Getting paid from Upwork in Ireland: Your complete guide to fees and withdrawal options
Upwork is a freelance platform which makes it easier to connect with employers all over the world for exciting remote work opportunities.
If you’re an Irish freelancer you might be wondering how to receive money from Upwork once you’ve got a gig. It’s important to understand Upwork freelance fees and the likely Upwork conversion fee so you’ll know what to expect after a job.
This guide walks through Upwork costs for freelancers in Ireland. We’ll also introduce the Wise Business account that offers you USD account details to receive money from Upwork to Wise without incurring additional fees.
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How Upwork payments work for Irish freelancers
When you take work on Upwork you’ll be able to decide how you want to receive your money, with options for automatic or manual withdrawals depending on your preference.¹ You’ll need to connect a payment method and then configure the payment settings to suit your needs.
How and when you get paid by Upwork will also depend to an extent on the type of contract you’ve agreed with your client. There’s a standard security period built into the process, which is a delay between the hours you work, and the payment being received. This gives time for your client to check and confirm the work was done to a satisfactory level before the payment is disbursed.
Standard options include:
- Hourly contracts billed on a weekly basis - money released around 10 days after the end of the week
- Fixed-price contracts and project catalogue contracts - money released 5 days after a client approves a milestone.
What currency does Upwork use?
Upwork uses the US dollar (USD) currency. When you’re paid for a job on Upwork, you’ll receive your payment in USD. If you then choose to withdraw your money to an Irish bank account in EUR, you may find that fees apply on the currency conversion, as well as any charges incurred for the withdrawal itself.
When you make a withdrawal from Upwork in any currency other than USD, the rate used is set by an Upwork payment partner.² It’s common to find that exchange rates offered by payment providers like this include a markup - a fee added to the mid-market rate to calculate the rate used to convert your money. This may mean that you get less in euros in the end.
As an alternative you could consider withdrawing your money in USD directly to an account with a provider like Wise, and managing the conversion to EUR yourself when you prefer.
How to receive money from Upwork: Withdrawals methods in Ireland
Before you use Upwork, knowing how to withdraw money is important. There are a few different options for Irish freelancers, usually including:
- Withdraw in EUR to your Irish bank
- Withdraw in USD using an ACH transfer
- Withdraw in USD using a wire
- Withdraw with PayPal
- Withdraw with Payoneer
How Upwork fees work can depend on the withdrawal method and currency you select, so it’s helpful to compare your options before you set up your withdrawal to make sure you get the best deal based on your situation.
We’ll look at how to transfer money from Upwork to a bank account step by step a little later.
What are the Upwork fees for Irish freelancers?
So, what are Upwork fees like? Exactly what you pay can depend on factors including the fee you charge your client, the currency you withdraw and the payment method. Fees can include:
- Upwork service fee
- Upwork withdrawal fee
- Currency conversion fee (paid to Upwork partners)
The Upwork service fee³ is deducted from the amount you earn before your money is received to your Upwork account. It’s a tiered fee from 0% to 15% which is set by Upwork. You’ll see the fee that’s charged before you accept a job, and the percentage won’t then change for the duration of that client agreement.
Once you decide to withdraw your earnings, you pay any relevant Upwork withdrawal fee¹, which is as follows:
| Upwork withdrawal method | Upwork withdrawal fee |
|---|---|
| Direct to US Bank (ACH) | No fee |
| Direct to Local Bank (outside of the US) | 0.99 USD per transfer |
| USD Wire Transfer | 50.00 USD per transfer |
| Third party withdrawals using PayPal or Payoneer | Fee set by platform |
* Details correct at time of research - 10th December 2025
If you’re withdrawing in any currency other than USD you may also find you pay a currency conversion fee to the Upwork payment partners, which will be included in the exchange rate which is applied.
You might find you can avoid this fee by withdrawing your money in USD instead, and then managing your conversion later. For all of this you can use services like the Wise Business account.
How to choose the best withdrawal option on Upwork?
There’s not really a single best withdrawal option on Upwork - which works for you might depend on the currency you want to withdraw and the value of your payment. Upwork withdrawal fees are fixed, so choosing the cheapest method for your payment type makes sense - but don’t forget the extra costs involved in currency conversion.
If you choose to withdraw your earnings in USD, then getting paid to an account like Wise Business can be a smart move as it puts you back in control of the exchange to EUR.
With Wise you can receive your payment in dollars and then keep it for future trips to the US, your own USD payments, or exchange to euros at mid-market rate whenever the rates are favorable.
Using the Wise multi-currency account helps you avoid hidden fees or unfavorable exchange rates. Instead of being forced to accept whatever rate is live at the exact moment your payment clears, you can strategically time your conversions. This flexibility is particularly valuable in a volatile market, allowing you to maximize the value of your hard-earned income by waiting for a stronger Euro, for example.
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Step-by-step guide: How to receive money from Upwork
You can start receiving your payments from Upwork once you’ve fully updated all of your tax information on the platform. You’ll then be able to link one or more withdrawal methods and manage either automatic or manual withdrawals.
To add a withdrawal method on Upwork you’ll need to do the following:
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Log into Upwork and go to Account settings and then Withdrawals
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Tap Withdrawal methods and then Add a method
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Follow the prompts to enter the information needed.
If you want to add Wise information on Upwork you should continue as::
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Select Direct to US Bank (USD) and Set up
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Add your USD account details from Wise
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Check the box to validate the information provided - you’ll have to confirm this by entering your Upwork password
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Confirm the details by selecting Add account
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Upwork might send you 1 or 2 microdeposits to your Wise USD account to verify your ownership of the account. This can take 1-3 days to arrive, and you’ll need to go to Upwork and confirm the amounts received.
Once you have a withdrawal method added you can create an automatic withdrawal schedule or you can request a manual withdrawal.
To make a manual withdrawal, just log in and go to your Manage finances, then Withdraw earnings. Here you can tap Withdraw now to enter your withdrawal request.
Bear in mind that there's a 3 day wait period after adding a withdrawal method - you won’t be able to make a withdrawal until three calendar days, for security reasons.
People Also Ask
What are the cheapest ways to withdraw from Upwork in Ireland?
There’s no fee to withdraw from Upwork in Ireland if you can get paid in USD using an ACH transfer. If you don’t have a US based bank account you could also connect a multi-currency account from a provider like Wise to get paid in USD instead.
How long does it take to receive Upwork payments in Ireland?
The payment timeline for Upwork payments in Ireland depends on the contract type. For fixed projects you’ll usually be able to make a withdrawal of your payment about 5 days after the project is finished or the client signs off a milestone.
Can I avoid currency conversion fees on Upwork?
You may be able to avoid the Upwork currency conversion costs by receiving our payment in USD instead of allowing the platform to automatically convert your money to EUR.
Should I choose Wise or PayPal for Upwork withdrawals?
You can receive payments to your Wise Account from Upwork in USD without being forced to convert, and then manage your conversion to EUR with the mid-market rate when you’re ready to do so. Wise conversion costs from 0.61%.
You can also choose to receive your payment to PayPal in USD, but you’ll need to convert it through the PayPal system, including paying the PayPal conversion fee of 3%⁴, in order to deposit it to your EUR bank account later.
Compare the costs and exchange rates of both to decide which is best for your specific needs.
Sources used:
Sources last checked on date: 2nd January, 2026
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
