Receive International Payments as a Virtual Assistant in India

Every international payment shouldn't cost you a part of your earnings. With Skydo, virtual assistants receive more from every payment with better exchange rates, transparent pricing, and built-in compliance.

Zero forex markup. Get the rate you see on Google
One transparent flat fee. No hidden charges
Free, instant FIRA with every payment
Receive INR in less than 24 hours

Accept payment from 150+ countries

USD

Client pays

You'll receiveINR

Banks

PayPal

Over $1B processed • Licensed by RBI

Approved under
RBI's PA-CB framework

How do virtual assistants in India receive international payments?

Most virtual assistants in India get paid through one of four routes: a bank wire, a payment gateway, a remittance service, or a cross-border payments platform. Each route differs on cost, speed, and how much compliance paperwork you end up handling yourself.

Bank Wire Transfer (SWIFT)SWIFT transfer is the traditional banking route for receiving money from a client abroad, using your bank account number and SWIFT code. The sender's bank routes the funds through the SWIFT network, often via multiple correspondent banks, before crediting your Indian account, and Indian banks typically apply a forex markup along the way, for example crediting you at ₹92/USD instead of the actual ₹94/USD.

Pros

Connects to virtually any bank globally, works for any currency pair

No eligibility checks or approval needed on the client's end to send

Cons

1–3% worse forex rates vs mid-market

Possible intermediary bank deductions ($10–$40)

Slow settlement (3–7 business days)

Settlement Time3–7 business days

Cost$15–50 sender/intermediary fees + FX markup + paperwork charges

FIRANot automatic, request separately from your AD bank at an added cost

Ideal forLarge transfers by established businesses prioritising safety

Pros

Connects to virtually any bank globally, works for any currency pair

No eligibility checks or approval needed on the client's end to send

Cons

1–3% worse forex rates vs mid-market

Possible intermediary bank deductions ($10–$40)

Slow settlement (3–7 business days)

Settlement Time3–7 business days

Cost$15–50 sender/intermediary fees + FX markup + paperwork charges

FIRANot automatic, request separately from your AD bank at an added cost

Ideal forLarge transfers by established businesses prioritising safety

PayPalPayPal is an online payment gateway that lets a client pay you directly through an invoice or checkout link. The payment lands in your PayPal wallet instantly, PayPal then converts it and auto-withdraws it to your linked Indian bank account.

Pros

One of the most recognised gateways. Widely accepted

Funds land in your PayPal wallet instantly, before withdrawal

Cons

4.4% + $0.30 + 3-4% FX = 5-8% effective cost

No automated eBRC, no GST invoicing

Settlement Time1–3 business days

Cost4.4% + fixed fee + FX markup + GST, ~9% all-in

FIRANot issued per transaction. Only monthly FIRA

Ideal forOne-off or low-ticket payments, clients who specifically prefer PayPal

WiseWise Business is a multi-currency account that gives you real local account details in currencies like USD, GBP, and EUR. A client pays into those details as if they're paying a local business, and Wise converts the funds to INR at the mid-market rate before settling to your Indian bank.

Pros

Converts at the real mid-market rate

Local account details mean the client avoids their own international wire fees

Cons

1.6–1.8% platform fee scales with invoice size

FIRA costs $2.50 per certificate

Settlement Time1–2 business days after conversion

CostConversion fee (varies by currency) + FIRA fee + 18% GST on both

FIRAFIRA at $2.50 per certificate

Ideal forFreelancers with smaller, frequent payments in supported currencies

StripeStripe is a payment gateway built for accepting card payments online, with deep checkout and subscription tooling. In India, it currently runs invite-only, a client pays by card in one of 135+ currencies, and the funds settle to your account once approved and onboarded.

Pros

Best-in-class developer tools and APIs

135+ currencies, card acceptance worldwide

Cons

Invite-only access in India, card-only

~6-7% effective cost

Settlement Time2–5 business days

Cost~4.3% processing + ~2% conversion + 18% GST, ~6–7% all-in

FIRANot issued

Ideal forSaaS/subscription businesses already invite-approved for billing

Remittance Services (Western Union, MoneyGram, etc.)Remittance services are money-transfer networks built for personal transfers rather than business payments. A sender visits an agent or app abroad, and the money reaches you as a cash pickup or bank deposit, usually within a day or two.

Pros

Fast for personal transfers

No account setup needed on your end

Cons

Not suited for business or export payments

No FIRA issued

Settlement TimeFast. 1 business day

CostService fees + FX markup, up to 5–10% of value

FIRANot issued, unsuitable for business compliance

Ideal forPersonal transfers (NRI remittances, one-off gifts), not business invoicing

Recommended

SkydoSkydo is an RBI-authorised platform built specifically for Indian exporters and freelancers to receive international payments. It gives you real account details in the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia, a client pays into those like a local business, and Skydo converts and settles the funds to your Indian bank account.

Pros

Zero markup, live mid-market rate

Flat transparent fee, not a percentage

Instant, automatic, free FIRA on every transaction

Cons

Flat fee means smaller invoices (under $1,000) carry a higher effective rate

Inward payments only, no outward remittance yet

Settlement TimeWithin 24 hours

CostFlat $19 (up to $2,000), $29 ($2,001–$10,000), 0.3% (above $10,000), zero FX markup

FIRAInstant, automatic, and free on every transaction

Ideal forIndian freelancers and exporters

How much can virtual assistants save with Skydo?

Every international payment quietly loses money to exchange rate markup, platform fees, intermediary bank charges, and FIRA fees. Move the slider to see how much Skydo puts back in your pocket.

You keep with Skydo

Money transferUSD 5,000

PayPal4% markup

Exchange rate—

SWIFT fee$0

Documentation fee$0

Platform fee4.4%

GST (18%)—

You receive—

Bank1.5% markup

Exchange rate—

SWIFT fee$30.00

Documentation fee$5.00

Platform fee$5.00

GST (18%)—

You receive—

0% markup

Exchange rate—

SWIFT fee₹0

Documentation fee₹0

Platform fee₹2,407

GST (18%)—

You receive—

How Skydo works for virtual assistants

You set up Skydo just once, it takes about 5 minutes. After that, you get paid like a local business in your client's country, with compliance handled by Skydo on every payment. Here are the detailed steps.

Step 1

Open your accountSign up and get virtual USD, EUR and GBP accounts in less than 5 minutes. No setup fee, no monthly cost.

Step 2

Share the detailsGive your client the virtual account details. They pay using a simple local bank transfer.

Step 3

Receive and convertThe money is converted at a live mid-market rate with 0% markup and a low flat fee.

Step 4

FIRA and payoutFunds settle to your Indian bank within 24 hours, and your FIRA is generated automatically every time.

How does Skydo compare to other payment platforms for Virtual Assistants?

We compared the top six factors Indian professionals consider when receiving international payments. Here is how each provider stacks up, so you can glance and see the real difference.

Features
Flat Fee
0% FX
Speed	3-5 days	1-3 days	1-2 days	1-2 days	2-7 days	24 Hours
Instant FIRA
India Based Support
RBI PA-CB Authorisation

How do virtual assistants stay compliant
while receiving international payments?

Getting paid from abroad means clearing Indian compliance on every payment. Here's what applies to you, and what Skydo handles for you.

01FIRAA Foreign Inward Remittance Advice is your proof that export money legally entered India. Skydo generates a FIRA automatically on every payment, so the document is ready the moment funds land.

02Purpose CodeEvery foreign payment must carry an RBI purpose code that declares why the money came in. Skydo tags the correct purpose code on each remittance, so your paper trail stays clean and payments don't get held up.

03GST ReportingExport of services is zero-rated under GST, but you still have to report it correctly once you cross the registration threshold. Skydo gives you a GST-ready invoice on every payment.

04LUTA Letter of Undertaking lets GST-registered exporters bill global clients without paying IGST upfront. Skydo keeps the invoice and FIRA of every payment, giving you the proof your claim relies on.

05SOFTEX FormsSOFTEX was the old FEMA filing for software and IT service exports. From October 2026, unified EDF replaces it, but until then Skydo hands you the invoice and remittance data either filing needs.

06New EDFFrom October 2026, a single Export Declaration Form covers all service exports, and even freelancers have to file it monthly. Skydo offers EDF filing assistance, so the transition stays smooth.

What should Virtual Assistants look
for in a payment service?

Your payment method decides how fast you get paid, how much paperwork you chase, and how easily clients can pay you. Check these six before you commit.

Total Cost, Not Sticker FeeAdd up the FX markup, transaction & fixed fees, and GST. Markup usually costs more than the quoted fee.

Look forMid-market rates + flat pricing

Country CoverageA platform that skips your client's region forces costly workarounds on every payment.

Look forCoverage in your top 3 markets

Settlement SpeedA slow payment gateway means late invoices and cash-flow gaps while you wait for funds to clear.

Look forPayouts within 24 hours

Client ExperienceIf paying you is awkward or unfamiliar, clients delay, and your invoice waits longer to clear.

Look forLocal accounts in client countries

FIRA & ComplianceChasing your bank for each remittance proof turns into hours you'd rather spend on client work.

Look forAuto-issued FIRA per payment

Support QualityWhen a payment goes missing, a ticket queue and a slow reply is the last thing you need.

Look forIndia-based phone & WhatsApp support

Why Virtual Assistants
trust Skydo

Thousands of Indian freelancers and exporters already get paid through Skydo. Here's why virtual assistants keep choosing it.

“We want our customers to have a seamless, intuitive payment experience from start to finish. Payments should feel effortless, regardless of where our customers are located.”

VarunCEO, Tealbox

50K+Customers onboarded

200K+Payments processed annually

4.8+Average rating

Skydo is authorised by the Reserve Bank of India as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border (PA-CB). Your money moves through a regulated channel, every time.

Frequently asked questions

How can a virtual assistant in India receive international payments?

You can get paid through a bank wire, a payment gateway, a remittance service, or a cross-border payments platform like Skydo. With Skydo, setup is one time and takes about 5 minutes. Your client pays you like a local business in their own country, and the money is settled to your Indian bank account within 24 hours.

What is the cheapest way for virtual assistants to receive payments from overseas clients?

The cheapest option is the one with the lowest total cost, not the lowest headline fee. Most of the money is lost to exchange rate markup, platform fees, intermediary bank charges, and FIRA fees. Skydo charges a flat fee of $19 on payments under $2,000, $29 from $2,001 to $10,000, and 0.3% above $10,000, with zero FX markup at the mid-market rate.

How long does it take to receive an international payment?

Bank wires usually take a few working days because the payment passes through intermediary banks. With Skydo, payments are settled to your Indian bank account within 24 hours. Setup happens only once and takes about 5 minutes, so there is no repeat delay on later payments.

What compliance applies to virtual assistants receiving foreign payments?

Your work for overseas clients counts as an export of services, so every payment needs the correct RBI purpose code and a FIRA as proof of receipt. You also need to handle GST treatment on export of services, and file an LUT where applicable. Skydo gives you an instant, free FIRA on every payment and handles the compliance on its side. Skydo is authorised by the Reserve Bank of India as a Payment Aggregator, Cross Border (PA-CB).

Do I get a FIRA on every payment?

Yes. Skydo issues an instant, free FIRA on every payment you receive, and you can download it from your dashboard. There is no separate charge for it and no need to chase your bank.