How do I withdraw USD from Upwork from outside the US?

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A 2016 survey found that some 55 million Americans work on a freelance basis, either part or full time. But the meteoric rise in freelance numbers is far from an American phenomenon. Predictions are that half of all workers in the US and UK will work freelance by 2020. And indeed, all around the world, freelance roles are becoming more and more popular.

Many freelancers find their work through platforms such as Upwork. This is a resource for freelance professionals who could be based anywhere on the planet, to connect with potential clients. If you’re new to Upwork, you need to know how to get your hands on your hard earned cash. Here’s the lowdown.

How do I withdraw money from Upwork internationally?

Working with a new platform for the first time can be a bit daunting. There’s a lot of information you need to take in, just to make sure that you’re all set up for your first job. Luckily, Upwork offer a series of tutorials, and a free ebook, to help new freelancers get to grips with the system.

If you take on a freelance job through Upwork, it’ll be set up one of two ways:

1. Fixed-price projects
2. Hourly paid projects

All payments go through Upwork. That means that your client will pay Upwork, and the cash will be held for safekeeping, in something known as an escrow account, and released once both you and your client confirm the project is done. Upwork takes a fee for their services, but also offers some payment guarantees if either a freelancer fails to deliver on a job, or a client can’t pay.

Upwork’s fees are as follows:

• 20% for the first $500 billed with any individual client
• 10% for lifetime billings with the client between $500.01 and $10,000
• 5% for lifetime billings with the client that exceed $10,000

1. Fixed-price projects

To make sure you get paid correctly for your fixed-price project, you’ll agree on the overall price with your client, and also set some milestones, which can be used to trigger partial payment as you work through the job.

The exact milestones will depend on the project type and can be agreed on a case by case basis with the client. For example, you might be a freelance writer, commissioned to deliver 10 articles on a specific topic. In this case, each individual article could be set as a milestone. Once both you and the client agree that that milestone has been achieved, a portion of the payment will be released to you.

Once the client has approved the payment and marked the milestone as satisfactorily delivered, it’ll take up to 5 days before your money will be paid out. That’s because Upwork delays releasing the cash for up to five days as a security measure, to allow them to identify and resolve any disputes before making payment. This doesn’t affect all project types, so check the details of the work you’re taking on. You can access your funds through any of the methods described in the section on uploading and checking your bank details below.

2. Hourly paid projects

If you work on a hourly paid project, you’ll submit timesheets through Upwork to show the hours you’ve worked before you’re paid by the client. To make sure you get paid for hourly contracts, you have to use the Upwork Desktop App to log time to your Work Diary. Your hours are then automatically invoiced to your client by the Upwork system.

Here again, it’ll take up to 5 days before you can request your payment, and you can choose to access your funds through any of the methods described next.

How to upload and check your bank account details on Upwork

Whether you’re working on an hourly paid gig or a fixed project, all payments from your client will pass through Upwork.

To make sure that you’re paid correctly, it’s important you have all of your payment details uploaded on the Upwork site. In addition, you’ll want to make sure you’ve completed necessary timesheets or marked milestones as completed - whichever you’ve agreed upon with the client when you take on the project. You’ll also need to provide details of your tax status.

You can enter your bank details, whether your bank is based in the US or abroad, if you want to be paid using a direct deposit or wire transfer. You can be paid in one currency into a bank account held in another currency - but there’s a fee to pay for this service. It may cost more than you think, so we’ll look at that a little more later.

If you don’t want to use a bank transfer, you can also use PayPal, Payoneer, or M-Pesa if you’re in Kenya. The fees vary across different payment methods, so it’s worth doing your research to understand your options, especially if currency conversion is involved. The amount of time it’ll take to receive your cash can also depend on how it’s being transferred.

If you’re working on an hourly paid project, you’ll be paid according to the billing cycle you agreed with your client. This usually means you’re paid every week for the hours you’ve worked - although this payment might take a few days to reach your account. If you’re working on a fixed-price project, you’re paid when you and the client both agree that you’ve hit a milestone or delivered the project in full.

Direct deposit/ACH? Wire transfer? PayPal? Payoneer? Which one is best?

Once you have input your bank account details, you’ll have to select a payment method. Your options are:

• Direct deposit
• Wire transfer
• PayPal
• Payoneer
• M-Pesa (Kenya only)

The Upwork direct deposit method to local bank accounts (within the US or internationally)

Direct deposits in the US are often called ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments. They’re paid directly into your local US bank account, but can take anywhere from 2-5 days to actually arrive to your bank.

If you’re outside the US, you can also get paid directly into your local bank account in another country. It’ll take 3 days for your bank account to be active and for you to be able to use it, and the time it’ll take to reach your bank account may vary depending on the speed of the system in your country. Upwork also takes an additional fee of $0.99. You’ll also need to keep in mind currency conversion.

The Upwork wire transfer method (within the US or internationally)

Fees vary, depending on where the account is held, and what currency your bank account is in. Wire transfers can be an expensive method of getting your cash, with a $30 flat fee added by Upwork.

If you’re outside of the US, these fees can increase as your money may be transferred via the SWIFT network. SWIFT transfers can involve exchange rate markups and extra flat fees levied by intermediary banks. Your own bank may also charge to receive the international transfer.

The Upwork PayPal method

PayPal allows you to transfer your earnings into your existing PayPal account, which must be linked to the same email address given in your Upwork account profile. You can then use your cash to make payments through PayPal, or move it to your home bank account.

The Upwork Payoneer method

With Payoneer you can transfer your earnings directly onto a Payoneer Debit MasterCard.

The Upwork M-Pesa method

Finally, M-Pesa is a payment system which requires you to have a Kenyan mobile phone - and is therefore only currently available to freelance workers in Kenya.

How do I withdraw my earnings in US dollars from Upwork to my bank account? What if I live overseas - aka, not in America?

1. Upwork-supported transfer methods

However you choose to be paid, there will be a delay of up to 5 days before the funds are released by Upwork. This can mean you’re waiting a while before you see your cash.

If you want to withdraw your earnings to a US-based bank account, you’ll have to go through a verification process. Upwork will deposit 2 small amounts into the account you list in your profile page, and you’ll be required to log in to Upwork to confirm the amounts received. This proves that the account is actually yours, and will activate it on the Upwork system.

There are fees levied if you want to be paid into an account based outside of the US, either by wire transfer or by directly depositing money in your local bank account. Being paid into a US-based account is usually the most direct route, as you may avoid additional fees.

2. Fees for withdrawing from Upwork

Aside from the fees Upwork charges all freelancers, which can run up to 20%, there could also be a fee for withdrawing your payment, depending on the method you choose.

• Direct deposits to US-based banks are free
• Direct deposits to banks outside the US are $0.99 per transfer, but incoming bank fees could be added
• USD wire transfers – $30 per transfer flat fee, plus other charges may be added by intermediary banks

There are limits in place on the amount of money that can be transferred by direct deposit in some countries. Upwork detail the restrictions using this system on their website.

PayPal and Payoneer add their own fees, depending on the currency you’re being paid in.

If you’re a freelancer working with clients all over the world, it’s important to understand the fees and charges that may apply whenever you're paid by a client in a different country. Some transfer methods, such as international wire transfers, can leave you exposed to additional fees from other banks. You could also lose out if the transfer service you choose uses a poor exchange rate.

3. Paid in US$ but have a bank account outside the US?

If you hold a bank account in a currency other than USD, but have taken on a job which will be paid in dollars, you can still get paid directly into your bank account through Upwork. However, the exchange rate used to convert your payment from USD to the currency of your bank account may vary. That means that you may not know before you check your balance how much you’ll actually receive.

Freelancing as part of the gig economy is a new way of working. Upwork is a way to connect and make the world your client base. But when you’re working across borders, it’s important to understand the fees and exchange rates that may apply to your earnings.