Indonesia is home to many global creators with vast followings. Popular Indonesian creators, from Raffi Ahmad, Ria Ricis, and Atta Halilintar, who have large followings across social media, to beauty influencer Tasya Farasya, comedian Raditya Dika, and gamer Jess No Limit, put the country on the cyber map. Despite this, many creators still cannot make the most of their creativity to earn better, mainly due to payout systems, high fees, and local restrictions.

Whether you are a streamer, gamer, influencer, creative, or freelancer, this guide provides a clear guide on how Indonesian creators can receive their earnings from overseas. But first, let’s understand the common problem.

Why receiving creator earnings in Indonesia is complicated

Indonesian creators run into three common problems:

• Payment platforms use different payout systems: YouTube pays through AdSense, Spotify pays via aggregators, TikTok uses wallet payouts, and freelance marketplaces use their own internal systems. With this diversity, finding the right payment platform can be difficult.
• Most payouts are in foreign currencies: Most global platforms support payouts in USD, EUR, and GBP. This means you need a withdrawal method that supports the currency, offers the best conversion rates, and charges low fees.
• Traditional Indonesian banks are slow and charge high fees: International transfers via SWIFT can cost hundreds of thousands of rupiah and take several days.
• Some global platforms do not pay directly into Indonesian banks: Some platforms like Patreon and Gumroad prefer payout partners like Payoneer.

Seeing the scope of problems, it can be discouraging when your payout options don’t tick all the boxes of the platform you should be earning from.

How Indonesian creators receive their earnings from overseas

How Indonesian creators receive their earnings from overseas depends on the payment platforms they use, the specific payment methods offered by clients/platforms, and Indonesian financial regulations. Many creators prefer to use a mix of traditional banking and fintech solutions for speed and lower fees.

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Digital payment platforms

These are becoming more popular because they are easy to open and allow payments to be received directly from clients worldwide. If you are a creator working with foreign clients, here are some of your best options:

• Grey: This platform is designed for freelancers and creators. The fintech solution offers free USD, EUR, and GBP accounts, so your clients can pay you as if they are making a local transfer in their own country. This way, you are reducing fees and delays. Users can easily withdraw to their local account at mid-range exchange rates.
• Wise: Offers multi-currency accounts that allow you to receive money in various foreign currencies at mid-market exchange rates, helping to avoid costly conversions. You can then withdraw the funds to your Indonesian bank account.
• PayPal: A common method for international payments. Once the funds are received in your PayPal account, they can be transferred to a linked local Indonesian bank account. However, it is mandatory to convert to IDR. PayPal’s currency conversion markups and high transaction fees are among its downsides.

Also read: Wise vs PayPal: which is better in Indonesia?

Payouts from creator platforms

Some other platforms have their own payout integrations, especially YouTube, Twitch, and freelancing marketplaces. Here are a few examples:

• YouTube (Adsense): AdSense payments in Indonesia are made monthly via bank transfer once your earnings reach the payment threshold of Rp1,300,000. Payments are issued between the 21st and 26th of each month and can take up to 15 business days to reach your bank account. To get paid, you must have provided your bank account information in your AdSense account and have no payment holds on your account.
• TikTok: While the TikTok Creator Rewards Program is not available in Indonesia. However, creators in Indonesia can still earn money through other monetisation features like LIVE Gifts and withdraw their earnings via bank transfer or PayPal.

Sometimes, you are required to link a payment platform for your payout. For example, you can link Grey directly to platforms like Fiverr and Upwork for seamless payment processing. Depending on the platform, you can choose your preferred payout method, which could be a digital wallet or payment solution like Grey, PayPal, and Wise, or a direct bank transfer.

Direct international bank transfers

Another option is receiving a wire transfer directly from an overseas bank to your Indonesian bank account. This method can sometimes be slower and more expensive due to potential delays and fees associated with international wire transfers. You can also lose some of your earnings to unfair currency conversion rates.

Tips to reduce fees and keep more of your earnings

Because we are feeling extra generous, here are some tips to help you keep more of your earnings as a creator in Indonesia.

• Receive in USD, convert later: Use Grey, Wise, or Payoneer to receive USD and convert when the exchange rate is great.
• Avoid letting platforms convert your money automatically: AdSense, PayPal, and Payoneer often offer weaker IDR rates. Whenever you can, ensure your payout is in a stable currency.
• Withdraw payout in larger batches: Fewer withdrawals mean less processing fees. Batch your withdrawals to save up on withdrawal and processing fees.
• Use USD accounts for collaboration payments: Brands prefer USD payments, and they’re cheaper to receive.
• Keep records for tax purposes: Indonesia requires proof of your source of funds, income statements, and platform payment reports. Keep records and stay up to date with tax regulations, as digital creators are legally required to register their income for annual tax filing.

Also read: FX-saving strategies every freelancer in Indonesia should know

Receiving your overseas earnings with Grey

Today’s Indonesian creators have more opportunities than ever before to monetise globally, but choosing the right payment method makes a big difference in how much money you actually keep. Grey offers the ideal payment solutions for creators in Indonesia to receive their earnings without waiting days or losing a chunk of their earnings. With multi-currency accounts supporting USD, EUR, and GBP payments and seamless integration with global platforms, Grey simplifies international payments for creators. Leverage low and transparent fees, fast payouts, and competitive conversion rates when you sign up.

Get started with Grey today for seamless payouts.

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