Payoneer has quietly rolled out a significant adjustment to its fee schedule for users in Pakistan, effective immediately. The update impacts withdrawals to local and foreign bank accounts, third-party transfers, Payoneer-to-Payoneer payments, and incoming payments. Here’s a breakdown of the new rates and how they could affect freelancers, businesses, and individuals relying on Payoneer for cross-border transactions.

Steeper Withdrawal Charges

• Previous Rate: 2% per withdrawal (with a fixed minimum fee)

• New Rate: 3% per withdrawal (same minimum remains)

Whether you’re moving funds from your Payoneer balance in USD to a local Pakistani bank in PKR, or withdrawing dollars to a U.S. bank, the cost has jumped by 50%.

Higher Fees on Bank Transfers

• New Fee: 3% of the transaction amount, regardless of currency or destination

Sending money from your Payoneer account to another person’s bank—whether that’s a same-currency transfer or one involving conversion—now carries a flat 3% fee.

Payoneer-to-Payoneer Payments Are No Longer Free

• Transactions ≥ 500 USD/EUR/GBP: 0.60% of the payment amount

• Transactions < 500 USD/EUR/GBP: Flat fee of 3.00 (in USD, EUR, or GBP)

• Domestic Transfers in USD, EUR, GBP: Flat 3.00 fee

• Other Currencies: Fee displayed at checkout

Previously complimentary for major currencies, internal transfers will now chip away at your balance—especially on larger invoices and invoices from overseas clients.

Incoming Payment Fees Introduced

• Threshold Model:

  • Payments below a currency-specific threshold incur a small flat fee (e.g., $1 for USD under $100).

  • Payments above the threshold incur 1% of the amount received.

This sliding structure applies across all supported currencies (GBP, EUR, CAD, AED, SGD, MXN, AUD, HKD, JPY, etc.).

Continued Currency Conversion Charges

All new fees are in addition to Payoneer’s existing currency-conversion markups. Whenever you convert between currencies, the standard margin will still apply on top of these transaction fees.

What Pakistani Users Should Do Now

1. Review Your Fee Schedule: Log in to your Payoneer dashboard and visit the “Fees” section to see exactly how each change affects your transaction patterns.

2. Plan Larger Withdrawals Strategically: Consolidate smaller payouts where possible to minimize multiple 3% charges.

3. Explore Alternatives: Compare costs with other cross-border payment services like Wise, Skrill, or local payout solutions to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

4. Communicate with Clients: If you’re a freelancer or service provider, consider discussing how these new fees might impact your pricing or payment terms.

By staying informed and adjusting your payment workflows, you can mitigate the impact of these higher fees on your bottom line.

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