Cross-Border Import Payments
Accept and manage cross-border import payments with Pine Labs Online. Explore international payment flows, supported payment methods, settlement processes, and integration options.
Pine Labs Cross Border Import Payments enables eligible overseas merchants to accept payments from Indian customers through a regulated cross-border payment flow, without requiring the merchant to set up a local Indian entity.
Indian customers can pay in INR through supported payment modes, while the overseas merchant can receive settlement into its approved foreign bank account, subject to onboarding, compliance checks, purpose-code eligibility, and AD bank processing.
This solution is designed for global businesses such as overseas education providers, travel platforms, SaaS companies, digital service providers, professional service firms, and D2C brands that want to sell to Indian customers with a localized payment experience.
How it Works Integration Guide FAQsWhy Global Merchants Need a Localized India Payment Flow?
India is one of the most attractive digital commerce markets for global businesses. However, accepting payments from Indian customers is not as simple as adding an international card checkout.
Indian customers expect:
INR Pricing
Transparent pricing shown in INR for a better customer experience.
Familiar Local Payment Methods
Pay using trusted Indian methods like UPI, Cards, Wallets and Net Banking.
Smooth Checkout
A fast, simple and frictionless checkout experience that boosts conversions.
Trusted Payment Authentication
Strong authentication and compliance for secure and trusted transactions.
Instant Payment Confirmation
Real-time payment confirmation for peace of mind.
Reliable Refunds
Hassle-free and reliable refunds for a trustworthy experience.
At the same time, many global merchants do not want to create an Indian entity, open an Indian bank account, or manage complex regulatory and settlement requirements. Pine Labs Cross Border Import Payments helps address this gap by enabling eligible overseas merchants to collect payments from Indian customers through a regulated cross-border payment framework.
Why Choose Pine Labs for Cross-Border Import Payments?
India’s payment ecosystem is unique. Businesses entering India cannot rely only on international card rails or generic payment processors.
They need a payment partner that understands:
Local Payment Behavior
Understand what Indian customers expect and trust.
Domestic Checkout Expectations
Deliver familiar and seamless checkout experiences.
Compliance Requirements
Built for regulatory alignment and risk management.
Settlement Operations
Coordinated settlements with AD banks for smooth fund flows.
Refund & Reconciliation Workflows
Reliable refund processing with accurate reconciliation at every step.
Pine Labs brings together
This helps global businesses enter the Indian market with lower operational friction and a more localized customer payment experience.
Key Features
Accept Payments from India Without a Local Entity
Eligible overseas merchants can collect payments from Indian customers without creating an Indian company or opening a local Indian bank account.
This helps reduce market-entry friction and allows global businesses to start serving Indian customers faster.
Localized INR Checkout Experience
Indian customers are more comfortable when they see INR pricing and familiar payment options.
Pine Labs enables merchants to offer a localized checkout experience where customers can pay in INR through supported payment modes.
Hosted Checkout with Lower Integration Effort
Pine Labs Hosted Checkout allows merchants to redirect customers to a Pine Labs-hosted payment page.
Pine Labs manages the checkout experience, payment collection, and secure processing flow.
Hosted Checkout can reduce integration effort for merchants that do not want to build and maintain the complete checkout flow over S2S APIs.
It can also reduce the merchant’s PCI compliance burden because sensitive payment information is handled by Pine Labs Checkout.
Regulated Cross-Border Settlement Flow
PA-CB Import Payments are designed for regulated cross-border payment use cases.
RBI’s PA Directions require inward and outward PA-CB funds to be kept separate, with no co-mingling or netting permitted between inward and outward transactions.
RBI also states that for inward or outward transactions processed by a PA-CB, the maximum value per transaction is ₹25 lakh.
Because of this, eligible transactions, limits, purpose codes, settlement dependencies, and compliance checkpoints must be clearly defined before processing.
Purpose-Code and Transaction-Category Mapping
Every cross-border transaction must be mapped based on the underlying purpose of payment.
Examples of payment purposes may include:
- Education
- Travel
- SaaS
- Professional services
- Digital goods
- Physical goods
Each category may have different purpose-code and documentation expectations.
Pine Labs Cross Border Import flow helps ensure that transactions are processed only when the merchant category, payment purpose, and required documentation are aligned.
Benefits
Benefits for Overseas Merchants
Pine Labs Cross Border Import Payments helps global merchants:
- Sell to Indian customers without setting up an Indian entity
- Offer an INR checkout experience
- Reduce dependency on international-card-only payment flows
- Improve customer trust with localized payment collection
- Receive settlement into approved overseas bank accounts
- Reduce operational complexity around payment collection, settlement, reconciliation, and refunds
- Access Pine Labs checkout, payment link, and payment gateway capabilities
- Expand into India faster with a compliance-led payment partner
Benefits for Indian Customers
Indian customers get a simpler and more familiar payment experience.
- Pay in INR
- Use supported local payment methods such as UPI
- Avoid manual bank transfers or complicated remittance flows
- Receive instant payment confirmation
- Get refunds through a structured refund process
- Complete transactions through a secure checkout experience
Web Checkout Interface for Import Payments
A secure web-based checkout interface for Cross Border Import Payments that enables Indian customers to complete international purchases using their preferred Indian payment methods through a seamless and intuitive checkout experience.
LRS Flow
Customers completing the transaction using Indian payment methods using the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) limit. Customers paying for international Education, Travel, or Medical services using Indian payment methods under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).
- Customer selects the product on your site.
- Proceeds to checkout & view order amount in INR.
- Provides details needed for LRS Checks.
- Chooses preferred Indian payment method.
- Completes payment with LRS limit.
- Payment success & order confirmation.
📘 Note: Transactions under the eligible LRS limit are processed seamlessly.
Non-LRS Flow
For amounts exceeding the LRS limit, customers are guided through additional verification before completing the payment. Customers paying for international goods or services using Indian payment methods through PA-CB Import.
- Customer selects the product on your site.
- Proceeds to checkout & view order amount in INR.
- Provides details and verification needed for PA-CB Import Checks.
- Chooses preferred Indian payment method.
- Completes payment with PACB Import limit.
- Payment success & order confirmation.
Merchant Dashboard
The Pine Labs Online Merchant Dashboard provides a centralized view of international payments, enabling merchants to monitor transactions, track settlement progress, and access real-time analytics and reporting.Settlement Statuses
Settled : The settlement has been successfully processed, and the SWIFT transfer has been initiated to the merchant's designated international bank account.
Processing : All required payment and transaction details have been received. The transaction is currently undergoing processing and will be submitted to the Authorised Dealer (AD) Bank for settlement shortly.
Pending : Required invoice details, including the Invoice Number and Invoice Date, have not yet been provided for a successful payment. Settlement processing will begin only after the required invoice information is submitted.
Integration Options
Hosted Checkout
Redirect customers to a Pine Labs-hosted payment page. Ideal for merchants that want a faster integration with Pine Labs managing checkout, payment collection, and secure processing.
Learn more →Custom Checkout
Best suited for businesses that want full control over the payment experience and branding. Customize the checkout flow, payment methods, and customer journey directly within your website or application.
Learn more →Payment Links
Collect payments from Indian customers without building a full checkout flow. Useful for service-based payments, education fees, consulting, travel bookings, or other eligible use cases.
Learn more →