How long does it take to receive international payments in India?

Via Skydo’s local accounts (ACH, Faster Payments, SEPA): under 24 hours. Via traditional SWIFT wire through a bank: 3-7 business days. Skydo uses local payment rails in each country, which settle much faster than the correspondent banking network.

Do I need GST registration to receive international payments in India?

If you export services commercially (freelancing, IT services, consulting), GST registration is mandatory. You charge 0% GST on export invoices with a Letter of Undertaking (LUT). If you receive personal remittances from family abroad, GST registration is not required.

What is FIRA and why is it important for receiving foreign payments?

FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advice) is your official proof that foreign currency was received in India. You need it for income tax filing, GST returns, eBRC closure, and export incentive claims. Banks take 7-14 days and charge fees. Skydo generates FIRA instantly for every payment at no extra cost.

Is there a limit on receiving international payments in India?

There is no upper limit on inward remittances for business purposes under FEMA regulations. You can receive any amount as long as the purpose is legitimate and documented with the correct purpose code. Personal remittances also have no cap on the receiving side.

What are the charges for receiving international payments in India?

Charges vary by method. Banks charge 2-4% hidden forex markup plus wire fees. PayPal charges 4.4% plus 3-4% forex markup. Wise charges ~1.5% conversion fee. Skydo charges a flat $19-$29 with zero forex markup, making it the lowest cost option for business payments.

Which countries can send payments to India via Skydo?

Skydo supports payments from 150+ countries. For USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, Germany, Singapore, and Nigeria, your client pays via local bank transfer. For all other countries including Malaysia, China, and Japan, clients send SWIFT payments to Skydo’s International SWIFT Transfer Account in the UK.

How do I receive international payments in India without losing money on forex?

Use a platform like Skydo that converts at the live mid-market exchange rate with zero markup. Banks and PayPal embed 2-4% hidden markup in their exchange rates. On a $10,000 payment, this difference alone can save you over ₹70,000 compared to traditional banking channels.

What documents are required to receive international payments in India?

You need PAN card, bank account details, Aadhaar, GST certificate (if registered), and an invoice to sign up for the first time. Skydo handles all RBI compliance documentation including purpose code tagging and FIRA generation. Your international client only needs your local account details to initiate the payment.

Is Skydo safe and authorized for receiving international payments in India?

Yes. Skydo is authorized by the Reserve Bank of India under the PA-CB (Payment Aggregator Cross Border) framework. Skydo is SOC 2 certified, ISO 27001 certified, and partners with HDFC Bank, DBS, Visa, and CurrencyCloud. Over 30,000 Indian businesses use Skydo to receive international payments.

Receive International Payments in India, the Smarter Way

Q: What is the cheapest way to receive international payments in India?

For business payments, Skydo offers the lowest total cost with flat fees ($19-$29) and zero forex markup. Always compare the total INR received, not just the stated fee. Banks typically hide 2-4% in forex markup that never appears as a line item on your statement.

Skydo helps Indian businesses receive payments from abroad without hidden fees, delays, or compliance headaches.

Save up to 95% on international payment fees.
Payments settled within 24 hours.
Instant FIRA, fully RBI compliant.
Zero FX markup, transparent flat fees.

Others

2 to 4% FX Margin

3 to 5% transaction fee

No FIRA

3-7 days settlement time

Generic customer support

0 FX Margin

Flat $19 transaction fee

Instant & Free FIRA

Settle funds in 24 hours

Dedicated customer support

Licensed byRBI’s PA-CB framework

Processed more than$500M+ USD

Trusted by40,000+ businesses

Receive from100+ trusted banks

Why Indian Exporters Choose Skydo for International Payments

Skydo is built ground-up for Indian service exporters and freelancers. We’ve designed it around the realities of exporting from India: global collections, transparent pricing, and simpler compliance workflows.

Receive Payments from15+ countries

RBI authorized and ISO 27001

24-hour settlement. India-based support

Supports 150+ currencies

Flat fees

Under $2,000$19

$2,001-$10,000$29

Above $10,0000.3%

Instant & free FIRA,
every time.FIRA lands instantly in your inbox. Or download it anytime from your dashboard

How to Receive International Payments in 3 Simple Steps

From sign-up to your first international payment landing in INR, in one working day, every time.

01Sign Up in 5 MinutesShare PAN, Aadhaar, and Indian bank details. Get virtual accounts in multiple countries instantly.

02Share Account Details with ClientYour client pays into the virtual account using domestic transfer methods like ACH, SEPA. No SWIFT or wire fees on their end.

03Receive INR in 24 hours Skydo converts at the live mid-market rate and settles INR to your Indian bank. So what you see is what you get.

Keep more of every international payment

International Payments to India: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Compare fees, settlement speed, compliance support, client experience, and more across leading international payment solutions.

← Scroll →

Wise Business

PayPal

Bank SWIFT

Forex markup

3-4% hidden

2-4% hidden

Fee structure

Flat $19-$29

~1.6-2% of transfer

4.4% + fixed

$25-$50 + FX markup

Cost on $5,000

~$29

~$89

~$370

~$175

Cost on $10,000

~$30

~$178

~$740

~$350

Settlement speed

<24 hours

1-2 business days

2-5 business days

3-5 business days

FIRA included

Auto, instant

Manual request

Not available

Manual request

Support

Local India, phone & WhatsApp

Email only

Slow & manual

Best for

B2B exporters

Mid-size B2B

Small payments

Legacy bank users

Ways to Receive International Payments in India

Indian freelancers, exporters and businesses can receive money from abroad through four broad channels. Each comes with its own trade-offs in cost, speed, compliance and customer experience.

🏦

Bank Wire Transfer (SWIFT)

SWIFT is the global banking network that moves money between countries. To send you a payment, your client logs into their bank, fills out a wire transfer form, and the money routes through 2 to 3 intermediary banks before landing in your Indian account.

COST$25–$50 wire + 2–4% FX markup

SPEED3–7 business days

FIRA7–14 days, ₹100–₹500 per request

BEST FORLarge transfers, max safety

💳

Online Payment Gateways

Payment gateways let businesses accept international payments through checkout pages or payment links making payments easy. Platforms like PayPal and Stripe offer a payment experience, but the convenience often comes with percentage-based fees and hidden FX markups.

COST4.4% + fixed fee (PayPal)

SPEED1–5 business days

FIRAWeekly (PayPal); none (Stripe)

BEST FORMicro payments

💸

Remittance Services

Remittance services are built for personal money transfers, not business payments or B2B invoicing. Platforms like Western Union, Remitly, and Xoom may work for small transfers, but often come with transaction limits, business compliance friction, and limited FIRA support.

COSTHidden; 5–10% with FX markup

SPEED24 hours

FIRANot provided

BEST FORPersonal use

🌐

Virtual Multicurrency Accounts

Modern providers like Skydo offer virtual multicurrency accounts with local receiving accounts across major markets. Your clients can pay you through familiar local bank transfer methods, while you receive INR at live exchange rates with faster settlements and lower fees.

COSTFlat $19 fee, 0% FX markup (Skydo)

SPEEDUnder 24 hours

FIRAInstant, free, GST-compliant

BEST FOR

Freelancers, exporters

Six Factors to Consider While Receiving Money from Abroad

Choosing the wrong payment method doesn’t just cost money, it can slow down settlements, complicate compliance, and create friction for your clients. Here are the six factors to compare.

₹

Total Cost, Not Sticker FeeBanks hide 2-4% FX markup. Compare INR received, not stated fees.

LOOK FOR

✓Mid-market rates + flat pricing

Settlement Speed3-5 business day settlements can slow down your cash flow.

LOOK FOR

✓<24h to your Indian bank

FIRA

FIRA & ComplianceManual FIRA requests and extra certificate fees can quickly add up.

LOOK FOR

✓Auto-issued FIRA per payment

Client ExperienceComplicated payment flows can slow down collections.

LOOK FOR

✓Local accounts in client countries

Country CoverageLimited country coverage can make collections significantly harder.

LOOK FOR

✓Coverage in your top 3 markets

Support QualitySlow, email-only global support can delay critical payment issues.

LOOK FOR

✓India-based phone & WhatsApp

Save More on International Payments with Skydo

Pick your client’s country and the amount they typically send. We’ll show you exactly how much INR lands in your account through Skydo versus other payment options, including the hidden FX markup and other charges.

Currency

Payment method

Monthly revenueUSD 50,000

Your annual savings will be₹6,17,645!

Watch How Skydo Helps to Receive International Payments

From signing up to receiving your first international payment, here is exactly what the experience looks like.

Here’s what Skydo users have to say

Tarun ShahIndian Freelancer

ChetanyaIT Consultant

VarunFounder of Scooper AI

Common Questions About Receiving International Payments

For business payments, Skydo offers the lowest total cost with flat fees ($19-$29) and zero forex markup. Always compare the total INR received, not just the stated fee. Banks typically hide 2-4% in forex markup that never appears as a line item on your statement.

Get Your Free Skydo Account Now

Save as much as ₹10 lakh annually with Zero FX Margin

Get international bank accounts in 5 mins

Real time payment tracking and instant FIRA