Is Airwallex available for business in United Kingdom?

By Fredrik Filipsson, cofounder of Business Bank Index
Reviewed by Morten Andersen · Last reviewed 8 May 2026
Availability

Airwallex for business in United Kingdom: Available

Key eligibility
A business registered in United Kingdom as a limited company or a limited liability partnership. Sole traders are not eligible
Non resident position
The account is for a United Kingdom registered entity. Directors and beneficial owners provide identity documents. Confirm acceptance for your structure with the provider
Local currency support
Yes. Local United Kingdom account details with a sort code and account number on Faster Payments, receiving accounts in other major currencies, and balances in more than 60 currencies
Headline monthly fee
Explore plan from £0 a month, with the monthly fee waived where a £10,000 balance is held and otherwise up to £19 a month. Grow is £49 a month and Accelerate is from £999 a month
Availability and fees as of 8 May 2026Last reviewed 8 May 2026

General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.

Yes. As of 8 May 2026 Airwallex serves business customers in United Kingdom through its United Kingdom entity, which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an electronic money institution under firm reference number 900876. A business registered in United Kingdom as a limited company or a limited liability partnership can open a Global Business Account with local pound sterling details and balances in more than 60 currencies. Sole traders are not eligible, so check your structure before you apply.

Does Airwallex serve business customers in United Kingdom?

Yes. Airwallex operates a regulated United Kingdom entity and markets a Global Business Account to United Kingdom companies. It is an electronic money institution rather than a bank, so funds are safeguarded rather than covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The account gives a United Kingdom business local account details with a sort code and account number on Faster Payments, the ability to collect in pound sterling, United States dollars, euros, Australian dollars and other currencies, multi currency cards, and access to an application programming interface for payments. As of 8 May 2026.

Eligibility for businesses in United Kingdom

Airwallex opens accounts for businesses registered in United Kingdom as a limited company or a limited liability partnership. Each business provides company details and identity documents for its directors and beneficial owners, and the application is reviewed before approval. Sole traders and unincorporated businesses are not accepted. Confirm the current requirements and the documents needed for your structure with the provider. Verify with the provider

What it costs locally

Airwallex publishes tiered plans for United Kingdom. The Explore plan starts from £0 a month, with the monthly fee waived where a balance of £10,000 is held and otherwise up to £19 a month. The Grow plan is £49 a month and the Accelerate plan is from £999 a month. Currency conversion is offered at the interbank rate plus 0.5 percent, local United Kingdom bank transfers are free, and card acquiring for United Kingdom Visa and Mastercard payments is quoted at 1.30 percent plus £0.20 per transaction. Plan inclusions and limits vary, so confirm the figures for your usage. As of 8 May 2026

What local users report

United Kingdom businesses generally choose Airwallex for cross border payments, multi currency collection and lower foreign exchange costs than a traditional bank. Users weigh that it is an electronic money institution, so balances are safeguarded rather than protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and that sole traders cannot apply. As of 8 May 2026, confirm the current position with the provider before relying on it.

How to open Airwallex for business in United Kingdom

  1. Confirm your business is a United Kingdom limited company or limited liability partnership, since sole traders are not eligible
  2. Apply online with your company details and identity documents for directors and beneficial owners
  3. Complete the review, then activate your local pound sterling and multi currency accounts once approved
Open with Airwallex →

Questions about Airwallex in United Kingdom

Is Airwallex available for business in United Kingdom?
Yes. As of 8 May 2026 Airwallex serves United Kingdom businesses through its Financial Conduct Authority authorised electronic money institution, firm reference number 900876. A United Kingdom limited company or limited liability partnership can open a Global Business Account. This is general information, not advice.
Can a sole trader in United Kingdom open an Airwallex account?
No. Airwallex opens business accounts for United Kingdom limited companies and limited liability partnerships, and it does not accept sole traders. Confirm the current eligibility with the provider. As of 8 May 2026.
Does Airwallex give a United Kingdom business local pound sterling details?
Yes. The Global Business Account provides local United Kingdom account details with a sort code and account number on Faster Payments, alongside receiving accounts in other currencies and balances in more than 60 currencies. As of 8 May 2026, verify with the provider.
Is Airwallex a bank in United Kingdom?
No. Airwallex is an electronic money institution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, not a bank, so customer funds are safeguarded rather than covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. As of 8 May 2026, confirm the current position with the provider.

Availability, fees, and eligibility change. This page was last reviewed on 8 May 2026. Confirm the current position with Airwallex before applying.

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