Can You Use Airwallex in Australia? - UK Guide

Paola Faben Oliveira

If your UK business is expanding and global trading is on the cards, you might need alternative solutions for managing company finances.

One option is Airwallex, the financial technology company which offers digital global business accounts to companies based in the UK. It also operates in a number of other countries worldwide.

If you’re an Airwallex customer or are thinking of signing up, you’ll want to know which countries you can use your account in.

In this guide for UK companies, we’ll be focusing on whether you can use Airwallex in Australia.

This will be essential to know if you’re planning on trading with Australia, or perhaps even expanding your operations to the country in the future.

Remember though that Airwallex isn’t the only option for global businesses. Wise Business is a fantastic alternative, offering a full-feature account, cards, invoicing, bulk payments and secure transfer services to Australia and worldwide.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

Can you use Airwallex in Australia?

Yes, you can use Airwallex in Australia, even if your company is registered in the UK.

With your Airwallex account, you can send money between the UK and Australia. You can even open a Global Account in Australian dollars (AUD) and use it to receive payments in the currency from your clients and customers worldwide.

There’s also the Airwallex multi-currency card, which works anywhere that Visa is accepted - which includes Australia.

Other Airwallex features include:

  • Automated domestic and international bill pay service
  • Foreign exchange services
  • Borderless corporate cards
  • Expenses management
  • Payment links and plugins
  • Receive payments through marketplace sites
  • Accounting and other software integrations.

Read our full Airwallex business account review here.

Is the Australian dollar supported by Airwallex?

The Australian dollar (AUD) is supported by Airwallex for holding, sending, spending and receiving. It’s classed as a major currency, so you can do pretty much everything with it in your Airwallex account.

Airwallex fees and cost in Australia

Now we come to the important question - how much does it cost to use Airwallex in Australia as a UK business?

Below are the main fees you need to know about:¹

TypeAirwallex fees
Account fees (for UK accounts)£0 to £999 a month, depending on plan
Send money to Australia from the UK£10 to £20
Receive money from Australia in the UKFree into your AUD Global Account
FX currency conversion0.5% to 1%
Domestic (local) transfersFree
Accepting card payments1.30% to 3.15% (depending on card type) + £0.20
Create company cardsFree
Create employee cards£5 per cardholder per month (first 5 cardholders free)

Can you open an account with Airwallex in Australia?

Considering expanding your business operations to Australia or the wider Asia Pacific region? You’ll need to know whether you can open local accounts in each of the countries you’re targeting.

The good news is that you can open an account with Airwallex in Australia. So once you’re settled and have a registered Aussie business address, you can simply head to Airwallex Australia to open an account online.

Pricing ranges from $0 to $499 AUD a month, depending which plan you choose from. There’s also custom pricing available for high volume businesses or those with more complex needs.²

You can get started with just your business email address, but you’ll need to have the following information ready so that Airwallex can verify your business:³

  • An active and current Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Company shareholding structures, partnership deeds and/or documents of incorporation.
  • Documents relating to business activities, such as bank statements, website information, supplier and/or customer invoices or detailed business plans (for new companies)
  • ID documents for owners or key people connected to the business.

You can see a full list of documents you might need here.

Wise Business: an alternative to Airwallex in Australia

Of course, Airwallex isn’t the only digital business account out there. There are actually quite a few alternatives, including the Wise Business account.

wise-business

wise-business

The Wise Business account is ideal for companies that trade internationally, source supplies from overseas, or employ people from other countries.

This powerful account lets you manage everything in one place, with no monthly subscription fees. Features include:

  • Local account details for major currencies, including Australian dollars
  • International payments to worldwide for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate
  • Employee expense cards which work in 150+ countries
  • API integration with business and accounting tools
  • Bulk payments and automation tools - batch pay up to 1,000 people at once
  • Bespoke permission levels to control team access.

There’s even a new feature which lets you earn returns while growing your business - Wise Interest (capital at risk).

Get started with Wise Business 🚀

Wise Business vs. Airwallex in Australia comparison

To help you choose the right business account for your needs, here’s a quick comparison of Wise Business and Airwallex for UK companies looking to trade in Australia:

FeaturesWise BusinessAirwallex¹
Send money to the countryYesYes
Receive in the local currencyYesYes
Spend money in the countryYesYes
Conversion rate fees- Mid-market exchange rate

- Fees from 0.33%

0.5% to 1% markup on mid-market exchange rate
Send money feesFrom 0.33%£10 to £20 for SWIFT
Receive money feesFree in AUD to your AUD account detailsFree

Find out more about what Wise Business could do for your business.

Get started with Wise Business 🚀


And that’s about it - your essential guide to using Airwallex in Australia as a UK business.

You can do pretty much everything in Australian dollars with Airwallex, including sending, receiving, spending and holding AUD. And you can open an account there if you establish operations in Australia at any point.

So if Airwallex is the right choice for your company, you should be all set to start using it when you start trading with Australia. Just remember to compare all available options, as there are alternatives out there - including Wise Business.


Sources used:

  1. Airwallex - Plans and pricing
  2. Airwallex Australia - Plans and pricing
  3. Airwallex - Help - Verifying your business in Australia and New Zealand

Sources last checked on date: 21-03-2025


*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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