Digital payment methods for exporters and developers in India and Pakistan

Digital payment landscapes for freelancers and exporters in India and Pakistan involve specific regulatory and platform-based constraints.

In India, PayPal operates through PayPal Payments Private Limited under Reserve Bank of India regulations for Online Payment Gateway Service Providers. The service is specifically designed for Export Payment Services, allowing residents to receive payments from overseas buyers for the export of goods and services. It is not a bank or a stored-value service; instead, it routes funds through authorized dealer banks. Users should note that transaction limits, reserves, and risk holds may apply.

In Pakistan, developers seeking to receive USD payments face challenges as Stripe does not support the country. Effective methods involve using Merchant of Record (MoR) platforms such as Dodo Payments, Polar, Creem, Paddle, or FastSpring to handle international sales and taxes. These platforms can then facilitate payouts to receiving accounts, such as Payoneer, which provides US-based receiving accounts for subsequent withdrawal to local Pakistani banks. Local mobile-money services like JazzCash and Easypaisa are primarily domestic and not suitable for receiving direct USD from international customers.