A detailed look at verification, documentation and why India focused platforms simplify the process
For Indian freelancers, agencies and businesses receiving international payments, onboarding and KYC are often the first hurdles. Every global payment platform requires verification to comply with financial regulations, prevent fraud and confirm the identity of the account holder. While this process is standard everywhere, the steps, strictness and time required differ widely between PayPal, Wise and Stripe.
Understanding how each platform handles onboarding helps you prepare accurate documents, avoid delays and choose a system that fits your workflow. It also highlights why India focused platforms tend to offer smoother onboarding because they are designed around local regulatory requirements.
Why onboarding and KYC matter for cross border payments
Any platform that moves foreign currency into India must comply with several rules. These include international anti money laundering laws, Know Your Customer verification and Indian regulations under FEMA. The platform needs to confirm who you are, what kind of business you operate and whether the payments you receive match your stated activity.
If any part of the information is missing or unclear, the platform may delay payouts, freeze funds or request additional proof. This is why onboarding plays an important role in how quickly a new user can start receiving international payments.
How PayPal handles onboarding and KYC
PayPal has been used by Indian freelancers and businesses for many years. Its onboarding is well known but also one of the more rigid processes because PayPal operates globally and follows strong internal risk controls.
Information required for onboarding
PayPal typically asks for:
Your full legal name
Date of birth and address
PAN card
Bank account details
Business information if applicable
A functional website or portfolio if you operate a registered business
Your PayPal account may be created quickly, but verification often happens later when you attempt to withdraw funds or receive a large payment.
KYC and verification challenges
Many Indian users report that PayPal may withhold payments until KYC is fully completed. Documents may also be rejected if they are not clear, not updated or if the details do not match the bank account exactly. PayPal sometimes requests additional documents such as invoices, proof of service, business registration certificates or screenshots of conversations with clients.
How stringent is PayPal
PayPal follows strict global policies. If the account activity appears risky or mismatched with the information provided, PayPal can hold funds for extended periods. This is common during the first few transactions or when a high value payment is received.
How Stripe handles onboarding and KYC
Stripe is popular with SaaS companies, developers and online businesses because of its API based model. However, Stripe onboarding for Indian businesses is not always straightforward.
Limited availability in India
Stripe operates in India with certain restrictions. Many businesses cannot self onboard and must get approval through an application process. This makes the onboarding step itself harder compared to other countries.
Verification requirements
Stripe usually asks for:
PAN details
Business registration certificates
GST information
Website or app details
Bank account proof
Information about services, pricing and refund policies
Stripe pays particular attention to the website. If it lacks clear terms, privacy policy or product descriptions, Stripe may pause onboarding.
Risk review
Stripe categorises businesses by risk level. Industries such as marketing, digital services or coaching may face more checks. Stripe may hold first payouts until it confirms that the business is legitimate and compliant. This extends the onboarding timeline.
Payout verification
Stripe reviews the first payout manually in many cases. Users often wait several extra days for the first settlement because Stripe performs enhanced due diligence for Indian accounts.
How Wise handles onboarding and KYC
Wise offers a multi currency account and positions itself as a transparent option for international transfers. Its onboarding feels simpler than PayPal or Stripe, but it still needs to follow the same regulatory requirements.
What Wise asks for
Identity verification using PAN or passport
Address proof
Business documents if you are creating a business account
Purpose of receiving foreign money
Information about typical transfer amounts
Wise usually verifies documents quickly, sometimes within the same day. However, Wise may request additional proof if the account activity differs from what you declared during onboarding.
Why Wise may delay verification
Wise checks for unusual patterns. For example, if your first incoming payment is significantly higher than average, or if the sender details do not match the purpose, Wise may pause the transfer and ask for supporting documents. Wise is efficient but not immune to compliance delays.
Where India focused platforms differ
Onboarding and KYC for Indians receive an extra layer of complexity because Indian regulations require proper classification of export transactions, clear inward remittance documentation and a correct purpose code. Global platforms do not always optimise their onboarding for these factors, which is why Indian users sometimes face repeated requests for documentation.
Platforms built specifically for Indian exporters and freelancers understand FEMA rules, purpose codes, service classifications and the documentation needed for inward remittances. As a result, onboarding tends to be smoother, faster and more straightforward.
How BRISKPE approaches onboarding and KYC
BRISKPE makes the onboarding process more predictable because it is designed solely for Indian users receiving international payments. The platform knows exactly what Indian banks require for foreign inward remittances, which reduces back and forth verification.
During onboarding, BRISKPE asks for:
PAN and identity proof
Bank account details
Business information or freelancer profile
KYC documents for verification
Service details for purpose code mapping
The platform completes verification quickly because the requirements match Indian regulatory expectations. Once onboarding is complete, users can receive money in USD, EUR, GBP and other supported currencies with minimal friction.
Because BRISKPE handles export related documentation automatically and maps purpose codes correctly, there are fewer chances of payout holds triggered by mismatched information. This is one of the reasons many users find it more reliable for Indian inward remittances than global payment gateways.
Final thoughts
PayPal, Wise and Stripe all follow strong verification standards, but their onboarding structures were built for global use and not specifically for the Indian regulatory environment. This often results in extra checks, delayed payouts or repeated requests for the same documents.
In contrast, India focused platforms that understand FEMA, purpose codes and inward remittance rules offer a smoother experience. BRISKPE stands out in this context because it aligns its onboarding with the requirements of Indian banks and regulators. This reduces friction and helps freelancers, agencies and exporters start receiving foreign payments with fewer delays.
