day to 48 hours after approval
Payout methods and what each one costs you
Method choice changes the real timing more than most traders expect. Crypto rails settle in minutes once approved but expose you to conversion spread; bank wire is predictable but adds a banking day at each end and often an intermediary fee; contractor rails like Deel or Rise sit in between and handle the tax paperwork for you.
The minimum withdrawal on FTMO is $100. Request just above the minimum on your first cycle — a small first payout is the cheapest way to test that KYC, the processor and your bank all actually work before a large balance depends on it.
- Bank wire
- Deel / Rise
- Crypto (USDT/USDC)
What delays a FTMO payout
Delays are almost never the processor. They are review triggers: an incomplete KYC file, a name mismatch between your trading account and your bank, a consistency-rule check, or a trade the firm wants to look at manually.
Two rule mechanics on FTMO generate most manual reviews: news trading is conditionally allowed (Allowed on the evaluation. On funded accounts the restriction applies to the two minutes either side of high-impact releases for swing-restricted account types.) and the consistency requirement is absent, which removes one common hold.
- Standard KYC required before the first withdrawal
How FTMO compares on speed
Across the 22+ firms we track, first-payout eligibility ranges from same-week to 30 days, and processing from same-day to five business days. FTMO sits mid-pack on eligibility. Speed alone is a weak signal, though — a firm that pays in 24 hours but reinterprets rules is worse than one that pays in five days on a stable rulebook.
FAQ
How long does the first FTMO payout take?
Roughly 14 days of funded trading before you are eligible, then same day to 48 hours after approval once approved. Complete KYC before you request it — that is the most common cause of a first-payout delay.
How often can I withdraw from FTMO?
Bi-weekly on demand. Requests made after a window closes roll into the next cycle.
What is the minimum FTMO withdrawal?
$100. Requesting a small first payout is the cheapest way to test the whole chain.
Can FTMO refuse a payout?
A firm can withhold a payout where it believes the rulebook was breached — most often consistency rules, prohibited news trading, or copy-trading between accounts. If you believe a payout was withheld unfairly, file it on our complaint desk and we will put the case to the firm in writing.