A guide for sellers in Africa on how to collect payments from Amazon US and Amazon UK–without setting up a US entity or losing margin to forced conversion
Key takeaways
- Amazon pays sellers in the local marketplace currency, so USD on Amazon US, GBP on Amazon UK a
- While Amazon can convert up to 20+ currencies, it doesn’t directly deposit into Nigerian naira, Moroccan dirham, Kenyan shilling or Ghanaian cedi accounts through its built-in conversion service
- The World Account allows e-commerce sellers to setup local currency accounts in 15+ currencies collect payments from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways including Amazon and Etsy
Selling on Amazon US or Amazon UK can be a strong growth path for African businesses. After all, e-commerce sellers can get access to a larger customer base, established logistics infrastructure, and unit economics that often outperform local marketplaces. But for sellers based in Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya or Ghana, getting paid is one of the friction points worth planning around before listing the first product.
Amazon disburses earnings in the local marketplace currency. Getting those funds into a local naira, dirham, shilling or cedi account isn’t always easy and the path you choose can have a real impact on profit margins.
In this guide, we take a look at the best options for African sellers to collect funds in different currencies and how a multi-currency account can help
How does Amazon pay sellers?
Amazon disburses seller earnings to the seller’s nominated bank account on a fixed payout cycle, which is typically every 14 days, but sellers can request changes within Seller Central. Earnings are paid in the marketplace currency. So sellers get paid in USD for Amazon US, GBP for Amazon UK, EUR for European marketplaces, and
Amazon needs a seller bank account that can receive the marketplace currency, either directly or through a conversion service. So, to sell on Amazon, e-commerce sellers based in Africa would first need local currency accounts for the Amazon markets they plan to list their products on
How to get paid by Amazon in Africa: The top two ways
Amazon offers a built-in tool called Amazon Currency Converter for Sellers (ACCS). It lets sellers receive their disbursements converted into a supported local currency, deposited to a bank account in their home country. It supports 20+ currencies, but the Nigerian naira, Moroccan dirham, Kenyan shilling and Ghanaian cedi are not currently among them.
That leaves African Amazon sellers with two practical paths for getting paid:
Option 1: Open a US or UK bank account
This means setting up a separate account for each currency, and a new banking relationship in each region. African sellers may even have to set up a US or UK entity specifically to open a local bank account for Amazon payouts.
Though keep note that forming a foreign entity introduces ongoing compliance obligations such as annual filings, tax registrations, and a need for accounting support across two jurisdictions.
Option 2: Use a multi-currency account
A multi currency account, also referred to as a foreign currency account or domiciliary account lets sellers receive Amazon payouts in multiple currencies without needing to set up multiple bank accounts.
The World Account from WorldFirst is a multi-currency account that lets e-commerce sellers collect payments from Amazon and 130+ other marketplaces in multiple currencies. Opening a World Account gives sellers access to 15+ currency accounts including USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, CNH, and more.
Each local currency account comes with a unique account number and routing number. Sellers can add the local currency account details to their Amazon account to collect payments like a local. So, USD account details can be added to the Amazon US seller account. Amazon treats the account as a domestic deposit, with no SWIFT fees and no intermediary delays. The collected funds once released by Amazon will reflect in your World Account USD balance.
You can then use the collected USD funds to make further payments to suppliers or clear business expenses like Amazon Seller fees, SaaS tools, and ad marketing using the World Card.
The World Card is a Mastercard powered business payment card that lets you make payments in 150+ currencies. When you make a payment in one of the 15 supported currencies, there is no foreign exchange fees (as long as you have sufficient balance in that currencies.
Here’s what the World Account brings together for Amazon sellers:
- Hold Amazon disbursements in the marketplace currency: Receive USD from Amazon US, GBP from Amazon UK, EUR from European marketplaces, and hold each balance without forced conversion
- Pay Amazon seller fees, Meta and Google ad spend, and SaaS subscriptions directly from the matching currency balance using the World Card, a Mastercard-powered business payment card
- No fees when paying in any of the 15 supported currencies with sufficient balance held in that currency
- Issue up to 20 World Cards at no extra cost
- Convert between currencies when rates suit rather than at the point each payment arrives
- Withdraw to a local bank account when funds need to come home
How to get paid by Amazon with a World Account
The full process is online and typically completed within a few days.
FAQs
Can I sell on Amazon from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana or Morocco?
Yes. Amazon allows sellers from many countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Morocco, to register as sellers on Amazon US and other marketplaces, provided they meet Amazon’s seller requirements.
Do I need a US business entity to get paid by Amazon?
No. A multi-currency account with local USD account details is one alternative that allows African sellers to receive Amazon US disbursements without forming a US entity. Sellers who do form a US entity have additional reasons for doing such as tax planning, customer perception, or banking relationships, but it is not required just to get paid by Amazon.
How long does it take for Amazon to verify a new deposit method?
After adding new deposit details in Seller Central, Amazon typically verifies the bank within 48–72 hours. Once verified, the account is used on the next scheduled payout cycle.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.
