Payment Guides
How to send, structure and document international business payments.
Quick answer
International business payments succeed on three things: a verified counterparty, a locked all-in FX quote, and documentation that matches the trade. These guides walk through each corridor and workflow step-by-step — from first supplier contact to customs-ready payment records.
Key terms
Corridor
A specific origin-to-destination payment lane (for example Ghana → China), with its own rails, compliance requirements and settlement timing.
All-in quote
A payment quote where the FX rate, fees and the exact amount the beneficiary receives are fixed before you confirm — no post-settlement surprises.
Deposit-balance structure
A trade payment split into a deposit on order confirmation and a balance released against shipping documents, limiting exposure on new suppliers.
Bill of lading (B/L)
The carrier-issued document proving goods were shipped — commonly the evidence that triggers a balance or escrow release.
Country & corridor guides
Deep, practical guides for the trade lanes African businesses use most.
Pay-into country pages
Rails, currencies and documentation for paying into specific markets.
Payment tools
Free calculators for planning and pricing payments.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay an overseas supplier for the first time?
Verify the supplier’s corporate registration first, confirm the beneficiary account name matches the registered company, structure the order as deposit plus balance-against-documents, and use a payment provider that fixes the all-in cost at quote time. Our country guides walk each corridor step-by-step.
What documents should accompany a trade payment?
At minimum: the pro-forma or commercial invoice, the payment reference matching that invoice, and — for balance payments — shipping evidence such as a bill of lading. Clean document trails accelerate customs clearance and survive audits.
How long do international business payments take?
Timing is route-dependent: CNY payouts to China typically land 24–48 hours after FX approval, SEPA to Europe same day to 24 hours, and INR via NEFT/RTGS 24–72 hours. Each KeyBS Pay quote states the expected window for the specific route.
What is the safest way to pay a new supplier?
Verification before payment, then escrow-style release: the deposit moves on a confirmed pro-forma, the balance only when shipping or inspection documents are presented. This structure removes most first-order fraud exposure.
Related learning hubs
Put it into practice
Get a corridor-specific quote — verification, FX and settlement in one workflow.