As Indian startups, SaaS builders, freelancers, and marketplaces scale globally, accepting international payments becomes critical.
But this isn't just about slapping on a payment button and hoping for the best. It’s about being RBI-compliant, offering a great UX, handling multi-currency, and supporting seamless INR settlements.
If you’re building or running a product that sells to customers abroad—this guide is for you.

What Qualifies as an International Payment?

If your customer is paying you from outside India, and in a foreign currency (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.), it’s an international payment.
It differs from domestic UPI/NEFT in that it’s regulated by RBI and FEMA, and often requires documents like FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate).

Who Is This Relevant For?

• Solo freelancers and consultants
• eCommerce/D2C platforms selling globally
• Indian SaaS products with international billing
• Marketplaces and exporters
• Devs building cross-border platforms

How Can You Accept International Payments?
Here’s your tech and business stack:

1. Payment Gateways
   Use platforms that offer multi-currency checkout, card support, and INR settlements.

2. Bank SWIFT Transfers
   Manual, slow (2–5 days), and fee-heavy—but useful for large B2B deals.

3. Payment Links
   Great for freelancers and early-stage founders. Easy to deploy, minimal dev work.

4. Aggregators (PA-CB licensed)
   All-in-one providers that handle collection, conversion, compliance, and settlements.

The Compliance Layer You Can’t Ignore

Since 2021, India’s RBI requires any non-bank handling international payments to hold a PA-CB license (Payment Aggregator – Cross Border), under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

This ensures:

• AML/KYC checks
• Foreign exchange compliance
• Documented settlements
• No regulatory red flags

Worldline Gets RBI Approval (May 2025)

In May 2025, Worldline ePayments India received RBI’s official PA-CB license.
This makes them one of the few legal cross-border platforms in India that can process and settle export/import payments for merchants, platforms, and developers.

What You Get Using a Licensed Aggregator

• Accept foreign cards & wallets (USD, EUR, etc.)
• Settlements in INR — directly to your Indian bank
• No need to set up a foreign entity
• Compliant with FEMA, RBI, AML, and tax laws
• Receive FIRCs for documentation
• Integration via APIs, SDKs, or plugins

TL;DR for Devs & Founders

• Want to get paid from the US, EU, or SEA? You need a PA-CB licensed solution.
• Don’t hack around with P2P wallets or international wire headaches.
• Choose a platform that supports your stack, supports multi-currency, and keeps your ops compliant.

Recommended Read

Want full technical and business clarity?
How to accept international payments in India