Get paid in dollars as a freelancer

Your options for receiving dollars

• A USD account in your name. The client pays you like they would pay anyone in the US, by ACH. This is usually the simplest choice for direct clients.
• Payment platforms. Marketplaces such as Upwork and Fiverr pay into their own balance first. You then withdraw to a bank account or account details they support. Check each platform's withdrawal options in your settings.
• Stablecoins. Some clients prefer to pay in USDT or USDC. That is fast, but you must use the right network and address, and the rules for crypto in Nigeria are still changing.
• Domiciliary account at a Nigerian bank. This can receive SWIFT transfers, but transfers can be slower and banks may charge fees on each one.

What to send your client

• Your account name, exactly as it appears in the app. It must match your verified name.
• The account number and routing number from the app, plus the bank's name.
• The payment type: ACH. Ask the client to use your details as they are, without adding extra words to the name.
• Your invoice, with your name, the work done, the amount in USD and the date.

Why dollar payments get held or rejected

• The name doesn't match. If the client types a different name, or a business name, the payment can be held. On Palremit, the USD account is in your personal name only.
• The details were copied wrong. Ask the client to copy and paste rather than retype.
• A first payment or an unusual amount. All payments go through compliance checks, and large or first-time deposits may need more information. Keep invoices and contracts ready.
• The wrong payment type. Ask your client to pay using the method shown in your account details.

Dollars or naira?

• Holding dollars protects what you've earned from naira swings, and you can pay for international tools with a dollar card.
• Swap to naira when you need to spend locally. Check the rate at the time you swap, because it moves through the day.
• Keep a record of what you receive and when. Freelance income in Nigeria can be taxable, and records make filing easier.

Receiving dollars with Palremit

With Palremit you get a USD account to receive payments from clients and platforms abroad. Third-party payments are accepted, subject to checks. Your dollars arrive in your Palremit wallet. From there you can swap to naira and cash out to your Nigerian bank in seconds, or fund your Mastercard dollar card to pay for tools and subscriptions.