Does Wise operate in India
Yes, Wise operates in India, but what you can do with it depends on whether you are sending money abroad, receiving international payments, or using a Wise card. Wise can legally offer remittance services in India, although it does not operate as a bank there.
This Wise overview splits its India services into a few distinct uses, each with its own eligibility rules.
- Sending money abroad: Indian tax residents based in India can send INR to more than 90 countries for permitted current account purposes such as education or travel, with transfers handled through local partner banks under RBI rules. Verification requires Aadhaar, PAN and a video check.
- Receiving payments: Freelancers and businesses in India can use Wise Business to collect international payments in currencies such as USD, EUR and GBP. Wise converts the money to INR, pays it into a local bank account and provides an e-FIRC for tax compliance.
- Wise card for visitors: Travellers holding a Wise debit card issued outside India can use it to withdraw cash at ATMs and to pay merchants in India.
- Wise card for residents: People living in India cannot currently order a multi-currency Wise debit card for domestic spending or for holding foreign currency balances.