Yes, overseas clients can pay a UK invoice in pounds, usually by card or by international bank transfer. With a card, the client's own card provider converts the payment into their currency, so any conversion fee tends to fall on them. With a bank transfer, charges taken along the way can mean less than the invoice amount reaches you.
In this article
The short version
- Overseas clients can pay a UK invoice in pounds by card or international bank transfer.
- With a card, the client's card provider converts the payment, so any conversion fee usually falls on the client.
- For transfers, give your IBAN and BIC and ask the client to choose OUR charges.
- Direct debit and pay by bank need a UK bank account.
- Adfin collects in pounds only; GoCardless, Stripe, Wise or Revolut handle other currencies.
Can overseas clients pay by card in pounds?
If your invoice is in pounds, an overseas client can pay it with the debit or credit card they already use. You charge £1,200 and the card payment is for £1,200. Their card provider converts that into their own currency at the card scheme's exchange rate, and many providers add a fee for doing the conversion.
All of that happens on the client's side. You invoice in pounds and receive pounds, so the exchange rate and any conversion fee usually land with the client and not with you.
For you, card payment keeps the admin light. There's one currency on the invoice, one amount to match in your books and no exchange rate to agree with the client before they pay.
Can overseas clients pay by international bank transfer?
A client abroad can also send pounds by bank transfer. They'll need your IBAN and BIC, which are your account number and sort code written in the format overseas banks recognise. Put both on any invoice you send internationally, along with your account name and address. If details are missing, the payment can be rejected or returned, sometimes with a fee.
Charges are what make transfers less predictable. When the client sends the payment, their bank asks who should pay the fees, using one of three codes.
| Code | Who pays the charges | What you're likely to receive |
|---|---|---|
| SHA | The client pays their bank, you pay yours | Less than the invoice, by your bank's charge |
| BEN | You pay both banks' charges | Less than the invoice, by both charges |
| OUR | The client pays both banks' charges | Usually the full amount sent |
On top of these, a transfer can pass through one or more intermediary banks, and they may deduct their own fees from the amount sent. So a client can pay the invoice in full and you can still receive a little less.
You can ask the client for a couple of things that should reduce the gap. Ask them to send pounds and not their own currency, because if foreign currency arrives, your bank converts it at its own inbound rate and the exchange cost moves to you. And ask them to choose OUR, so their bank covers both sides of the charges. If a short payment still arrives, you'll need to decide whether to chase the difference or write it off.
Why direct debit and pay by bank need a UK account
Direct debit can only be set up from a UK bank account. It runs on Bacs, which collects from and pays into British bank accounts, and the mandate asks for an account number and sort code.
Pay by bank moves money instantly over Faster Payments, the UK's real-time payment system, so it's built for clients who bank in the UK. An overseas client with a UK account can use either method. A client who only banks abroad will usually pay by card or international transfer.
How to send overseas clients a payment link
With Adfin, you can send a payment link by email, SMS or WhatsApp, and an overseas client can pay it by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay in pounds. Their card provider handles any conversion, the payment is marked paid in Xero or QuickBooks automatically, and payouts are gross with fees invoiced separately, so what lands in your account matches the invoice.
Adfin collects in pounds only. If you need to invoice clients in other currencies, GoCardless, Stripe, Wise or Revolut handle multi-currency payments, and one of them is likely to suit you better for that part of your billing.
Common questions
Who pays the currency conversion when an overseas client pays by card? The client's card provider converts the pounds into their own currency and may charge a fee for it. The cost usually falls on the client, and you receive the amount on the invoice.
What details does an overseas client need to pay me by bank transfer? Your IBAN, BIC, account name and address. Their bank may also ask for an intermediary bank's BIC, and missing details can lead to the payment being rejected.
Why did I receive less than the invoice from an international transfer? Bank charges are the usual reason. Under SHA or BEN you pay some or all of the charges, and intermediary banks may take their own fees from the amount sent.
Can an overseas client pay by direct debit? Only if they have a UK bank account. Direct debits can only be set up from a UK account, so a client who banks abroad will usually pay by card or transfer.
Can overseas clients pay by Apple Pay or Google Pay? Yes, if your payment link offers them. The client pays the amount in pounds and their card provider handles any conversion.
Can Adfin collect payments in euros or other currencies? No, it collects in pounds only. If you need to bill in other currencies, GoCardless, Stripe, Wise or Revolut handle multi-currency payments.
Sources
- Lloyds Bank - Costs of debit and credit cards abroad (accurate as of October 2026) https://www.lloydsbank.com/travel/using-debit-credit-cards-abroad.html
- HSBC UK Business - IBAN and BIC (accurate as of October 2026) https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/solutions/iban-and-bic
- Ulster Bank Business - International payments (accurate as of October 2026) https://www.ulsterbank.co.uk/business/support/making-and-accepting-payments/electronic-payments/international-payments.html
- Direct Debit - Setting up a Direct Debit (accurate as of October 2026) https://www.directdebit.co.uk/help/setting-up-a-direct-debit/
- Pay.UK - Faster Payment System (accurate as of October 2026) https://www.wearepay.uk/what-we-do/payment-systems/faster-payment-system/
