International Payment Processing
Quick answer: International payment processing lets you accept credit cards, debit cards, and alternative payment methods from customers in any country. Multi-currency processing displays prices in local currencies and processes transactions in 100+ currencies. Cross-border fees add 0.5-1.5% to domestic rates. Unison provides international processing through gateway partners that support multi-currency checkout.
As businesses expand globally — through eCommerce, SaaS, digital products, or international services — the need for international payment processing grows. But cross-border payments are more complex than domestic processing, with additional fees, currency conversion, and local payment method preferences.
How International Processing Works
1. Customer in another country visits your website 2. Your checkout displays prices in their local currency (dynamic currency conversion) 3. Customer pays with their local payment method (credit card, local bank transfer, e-wallet) 4. Your gateway processes the transaction and converts to your settlement currency 5. You receive funds in your preferred currency (usually USD) minus processing fees and conversion costs
Cross-Border Fees
International transactions cost more than domestic because of currency conversion and cross-border interchange rates:
| Fee Type | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Cross-border assessment (Visa/MC) | 0.45-0.80% |
| Currency conversion | 0.5-1.0% |
| International interchange premium | 0.5-1.5% above domestic |
| Total additional cost | 1.0-3.0% above domestic rates |
Multi-Currency Processing
Multi-currency processing lets customers pay in their local currency. Benefits:
- Higher conversion rates — customers are 30% more likely to complete purchase when prices are in their currency
- No surprises — customers see the exact amount they will be charged
- Reduced chargebacks — "I was charged more than the displayed price" disputes disappear
Alternative Payment Methods by Region
| Region | Popular Payment Methods |
|---|---|
| Europe | SEPA, iDEAL (Netherlands), Bancontact (Belgium), Sofort |
| Asia | Alipay, WeChat Pay, GrabPay, UPI (India) |
| Latin America | PIX (Brazil), OXXO (Mexico), PSE (Colombia) |
| UK | Faster Payments, Open Banking |
| Global | Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal |
Not every business needs to support local payment methods. If you primarily sell to English-speaking markets, Visa/Mastercard support covers most transactions.
International Processing for High-Risk Businesses
High-risk businesses face additional challenges with international processing:
- Not all acquiring banks support cross-border for high-risk categories
- Some countries have specific regulations for your product type
- International chargebacks have longer processing windows
- Fraud rates are higher on cross-border transactions
Contact Unison for international payment processing setup — we connect you with acquiring banks and gateways that support global transactions for your industry.