Airwallex Direct Debit: How It Works for UK Businesses

One of the main things to grasp with Airwallex is how payments work with Airwallex, which includes Direct Debits.

In this helpful guide, we'll run through how Airwallex Direct Debits work. This includes the types of Direct Debit schemes the platform supports in different countries, and how to set up Direct Debits for sending and receiving payments within your Airwallex account.

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How does Airwallex Direct Debit work?

Airwallex supports Direct Debits coming into and out of your business account. This means you can pay international bills and other payments using Direct Debit, as well as accept Direct Debit payments from your customers.^1,2

A Direct Debit is a payment instruction that authorises a company or organisation to automatically collect payments from a bank account on a set date. It's useful if your business has a subscription model and needs to collect recurring payments, or if your company has recurring bills to pay.

According to Airwallex's payment-method capability page, Airwallex currently supports the following Direct Debit schemes across the world:¹

Read more about Direct Debit collection rules in the UK.

How to send a payout with Airwallex Direct Debit

To start sending Direct Debit payments, you first need to enable Direct Debit functionality within your Airwallex Global Account.

According to Airwallex's enablement guidance, this is currently available for USD, GBP, AUD, EUR and CAD Global Accounts based in the following countries:³

• UK
• US
• Canada
• Australia
• The Netherlands

You can check whether functionality is enabled by selecting your Global Account and looking under Account capabilities. If Direct Debit isn't ticked, you may need to raise a support request with Airwallex.³

Once functionality is enabled, Airwallex explains that you can give your Global Account details to the recipient and authorise it to debit funds from the relevant balance. You should keep enough money in that currency to avoid a rejected payment.²

How to accept Direct Debits with your Airwallex Global Account

It is possible to accept Direct Debit payments from customers, but setting it up can be more complicated. You may need to use the Airwallex API to configure it, or contact your Airwallex Account Manager for assistance.

Generally speaking, you'll need to build a Direct Debit mandate into your checkout, which the customer uses to provide their bank details and agree for payments to be debited from their account. Check the live Airwallex setup and mandate requirements before you launch a collection flow.¹

Can you add funds to your Airwallex wallet via Direct Debit?

The option to add funds to your own Airwallex account from another bank via Direct Debit is currently available to businesses registered in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. According to Airwallex, UK-registered businesses can't use this wallet-funding route.⁴

Airwallex Direct Debit fees

There are fees for using Airwallex Direct Debit, which vary by country and Direct Debit scheme. According to Airwallex's payment-method capability page, the following processing fees apply:¹

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FAQs - Airwallex Direct Debit

What's the difference between a standing order and a Direct Debit?

Standing orders and Direct Debits are similar in that they're both types of recurring payments. However, they work in slightly different ways.

A standing order is a push payment, which means you set it up through your own bank, and the bank sends a fixed amount on a regular basis as agreed. A Direct Debit is a pull payment, which means the merchant or organisation being paid is in control of the transfer and can debit varying amounts if needed.

Read more about standing orders vs Direct Debits

How to cancel Direct Debit payouts with Airwallex

To cancel a Direct Debit payout, you'll first need to contact the recipient and end the Direct Debit agreement you have with them. Check the current Airwallex process and your agreement with the recipient before cancelling a mandate, as ending a Direct Debit doesn't automatically end an underlying payment obligation.

How do I get my customers to pay by Direct Debit?

You may need to configure your account and checkout integration using the Airwallex API to give customers the option to set up a Direct Debit. The most important thing is to include a Direct Debit mandate, which gives permission for the payment to be taken and provides the customer's bank details. Check the current Airwallex requirements before implementation.¹

Sources:

Sources last checked on 24th July 2026