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The short answer
A Nigerian client paying your Wise USD account details from a Nigerian bank will almost always send an international wire over Swift, not a US ACH payment. Wise's US pricing page lists a fixed 6.11 USD fee per incoming USD wire or Swift payment, while domestic non-wire USD payments are free to receive. Intermediary banks on the route may also deduct charges before the money arrives.
Wise gives many US-based freelancers a second set of US account details, and it is natural to put those on an invoice to a Lagos client. The details work, but the way the money travels from Nigeria shapes what it costs and how long it takes. This guide explains the route, the fees each side's own pages state, and what to tell the client.
How the money travels from Nigeria
Your Wise USD details include a US account and routing number for domestic payments and Swift details for international ones. Wise's help page says USD can be received both locally and via Swift, and notes USD local details are not available everywhere. A Nigerian company does not have access to the US ACH system, so its bank sends a Swift wire from its domiciliary (dollar) account. The usual path is:
- The client's Nigerian bank debits its USD domiciliary account and sends a Swift message.
- One or more correspondent banks pass the dollars along; each may take a fee.
- The payment reaches Wise and is credited to your USD balance.
The Nigerian bank's own outward wire fee is charged to the client. Under the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026, Pavestones Legal reports, holders of self-funded domiciliary accounts can make direct transfers of up to US$10,000 a day without exhaustive documentation. Company accounts paying suppliers abroad may face their own bank's documentation checks, so expect the client to need your invoice.
What it costs you to receive
| Incoming payment type | Wise US receive fee (per Wise pricing page, Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Domestic USD payment (non-wire, non-Swift) | Free |
| USD wire or Swift payment | 6.11 USD fixed per payment |
Wise's pricing page shows no effective date, so check it before quoting a client. It does not mention intermediary bank charges. Wise's own guide to receiving international wires notes that one to three intermediary banks may deduct fees along the way. The way to limit surprises is to ask the client to send the payment with the charge option that has the sender pay all charges (often called "OUR"), and to say in your contract that bank charges on the sending side are for the client.
A worked example
Example only. You invoice $2,500 for a month's work. The client's bank sends $2,500 with charges shared, and an intermediary deducts $20 (an illustrative figure). Wise receives $2,480 and takes its 6.11 USD fee, leaving $2,473.89 in your balance. If the client had chosen sender-pays charges and the full $2,500 arrived, you would receive $2,493.89. For tax, record the $2,500 you invoiced as income and the fees as business expenses, since the deductions are a cost of getting paid.
What to send the client
- Your account holder name exactly as Wise shows it.
- The Swift/BIC and account number Wise gives for international USD payments, not just the routing number.
- Wise's bank address as shown in your account details.
- Your invoice number as the payment reference.
- A note asking for charges to be paid by the sender.
Double-check which details your client's bank needs before the first payment. Sending the domestic routing number to a Nigerian bank is a common cause of returned wires. If a payment goes astray, see a Nigerian client paid the wrong account.
Points to watch
- Personal vs business account. If you invoice as a business, check Wise's terms for the account type you hold before routing client payments to it.
- Naira clients. If the client only has naira, the dollar conversion happens on their side first; see when a Nigerian client pays in naira.
- Records. Keep the Swift confirmation (often called an MT103) from the client for any payment that arrives short.
For a comparison with a regular US bank receiving the same wire, see what US banks charge to receive USD from Nigeria.
How long it usually takes
A Swift wire is not instant. The Nigerian bank has to process the request, which for a company may include checking your invoice, and each correspondent bank adds time. Wise's own page lists Swift as a receiving method but does not promise a delivery time for incoming wires from Nigeria. Agree with the client that payment is made on or before the due date, not that it arrives then, and give yourself a few working days of slack before you count the money. If a payment has not arrived after a week, ask the client for the Swift confirmation and the reference; Wise support can trace a payment far more easily with it.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account offers USD and NGN with local details for each, so a Nigerian client that holds naira can pay you in naira inside Nigeria, and you choose when to convert with Swap; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. See the business multicurrency account.
Questions people ask
Can a Nigerian company pay my Wise USD account?
Yes, usually by an international Swift wire from its domiciliary account. It cannot normally use US ACH.
How much does Wise charge to receive a wire from Nigeria?
Wise's US pricing page lists a fixed 6.11 USD per incoming USD wire or Swift payment. Check the page for the current figure.
Why did less than my invoice amount arrive in Wise?
Intermediary banks on the Swift route can deduct fees before the money reaches Wise. Ask the client to choose sender-pays charges.
Which Wise details do I give a Nigerian bank?
The Swift/BIC and account number Wise lists for international USD payments, plus your exact account name and Wise's bank address.
Sources
- Wise: Pricing, receiving money (US) · accessed Oct 2026
- Wise Help: What are my account details and how can I use them? · accessed Oct 2026
- Wise blog: How to receive an international wire · accessed Oct 2026
- Mondaq (Pavestones Legal): The CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026 (24 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.