How much does Infinity charge to receive international payments?

Infinity charges 0.5% on the amount you receive, all-inclusive. There is no separate FX markup, no additional GST and no charge for your FIRA.

That single line is the whole fee structure, so you can work out your cost before the payment arrives. More than 10,000 users have already onboarded with Infinity.

Real cost of receiving international payments in India: $1,000, $10,000 and $50,000

On a $10,000 payment, an ICICI wire can cost roughly ₹9,900 to ₹23,100 in total, while Infinity costs ₹4,700. The gap grows as your invoices grow, because the exchange rate margin is a percentage of the amount.

Formula: total cost = handling fee + (FX margin % × amount) + intermediary fee + FIRA/FIRC fee + GST on fees

Assumptions used in this illustration:

• Mid-market rate of ₹94 per USD.

• ICICI low case: 1% FX margin, ₹200 handling fee, no intermediary deduction, ₹200 FIRC fee and 18% GST on the fees.

• ICICI high case: 2% FX margin, ₹750 handling fee, a $30 intermediary deduction (₹2,820), ₹500 FIRC fee and 18% GST on the fees.

• Your actual cost depends on your account, your rate and the payment route.

  
  

Here is the $10,000 payment line by line:

Even in the low case, the bank costs more than double Infinity's fee at $10,000.

How long does an international wire transfer to India take?

Infinity settles export payments in 24 hours. An ICICI wire takes 2-5 working days (depending on the number of intermediaries involved), and it can take longer when the payment passes through several banks.

Timing matters more than most exporters expect. If you have payroll or a supplier payment due on Friday and the wire is still in transit, you may end up borrowing or delaying a payment while your own money sits in the system.

FIRA and paperwork: what you pay and what you get

ICICI issues a FIRC on request and may charge a fee for each certificate. Infinity generates your FIRA for you at no charge.

A FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate) is issued by a bank. A FIRA (Foreign Inward Remittance Advice) is issued by payment platforms like Infinity. Both are proof that foreign currency reached India for your export. For the full difference, read our guide on FIRA vs FIRC explained.

ICICI Bank wire vs Infinity: head-to-head comparison for exporters

Infinity is the better fit for most exporters on cost, speed and paperwork. An ICICI wire suits a narrower set of cases, covered later in this guide.

Infinity

• Summary: A payment platform that lets exporters receive international payments at a flat 0.5% fee.

• Pros: 0.5% all-inclusive fee, no additional GST, 24-hour settlement, free FIRA, a dedicated account manager, 50+ currencies and 160+ countries, and a dedicated mobile app.

• Cons: It works alongside your bank account rather than replacing it. Because the fee is a percentage, a very large invoice with a heavily negotiated bank rate can come out cheaper at the bank.

• Fees: 0.5% all-inclusive, no additional GST, free FIRA.

Is Infinity good for exporters for receiving international payments?

Yes, Infinity is good for most exporters, especially those who invoice regularly and want a predictable cost.

ICICI Bank wire transfer

• Summary: A traditional SWIFT transfer credited to your ICICI account.

• Pros: An existing banking relationship, and negotiable rates on large volumes.

• Cons: The exchange rate margin is hidden inside the rate, intermediary banks can deduct fees, GST applies on bank fees, and you pay for paperwork. Timing depends on the route.

• Fees: Handling fee, FX margin in the TT buying rate, intermediary deductions, FIRC fee and 18% GST on fees.

Is ICICI good for exporters for receiving international payments?

Sometimes. It suits very large invoices with a negotiated rate, or clients who only pay by bank wire.

International payments for exporters selling in many countries: currency coverage and support

Infinity supports 50+ currencies and 160+ countries, so one platform can cover clients in most of your markets. You do not need a separate setup for each client region.

The dedicated account manager matters here too. When a payment is delayed or an amount looks wrong, you have one person to contact, instead of chasing a branch or a call centre.

When does an ICICI wire transfer still make sense for exporters?

A bank wire still makes sense in three cases: very large invoices with a negotiated rate, an existing relationship you want to keep using, and clients who only pay by bank wire.

On large volumes, the maths can change. If you negotiate your exchange rate margin down to close to 0.5% or below, an ICICI wire can match Infinity's cost on a large invoice. That is why the first step for any large exporter is to ask for the rate in writing and compare it against Infinity.

How to reduce ICICI Bank wire transfer charges if you stay with the bank

You can cut your ICICI costs by getting the rate card in writing, negotiating the margin and asking clients to bear intermediary charges.

1. Ask for the rate card in writing. Get the handling fee, the FIRC fee and the exchange rate margin on paper, so you can work out your real cost.

2. Negotiate the margin on larger volumes. The margin is the biggest cost, and it is the part most open to negotiation.

3. Ask clients to use the OUR option. OUR means the sender pays the intermediary charges. Check your first payment to confirm nothing was deducted.

How to start receiving international payments as an exporter with Infinity

You can start receiving export payments with Infinity in four simple steps. Sign-up takes about 2 minutes, and verification and KYC are done the same day.

1. Sign up in 2 minutes. Create your Infinity account with your basic details.

2. Verify and complete KYC the same day. Submit your verification and KYC details. The process is completed on the same day.

3. Receive bank details in multiple currencies. Once you are verified, you get bank details in multiple currencies that you can share with your international clients.

4. Start receiving payments. Your clients pay into those details, your money settles in 24 hours, and your FIRA is generated free.

Once you are set up, you can manage your payments from the Infinity mobile app.

Final thoughts

For international payments for exporters, the listed fee is rarely the real cost. The exchange rate margin, intermediary deductions, certificate fees and GST add up, and they are easy to miss until the credited amount is short. Infinity vs ICICI Bank comes down to one question: do you want to work out your cost after the payment lands, or know it before?

FAQs

How much does it really cost to receive an export payment through an ICICI Bank wire transfer compared to Infinity?

For a $10,000 export payment, an ICICI wire can cost roughly ₹9,900 to ₹23,100 in total once the exchange rate margin, intermediary deductions, certificate fee and GST are counted. Infinity costs ₹4,700 at 0.5%, all-inclusive. The exact gap depends on your negotiated margin and payment route.

Does ICICI charge a fee for inward remittance?

ICICI can charge a handling fee to credit an inward remittance, and it varies by account type and segment. The bigger cost is usually the exchange rate margin, which never appears as a fee. Ask your relationship manager for the current rate card in writing before comparing.

What is the TT buying rate and why does it matter?

The TT buying rate is the rate at which ICICI buys your foreign currency and pays you rupees. It is usually lower than the mid-market rate. The gap between the two is the bank's margin, and on a large export payment it is often your biggest cost.

Why did I receive less than the invoice amount in my ICICI account?

The usual reasons are the exchange rate margin, fees deducted by intermediary banks on the route, a handling fee and GST on that fee. Ask ICICI for the credit advice and the SWIFT details of the payment to see which deductions applied.

Is FIRA free with ICICI?

ICICI issues a FIRC, not a FIRA, and a certificate fee can apply for each request. Infinity generates a FIRA for you automatically at no charge, so you do not need to request it or pay for it.

Is Infinity's 0.5% fee really all-inclusive?

Yes. Infinity charges 0.5% with no separate FX markup and no additional GST. Your FIRA is free. That means you can calculate your cost before the payment arrives, without waiting to see the credited amount.

How long does Infinity take to settle an international payment?

Infinity settles international payments in 24 hours. That helps exporters plan payroll, supplier payments and other cash flow needs, instead of waiting on the intermediary banks that a SWIFT wire can pass through.

Which currencies and countries does Infinity support?

Infinity supports 50+ currencies and 160+ countries. If you sell to clients across several markets, you can receive payments from most of them through one platform, with the same 0.5% all-inclusive fee.

What is the cheapest way for exporters to receive international payments in India?

For most exporters, a platform with a flat, all-inclusive fee such as Infinity works out cheaper than a bank wire, because it removes the exchange rate margin, GST and certificate fees. Compare options on the amount that lands in your account, not on the listed fee.