How to pay an invoice or bill to a foreign supplier from Ukraine?

To pay an invoice to a foreign supplier, a Ukrainian business can use one of three ways: make a SWIFT transfer through a bank (requires an FEA contract and currency control), use an international payment system (Wise, PayPal – with restrictions for legal entities), or contact an intermediary company that will pay the bill in foreign currency for you. The latter option allows you to pay an invoice without FEA, save time on bureaucracy, and receive a full package of documents for accounting. Global Post provides invoice payment services to over 100 countries worldwide.

When Does a Business Need to Pay Invoices Abroad?

Paying foreign invoices is a daily reality for companies working with international counterparties. Situations vary: purchasing goods from a supplier in China, paying a bill in Europe for components, transferring funds to the UAE for services, or settling accounts with an IT contractor in the USA.

Common to all these cases is one thing: the need to transfer funds in foreign currency to the account of a foreign company. This is where the questions begin: which payment method to use, what documents to prepare, how much it costs, and how quickly the money will arrive.

Three Main Ways to Pay Invoices from Ukraine

Independent Currency Transfer via Bank (SWIFT)

The classic path for those with experience in foreign economic activity (FEA). The company opens a foreign currency account, concludes an FEA contract with the supplier, undergoes a currency control procedure at the bank, and sends a SWIFT transfer.

This option is suitable for businesses that regularly work with one or two permanent suppliers and have an in-house accountant with FEA experience. Advantages include direct control over the payment and the ability to work with any currency. Disadvantages include the need to draw up a contract and pass currency control, bank commissions from 0.5% to 1.5% plus a fixed fee, processing times of 2 to 5 business days, and often an unfavorable exchange rate.

International Payment Systems (PayPal, Wise, Payoneer)

For small amounts or payment for services, Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer are often used. Wise offers a transparent exchange rate, PayPal is widely used among foreign sellers, and Payoneer is convenient for settlements via marketplaces.

The main limitation: most of these systems do not fully support Ukrainian legal entities. There are limits on transfer amounts, it is not always possible to obtain documentary confirmation for accounting, and the risk of account blocking with large volumes remains real.

Paying an Invoice Through an Intermediary

This option is becoming increasingly popular among Ukrainian businesses. The essence of the service: an intermediary company takes on the payment of your invoice to a foreign supplier in foreign currency, and you settle with the intermediary in UAH or according to a simplified scheme.

The intermediary has its own foreign currency accounts, established banking relationships, and experience in conducting international payments. In fact, you receive a foreign currency payment abroad without FEA — without the need to independently pass currency control and draw up a foreign economic contract with each supplier.

Advantages of paying through an intermediary:

• No need to draw up an FEA contract with each supplier separately
• Time savings on currency control and banking bureaucracy
• Payment of invoices to any country: EU, China, USA, UAE, Japan, Korea, and others
• Transparent commission and a fixed rate at the time of payment
• Full package of closing documents for accounting
• Ability to pay both one-time bills and regular payments

Comparison of Methods for Paying Foreign Invoices

How Paying an Invoice Through an Intermediary Works: A Step-by-Step Scheme

The process of paying a bill through an intermediary company usually consists of several simple steps. You provide the invoice or bill from the foreign supplier. The intermediary checks the details, agrees on the rate and commission. After your confirmation, the intermediary makes the payment in foreign currency directly to the supplier’s account. You receive payment confirmation and a full package of documents.

The entire process takes from one to three business days, depending on the recipient’s country and the payment currency. Paying invoices in Euros to EU countries generally happens faster thanks to the SEPA transfer system.

What to Look for When Choosing an Intermediary

Not all intermediary services are the same. When choosing a company to pay foreign bills, it is worth paying attention to several important factors:

• Availability of licenses and official registration in Ukraine — this is a guarantee of the legality of operations
• Transparency of commission and rate: clarify whether the rate is fixed at the time of confirmation or at the time of debiting
• Geography of payments: can the service pay a bill to Japan, Korea, the UAE, and not just China or Europe
• Availability of a full package of closing documents for accounting purposes
• Experience working with various currencies: Dollars, Euros, Yuan, Dirhams, Yen, Won
• Speed of payment processing and feedback from the manager

Features of Paying Invoices to Different Countries

Paying an Invoice to China
China remains one of the most popular destinations for Ukrainian business. Paying a supplier in China has its nuances: payments in Yuan (CNY) may take longer to process than in Dollars, and some Chinese banks require additional documents to credit funds. An intermediary with experience working with China will help avoid delays.

Paying an Invoice to Europe and the EU
Paying a bill in Europe for business usually goes through SEPA transfer, which provides speed and low commissions. Paying invoices in Euros is the most common option. Separately, it is worth considering the specifics of payments to Germany and Poland, from where Ukrainian companies most often import goods.

Paying an Invoice to the USA
Transferring money to America for business requires a SWIFT payment in US Dollars. Paying a bill in US Dollars through an intermediary allows you to avoid difficulties with currency control and obtain a competitive rate.

Paying an Invoice to the UAE
Dubai and the UAE in general are a growing trade partner for Ukrainian business. Paying a bill in Dirhams (AED) or Dollars through an intermediary happens without additional complications and with full documentary support.

Paying an Invoice to Japan and Korea
Transferring to Japan for business and paying a bill in Yen (JPY) or paying an invoice to Korea in Won (KRW) are less competitive directions among intermediary services. This means that not every company can offer payment in these currencies. GlobalPost works with these directions and ensures the payment of invoices to Japan and South Korea.

Intermediary Invoice Payment Services from GlobalPost

GlobalPost is not just international delivery. We provide services for paying invoices abroad for Ukrainian business, as well as a full range of services for the import and export of goods.

How it works with us:

• You provide the invoice or a link to the product
• We pay the supplier’s bill in the required currency (USD, EUR, CNY, AED, JPY, KRW, and others)
• If necessary, we organize the delivery of goods to a customs terminal in Ukraine or an EU country
• We handle customs clearance and deliver the cargo to the final recipient
• We provide a full package of documents: invoice, customs declaration, and certificate of completion

We work with FedEx, DHL, and UPS, which guarantees reliable logistics. Our managers accompany every payment from the moment the invoice is received until confirmation of funds being credited to the supplier. You can learn more about our purchasing and shipping services on the service page.

Need to pay an invoice to a foreign supplier?
Leave a request on the GlobalPost website or contact our specialists — we will calculate the cost of your invoice payment and offer the optimal solution for your business.

Conclusions

Paying invoices abroad is a standard procedure for businesses working with international suppliers. While bank transfers require FEA contracts and time, and payment systems have limits, using an intermediary allows you to focus on your business while leaving the bureaucracy to professionals.

GlobalPost provides invoice payment services to more than 100 countries, including the EU, China, USA, UAE, Japan, and Korea. We combine intermediary payment services with full logistical support: from paying the bill to delivering the goods to your warehouse.