If you freelance for international clients, you’ve probably dealt with the same frustrating cycle: your payment arrives in a USD or foreign currency account, sits there until you decide to move it, and then requires a separate withdrawal step before it reaches your actual bank account. Two steps where one should do.
That’s changing. Freelancers can now receive payments from international clients directly to their local bank account — in their own currency, in one move, with no foreign account required.
Here’s how it works and why it matters.
Why the Old Way Was Unnecessarily Complicated
For years, getting paid by international clients as a freelancer meant setting up some kind of foreign currency account — a USD wallet, a multi-currency account with a platform like Wise or Payoneer — receiving your payment there first, and then withdrawing to your local bank when the rate felt right or when you simply needed the money.
It worked, but it had real downsides. You were managing an extra account. You had to remember to make the withdrawal. And every time you converted and moved funds, there was another fee or exchange rate markup eating into your earnings.
For freelancers in markets like Mexico, Colombia, or Pakistan, where the local currency is what actually pays the bills, this process added unnecessary friction between completing a job and accessing your money.
What Direct-to-Bank Payment Actually Means
Direct-to-bank payment means exactly what it sounds like: your client sends the payment, and it lands in your local bank account. No intermediate step, no foreign currency account to manage, no manual withdrawal.
You set your local bank account as your payment destination once. From then on, every payment request you send to a client results in funds arriving directly there — converted to your local currency, with the exact amount shown to you upfront before anything moves.
Ready to get paid directly to your local bank account? Open a free Remitly Freelancer account.
How the Process Works, Step by Step
The payment flow is straightforward for both you and your client.
Step 1: Create a payment request.
In the Remitly app, tap Request, enter the amount you’re owed, and generate a payment link. The whole thing takes under a minute.
Step 2: Share the link with your client.
Send it by email, WhatsApp, or however you normally communicate. Your client doesn’t need to already have an account — they can set one up in minutes when they open the link.
Step 3: Your client pays in their local currency.
Clients based in the US, Canada, or the UK pay in USD, CAD, or GBP respectively. They see their fee clearly before confirming — no surprises on their end either.
Step 4: The payment arrives in your local bank account.
The funds are converted and deposited directly. You saw the exact amount you’d receive before your client even hit confirm.
What It Costs
Receiving payments directly to your local bank account is free for you. There are no fees to open a Remitly Freelancer account, create payment requests, or receive a bank deposit.
Your client pays a small fee based on the amount they’re sending and their payment method. This is shown clearly on their end before they confirm, so there’s no ambiguity about deductions and no awkward conversations after the fact.
You Can Still Hold Funds in USD If You Prefer
Direct-to-bank is the default for freelancers who want simplicity — but it’s not the only option. If you’d rather hold your earnings in USD and convert when the exchange rate is more favourable, that option remains available.
Some freelancers, particularly those earning in larger volumes or with strong views on FX timing, prefer this approach. The choice is yours, and you can update your payment destination at any time.
Who This Works For
Remitly currently supports freelancers and contractors receiving payments from clients based in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whether you’re a virtual assistant, developer, designer, translator, video editor, or consultant — if you work directly with clients in those markets, this is built for you.
If you’re based somewhere like Argentina or Pakistan and have been putting off setting up a payment solution because the multi-account setup felt like too much effort, this removes that barrier entirely.
A Simpler Standard for Getting Paid
The complexity of international freelance payments has long been accepted as just part of the job. But receiving money from a client abroad shouldn’t require maintaining a foreign currency account, monitoring exchange rates before every withdrawal, or paying fees at multiple points in the process.
Getting paid directly to your local bank account is simpler, faster, and more transparent. And for freelancers who spend their working lives delivering results for clients — simpler is always worth it.
Open your free Remitly Freelancer account and start receiving payments directly to your local bank.
Legal Disclaimer
Product availability may vary by jurisdiction and is subject to change. Not an offer or solicitation where Remitly or its affiliates are not licensed or otherwise authorized. Availability and use of the products and services is subject to compliance with applicable law.