Which currency should I invoice an international client in?

Bill in the client's currency if they are in the US, UK or EU, since it is easiest for them to approve and pay. Otherwise bill in USD. Always write the currency code, such as USD 1,200, because more than twenty currencies use a dollar sign.

Who should pay the international bank transfer fee?

State it explicitly on the invoice, for example 'Bank charges to be borne by sender.' If you leave it unsaid, the fee is usually deducted from your payment and you receive less than you invoiced.

Do I charge sales tax or VAT to a foreign client?

It depends on your country. Exported services are often zero-rated or outside the scope of local sales tax, and in the EU business-to-business cross-border services often shift the VAT obligation to the buyer under the reverse charge. Check your own country's rules or ask an accountant.

How long does an international payment take?

Usually two to five working days after the client sends it. Do not chase on the first day.

How to invoice international clients

Invoicing someone in another country is not harder than invoicing locally. It just adds three decisions: which currency, how they pay you, and who absorbs the fees. Get those wrong and you quietly lose 3–7% of every invoice.

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1. Decide which currency to bill in

You have three options, and they are not equal:

Option	Good	Bad
Bill in your currency	You always know what you will receive	Client bears the conversion; some will refuse
Bill in their currency	Easiest for the client to approve and pay	The rate moves between invoice and payment
Bill in USD or EUR	Neutral, widely accepted, easy to quote	Both sides may convert, so two sets of fees

For most freelancers the practical answer is to bill in the client's currency if they are in the US, UK or EU, and in USD otherwise. Whichever you choose, write the currency code on the invoice — USD 1,200, not just $1,200. More than twenty currencies use a dollar sign.

2. Put the right things on the invoice

An international invoice needs everything a domestic one needs, plus:

Both addresses in full. Their accounts team may need it for their own tax filing.
Your tax or business number, if you have one. Many companies cannot pay a foreign supplier without it.
The currency code on every amount.
Complete bank details: IBAN or account number, SWIFT/BIC, bank name, bank address, and the exact account-holder name.
Who pays the transfer fee — written plainly, for example "Bank charges to be borne by sender."

That last line is the one freelancers forget, and the one that costs money.

3. Understand where the money disappears

A typical international transfer loses value in three places at once:

The sending fee — a flat charge from their bank.
The exchange-rate markup — usually the biggest loss and the least visible. Banks commonly add 2–4% to the mid-market rate while advertising the transfer as "fee free".
The receiving fee — your own bank's charge for an incoming foreign payment.

Compare the rate you are offered against the mid-market rate on the day. If the gap is more than about 1%, you are paying a markup regardless of the advertised fee.

Getting paid from abroad? Banks often hide a markup in the exchange rate. Wise converts at the mid-market rate and shows its fee upfront, and where available it gives you local account details in several currencies to put on your invoice.

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4. Set payment terms that survive time zones

Write the due date in full (15 December 2026), never "30 days" alone and never in ambiguous numeric form — 12/06 means June in the US and December almost everywhere else.
For a first-time client abroad, ask for 30–50% upfront. Chasing a small unpaid invoice across a border is effectively impossible.
Expect payment to take two to five working days after they send it. Do not chase on day one.

5. Tax: the short version

Rules differ by country, so treat this as orientation rather than advice. Two patterns are common:

Exported services are often zero-rated or outside the scope of your local sales tax. That does not always mean you can ignore it on the invoice — you may still need to state why no tax was charged.
In the EU, business-to-business cross-border services often shift the VAT obligation to the buyer, and such invoices usually carry a note such as "reverse charge".

Check your own country's rules, or ask an accountant once. It is a single conversation that pays for itself.

A note on e-invoicing mandates

Several countries are making structured electronic invoicing mandatory between 2026 and 2028, including France, Germany, Poland, Belgium, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Those systems need specific formats submitted through approved platforms, and a PDF does not satisfy them. They mostly cover domestic business-to-business invoices, so freelancers invoicing across borders are generally not affected yet — but if you invoice a large company inside one of those countries, ask which format they need.

Make the invoice

Our free generator covers the practical parts: 57 currencies, a notes field for bank details and fee wording, discounts, tax, and a clean PDF. No signup, and your client's details never leave your browser.

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