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How to Receive International Payments as a Freelancer in Ukraine (2026)

By Aayush Jain·Reviewed May 8, 2026·9 min read

Ukrainian IT and freelance exports continued to grow even through wartime conditions, with over 250,000 IT specialists working for international clients. NBU regulations have evolved — here's the current state.

Best platforms under current NBU rules

  • Wise Business — widely used by Ukrainian freelancers. Supports UAH payouts to Ukrainian banks including Monobank, PrivatBank, and Raiffeisen.
  • Payoneer — most popular for Upwork earnings. NBU allows Payoneer transfers to Ukrainian banks.
  • IBAN transfer (EUR/USD) — direct SWIFT to Ukrainian bank. Good for large amounts where bank rate may be competitive.
  • Revolut — many Ukrainian freelancers use EU-based Revolut accounts (if they have EU residence) for EUR holding.

NBU regulations (current as of 2026)

  • Foreign income from services must be converted to UAH within 30 days of receipt (reduced from 90 days as a wartime measure).
  • FOP (Fiz Osoba-Pidpryiemets / sole trader) is the most common legal structure for Ukrainian freelancers. It allows simplified tax payment.
  • FOP Group 3 (3% simplified tax rate on all income, or 5% with VAT registration) is most relevant for IT exports.
  • You can hold up to €5,000 equivalent in foreign currency — anything above requires conversion within the 30-day period.
  • NBU has special provisions for Ukrainians abroad during wartime — verify current rules at bank.gov.ua.

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