Wise, PayPal or a Direct SWIFT Transfer: How to Get Paid by a Client in Austria
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Short answer
PayPal charges 4.40% plus 0.35 EUR per international payment, then a conversion fee.1 Wise charges a 2 USD equivalent per transfer (India help article; its India receive pricing page describes a free e-FIRC), or 2.39 EUR for a EUR Swift payment on its business table.2327 A direct SWIFT transfer costs what your bank publishes.4 On EUR 1,800, Razorpay and Karbon Business cost about 1.00 to 1.18% in 2026.56
| Applies to | Rules involved | Platforms compared | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian freelancers and firms invoicing clients in Austria in EUR7 | FEMA Export and Import Regulations, 2026, including regulation 19; PA Master Direction; IGST Act section 2(6)487 | Razorpay, Karbon Business, Winvesta, PayPal, direct SWIFT transfer, Wise591012 | 31 October 2026 |
900 EUR = ₹93,742 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 route | Best for | Fee (+GST) | Markup | You receive | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karbon BusinessLowest estimated costBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD account | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts | ₹937plus GST, rate not stated | 0% | ₹92,636 to ₹92,804 | 1.00 to 1.18% |
| 2 | RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan) | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone | ₹1,000plus GST, rate not stated | 0% | ₹92,562 to ₹92,742 | 1.07 to 1.26% |
| 3 | WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency) | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee | ₹1,710 | 0% | ₹92,032 | 1.82% |
| 4 | SkydoTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT account | Local bank transfers from major markets | ₹2,113 | 0% | ₹91,629 | 2.25% |
| 5 | PayoneerLocal bank transfer to Payoneer receiving account details | Marketplace payouts such as Amazon or Upwork | ₹0no GST stated | 1 to 4% | ₹89,992 to ₹92,804 | 1.00 to 4.00% |
| 6 | PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice) | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance | ₹4,161no GST stated | 3 to 4% | ₹85,997 to ₹86,893 | 7.31 to 8.26% |
Not estimated because pricing is not fully published: Cashfree Payments, Dodo Payments, PingPong, Tazapay, TransFi, 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.
Clients in Austria usually pay suppliers by bank transfer in euros, and when the supplier is in India they often ask for SWIFT details. Wise and PayPal are the two alternatives most Indian freelancers and agencies consider. This page compares all three with the providers that cost least on published fees for a EUR 1,800 receipt,5610 and covers the Indian paperwork for each payment. For treaty and country detail, see receiving money from Austria to India.
How do Wise, PayPal and a direct SWIFT transfer compare for getting paid by a client in Austria?
Wise gives you euro account details an Austrian client can pay by domestic transfer, PayPal charges a percentage fee plus conversion, and a direct SWIFT transfer goes from the client's bank to your Indian bank at the bank's own rate.214 Euro transfers inside SEPA, which covers 41 European countries, reach a platform's euro details; a payment to an Indian bank account goes by SWIFT.11 Rows are ordered by estimated cost on EUR 1,800, cheapest first; options without enough published pricing to estimate follow, A to Z.59101
| Platform | Best for | Fee | FX markup | Settlement | FIRA | RBI PA-CB status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorpay | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone | MoneySaver bank transfers: 1% plus GST, or a flat ₹1,000 below ₹1,00,000 | 0% on MoneySaver bank transfers, per Razorpay | T+1 for push bank transfers | FIRS emailed within 24 hours of settlement; no separate charge published | Listed PA-CB for inward and outward transactions | 512131415 |
| Karbon Business | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts | 1% transaction fee, per its PayPal alternative page | 0% (freelancer page); 0.5% to 1.0% (PayPal alternative page) | 24 to 48 hours, per Karbon | FIRA for every transaction from an unnamed banking partner; cost not published | Not on the RBI list itself; its terms run export receipts under a partner the RBI lists as a PA-CB | 961615 |
| Winvesta | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee | 0.99% plus a fixed fee per payment up to 2,000 a month per currency (for example $3, EUR 5, SGD 10); 18% GST on fees | Advertises 0% forex markup | USD 1 business day, EUR and GBP 2 business days after processing | Free e-FIRA within 24 hours | Says it is an online payment gateway service provider; not on RBI's PA-CB list or status tables | 1017181920152122 |
| PayPal | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance | 4.40% plus a fixed fee per international commercial transaction (for example 0.30 USD, 0.35 EUR, 0.50 SGD) | 3.0% or 4.00% above the base rate; the fee page does not say which applies to INR withdrawals | Up to 5 business days to the bank | Free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026 | OPGSP under its user agreement; RBI status list shows in-principle PA-CB authorisation | 12324252115 |
| Direct SWIFT transfer to your Indian bank | Large one-off payments to an existing bank relationship | Set in the bank's published charges; HDFC Bank lists no inward remittance charge and ₹200 per FIRC plus 18% GST | The bank's own buying rate | Depends on the banks involved | From your bank, on request or as published | Authorised dealer (AD) bank, not a payment aggregator | 426 |
| Wise | Bank transfers to local account details | 2 USD equivalent per transfer to the INR account (help article); free e-FIRC (receive pricing page); 18% GST on fees | Mid-market rate plus a fee that depends on the currency; no INR percentage published | INR within 1 to 2 days, per Wise | e-FIRC for each transfer within 3 working days | Listed PA-CB for inward transactions, authorised 12 March 2026 | 22715 |
- Lowest published cost at EUR 1,800: Razorpay and Karbon Business at about 1.00 to 1.18%, then Winvesta at about 1.50%.5610
- PayPal: about 7.29 to 8.24% at EUR 1,800, because the 4.40% fee plus 0.35 EUR is followed by a 3.0% or 4.00% conversion fee.1
- Wise: not estimated, because Wise does not publish its conversion fee to INR as a percentage.27
- Direct SWIFT transfer: not estimated, because the bank sets its own rate and fees depend on the banks in the chain.4
Which RBI rule governs money from a client in Austria?
Money from a client in Austria for services falls under the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 from 1 October 2026, whichever route the client uses.4 A direct SWIFT transfer lands with your authorised dealer bank, which must publish its documents, timelines and charges under regulation 19.4
| Rule | Best for | Plain meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGST Act, section 2(6) | Every exporter billing a client in Austria | Payment in convertible foreign exchange, such as EUR, is one of the five export conditions | 7 |
| FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, regulations 3 and 4 | Every service exporter | File an Export Declaration Form (EDF) with your bank within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, or for non-software services on or before the payment date | 4 |
| Regulation 5, as amended on 22 September 2026 | Exporters with long payment terms | Collect payment within nine months of the invoice, or twelve months if invoiced in rupees | 28 |
| Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, paragraph 11(d) | Exporters using a platform's EUR account details | A cross-border aggregator transaction is capped at ₹25 lakh | 8 |
| A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 of 29 February 2012 | Every receipt | Receipts carry a five-character purpose code starting with P | 29 |
| FEMA 2026 Regulations, regulation 19 | Exporters taking direct SWIFT transfers | Banks publish a policy and SOP listing documents, timelines and charges | 4 |
Read bank wire vs payment platform for how the two routes differ in practice.
What does each option charge for a payment from Austria?
Each option charges for a payment from Austria differently: platforms publish a per-payment fee, PayPal adds a conversion fee, and banks publish their own schedule.10126 If an Austrian client pays your Wise euro details by SWIFT instead of a domestic transfer, Wise's general business fee table lists 2.39 EUR per EUR Swift payment.3
| Option | Best for | Published charge on a EUR receipt | Who can sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Razorpay | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone | 1% plus GST per bank transfer, or ₹1,000 below ₹1,00,000; 0% FX markup | Indian businesses with Razorpay KYC; Individual and Sole Proprietorship are listed business types | 513 |
| Karbon Business | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts | 1% transaction fee | Must be incorporated under Indian law, per its forex terms | 6169 |
| Winvesta | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee | 0.99% plus EUR 5 per payment up to 2,000 a month; 18% GST on fees | Freelancers (PAN, Aadhaar, a marketing channel link, bank details) and businesses | 103022 |
| PayPal | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance | 4.40% plus 0.35 EUR per international commercial transaction, then a 3.0% or 4.00% conversion fee | Indian residents with a verified PAN, an Indian bank account, a purpose code and full KYC | 13123 |
| Direct SWIFT transfer | Large one-off payments to an existing bank relationship | Bank's published charges, for example no inward remittance charge and ₹200 per FIRC at HDFC Bank | Any account holder at an AD bank | 264 |
| Wise | Bank transfers to local account details | 2 USD equivalent per transfer (help article); free e-FIRC (receive pricing page); 2.39 EUR per EUR Swift payment on the general business fee table; 18% GST on fees | Wise Business only: sole traders with a personal PAN, proprietorships, companies, LLPs and partnerships | 233227 |
The SWIFT transfer charges guide explains sender, intermediary and receiver charges.
Which option is cheapest at EUR 1,800, EUR 4,500 and EUR 9,000?
The cheapest option for an Austrian client's payment depends on invoice size, because Skydo and Winvesta charge fixed amounts that matter less as invoices grow.3310 The table works out the INR received on published fees at today's rate.
| Platform | Best for | INR on EUR 1,800 | INR on EUR 4,500 | INR on EUR 9,000 | Cost on EUR 4,500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkydoMost INRTransfer to Skydo local account details or international SWIFT account | Local bank transfers from major markets | ₹1,85,371 | ₹4,65,484 | ₹9,34,193 | 0.69% |
| Karbon BusinessBank transfer to a Karbon virtual USD account | US bank transfers and marketplace payouts | ₹1,85,271 to ₹1,85,609 | ₹4,63,178 to ₹4,64,022 | ₹9,26,356 to ₹9,28,043 | 1.00 to 1.18% |
| RazorpayMoneySaver Export Account: bank transfer to virtual account details (Standard plan) | Local transfers from the US, UK and eurozone | ₹1,85,271 to ₹1,85,609 | ₹4,63,178 to ₹4,64,022 | ₹9,26,356 to ₹9,28,043 | 1.00 to 1.18% |
| WinvestaGlobal Collections Account, standard plan (up to 2,000 a month per currency) | Local transfers with a published per-payment fee | ₹1,84,679 | ₹4,62,619 | ₹9,25,852 | 1.30% |
| PayPalInternational commercial transaction received into a PayPal account (PayPal checkout or invoice) | Clients paying by card or PayPal balance | ₹1,72,030 to ₹1,73,822 | ₹4,30,127 to ₹4,34,608 | ₹8,60,289 to ₹8,69,251 | 7.28 to 8.23% |
Not estimated because pricing for EUR is not fully published: Wise.
Ranked by INR received on EUR 4,500. 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 published fees a EUR 1,800 bank transfer from an Austrian client costs about 1.00 to 1.18% with Razorpay or Karbon Business and about 1.50% with Winvesta, while the same amount through PayPal costs about 7.29 to 8.24%.56101 At EUR 4,500, Skydo's flat USD 29 fee works out to about 0.68%, and Winvesta's to about 1.30%.333410
What documents and GST apply to payments from Austria?
A payment from a client in Austria for services is an export when all five conditions in section 2(6) of the IGST Act hold, and it is then a zero-rated supply.735 A registered supplier invoices it without IGST under a Letter of Undertaking.36
| Document or rule | What it does | When | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export of services test, IGST Act section 2(6) | Five conditions: supplier in India, recipient outside India, place of supply outside India, payment in convertible foreign exchange (or INR where RBI permits), and the two not merely establishments of one person7 | Before you invoice | Checking a new foreign client |
| Letter of Undertaking (LUT) in FORM GST RFD-11 | Lets a registered supplier invoice exports without IGST; deemed accepted when the ARN is generated3635 | Once for each financial year | GST-registered freelancers and firms |
| Export Declaration Form (EDF) | Declares the export to your authorised dealer (AD) bank; one EDF can cover a month's invoices4 | Within 30 days from the end of the invoice month, or for non-software services on or before the payment date4 | Every service exporter from 1 October 2026 |
| Purpose code | Tells the bank what the receipt is for, as a five-character code starting with P29 | When the money arrives | Matching the receipt to the service |
| FIRA, FIRC or e-FIRC | Advice or certificate showing the foreign payment reached India, usually with the rate and purpose code | For each receipt, from the bank or platform | Matching each payment to its invoice |
| e-BRC | Self-generated by the exporter on the DGFT portal from the bank's inward remittance (IRM) data3738 | After the bank reports the receipt | Proving realisation for GST refunds and schemes |
| Rule 96A, CGST Rules | IGST with interest becomes payable if payment is not received within one year of the invoice, or the FEMA period with any extension, whichever is later39 | Tracked per invoice | Exporters with slow-paying clients |
- SWIFT receipts: your bank's inward remittance data lets you self-generate an e-BRC on DGFT.37
- Certificates: HDFC Bank, for example, charges ₹200 per FIRC.26
See FIRC vs FIRA vs e-BRC for which document you need.
What changes in 2026 for exporters paid from Austria?
The 2026 changes for exporters paid from Austria are the FEMA export regulations from 1 October 2026, the EDF for every service export and the nine-month realisation period.428
| Change | From | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 | 1 October 2026 | Replace the 2015 export regulations for goods and services4 | Every exporter |
| EDF for all services | 1 October 2026 | Every exporter of services gives an EDF to the AD bank, not only software exporters4 | Freelancers and agencies new to the EDF |
| Realisation period | 1 October 2026 | Nine months from the invoice date, or twelve months if invoiced or settled in rupees28 | Exporters with long payment terms |
| GST Council recommendation on condition (v) of section 2(6) | Recommended 8 October 2026 | A recommendation only; it needs a change in the law and is not in force40 | Exporters billing a related foreign entity |
| PA-CB cap and list | Master Direction of 15 September 2025 | Each cross-border aggregator transaction is capped at ₹25 lakh; RBI's list as on 16 October 2026 names the authorised entities815 | Anyone choosing a payment platform |
- Wise: authorised as a PA-CB for inward transactions on 12 March 2026, per RBI's list.15
- PayPal: free weekly digital FIRA from February 2026.25
Confirm the treatment of your own invoices with a chartered accountant.
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]PayPal India, PayPal Merchant Fees (page last updated 28 March 2024) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [2]Wise Help Centre, Receiving payments for Indian businesses (checked 2026-10-28)
- [3]Wise India site, Wise Business pricing, fees at a glance (checked 2026-10-28)
- [4]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)
- [5]Razorpay, Multi-Currency Account for International Bank Transfers (MoneySaver Export Account pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [6]Karbon Business, PayPal Alternative comparison page (checked 2026-10-28)
- [7]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 2(6), definition of export of services
- [8]RBI: Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregators, 15 September 2025, paragraph 11(d)
- [9]Karbon Business, Karbon for Freelancers (checked 2026-10-28)
- [10]Winvesta FAQs, What are the charges for the global collections account? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [11]European Central Bank: Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [12]Razorpay, Pricing, International Payments and International Bank Transfers tabs (checked 2026-10-28)
- [13]Razorpay Docs, International Bank Transfer (MoneySaver Export Account) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [14]Razorpay Docs, FIRS Automated Process (checked 2026-10-28)
- [15]RBI: Certificates of Authorisation issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Payment Aggregators list (dated 16 October 2026)
- [16]Karbon Forex Terms and Conditions, Interropac Private Limited (checked 2026-10-28)
- [17]Winvesta, Multi-Currency Business Account (checked 2026-10-28)
- [18]Winvesta FAQs, How long does it take for funds to reach my Indian bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [19]Winvesta FAQs, When will I receive my e-FIRA certificate? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [20]Winvesta FAQs, How is Winvesta regulated? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [21]RBI: Status of Applications received under Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, as on 16 October 2026 (checked 2026-10-28)
- [22]Winvesta FAQs, What currencies are available with local accounts? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [23]PayPal India, User Agreement for PayPal Services (last updated 13 January 2025) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [24]PayPal India Help, How do I transfer funds to my bank account? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [25]PayPal India, Foreign Inward Remittance Advise (FIRA) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [26]HDFC Bank: Remittance services fees and charges (checked 2026-10-31)
- [27]Wise India, Fees for getting paid (Wise Business receive pricing) (checked 2026-10-28)
- [28]RBI: Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB dated 22 September 2026, amending regulation 5 (realisation period)
- [29]RBI: A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84 (RBI/2011-12/413) dated 29 February 2012, Compilation of R-Returns: Reporting under FETERS
- [30]Winvesta FAQs, What documents do I need to open a global collection account as a freelancer? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [31]PayPal India Help, How do I receive payments through PayPal? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [32]Wise Help Centre, How to verify your Indian business to receive payments (checked 2026-10-28)
- [33]Skydo FAQs, How much does Skydo charge? (checked 2026-10-28)
- [34]Skydo, home page fee table (checked 2026-10-28)
- [35]CBIC: IGST Act, 2017, section 16, zero-rated supply
- [36]GST Portal user guide: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking (FORM GST RFD-11)
- [37]DGFT: eBRC services (self-generation of e-BRC from bank inward remittance data)
- [38]DGFT: FAQs (Self-Generation of eBRC), Version 1.0, March 2024
- [39]CBIC: CGST Rules, 2017, rule 96A, as substituted by Notification No. 12/2024-Central Tax dated 10 July 2024
- [40]GST Council: Press release on the recommendations of the 57th GST Council meeting, 8 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
How can I receive payments from my Austrian client in India?+
An Austrian client can pay you by a domestic euro transfer to account details from a platform such as Wise, Razorpay or Winvesta, through PayPal, or by a SWIFT wire to your Indian bank.213221 Platforms convert the euros and pay rupees into your Indian account.
Is a direct SWIFT transfer from Austria cheaper than Wise?+
A direct SWIFT transfer can cost more or less than Wise, because your bank sets its own conversion rate and charges.4 HDFC Bank, for example, lists no inward remittance charge and ₹200 per FIRC.26 Wise charges a 2 USD equivalent per transfer but does not publish its INR conversion percentage.227
What details does my Austrian client need for a SWIFT payment to India?+
Your Austrian client needs your name, account number, your bank's SWIFT code and address, and the invoice reference for a SWIFT payment. Your bank then credits rupees and reports the receipt with a purpose code under RBI's FETERS reporting.29 Ask your bank whether it needs anything more.
Does PayPal work for clients in Austria paying an Indian freelancer?+
PayPal works for clients paying an Indian freelancer from abroad once the freelancer completes full KYC, with a verified PAN, an Indian bank account and a purpose code.31 PayPal charges 4.40% plus 0.35 EUR per international commercial transaction and a conversion fee.1
Do I need an LUT to invoice an Austrian client without GST?+
A GST-registered supplier needs a Letter of Undertaking in FORM GST RFD-11 for each financial year to invoice exports without IGST.36 The supply must meet all five conditions of section 2(6) of the IGST Act to count as an export.7
Is there a limit on euro payments received through a platform from Austria?+
RBI caps each transaction through a cross-border payment aggregator at ₹25 lakh, for inward and outward payments.8 Winvesta's published standard plan covers up to 2,000 a month per currency, with custom pricing above that.10 The cap applies to aggregator transactions, so ask your bank about large direct SWIFT receipts.
When must I file an EDF for an invoice to an Austrian client?+
You file the Export Declaration Form with your bank within 30 days from the end of the month of the invoice, under the 2026 Regulations in force from 1 October 2026.4 Exporters of non-software services may instead file it on or before the date payment is received.4
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.
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