If you work with Australian clients, getting paid shouldn’t be complicated. But if you’ve ever tried to receive money from overseas, you know the pain—slow bank transfers, bad exchange rates, and fees that eat into your income.

Wise solves this problem. It gives you local Australian bank account details, so your clients can pay you like you’re right there in Australia. No international fees. No weird delays. Just simple, fast payments.

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Here’s exactly how to set it up and start receiving AUD payments from Australian clients.

Why Wise Is the Best Way to Receive AUD

Most banks charge high fees for international transfers. They also give you a bad exchange rate and hide the difference in the fine print. Wise does the opposite.

When you use Wise to receive Australian dollars, your clients send money to a local Australian account.

That means they pay like they’re transferring to any other Australian bank—no international wire fees, no currency conversion on their end.

Once the money hits your Wise account, you hold it in AUD. You can keep it there, convert it to your local currency at the real exchange rate, or spend it directly with a Wise card.

The key advantage? You get the mid-market exchange rate—the same one you see on Google. No markups. No hidden fees.

How do I Set Up AUD Receiving with Wise?

The setup takes about 10 minutes. Here’s what you do.

1. Open a Wise Account

If you don’t have one yet, sign up on the Wise website or app. You’ll need to provide basic information like your name, email, and address.

2. Add AUD to Your Currencies

Once your account is open, go to your balances and add Australian dollars (AUD). This tells Wise you want to hold and receive money in that currency.

3. Get Verified

Wise needs to verify your identity before you can receive money. This is standard practice and usually takes less than a day. You’ll need to upload a photo of your ID—passport, driver’s license, or national ID card.

4. Get Your AUD Account Details

After verification, go to your AUD balance and click “Get account details” or “Account details.” Wise will generate your personal Australian bank details.

You’ll receive:

Your name (as it appears on your Wise account)
BSB code (a 6-digit number that identifies the bank)
Account number (your unique Wise account number)

These details are not a traditional bank account, but they work exactly the same way for receiving money.

5. Share Your Details with Your Client

Give your Australian client your BSB code and account number. They send a regular domestic bank transfer within Australia, and the money lands in your Wise AUD balance.

That’s it. No international wires. No SWIFT codes. Just a simple local transfer.

What Your Client Needs to Send You Money

Your Australian client only needs three things:

Your full name (exactly as it appears on your Wise account)
Your BSB code
Your account number

That’s it. They don’t need your address, your country, or any international banking codes. It’s just like paying any other Australian business.

Important: Where You Live Matters

This is the one thing most people get wrong.

If your registered address is in Australia, you can only receive domestic Australian bank transfers. You cannot receive international SWIFT payments into your AUD account.

If your registered address is outside Australia, you can receive both:

Domestic Australian bank transfers (from within Australia)
International SWIFT payments (from outside Australia)

So if you live in the US, Europe, or anywhere else outside Australia, your clients can still pay you via domestic transfer. The payment stays within Australia’s banking system, so it’s fast and cheap.

How Long Does It Take to Receive the Money?

Speed depends on how your client sends the payment.

Domestic Australian transfers

(from within Australia) usually take just a few minutes. Sometimes up to one business day, but typically much faster.

International SWIFT payments

(from outside Australia) take about one business day. Sometimes up to five business days depending on the banks involved.

In most cases, your client sends a domestic transfer, and you see the money in your Wise account within minutes.

What Does It Cost to Receive AUD?

This is the part that surprises people in a good way.

Receiving domestic Australian transfers is free.

There’s no fee to receive money from an Australian bank account into your Wise AUD balance.

Receiving international SWIFT payments

may have a fixed fee. Wise charges a small receiving fee for SWIFT transfers, and intermediary banks might also take a cut. But if your client sends a domestic transfer (which is what you want), you pay nothing to receive.

There are no limits on how much you can receive. You can accept any amount.

What You Can and Can’t Receive

Wise accepts AUD payments from:

Domestic Australian bank transfers (this is what you want)
AUD SWIFT payments from overseas

Wise does not accept:

Cash or cheque payments
Payments from Australian Superannuation Funds or Self-managed Super Funds
Payments in currencies other than AUD into your AUD account

If a client tries to send you a non-AUD currency into your AUD account details, Wise won’t process it. Always make sure your client sends in AUD.

Wise Personal vs Wise Business for AUD Receiving

Both Personal and Business accounts let you receive AUD the same way. The account details work identically.

The difference comes down to what you do with the money after you receive it.

If you’re a freelancer or solopreneur with a few Australian clients, a Personal account works fine. But if you’re running a business—invoicing multiple clients, paying contractors, or managing team expenses—the Business account gives you extra tools like invoicing, batch payments, and accounting software integration.

Either way, receiving AUD payments works the same.

Practical Tips for Getting Paid Smoothly

Here are a few things I’ve learned from helping remote workers get paid by Australian clients.

Double-check your name.

The name on your Wise account must match exactly what your client puts on the transfer. If there’s a mismatch, the payment might be delayed or rejected.

Send your client a (payment request).

Wise lets you generate a payment request link. Your client clicks it, enters the amount, and pays. It reduces errors and speeds things up.

Keep some AUD in your account.

If you convert everything immediately, you might miss out on a better exchange rate later. Wise lets you hold AUD for as long as you want, so you can choose when to convert.

Watch for BSB code differences.

Wise uses specific BSB codes depending on the transfer type. For most domestic transfers, the standard BSB code works. For larger payments over 50,000 AUD, a different BSB code might be required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Australian bank account to receive AUD?

No. Wise gives you Australian account details without needing a local bank account. Your clients pay you like you’re in Australia.

Can I receive AUD if I live outside Australia?

Yes. If your registered address is outside Australia, you can still receive domestic Australian transfers. Your clients send money within Australia, and it lands in your Wise account.

Are there any monthly fees for holding AUD?

No. Wise doesn’t charge monthly fees for holding any currency.

How do I convert AUD to my local currency?

Go to your Wise account, select your AUD balance, and choose “Convert.” Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows you the fee upfront before you confirm.

Can I spend AUD directly?

Yes. If you have a Wise card, you can spend AUD directly or convert it to another currency at the point of sale.

What if my client sends more than 150,000 AUD?

The maximum per transfer is 1.5 million AUD. For larger amounts, you may need to split the payment or contact Wise support.

Final Thoughts

Getting paid by Australian clients used to be a headache. International wire fees, bad exchange rates, and waiting days for money to arrive. Wise fixes all of that.

You get local Australian account details. Your clients pay like you’re next door. The money lands in minutes. And you pay nothing to receive it.

The setup takes ten minutes. The peace of mind lasts forever.

If you work with Australian clients, this is the simplest way to get paid. No bank visits. No complicated forms. Just a BSB code, an account number, and money in your account.

What’s stopping you from setting this up today?

Get started – Wise