How Do You Receive EUR (Euro) Payments in India in 2026?
- Author:
- Manoj Sharma
- Verified by:
- Editorial team
- Published:
- Last modified:
Short answer
You can receive EUR in India through local EUR account details that accept SEPA transfers, a SWIFT wire to your Indian bank, a card or online checkout, or a remittance app. On EUR 5,000, Skydo pays the most of the platforms with full published pricing for EUR: about ₹5,27,966 on 4 Nov 2026.
| Method | Cost | Speed | FIRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local EUR account details | The client pays their own bank's charge for a SEPA transfer. The account provider charges a conversion or payout fee when it sends INR to your Indian bank. | SEPA Instant can reach the EUR account within ten seconds where both banks offer it. The onward INR payout time depends on the provider. | Ask the provider whether the INR credit comes with a bank-issued inward remittance advice or certificate showing the purpose code. |
| SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | The client's bank, any intermediary bank and your Indian bank can each deduct a charge. The OUR, SHA or BEN charge option the client picks decides who bears them. | Depends on the correspondent bank chain. An RBI circular effective from October 2026 asks banks to endeavour to credit inward payments received during forex market hours on the same business day. | Your AD bank issues an inward remittance advice or certificate, usually on request or through net banking. |
| Card or online checkout | A percentage of each payment set by the payment aggregator, plus a conversion cost when euros are settled in INR. | Paid out in batches after card clearing. RBI caps each cross-border aggregator transaction at ₹25 lakh. | A cross-border payment aggregator must give your AD bank the documents needed to close export entries. |
| Remittance app | A transfer fee set by the app and usually paid by the sender, plus conversion. | Often quick for small amounts, within per-transfer limits set by the app. | Many remittance apps are built for personal transfers. Confirm the receipt can carry an export purpose code before using one for client payments. |
Who this is for: This page is for Indian freelancers, agencies and registered exporters who invoice clients in euro and want to know how those payments reach an Indian bank account.
At the mid-market rate
₹5,31,202
Highest payout: Skydo
₹5,27,966
- 1.Skydo₹5,27,966cost 0.61%
- 2.Razorpay₹5,24,933cost 1.18%
- 3.Stripe₹4,91,712cost 7.43%
1 EUR = 106.24 INR, XE live mid-market rates rate for 4 Nov 2026. Payout = amount minus fees, converted at the reference rate minus each platform's markup, minus 18% GST on fees where charged. Platforms without published pricing are left out.
What are the ways to receive EUR in India?
| Method | Fees | Markup | Settlement | FIRA | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local EUR account details | The client pays their own bank's charge for a SEPA transfer. The account provider charges a conversion or payout fee when it sends INR to your Indian bank. | Set by the provider. Compare the INR amount you receive with the mid-market rate on the same day. | SEPA Instant can reach the EUR account within ten seconds where both banks offer it. The onward INR payout time depends on the provider. | Ask the provider whether the INR credit comes with a bank-issued inward remittance advice or certificate showing the purpose code. | Regular invoices to clients who pay from a bank account in a SEPA country |
| SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | The client's bank, any intermediary bank and your Indian bank can each deduct a charge. The OUR, SHA or BEN charge option the client picks decides who bears them. | Your AD bank converts at its own buying rate, unless you credit the euros to an EEFC account and convert later. | Depends on the correspondent bank chain. An RBI circular effective from October 2026 asks banks to endeavour to credit inward payments received during forex market hours on the same business day. | Your AD bank issues an inward remittance advice or certificate, usually on request or through net banking. | Large invoices, advance payments and exporters who want to hold EUR in an EEFC account |
| Card or online checkout | A percentage of each payment set by the payment aggregator, plus a conversion cost when euros are settled in INR. | Built into the settlement rate the aggregator or its AD bank applies. | Paid out in batches after card clearing. RBI caps each cross-border aggregator transaction at ₹25 lakh. | A cross-border payment aggregator must give your AD bank the documents needed to close export entries. | Small one-off payments, online sales and clients who prefer to pay by card |
| Remittance app | A transfer fee set by the app and usually paid by the sender, plus conversion. | Built into the rate the sender sees when booking the transfer. | Often quick for small amounts, within per-transfer limits set by the app. | Many remittance apps are built for personal transfers. Confirm the receipt can carry an export purpose code before using one for client payments. | Occasional small payments from individual clients |
Which countries pay in EUR and what rails do they use?
| Country | Rail | Client enters | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant to local EUR account details, or a SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | Your name and IBAN for a SEPA transfer, or your Indian bank's SWIFT code and account number for a wire | Up to ten seconds with SEPA Instant to the EUR account; SWIFT wires depend on the bank chain | Clients paying from an account in Germany (IBANs starting DE) |
| France | SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant to local EUR account details, or a SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | Your name and IBAN for a SEPA transfer, or your Indian bank's SWIFT code and account number for a wire | Up to ten seconds with SEPA Instant to the EUR account; SWIFT wires depend on the bank chain | Clients paying from an account in France (IBANs starting FR) |
| Netherlands | SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant to local EUR account details, or a SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | Your name and IBAN for a SEPA transfer, or your Indian bank's SWIFT code and account number for a wire | Up to ten seconds with SEPA Instant to the EUR account; SWIFT wires depend on the bank chain | Clients paying from an account in Netherlands (IBANs starting NL) |
| Spain | SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant to local EUR account details, or a SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | Your name and IBAN for a SEPA transfer, or your Indian bank's SWIFT code and account number for a wire | Up to ten seconds with SEPA Instant to the EUR account; SWIFT wires depend on the bank chain | Clients paying from an account in Spain (IBANs starting ES) |
| Italy | SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant to local EUR account details, or a SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | Your name and IBAN for a SEPA transfer, or your Indian bank's SWIFT code and account number for a wire | Up to ten seconds with SEPA Instant to the EUR account; SWIFT wires depend on the bank chain | Clients paying from an account in Italy (IBANs starting IT) |
| Belgium | SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant to local EUR account details, or a SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | Your name and IBAN for a SEPA transfer, or your Indian bank's SWIFT code and account number for a wire | Up to ten seconds with SEPA Instant to the EUR account; SWIFT wires depend on the bank chain | Clients paying from an account in Belgium (IBANs starting BE) |
| Austria | SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant to local EUR account details, or a SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | Your name and IBAN for a SEPA transfer, or your Indian bank's SWIFT code and account number for a wire | Up to ten seconds with SEPA Instant to the EUR account; SWIFT wires depend on the bank chain | Clients paying from an account in Austria (IBANs starting AT) |
| Ireland | SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant to local EUR account details, or a SWIFT wire to an Indian bank | Your name and IBAN for a SEPA transfer, or your Indian bank's SWIFT code and account number for a wire | Up to ten seconds with SEPA Instant to the EUR account; SWIFT wires depend on the bank chain | Clients paying from an account in Ireland (IBANs starting IE) |
Which platforms are best for receiving EUR in India?
The table ranks platforms with full published pricing for EUR by the INR received on EUR 5,000, then lists other business platforms that accept EUR, unranked. Fees were checked on 30 Sept 2026 or later.
| Platform | Best for | FX markup | Fee | FIRA | Settlement | RBI status | INR on EUR 5,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skydo | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices | States zero FX margin at live rate | $19 up to $2,000, $29 to $10,000, 0.3% above + GST | States instant, free FIRA per payment | States under 24 hours; FAQ timelines vary by rail | RBI authorised PA-CB Inward and Outward; on RBI list | ₹5,27,966 |
| Razorpay | Indian businesses and freelancers on Razorpay invoicing foreign clients | States 0% markup on MoneySaver at live rate | 1% per bank transfer (Rs 1,000 flat below Rs 1,00,000) + GST | FIRS within 24 hours of settlement; no charge listed | States 1 day (T+1 after invoice shared) | RBI authorised PA-CB inward and outward, plus PA-O | ₹5,24,933 |
| Stripe | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers | 2% if converted; Stripe says rate is generally mid-market | 4.3% intl cards; 3% Visa/Mastercard, 3.5% Amex; + 2% if converted | Standard Chartered payment advice; FIRC cost not confirmed | Daily INR payouts; card funds after five business days | Not confirmed | ₹4,91,712 |
| HDFC Bank | Existing HDFC customers wanting free SWIFT receipts or EEFC accounts | Card rate ~1.79% below mid-market on 6 Oct 2026; markup unpublished | No inward charge; physical FIRC INR 200 + taxes; GST on conversion | Physical FIRC INR 200; emailed advice free for trade | Personal page states within 72 hours; trade no fixed time | RBI-listed private bank; AD status not confirmed on RBI | Not published for EUR |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | Service exporters wanting a current account without inward remittance fees | Card rate, markup not published; 1.71% below mid-market on 7 Oct 2026 | No inward, FIRC, SWIFT fee on current accounts; GST on conversion | Nil FIRC on current accounts; savings Rs 100 or nil | Not confirmed; no credit time published | RBI-listed private sector bank; AD status not checked | Not published for EUR |
| PayPal | Card and PayPal-wallet payments from overseas PayPal buyers | 3.0% above PayPal's base rate on conversion | 4.40% + USD 0.30 per international payment; fixed fee varies | Free weekly FIRA; custom Rs 100 + 18% GST each | Not confirmed | PA-CB in-principle authorisation granted; final not confirmed | Not published for EUR |
| Wise Business | Freelancers and small exporters wanting multi-currency local accounts and eFIRC | Mid-market rate; cost is the 1.6% conversion fee | Calculator: 1.6% + $2 per payment + 18% GST | eFIRC per transfer, 2 USD + 18% GST | States under 90 minutes in business hours | States in-principle PA-CB approval; not found on RBI page | Not published for EUR |
| Airwallex | Registered Indian companies collecting multi-currency and paying suppliers globally | 0.60% for INR (0.40% majors), Singapore schedule; India rate not confirmed | No USD receive fee; free local payouts; Explore plan no monthly fee | No auto FIRA; FIRC on request; partner fee may apply | States ~90% processed within hours to one business day | Not confirmed; not on RBI list, no PA-CB claim | Not published for EUR |
What is the real EUR to INR rate you receive?
The real EUR to INR rate is the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buying and selling prices. Bank TT buying rates, card rates and platform rates sit below it, and the gap is a cost to you. For example, at an example mid-market rate of ₹108 per euro, receiving ₹106.40 per euro on €1,000 costs ₹1,600.
Today's rate, its history and every platform's payout are on the EUR to INR rate page.
How much INR do you receive on EUR 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000?
Each row applies the platform's published fee, FX markup and 18% GST on the fee to the mid-market rate of ₹106.24 per EUR for 4 Nov 2026.
| Platform and invoice | At mid-market | INR received | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skydo, EUR 2,000 | ₹2,12,481 | ₹2,09,245 | 1.52% | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Skydo, EUR 5,000 | ₹5,31,202 | ₹5,27,966 | 0.61% | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Skydo, EUR 10,000 | ₹10,62,403 | ₹10,58,642 | 0.35% | Indian freelancers and exporters receiving mid to large B2B invoices |
| Razorpay, EUR 2,000 | ₹2,12,481 | ₹2,09,973 | 1.18% | Indian businesses and freelancers on Razorpay invoicing foreign clients |
| Razorpay, EUR 5,000 | ₹5,31,202 | ₹5,24,933 | 1.18% | Indian businesses and freelancers on Razorpay invoicing foreign clients |
| Razorpay, EUR 10,000 | ₹10,62,403 | ₹10,49,867 | 1.18% | Indian businesses and freelancers on Razorpay invoicing foreign clients |
| Stripe, EUR 2,000 | ₹2,12,481 | ₹1,96,685 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Stripe, EUR 5,000 | ₹5,31,202 | ₹4,91,712 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
| Stripe, EUR 10,000 | ₹10,62,403 | ₹9,83,424 | 7.43% | Registered Indian businesses selling online to card-paying foreign customers |
Can you hold EUR in India?
Yes, you can hold EUR in India in an EEFC account with an AD bank. Any person resident in India can open one under FEMA 10(R), and professionals can credit consultancy and similar fees. The account pays no interest. The alternatives are converting on receipt or booking a forward contract.
- Credits: Up to 100 percent of foreign exchange earnings received through the banking channel can go in, and card receipts reimbursed in foreign exchange count as banking channel receipts under Schedule I of FEMA 10(R).
- Conversion: The Master Direction on Deposits and Accounts says a calendar month's accruals should be converted to rupees by the end of the next month, after adjusting for approved uses or forward commitments. Check how your AD bank applies this.
- Interest: The EEFC account is non-interest bearing, and banks may not lend against the balance, as set out in the Master Direction.
- Withdrawals: You can withdraw in rupees at any time, but rupees withdrawn cannot be credited back to the account under FEMA 10(R).
When should you convert EUR to INR?
- Spot: Convert euros at the rate on the day they arrive. It is simple, and you accept whatever rate the market gives that day.
- Forward contract: Fix an EUR to INR rate today for a future date. Under RBI's hedging directions, AD banks can offer forwards to retail users and allow hedging of contracted exposure up to USD 100 million equivalent without first proving it, though a real exposure must exist. See forward contracts for exporters.
- Limit order: Ask your bank or provider to convert automatically when EUR to INR reaches a rate you set. Availability and minimum amounts vary, so confirm before relying on it.
- Natural hedge: Pay euro costs, such as software subscriptions or travel booked in euro, from EEFC balances so that part of your income is never converted. Payments outside India for permitted current account transactions are allowed debits under FEMA 10(R).
What documents and compliance apply to EUR receipts?
Receiving EUR for exports in India follows the same FEMA rules as any other currency. From 1 October 2026, service exporters file an EDF within 30 days of the end of the invoice month and realise proceeds within nine months under the FEMA 2026 Regulations. Your AD bank reports each receipt with a purpose code.
- EDF: Regulation 3(2) of the FEMA (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026 requires an EDF for services, and one EDF can cover a month's invoices. A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20 supersedes the SOFTEX circulars from 1 October 2026. See the EDF guide.
- Realisation: Export proceeds must be realised within nine months of the invoice date for services, or twelve months if invoiced or settled in INR, as amended on 22 September 2026. Your AD bank can extend this on request.
- EDPMS: Invoices up to ₹10 lakh can be closed in EDPMS on your declaration of realisation, under Regulation 4(2) of the 2026 Regulations.
- Purpose code: Banks report receipts under FETERS using RBI's purpose code list. The code depends on the service provided, and the currency does not change it. FIRA is not a term defined in FEMA; banks issue an inward remittance advice or certificate. See what FIRA means.
- GST: Payment in convertible foreign exchange such as EUR is one condition of export of services under IGST Act section 2(6). A Letter of Undertaking under Rule 96A lets you export without paying IGST.
How did we verify this?
Rules and rails are linked to official sources below with the dates they were checked. Platform figures come from each platform's own pages, checked on 30 Sept 2026 or later, and RBI authorisation was checked against RBI's published list. Rates are XE live mid-market rates, dated 4 Nov 2026. The method is on the methodology page.
- Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Currency Accounts by a person resident in India) Regulations, 2015, Notification No. FEMA 10(R)/2015-RB, Regulation 4(A); Schedule I paras 1(1), 1(2), 3(i) and 4(i): EEFC credits, card receipts as banking channel, permitted debits, rupee withdrawal cannot be re-credited (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- RBI Master Direction - Deposits and Accounts, Para 3.1 items 4, 6 and 7: non-interest bearing; monthly accruals converted by end of succeeding month after approved uses or forward commitments; no credit facilities against balances (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/2026-RB, Reg 1(2) in force 1 Oct 2026; Reg 3(2) EDF for services within 30 days from end of invoice month, single EDF per month; Reg 4(2) EDPMS closure up to Rs 10 lakh on declaration; Reg 5 nine months, twelve if invoiced/settled in INR, AD may extend (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, Notification No. FEMA 23(R)/(1)/2026-RB (22 September 2026), Regulation 5(1): 'nine months' substituted for 'fifteen months' in clauses (a) and (b); 'twelve months' substituted for 'eighteen months' in the first proviso; in force 1 October 2026 (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 20, RBI/2025-26/194: Export and Import of Goods and Services (16 January 2026), Para 4: Master Directions and circulars in Annex (including SOFTEX circulars) superseded from 1 October 2026 (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2023, Notification No. FEMA 14(R)/2023-RB, Regulation 3(1)(I)(a)(iii): countries other than ACU members, in Indian Rupees or in any foreign currency (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- RBI Master Direction on Regulation of Payment Aggregator (PA), Para 11(d) maximum Rs 25 lakh per transaction for PA-CB; para 11(h) documents for EDPMS closure (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- RBI circular: Guidelines to facilitate faster cross-border inward payments, RBI/2026-27/08 (9 April 2026), Para 3: banks shall endeavour to credit inward payments received during forex market hours within the same business day; para 4: effective six months from 9 April 2026 (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84: Compilation of R-Returns, reporting under FETERS (29 February 2012), Para 3 and annexed purpose code list; P1006 Business and management consultancy and public relations services (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- RBI A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 13, RBI/2023-24/108: Risk Management and Inter-Bank Dealings, Hedging of foreign exchange risk (5 January 2024), Annex I: retail users may be offered foreign exchange forwards; contracted exposure up to USD 100 million equivalent without establishing underlying exposure; effective 5 April 2024 (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, section 2 (CBIC tax information portal), Section 2(6)(iv): payment received in convertible foreign exchange or in Indian rupees wherever permitted by RBI (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Central Goods and Services Tax Rules, 2017, Rule 96A (CBIC tax information portal), Rule 96A(1): bond or Letter of Undertaking in FORM GST RFD-11 for export without payment of integrated tax (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- European Central Bank: Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), The SEPA region consists of 41 European countries (status: 22 May 2025) (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- European Central Bank: What are instant payments?, SCT Inst available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; funds available within ten seconds (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- European Central Bank: Euro foreign exchange reference rates, Reference rates published for information purposes only; EUR/INR 108.1165 on 7 October 2026 (basis for the example rate) (checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Skydo homepage (pricing and fee calculator), Know what you pay; calculator showing GST 18% of transaction fee (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Razorpay MoneySaver Export Account (International Bank Transfers) pricing, Standard Plan: 0% FX markup, 1% fee, FlashLinks 2%, GST applicable, flat fee of INR 1,000 on transactions below INR 1,00,000, setup and AMC INR 0 (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Stripe India pricing, International cards with USD/other currency presentment 4.3% + 2% if currency conversion is required; Mastercard and Visa cards issued outside India 3% + 2%; American Express outside India 3.5% + 2%; dispute received INR 1,000.00 (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- HDFC Bank: Remittance Services Fees & Charges, Inward Remittance Charge: No Charge; FIRC Charge for Inward Remittance & FCY Cheque Collection INR 200 per FIRC; GST slabs on amount of currency exchanged (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Kotak Everyday Savings Account fees and charges, Foreign Inward Remittance certificate (Branch Request) INR 100/Request; GST on Foreign Currency Conversion; fees exclusive of GST (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- PayPal India Merchant Fees, Receiving international transactions; Currency Conversions (3.0% converting balance and payments received; 4.00% all other cases); Withdrawals Out of PayPal; Dispute Fees; Other Fees (Last Updated 28 March 2024) (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Wise India: Fees for receiving money (Business), Conversion fee depends on the currency; eFIRC for every transfer; GST 18% of (conversion fee + eFIRC fee); calculator (checked 6 Oct 2026)
- Airwallex Help: Eligible Countries and Territories, INDIA IN - AWX Legal Entity SINGAPORE (checked 7 Oct 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Can an Indian bank account receive a SEPA transfer in euro directly?
No. SEPA covers 41 European countries, and Indian bank accounts sit outside it. A euro area client either pays local EUR account details held with a provider inside SEPA, which then pays you in India, or sends a SWIFT wire in euro straight to your Indian bank account.
What details does a euro area client need to send EUR to India by SWIFT wire?
The client needs your name as it appears on the bank account, your account number, your Indian bank's SWIFT code and branch address, and an invoice reference. Ask the client to choose the OUR charge option so that the client, rather than you, pays the sending and intermediary charges, and keep the payment advice for your records.
Does EUR count as convertible foreign exchange for GST export of services?
Yes. The euro is a convertible foreign currency, so a EUR payment meets the payment condition in section 2(6) of the IGST Act. The other conditions still apply: you are in India, the client and the place of supply are outside India, and you are not establishments of the same person. With an LUT, no IGST is paid.
How long can a EUR export invoice stay unpaid under FEMA rules?
Under the FEMA 2026 Regulations, proceeds of a services export invoiced in EUR must be realised within nine months of the invoice date. Invoices raised or settled in INR get twelve months. Your AD bank can extend the period if you give reasons for the delay and it accepts them.
Is SEPA Instant fast enough to get euro payments to India the same day?
SEPA Instant moves euros within ten seconds, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but only between accounts inside SEPA. It reaches your local EUR account details quickly. The transfer from that account to your Indian bank in INR is a separate step, and its timing depends on the provider and your bank.
Can a freelancer open an EEFC account to keep euro earnings?
Yes. FEMA 10(R) allows any person resident in India to open an EEFC account, and it lists professional earnings such as consultancy fees as eligible credits. Ask your AD bank whether it opens EEFC accounts for individuals, since product availability differs from bank to bank.
Which purpose code applies to EUR receipts for consulting work?
The purpose code follows the service, so the currency does not change it. A consulting receipt usually maps to P1006, which RBI describes as Business and management consultancy and public relations services. Software and design work use other codes. Check the P1006 purpose code guide and confirm with your AD bank.
Should an Indian exporter invoice a euro area client in EUR or INR?
Both are allowed for clients outside the Asian Clearing Union under the Manner of Receipt and Payment Regulations. Invoicing in EUR suits most European clients but leaves you with the currency risk. Invoicing in INR moves that risk to the client and gives you twelve months to realise the payment.