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PayPal, Wise or Payoneer: What RBI's Export Rules Mean for Getting Paid by a Canadian Client

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Editorial team, serviceexportguide.com
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Short answer

In 2026, a Canadian client can pay an Indian exporter in CAD through PayPal, Wise, Payoneer or Skydo.1234 RBI's FEMA 2026 Regulations require an EDF and realisation within nine months of the invoice.56 Each PA-CB transaction is capped at ₹25 lakh.7 Remote services for a Canadian client have their place of supply in Canada under IGST section 13(2).8

Applies toRules involvedPlatforms comparedLast verified
Indian freelancers and service exporters billing clients in Canada9FEMA 2026 Regulations, regulations 3 to 5; RBI PA Master Direction 11(d); IGST Act sections 2(6), 13 and 16579810Skydo, Payoneer, PayPal, Wise111231 October 2026

1,400 CAD = ₹92,537 at the reference rate for 13 November 2026 (European Central Bank data).

Estimated rupees received, on published fees

Sorted by estimated rupees received, highest first. Only providers that publish both their fee and their conversion markup for this currency and method can be estimated.

#Provider and routeBest forFee (+GST)MarkupYou receiveCost
1SkydoLowest estimated costTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT accountLocal bank transfers from major markets₹2,1130%₹90,4252.28%
2PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹0no GST stated1 to 4%₹88,836 to ₹91,6121.00 to 4.00%
3PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹4,091no GST stated3 to 4%₹84,908 to ₹85,7937.29 to 8.24%

Not estimated because pricing is not fully published: Cashfree Payments, PingPong, Wise.

Where a provider says GST applies to its fee but not at what rate, the range runs from no GST to 18%, the rate Skydo, Stripe and Winvesta state on their pages. Estimates use each provider's published fee, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charge, checked 2026-10-28, against the reference rate. They exclude charges taken by intermediary banks and your own bank, and the rate a provider actually applies at the time of conversion. Check the provider's pricing page before you choose. The order is calculated only from these published numbers; no provider can pay to change its position, and there are no affiliate links.

Canadian clients pay Indian designers, developers, writers and consultants in Canadian dollars (CAD) more often than in USD, so the route you offer decides who carries the conversion cost. This page compares PayPal, Wise and Payoneer with the lowest-cost CAD route on published fees, and sets out the RBI export rules that apply whichever route the client chooses.

For every CAD route and the tax side, read how to receive money from Canada to India and receiving CAD payments in India. Confirm your own position with a chartered accountant (CA).

How do PayPal, Wise and Payoneer compare for getting paid by a Canadian client?

PayPal, Wise and Payoneer differ for a Canadian client in fee, conversion margin and RBI status, and on published fees for a CAD 7,000 receipt Skydo costs the least of the providers that publish full pricing.18191 The table lists ranked providers by estimated cost, cheapest first, then Wise, which does not publish an INR conversion percentage.20

PlatformBest forFeeFX markupSettlementFIRARBI PA-CB statusSource
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major marketsPublished in USD: USD 19 plus GST up to USD 2,000; USD 29 plus GST to USD 10,0000% markup on the mid-market rate (product page); retail rate set by Skydo or its partner banks (terms)Within 24 hours (product page); T+1 to T+3 business days (terms)Free FIRA on every paymentAuthorised PA-CB-I and O, 8 January 2026418211135
PayoneerMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or UpworkLocal CAD details listed; free to receive (multi-currency account page); fixed fee or 1% for non-local currencies (pricing page)1% to 4% to withdraw in INRWithin 24 hours (multi-currency account page); within 48 hours (pricing page)Free digital FIRA per transactionIn-principle PA-CB authorisation; RBI lists it as under process319222312
PayPalClients paying by card or PayPal balance4.40% plus CAD 0.303.0% or 4.00% above the base rateUp to 5 business days to the bankFree weekly digital FIRA from February 2026In-principle authorisation as an existing PA-CB241252612
WiseBank transfers to local account detailsEquivalent of 2 USD per transfer to the INR account (help article); free e-FIRC (receive pricing page); 18% GST on feesMid-market rate plus a fee; no INR percentage publishedINR within 1 to 2 dayse-FIRC per transfer within 3 working daysAuthorised PA-CB-I, 12 March 202622011

Wise lists CAD among the 24 currencies an Indian business can receive.2 Razorpay's CAD account is listed as coming soon, so it is left out here.27

Which RBI rule governs money from a Canadian client?

Money from a Canadian client for services is governed by the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, which apply the same way to every country, and by the RBI Payment Aggregator Master Direction when a PA-CB carries the payment.57

RuleBest for (who it applies to)Plain meaningSource
FEMA 2026 Regulations, regulations 3 and 4Every service exporter from 1 October 2026File an EDF with the AD bank within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, or by the payment date for non-software services5
FEMA 2026 Regulations, regulation 5Exporters waiting on a Canadian clientRealise payment within nine months of the invoice, or twelve months in rupees; the AD bank can extend56
RBI PA Master Direction, paragraph 11(d)Exporters paid through Skydo, Wise or another PA-CBEach inward or outward PA-CB transaction is capped at ₹25 lakh7
RBI Circular No. 84 (2012)Every inward remittanceBanks report the receipt with a five-character purpose code16
IGST Act, section 13(2)Remote services for a client in CanadaPlace of supply is the recipient's location8

No Canada-specific RBI rule applies to export receipts, so the same checks cover CAD, USD or any other currency.5

What does each option charge for a payment from a Canadian client?

Each option charges a different fee and conversion margin for a payment from a Canadian client, and only some platforms publish their full CAD pricing.1819120

PlatformBest forReceiving feeConversion to INRSource
SkydoLocal bank transfers from major marketsUSD 19 to USD 29 per payment up to USD 10,000, plus GST0% markup on the mid-market rate (product page); retail rate set by Skydo or its partner banks (terms)18282135
PayoneerMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or UpworkFree to receive (multi-currency account page); fixed fee or 1% for non-local currencies (pricing page)1% to 4%319
PayPalClients paying by card or PayPal balance4.40% plus CAD 0.303.0% or 4.00% above base rate1
WiseBank transfers to local account details2 USD equivalent per transfer to the INR account (help article); free e-FIRC (receive pricing page)Fee varies by currency, no INR percentage220

A Canadian client paying by card through a Payoneer payment request costs 2.90% plus USD 0.49.19

Which option is cheapest at CAD 700, CAD 2,800 and CAD 7,000?

The cheapest option for a Canadian client's payment depends on the invoice amount, because Skydo's fee is fixed per payment band while PayPal's and Payoneer's scale with the amount.18119 The table works out INR received at today's rate from published fees.

PlatformBest forINR on CAD 2,900INR on CAD 7,100INR on CAD 14,000Cost on CAD 7,100
SkydoMost INRTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT accountLocal bank transfers from major markets₹1,88,460₹4,66,072₹9,22,1490.69%
PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account detailsMarketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork₹1,84,017 to ₹1,89,768₹4,50,525 to ₹4,64,604₹8,88,359 to ₹9,16,1211.00 to 4.00%
PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice)Clients paying by card or PayPal balance₹1,75,902 to ₹1,77,734₹4,30,683 to ₹4,35,169₹8,49,253 to ₹8,58,0997.27 to 8.23%

Not estimated because pricing for CAD is not fully published: Wise.

Ranked by INR received on CAD 7,100. Reference rate: European Central Bank data for 13 November 2026. Fees, conversion markup, GST on fees and FIRA charges as published by each provider, checked 28 October 2026. Ranges appear where a provider publishes a range or does not state its GST rate. Intermediary bank charges are excluded. See the methodology.

For example, on a CAD 7,000 invoice Skydo's published fee comes to about 0.68% of the amount, Payoneer's INR conversion is 1% to 4%, and PayPal's 4.40% fee plus its 3.0% or 4.00% spread totals roughly 7.3% to 8.2%.18191

What documents and GST apply to payments from a Canadian client?

Payments from a Canadian client need a FIRA or e-FIRC, a self-certified e-BRC, an EDF, and, for a GST-registered exporter, an LUT and an export invoice endorsement.262951330

Document or ruleBest forWhat it doesSource
FIRA or e-FIRCMatching each CAD payment to its invoiceIssued per payment by Skydo, Payoneer and Wise, and weekly by PayPal2123226
e-BRCProving realisationSelf-certified on DGFT from the bank's IRM data29
EDFEvery service exporterDeclares the export to the AD bank5
LUTGST-registered exportersLets you invoice the Canadian client without IGST1310
GST registration thresholdFreelancers with smaller turnoverInter-State service suppliers up to ₹20 lakh are exempt; exports count towards turnover3132
  • Export test: All five conditions of section 2(6) of the IGST Act must hold for zero-rating.9
  • Late payment: Rule 96A makes IGST with interest payable if payment misses one year or the FEMA period, whichever is later.17

See EDF for service exporters and the export realisation period for deadlines.

What changes in 2026 for Indian exporters paid by Canadian clients?

The 2026 changes for exporters paid by Canadian clients are the FEMA 2026 Regulations from 1 October 2026, the EDF for every service exporter, nine-month realisation and the Income-tax Act, 2025 from 1 April 2026.5633

  • New regulations: The FEMA 2026 Regulations replaced the 2015 Regulations on 1 October 2026.5
  • EDF for all services: RBI Circular No. 20 supersedes the earlier SOFTEX circulars from 1 October 2026.34
  • Realisation: Back to nine months from the invoice date, or twelve months in rupees.6
  • Authorisations: Skydo was authorised as PA-CB-I and O on 8 January 2026 and Wise Payments India as PA-CB-I on 12 March 2026.11
  • Income tax: Tax year 2026-27 under the Income-tax Act, 2025 runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.33

The export realisation deadline calculator gives the date for each Canadian invoice.

How did we verify this?

We checked this page against the sources below on 31 October 2026. Provider fees, conversion markups and RBI payment aggregator (PA-CB) status were checked on 28 October 2026. Rupee amounts use European Central Bank reference rates for 13 November 2026. Read our methodology or report an error.

  1. [1]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
  2. [2]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
  3. [3]Payoneer India, Multi-currency account page and FAQs (checked 2026-10-28)
  4. [4]Skydo FAQs, What countries can I get paid locally through Skydo? (checked 2026-10-28)
  5. [5]RBI: Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB, amended up to 22 September 2026, regulations 3, 4, 5 and 19
  6. [6]RBI: Notification FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
  7. [7]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator dated 15 September 2025, paragraph 11(d) (PA-CB transaction limit)
  8. [8]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 13 (place of supply where supplier or recipient is outside India)
  9. [9]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 2, clause (6) (export of services)
  10. [10]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 16 (zero rated supply)
  11. [11]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, list dated 30 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-31)
  12. [12]RBI: Status of applications received under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16 October 2026, Tables D and E (checked 2026-10-28)
  13. [13]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
  14. [14]Payoneer India, Payoneer's multi-jurisdictional licenses (checked 2026-10-28)
  15. [15]HDFC Bank: Inward Remittance Purpose Codes (bank reproduction of the RBI list, checked 28 October 2026)
  16. [16]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 dated 29 February 2012, reporting under FETERS (revised purpose codes)
  17. [17]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 96A (export under bond or Letter of Undertaking), clause (1)(b) as substituted by Notification No. 12/2024-Central Tax, 10 July 2024
  18. [18]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
  19. [19]Payoneer India, Payoneer Fees (checked 2026-10-28)
  20. [20]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
  21. [21]Skydo, Receive international payments as a freelancer in India (product page) (checked 2026-10-28)
  22. [22]Payoneer, How to use Payoneer in India (last modified 18 September 2026, checked 2026-10-28)
  23. [23]Payoneer Help Center, Digital FIRA FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
  24. [24]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
  25. [25]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
  26. [26]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
  27. [27]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
  28. [28]Skydo, home page fee table (checked 2026-10-28)
  29. [29]DGFT: eBRC system, self-certification of eBRC from bank inward remittance messages (IRMs), Trade Notice 33/2023-24 dated 10 November 2023
  30. [30]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017 (consolidated), rule 46 (tax invoice, export endorsement)
  31. [31]Notification No. 10/2017-Integrated Tax (exemption from registration for inter-State suppliers of taxable services), GSTZen reproduction
  32. [32]CBIC: CGST Act, 2017, section 2, clause (6) (aggregate turnover)
  33. [33]PIB: Income-tax Act, 2025 comes into force from 1 April 2026
  34. [34]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 dated 16 January 2026, Export and Import of Goods and Services
  35. [35]Skydo, Terms of Use, last updated 9 April 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)

Frequently asked questions

How can I receive payments from my Canadian client in India?+

A Canadian client can pay by local CAD bank transfer to account details from a provider such as Skydo or Payoneer, through PayPal, or by SWIFT wire to your Indian bank.431 Whichever route you use, the export still needs an EDF and payment within nine months of the invoice.56

Does PayPal charge more for CAD payments from Canada?+

PayPal India charges 4.40% plus a fixed fee of CAD 0.30 on an international commercial transaction received in CAD.1 Converting the balance to INR adds a spread of 3.0% or 4.00% above PayPal's base rate, and PayPal's fee page does not say which applies to INR withdrawals.1

Can a Canadian client pay me through Wise?+

Wise says a client can pay an Indian business's Wise account details from their own bank, by local transfer, wire or SWIFT, or from a Wise account.2 Wise converts each payment to INR and sends it to the verified Indian bank account, and Indian users cannot hold the foreign currency.2

Do I charge GST to a client in Canada?+

Remote services for a client in Canada are usually an export of services, because section 13(2) of the IGST Act puts the place of supply at the recipient's location.8 Exports are zero-rated, and a registered supplier with an LUT invoices without IGST.1013 Confirm your facts with a chartered accountant.

Is Payoneer allowed in India for receiving money from Canada?+

Payoneer says it is registered with RBI as an online payment gateway service provider, and Payoneer India Private Limited received in-principle PA-CB authorisation on 22 January 2026.1412 RBI lists the application as under process, and says in-principle approval is not final authorisation.12

What purpose code do I use for a Canadian client?+

The purpose code depends on the service, not the country. For example, P0802 covers software consultancy and implementation, P1006 business and management consultancy, and P1007 advertising and trade fair services.1516 The [purpose code finder](/tools/purpose-code-finder) matches a code to your work.

What if my Canadian client pays after nine months?+

If a Canadian client pays after nine months from the invoice date, you need an extension from your AD bank under regulation 5 of the FEMA 2026 Regulations.5 Under an LUT, IGST with interest becomes payable if payment is not received within one year or the FEMA period, whichever is later.17

This page is general information for Indian service exporters, not tax or legal advice. Rules change and outcomes depend on your facts, so confirm with a chartered accountant before acting.

Keep reading

Countries

How Do You Receive Money from Canada to India in 2026?

Every way to receive money from Canada to India: local CAD accounts, cards and SWIFT, cost on published fees, INR received, FIRA, treaty withholding and RBI paperwork.

Currencies

How Do You Receive CAD (Canadian dollar) Payments in India in 2026?

How Indian freelancers and service exporters receive Canadian dollar (CAD): methods, platforms ordered by cost, INR received, EEFC, conversion timing and RBI rules.

RBI and FEMA

What is the EDF and how do service exporters file it from October 2026?

From 1 October 2026 every Indian service exporter files an Export Declaration Form (EDF). Who files, the 30-day deadline, where it goes and examples by profession.

RBI and FEMA

How long does a service exporter have to realise export proceeds?

How long Indian service exporters have to get paid by foreign clients under FEMA from 1 October 2026, how extensions work and what happens if you miss it.

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