Can indians use Wise
Yes, Indians can use Wise to send money abroad, receive international business payments and use a travel card overseas, with all transactions regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
What an Indian resident can do on Wise depends on the direction of the money and the purpose of the transfer.
- Receiving business payments: Freelancers and businesses can open a Wise Business account to collect money from foreign clients in major currencies.
- Conversion to INR: Wise converts incoming foreign currency into Indian Rupees and pays it into a local bank account, usually within 1 to 2 days.
- Compliance record: Recipients get an electronic FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate), which serves as proof for tax and regulatory purposes.
Sending money out of India on Wise follows RBI rules:
- Permitted purposes: Outward transfers are allowed only for reasons approved under the RBI Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), such as education, medical treatment, travel or supporting family.
- Identity checks: Senders verify themselves with an Indian phone number, PAN card, Aadhaar and a video verification step.
Indian residents can also order the Wise travel card for trips abroad:
- Documents needed: Travel proof such as a passport, flight ticket and visa must be uploaded before the card can be ordered.
- Usage limits: The card holds foreign currencies only. It cannot be used for domestic purchases, online shopping or ATM withdrawals within India, Nepal or Bhutan.
Before signing up, it helps to be clear on whether you mainly need to send or receive money, since the requirements differ. A Wise overview that covers fees, currencies and verification steps for Indian users can help you judge whether the service matches how you plan to use it.