Ethiopian freelancers often need a USD-denominated Mastercard or Visa to receive payments from clients, withdraw earnings, and shop online internationally. Several services offer prepaid or virtual cards that can be applied for online and—where available—mailed to a PO Box in Ethiopia.
Why Freelancers Need USD Cards
- Receive payments: Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, and direct clients often pay via Payoneer, Wise, or similar
- Online purchases: Buy software, subscriptions, and services in USD
- ATM withdrawals: Access funds in birr or USD at supported ATMs
- Avoid conversion delays: Hold and spend USD without immediate conversion to birr
Services That Offer Cards to Ethiopians
1. Payoneer
What it is: A global payment platform widely used by freelancers and marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, etc.).
Card options:
- Physical Mastercard: Prepaid card in USD. Can be shipped to many countries, including Ethiopia. Delivery is typically via standard mail or express (DHL/FedEx) for a fee.
- Virtual card: Instant digital card for online use—no shipping required.
How to apply: Sign up at payoneer.com. You’ll need a valid ID, proof of address, and a bank account (optional for receiving). Once approved, you can request a physical card. Cards can usually be shipped to a PO Box—confirm with Payoneer support for Ethiopia.
Fees: Account is free. Card issuance and shipping fees vary. ATM withdrawals and currency conversion may have fees. Check Payoneer’s pricing page for current rates.
2. Wise (formerly TransferWise)
What it is: A multi-currency account and international payment service.
Card options:
- Wise Debit Card: Visa debit card linked to your Wise balance. Availability for Ethiopia varies—check wise.com for current supported countries.
- If the physical card is not yet available in Ethiopia, you can still use Wise to receive payments and withdraw to a local bank account.
How to apply: Sign up at wise.com. Provide ID and address. If the card is available, you can order it to be shipped. PO Box delivery depends on the courier’s policy in Ethiopia.
3. Skrill
What it is: An e-wallet and prepaid card service popular with freelancers and online workers.
Card options:
- Skrill Prepaid Mastercard: Physical or virtual card. Availability for shipping to Ethiopia should be verified on skrill.com.
- Skrill Virtual Card: For online use only; no shipping needed.
How to apply: Register at skrill.com. Complete verification. Order a card if available in your region.
4. Payza / Payeer (and similar)
Other e-wallets and payment processors may offer cards. Always verify on their official sites whether they ship to Ethiopia and accept PO Box addresses.
Getting Your Card Mailed to a PO Box in Ethiopia
- PO Box: Many couriers (DHL, FedEx, EMS) can deliver to Ethiopian Post Office PO Boxes. You’ll receive a notification to collect the package at the post office.
- Street address: If you have a physical address, some services prefer it. Use the format: Street, City, Region, Ethiopia, Postal Code (if known).
- Verification: You may need to show ID when collecting the card at the post office.
- Delivery time: Standard shipping can take 2–4 weeks; express (DHL/FedEx) often 5–10 business days, at extra cost.
Before You Apply
- Check current availability: Service availability and shipping policies change. Confirm on each provider’s website or with their support that they ship to Ethiopia and accept your address type.
- Documents: Have a valid passport or national ID, proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, or official letter), and—if required—proof of freelance work (contract, invoice, or platform profile).
- Bank account: Some services require a local bank account for verification or withdrawals. Others allow card-only use.
- Fees: Compare card issuance, shipping, ATM, and conversion fees across providers.
Using Your Card in Ethiopia
- ATMs: Use ATMs that accept international Mastercard or Visa. CBE, Awash, Dashen, and other banks have ATMs that may support international cards. Check with your bank.
- Online: Use the card for international subscriptions, software, and e-commerce.
- Conversion: When you withdraw birr, the card issuer converts USD at their rate. Compare with Birr Value to see how it compares to bank rates.
Summary
| Service | Card Type | Ships to Ethiopia | PO Box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payoneer | Mastercard | Check with support | Usually yes |
| Wise | Visa debit | Check availability | Depends on courier |
| Skrill | Mastercard | Verify on site | Verify on site |
Always confirm current policies with each provider. Regulations and service availability can change.