How to get paid from abroad without losing money on the exchange
When an employer or client in another country pays you, two costs eat into the money: transfer fees and, bigger and less visible, the exchange-rate markup your bank adds when it converts. This guide compares the five common ways to get paid from abroad and shows how to keep more of what you earn.
Updated 8 October 2026. Written by the Big World Jobs team from the providers' own pages and from regulators, listed at the end.
In short
- The cheapest way is usually to be paid as a local payment in the payer's currency, into a multi-currency account with account details in that currency, and to convert at a rate close to the market rate when you choose.
- An international wire into a normal bank account is the most expensive common route: fees on both sides plus the bank's own exchange rate.
- PayPal is convenient but charges a conversion spread of 3% to 4% on its US fee page.
- If you are paid through a platform such as Deel or Upwork, the withdrawal method you pick changes the cost from zero to 2.5%.
The hidden cost: the exchange-rate markup
Every currency has a mid-market rate: the midpoint between what banks buy and sell it for, the rate you see on news sites. Most banks and payment apps convert at a worse rate and keep the difference, often without calling it a fee. On a monthly salary of USD 3,000, a 3% markup costs USD 90 a month, over USD 1,000 a year. Comparing only the "transfer fee" misses this, so always compare the amount that lands in your account.
Five ways to receive money from abroad
| Method | How it works | What it costs you | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| International wire (SWIFT) to your bank | The payer's bank sends to yours through correspondent banks | Receiving fee at your bank, possible intermediary fees, and your bank's exchange markup | One-off large payments when nothing else is available |
| Multi-currency account, such as Wise (partner) | You get local account details in USD, EUR, GBP and more; the payer sends a domestic payment | Free to receive domestic payments in the main currencies; conversion from 0.23% at Wise in the US | Monthly salaries and regular client payments |
| PayPal | The client pays your PayPal email | Conversion spread of 3% to 4% on PayPal's US fee page; fees to receive business payments | Clients who only pay by PayPal |
| Payoneer | Receiving accounts in several currencies, popular with marketplaces | Fees for receiving from some sources, for conversion and for withdrawal; check its pricing for your country | Freelance marketplaces that pay through Payoneer |
| Payroll platform payout (for example Deel) | Your employer pays the platform, you withdraw | From free (local bank transfer, Wise, Revolut) to 1% to 2.5% (Payoneer, PayPal, instant card) on Deel's list | Contractors paid through an HR platform |
Fees read on 8 October 2026 from each provider's page. Your bank's own charges come on top and differ by country.
What a multi-currency account is, and why it usually wins
A multi-currency account holds several currencies at once and gives you account details in some of them. For someone paid from abroad, that changes three things:
- The payer sends a domestic payment. A US employer pays your US account details by ACH, a European client pays your IBAN by SEPA, a UK client pays your sort code. No international wire, no intermediary bank.
- You choose when to convert. Keep dollars if you will spend dollars later, or convert when you need local money.
- The conversion is close to the market rate. Wise, for example, converts at the mid-market rate and shows its fee before you confirm (Wise).
Wise gives account details in 20+ currencies and is the best-known option. Revolut and some banks offer multi-currency accounts too, usually with fewer currencies or with limits on the free plan. Our Wise review covers its fees line by line, its safety and its limits.
Partner link. Big World Jobs may be paid if you sign up. Nothing changes in the price.
Step by step: setting up to be paid from abroad
- Ask how the payer can send money. Local transfer in their currency, international wire, a platform such as Deel or Upwork, or PayPal.
- Open a receiving account in the payer's currency. Verify your identity before the first payment is due, as it can take a couple of days.
- Give the payer local account details, not your home bank's SWIFT details, whenever they can pay locally.
- On a platform, pick the cheapest withdrawal method. On Deel, a local bank transfer, Wise and Revolut carry no Deel fee; PayPal costs 2.5% and instant card transfers up to 2% (Deel).
- Convert on your schedule, and move money to your local bank for bills.
- Keep records. Invoices, contracts and payment confirmations make tax returns and any account review easier.
Will I be taxed if I receive money from abroad?
A transfer is not taxed for being international. What matters is what the money is. A salary or a freelance fee is income, and in most countries you pay tax on it where you are tax resident, even if the employer is abroad. A gift or a transfer between your own accounts is usually not income, though some countries ask you to report large amounts. Rules differ a lot by country, so check with your tax authority or an accountant. If a foreign company hires you through an employer of record, tax is withheld from your salary like in a local job: see our guide to employers of record.
Does Zelle or Venmo work internationally?
No. Zelle and Venmo work between US bank accounts and US phone numbers only, so they cannot pay you abroad. A US payer can pay your Wise US account details by ACH instead, which arrives as a domestic payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to receive money from abroad?
Usually a local payment in the payer's currency into a multi-currency account with account details in that currency, then converting at a rate close to the mid-market rate. It avoids international wire fees and your bank's exchange markup.
Which app is good for receiving money from abroad?
For salaries and client payments, a multi-currency account such as Wise is the common choice because it gives local account details in 20+ currencies. PayPal and Payoneer are useful when a client or marketplace only pays that way, but they cost more to convert.
How can I receive money from someone in another country?
Give them account details they can pay locally, such as Wise USD, EUR or GBP details, or your bank's international details for a wire. For small personal payments, PayPal or a money transfer service also work.
Will I be taxed if I receive money from overseas?
Not because it comes from abroad. A salary or freelance fee is income and is usually taxed where you are tax resident. Gifts and transfers between your own accounts are usually not income, though large amounts may need to be reported. Check your country's rules.
Does Zelle work internationally?
No. Zelle only works between US bank accounts. A US payer can pay your Wise USD account details by ACH instead.
What is a multi-currency account?
An account that holds several currencies at once, lets you convert between them and, with some providers, gives you local account details in several currencies so payers abroad can send you domestic payments.
Can I receive money from abroad in my bank account?
Yes, by international wire to your bank's SWIFT details. It works everywhere but is usually the most expensive route: fees on both sides and your bank's own exchange rate.
Related guides
- Wise review: fees, safety and how it compares for getting paid abroad
- Deel review: what it means when a company pays you through Deel
- Employer of record: how a company abroad can hire you legally
Looking for the job first?
Browse remote jobs, start from the country you can work in, or see handpicked roles that hire across borders.
Sources, read on 8 October 2026: Wise, send money pricing; Wise, receive pricing (US); Wise, pricing (US); PayPal, consumer fees (US); Deel, withdrawal options; Payoneer. Fees, prices and terms change: check the provider's current page before you sign up.