How to withdraw money from Payoneer in Ukraine 2026: commissions, methods and step-by-step instructions

Do you work on UpWork, Patreon, or Envato? Then you already know that withdrawing money from international platforms often turns into a quest with high fees and complicated workarounds. That’s exactly where Payoneer becomes a real lifesaver for Ukrainian freelancers and sole proprietors (FOPs) working with foreign clients. Payoneer remains the main financial hub for Ukrainian freelancers and IT entrepreneurs.
In this article, we’ll break down: how Payoneer works, which fees are актуальні in 2026 and where you can save money, and how to report correctly to the tax authorities (especially important for FOPs).
What Is Payoneer and How Does It Work in Ukraine?
In short: Payoneer is an international payment platform that provides you with virtual bank account details in the US, the EU, the UK, and other regions.
For your foreign client, you look like a local contractor they can pay via a domestic transfer. For you, it’s a convenient wallet from which funds can be transferred quickly to Ukrainian banks.
Payoneer is especially popular among Ukrainian FOPs who receive income from international clients, marketplaces, and freelance platforms, because it makes it possible to legally confirm incoming payments for tax reporting.
Why is this better than a regular SWIFT transfer?
- Direct integrations with major platforms: Payoneer is an official partner of Upwork, Amazon, Adobe, and Shutterstock. Payments from these platforms arrive faster and often with lower fees.
- Multi-currency support: The system supports over 80 currencies and works in more than 190 countries worldwide. You can hold balances in USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, and AUD at the same time.
- Legal clarity for FOPs: Payoneer statements and invoices are accepted by Ukrainian banks as proof of income source.
- Local support: Ukrainian-language support makes it easier to resolve verification issues or blocked payments without needing a translator.
Who this service is definitely for:
- IT specialists and freelancers (Upwork, Freelancer, Toptal).
- Designers and artists (99designs, Envato, Shutterstock, Etsy).
- Content creators (Patreon, YouTube, BuyMeACoffee).
- E-commerce entrepreneurs selling on Amazon or eBay.
Payoneer Fees and Pricing for Ukrainian Users
Payoneer has a flexible, but довольно confusing fee structure. The main rule is simple: the easier it is for the client to pay, the higher the fee for you.
Attention! Starting October 2025, Payoneer introduced a fee for internal transfers: $3.00 (fixed) or 0.6% (depending on the account type). Free internal transfers are no longer available.
| Receiving Method | Fee (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| From marketplaces (Upwork, Amazon, etc.) | $0 – $1 | Depends on the terms of the specific platform. |
| From another Payoneer user | $3.00 or 0.6% | New rule: free internal transfers are no longer available. |
| Direct card payment (Request a Payment) | 3% | The fastest option: the client pays via a simple link. |
| Via bank account details (USD, EUR, GBP) | 0% – 1% | The cheapest option for larger amounts. |
Withdrawing funds to Ukraine
Additional costs:
- Annual account maintenance fee: $29.95. (Charged only if you received less than $2,000 in total over the past 12 months.)
- ATM balance inquiry: $1.00. (Tip: check your balance for free in the mobile app.)
- Declined transaction request: $1.00. (For example, if you try to withdraw more than your available balance.)
For регулярні payouts above $500, the most выгодно approach is using bank account details (1%) and direct integration with Monobank (2%). This way your total loss is only 3%, which is much cheaper than direct transfers to Ukrainian foreign-currency cards.
Important for FOPs: regardless of the withdrawal method, funds from Payoneer are considered FOP income at the moment they are credited to your Ukrainian bank account. This date, together with the NBU exchange rate on that day, is used to calculate your tax obligation.
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Payoneer Card: Fees, Benefits, and Hidden Pitfalls
You can get a virtual or physical (plastic) Payoneer card. It is directly linked to your Payoneer balance. But is it выгодно to use it for everyday spending in Ukraine?
When the card is a good option:
- Travel abroad: Payments in the card currency (for example, paying in USD in the US) go through without additional fees.
- Paying for international services: Subscriptions like Adobe, Google Ads, AWS, Zoom – 0% fee if the service currency matches your card currency.
- Bookings: Hotels on Booking or car rentals often require a card issued by a foreign bank.
Why it’s NOT выгодно for daily purchases in Ukraine:
- Double conversion: When you pay in UAH using a USD card, you may lose up to 3.5% due to the exchange rate.
- Cross-border transaction fee: An additional charge of around 1.8% may apply.
- Cash withdrawals: Fixed fee of $3.15 per withdrawal + a currency conversion percentage.
International Receiving Accounts: How to Get Paid by Foreign Clients
Some clients (especially large corporations in the US or EU) can’t pay via a simple “payment link”. They need bank account details. Payoneer solves this with the Receiving Accounts feature.
You receive full bank account details in different currencies:
- USD (a bank account in the US)
- EUR (a bank account in the Eurozone)
- GBP (United Kingdom)
- Accounts for AUD (Australia), CAD (Canada), and JPY (Japan) are also available.
How it works in practice (case study): You’re designing for a company in New York. Instead of a сложний international SWIFT transfer, you provide your US receiving account details from Payoneer. For the client, it’s a normal domestic ACH transfer, often free on their side. The money arrives faster, and you avoid intermediary bank fees.
What’s next? As soon as the dollars hit your Payoneer balance, you can:
- Withdraw to your Monobank/PrivatBank card.
- Use the funds to pay for software or ads.
- Withdraw cash using the physical card.
Important for FOPs: Using these receiving accounts allows you to work under a direct contract. A Ukrainian bank will accept such a payment if you provide a Payoneer statement showing that the receiving account belongs to you.
How to Register a Payoneer Account: Step-by-Step
The registration process is standard, but there’s one detail that many beginners get wrong.
Main rule: Choose a Business Account
During registration, the system will ask: Individual or Company/Business?
Why does it matter? To withdraw currency legally to a Ukrainian bank, your Payoneer details (company name or FOP full name) must match the bank account owner’s details 100%. If you register a personal account but try to withdraw to an FOP account, the bank may block the payment.
Step-by-step registration process:
Step 1. Sign up → Go to Payoneer and click “Open an account” or “Sign up”. Enter your email, use a strong password, and enable two-factor authentication.
Step 2. Enter personal details and business information → Enter your full name (in Latin letters, exactly as in your passport), your residential address, and your phone number. For FOPs, enter your full name in the “Company Name” field.
Step 3. Link your bank account → After successful verification, you can connect a Ukrainian bank to withdraw funds in UAH. The system will ask you to enter your IBAN (international bank account number).
Don’t worry – Payoneer does not automatically share this data with the tax authorities. It’s a technical requirement for profile verification. For more details on Payoneer, how it works for FOPs, what checks exist, and potential risks, check our channel.
Where to find your IBAN? In Monobank, open “Top up your card”, then choose “By bank details” – you’ll see your IBAN there. In PrivatBank, tap the gear icon in the top-right corner, select “Card details”, and copy the number.
Important note: even if you plan to use only the Payoneer card and never withdraw money to a Ukrainian bank, you still must add a bank account during registration. This is a technical requirement of the platform. Later, you can simply use the card, and the bank account information will remain as a backup option.
Step 4. Verification → Upload identity documents and, if required, business документы. Payoneer reviews documents from a few hours up to 2-3 days.
During registration, make sure you enter the same address that is listed in your Ukrainian bank documents. This will speed up the verification process.
Important note: for beginners, a personal account linked to your FOP is usually enough. However, if you plan to масштабувати, work with larger корпоративні payments, or want to connect Stripe, the best option is to open a корпоративний account for a legal entity.
You can register a company in the United States. This will not only help you get a full бизнес profile in Payoneer, but also open access to a wider range of global financial tools and a higher level of trust from international partners.
How to Receive and Withdraw Money from Payoneer
Once your account is ready, you’ll have two main tasks: send invoices correctly and withdraw your earnings. In your Payoneer dashboard, these actions are managed through the Get Paid and Withdraw sections.
- How to Get Paid by a Client (Get Paid section)
Payoneer offers three tools here. Choose the one that best fits your situation:
- Request a Payment: You create an invoice and send it to your client. They can pay even with a regular банковська card.
- Receiving Accounts: Your virtual bank details. You copy them and paste them into payout settings on Upwork or Fiverr, or share them with a client for a direct bank transfer.
- Batch Payment Request: If you have many clients at once, this tool allows you to create multiple payment requests in one go.
How to invoice a client (quick guide):
- In the left menu, click Request a payment.
- Enter the client’s email and details.
- Enter the amount, currency, and a detailed service description (for example, “UI/UX Design for Mobile App”).
- Attach an invoice file and set a payment deadline.
- Click Send. The client will receive an email with a link and will be able to pay online.
2. How to Withdraw Funds to a Bank Account
If you’re not using direct integrations via the Monobank or Privat24 apps (which we covered earlier), you can withdraw through the standard website option:
Step 1. In the menu, open Withdraw → To Bank Account.
Step 2. Choose the balance you want to withdraw from (for example, USD).
Step 3. Select your linked bank account (your FOP IBAN).
Note: the minimum withdrawal amount through partner banks is usually between $50 and $300, depending on the transfer type.
Step 4. Click Review. The system will calculate the fee (2%) and show the final amount in UAH or in the выбранной currency.
Step 5. Confirm the transaction.
How long does it take? In most cases, funds are credited within 1-3 business days. Monobank often processes these transfers in just a few minutes.
How to connect Payoneer to freelance platforms?
If you work on Upwork, Fiverr, or Shutterstock:
- Go to your payout settings (Settings → Payment Methods).
- Select Payoneer as your main method.
- Enter the email linked to your Payoneer account.
- The system will automatically link your profiles, and you’ll be able to withdraw your earnings with one click.
We’ve already registered your account, reviewed the fees, and now it’s time to move on to the withdrawal methods available in Payoneer.
How to Add a Monobank or PrivatBank Card to Payoneer
You can add up to three different bank accounts to your Payoneer profile. It takes up to 3 minutes, but it allows you to manage your finances much more flexibly.
Step 1. Go to “Manage bank accounts” and click “Add account”.
Step 2. Fill in the form:
- Account type (Personal/Business)
- Country and currency
- Select your bank from the list
- Enter the account holder’s name and IBAN
The most popular banks among Ukrainians are Monobank and PrivatBank. They support direct integration with Payoneer, the fee stays at a stable 2%, and funds arrive almost instantly. You don’t even need to log in to the Payoneer website.
If you use other banks (Raiffeisen, OTP, etc.), use withdrawals by bank details:
- In the “Manage bank accounts” section, click “Add account”.
- Select the country, currency, and enter your IBAN (international bank account number).
- After verification (up to 24 hours), the account will become active.
- Withdraw funds via the “Withdraw” menu. The fee is also around 2%, but processing may take 1-3 business days.
FAQ: Taxes, CRS, and Payoneer Account Blocking in Ukraine
Can the tax office see my money in Payoneer?
In the past, the answer was “no,” but in 2026 everything changed. Ukraine joined the CRS system (automatic exchange of tax information).
How does it work? Foreign financial institutions report Ukrainian residents’ account data to the State Tax Service.
Even if you don’t withdraw money to Ukraine, the tax authorities may still learn about your Payoneer balance at the end of the year. That’s why the best strategy is to declare your income as an FOP.
Why does my payment fail on a Ukrainian website?
This usually happens for two reasons:
- Geo-blocking: Some Ukrainian services accept payments only from cards issued by Ukrainian banks.
- 3D Secure: Even though Payoneer supports SMS-based confirmation (3D Secure), on some outdated websites it may conflict with international cards.
What should you do? Try another payment method or contact the website’s support team to уточнить the exact reason. Alternative: withdraw the needed amount to Monobank or PrivatBank – it takes about 15 minutes and saves you stress.
What is the real currency conversion fee?
If you have a USD card and you buy something in UAH, Payoneer may charge up to 3.5% for currency conversion.
To avoid losses, keep your balance in the currency you plan to spend, or withdraw funds to Ukraine with a 2% fee, which is usually much more cost-effective.
Do I need to pay taxes on Payoneer income in Ukraine?
Yes. For FOPs, all incoming payments through Payoneer are considered business income and are taxed according to the group you are registered under.
Conclusion
Payoneer remains the most reliable “bridge” for Ukrainian freelancers. It’s an ideal tool for receiving payments from Upwork, Amazon, or Patreon, while also helping you legally confirm the source of funds.
To keep your workflow safe and cost-effective, remember three key rules:
- Minimize conversions: The best approach is to accumulate funds in foreign currency and withdraw via direct integration with Monobank or PrivatBank (2% fee).
- Stay transparent: For regular activity, choose a Business account and declare your доход at the moment it is credited to your Payoneer account using the NBU exchange rate.
- Automate: Use modern mobile banking apps for instant withdrawals – it’s cheaper and faster than old-school SWIFT transfers.
Payoneer does not automatically share details of every purchase with Ukrainian banks, but financial transparency is your best гарантія for stable business operations.
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