Accepting Payments from Revolut Users in Nigeria

Accepting Payments from Revolut Users in Nigeria

To receive funds from a Revolut user, you need a payment gateway that accepts international Visa and Mastercard transactions. Revolut cards function as standard debit cards, but specific settings must be enabled on your end to ensure the transaction does not fail.

Option 1: Paystack (Recommended)This is generally the most reliable option for card payments.

• How it works: You generate a standard Payment Page or Invoice link.
• The Payer’s Experience: The Revolut user clicks the link and enters their card details. They must authorize the transaction inside their Revolut app.
• Required Setting: By default, international payments are turned off. You must enable them manually:
  
  1. Log in to your Paystack Dashboard.
  2. Go to Settings > Preferences.
  3. Find International Payments and toggle it ON.
• Settlement: You can charge the user in USD. To receive the funds in USD, you must link a Nigerian USD Domiciliary account. If you link a standard Naira account, the funds will be converted to Naira.

Option 2: FlutterwaveFlutterwave is an excellent alternative that often provides more flexibility with currency holding.

• How it works: Create a payment link via the Flutterwave dashboard.
• The Payer’s Experience: Similar to Paystack, the user pays via card.
• Required Setting: Ensure your account is verified for international collections.
• Advantage: Flutterwave allows you to toggle between currencies easily. If you charge the user in GBP or EUR (supported by Revolut), the transaction success rate is often higher than charging in Naira.

Option 3: Fincra or Geegpay (Best for Bank Transfers)If the card payment fails (which can happen due to banking restrictions), these platforms allow you to receive a bank transfer instead of a card payment.

• How it works: These platforms generate a Virtual Foreign Bank Account (e.g., a virtual UK or US bank account) in your name.
• The Payer’s Experience: The Revolut user sees a local bank account number (e.g., a UK Sort Code and Account Number). They send a standard transfer from their Revolut app.
• Why choose this: It avoids card network declines entirely. It is often cheaper for larger amounts.

Troubleshooting Guide for Revolut PaymentsIf the Revolut user complains that the transaction is failing, check the following:
1. 3D Secure Authorization
Revolut requires users to approve online transactions. Remind the payer to keep their Revolut app open on their phone while processing the payment on your link. They will get a pop-up notification they must click.
2. Currency Selection
Avoid charging in Naira (NGN) if possible. Revolut’s fraud detection systems sometimes flag NGN transactions as "high risk."

• Best Practice: Create the payment link in USD or GBP. The transaction is much more likely to be approved.

3. Address Verification (AVS)
If your payment link asks for a billing address, the Revolut user must enter the exact address registered to their Revolut account. If they moved recently and didn't update the app, the payment will decline.