How Do Filipino Virtual Assistants Get Paid by International Clients?

Choose how your client will pay

For a direct client, choose a supported transfer method and agree an invoice schedule. For work contracted through a platform, follow that platform’s billing rules. A job board that introduces you to a client does not necessarily collect payment for you.

Provider information checked September 10, 2026. Account-specific quotes and terms can change. The comparisons below explain what to check; they do not guarantee a cheapest provider.

Compare fees using the amount you actually receive

Ask for quotes using the same invoice amount, sending currency, receiving currency and payment date. Record the sender’s total cost separately from your net receipts.

For a hypothetical $1,000 invoice, a $10 receiving charge leaves $990 before conversion. A $25 charge leaves $975. Those are arithmetic examples, not provider quotes. A different exchange rate or withdrawal charge can change which route delivers more pesos.

Save these five details with each comparison:

1. Amount and currency on the invoice.
2. Who pays each fee.
3. Exchange rate used for conversion.
4. Final amount that reaches your bank or wallet.
5. Estimated arrival date and any holding period.

Wise: check the transfer quote

Wise’s US-to-Philippines transfer page shows the fee, exchange rate, recipient amount and delivery estimate for the selected route. The sender’s funding method affects the quote. Use that figure instead of applying a universal fee percentage to every client.

For a direct-client transfer, agree a payment reference that includes your invoice number. Once it arrives, use the invoice payment matching workflow to record the deposit against the correct work.

PayPal: include receiving and conversion costs

The PayPal Philippines merchant fee schedule lists commercial receiving fees, fixed fees by currency and other applicable charges. Currency conversion and withdrawal can add costs beyond the receiving fee. Check the schedule that applies to your account and transaction.

Send a commercial invoice or payment request for client work. Keep the agreed scope and evidence of delivery with the transaction. Confirm availability of funds before treating a payment notification as spendable income.

Payoneer: check both receiving and withdrawal

Payoneer’s pricing page distinguishes marketplace payouts, receiving accounts, payment requests and bank withdrawals. Fees vary with the payment method, currencies and countries involved. Some accounts can also have an annual account fee.

Check the Fees section of your account and the withdrawal quote. Compare the whole path from client payment to your Philippine bank account, rather than comparing only the first transfer.

GCash: keep the original payment record

GCash supports cash-ins from PayPal and Payoneer and remittances through partners. Its cash-in fee guide explains route-specific charges. Confirm limits and charges before moving the money.

If you transfer a client payment into GCash, keep the original invoice and payment reference as well as the cash-in record. Moving funds between your own accounts should not make it look as though the client paid twice. See the Wise-to-GCash guide for that specific route.

Upwork and OnlineJobs.ph use different payment arrangements

Upwork’s fixed-price protection depends on funded milestones and its conditions. Hourly protection has separate time-tracking and work-diary requirements. These are not interchangeable.

The Upwork freelancer service fee ranges from 0% to 15% per contract. Use the fee shown on your offer instead of assuming every contract costs 10%.

OnlineJobs.ph describes EasyPay as access to payment links using services such as Payoneer and PayPal. Do not treat those links as confirmation of funded milestones. Agree the payment schedule with the client.

Set up your first international invoice

1. Confirm the client’s billing name and email.
2. Agree the scope, currency, amount, due date and payment method.
3. Write down responsibility for fees and the approval process.
4. Create a numbered invoice with a clear description of the work.
5. Send payment instructions through the agreed channel.
6. Match the received amount and transaction reference to the invoice; follow up on any shortfall.

Use the Invoice Generator to prepare the document and payment terms examples to draft the schedule. For US clients, see the USD invoice guide.

Agree the schedule before the first deadline

Weekly or biweekly invoices can reduce the amount outstanding for hourly work. Projects can use a deposit and agreed milestones. Whatever you choose, define when the invoice is due and what happens when approval or payment is late.

ScriptCopy

For this engagement, I’ll invoice in [currency] on [schedule], due on [date or number of days]. We’ll use [payment method], with [party] covering [specified fees]. Please include [invoice number] in the transfer reference. I’ll confirm receipt and flag any difference from the agreed amount.

Run the Payment Method Risk Check before relying on a new arrangement. If a due date has already passed, use the client nonpayment guide.