Amazon pays creators, affiliates, and sellers according to the programme they use. The available payment methods depend on the programme, the country associated with your account, and the bank account or payment details you provide.
For Nigerians, receiving these earnings can be challenging when a programme does not support direct payments to a local bank account or when international transfers attract additional fees.
A foreign-currency account can provide another way to receive eligible payments. With Pouchers, you can get a USD bank account as well as EUR, GBP, and CAD accounts, receive supported transfers, convert your available foreign-currency balance to Naira, and withdraw the money to your Nigerian bank account.
This article explains how Amazon payments work, what you need to receive them in Nigeria, and how to use Pouchers as part of the process.
What Can You Get Paid for on Amazon?
1. Publishing books through Amazon KDP
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows authors to publish ebooks and print books through Amazon. You earn royalties from Amazon KDP when readers purchase eligible books, subject to the programme’s royalty terms and applicable costs.
2. Earning commissions through Amazon associates
Amazon Associates is an affiliate marketing programme. You promote eligible Amazon products using special links and earn commissions on qualifying purchases. Your earnings depend on the programme’s commission rules and the purchases attributed to your links.
3. Selling products through Amazon Seller Central
Amazon Seller Central allows businesses and individuals to sell products through Amazon’s marketplace. Sellers receive proceeds from their sales after applicable fees, refunds, reserves, and other account adjustments. Amazon seller payments follow a different process from KDP royalties and affiliate commissions.
You must meet the marketplace’s seller requirements such as providing your personal or business details, a valid government-issued ID, proof of address, and payment details.
How Does Amazon Pay Nigerians?
1. Bank transfer and electronic funds transfer
Electronic funds transfer (EFT) sends money electronically to an eligible bank account. Where supported, this is a convenient option because you don’t need to receive a physical payment. Nigerians can use their Pouchers foreign-currency accounts to receive Amazon payments. Pouchers provides USD, GBP, and EUR account details that you can add to your Amazon account as a payment method.
2. International Wire Transfer
An international wire transfer sends money from one financial institution to another across countries. Depending on the programme and marketplace, Amazon may offer wire transfers to eligible recipients. Wire transfers can involve intermediary bank charges, receiving fees, and currency conversion costs. Your bank may also require additional information to identify an incoming payment.
Why Can Receiving Amazon Payments in Nigeria Be Difficult?
1. Limited payment options for Nigerian bank accounts
Some payment methods like cheques and electronic funds transfersavailable to recipients in other countries may not be available to Nigerian bank accounts. If your Amazon programme does not support your preferred local payment method, you may need to consider another eligible option.
2. Currency conversion and exchange-rate differences
Amazon pays you in the currency supported by your programme and marketplace. If your bank account accepts a different currency, your bank or payment provider may convert the payment before crediting your account.
Exchange rates affect how much you receive after converting your earnings to Naira. The amount credited to your Nigerian bank account may therefore differ from the original foreign-currency amount.
For example, if you receive $100 and the exchange rate is ₦1,500 per dollar, you would get ₦150,000 before any conversion fees. If the rate changes to ₦1,450 per dollar, you would receive ₦145,000 instead. Your final naira amount depends on the exchange rate applied when you convert your earnings and any applicable fees.
3. International transfer fees
International transfers can attract charges from the sending bank, intermediary banks, and the receiving institution. These costs reduce the amount you ultimately receive. The payment method matters because an international wire transfer and a local electronic transfer don’t necessarily have the same fees.
4. Account verification and incorrect bank details
Incorrect account numbers, sort codes, routing numbers, or other banking information can delay or prevent a payment. Some programmes also require tax information, identity verification, or additional account checks.
5. Restrictions on payment service providers
Not every payment service or virtual account is accepted by every Amazon programme. Some programmes require specific account types or banking arrangements, and some may reject third-party payment details.
Before using a foreign bank account, check whether your programme accepts the account and whether the details provided by your payment service satisfy Amazon’s requirements.
How to Receive Amazon Payments in Nigeria with Pouchers
Step 1: Create a foreign-currency account
- Download the Pouchers app from Google Play Store or App Store to get started.
- Create an account and sign or just sign in if you have an existing Pouchers account
- Select a USD, EUR, or GBP account from the homepage and activate the account by entering all required details.
Step 2: Add your bank account to Amazon
- Log in to the Amazon account associated with your earnings
- Open the “Your Account” page and and go to “Getting Paid”
- Select “Add a bank account” and enter the bank foreign bank account details from Pouchers and save it as your preferred payment method.
Step 3: Receive your Amazon payments
Once your payment details have been accepted, Amazon sends eligible earnings according to the schedule and terms of your programme. When the payment reaches your Pouchers account through a supported transfer method, check your available balance and transaction history to confirm receipt.
Keep in mind that Amazon’s payment schedule and the time taken for a transfer to reach your account are two different things. A payment can be scheduled by Amazon but still take additional time to arrive.
Step 4: Convert Your Earnings to Naira
After your foreign-currency payment arrives, you can convert your available balance to Naira through Pouchers. Once the conversion is complete, withdraw the Naira to your Nigerian bank account using the available withdrawal option.
This process lets you receive supported foreign-currency payments and access the converted funds locally without relying on a direct foreign-currency payment into your Nigerian bank account for every transaction.
Why Use Pouchers to Receive Payment from Amazon?
1. Receive eligible payments in foreign currency
Pouchers provides USD, GBP, and EUR bank accounts. When your Amazon programme accepts the relevant account details, you can receive eligible payments in the supported currency rather than relying on a direct payment to a Nigerian naira account. This is useful for authors, affiliate marketers, and online sellers who earn money in foreign currencies.
2. Hold your earnings
You can keep your earnings in a supported foreign currency instead of converting them to naira immediately. This allows you to save in dollars, pounds, or euros and convert your balance later when you need naira or prefer the available exchange rate.
3. Convert foreign currency to Naira
When you need naira for local expenses, you can convert your available foreign-currency balance through Pouchers with zero conversion fees. You can then withdraw the converted funds to your Nigerian bank account.
4. Spend your USD with a virtual Dollar card
With Pouchers, you can use your USD earnings to create and fund a virtual dollar card. You can use the card to pay for eligible international subscriptions, shop on supported websites, and pay for other online services that accept dollar cards. This lets you spend your Amazon earnings directly without first converting them to naira, subject to your available balance and card terms.
How Much Does It Cost to Receive Amazon Payments with Pouchers?
| Transaction | Fee |
| ACH deposit | 0.7%, minimum $2 and maximum $10 |
| FedNow deposit | 0.7%, minimum $2 and maximum $10 |
| USD international wire deposit | $20 |
| Currency conversion | No fees |
| Withdrawal to a Nigerian bank account | No fees |
How Long Does It Take to Receive Amazon Payments?
The time it takes to receive your money depends on two stages: when Amazon releases your earnings and how long the transfer takes to reach your receiving account.
| Payment Method | Time |
| Amazon KDP royalties | January sales: end of March. February sales: end of April. March sales: end of May. Royalties from Expanded Distribution are paid approximately 90 days after the sales month ends. |
| Amazon Associates commissions | January commissions: late March. February commissions: late April. March commissions: late May. Payments follow the same monthly pattern, subject to payment thresholds and programme requirements. |
| Amazon Seller Central | First settlement: 14 days after registration. Subsequent settlements: every 14 days, with funds normally reaching the bank within 5 business days after Amazon initiates payment. |
| ACH transfer | 1-3 business days |
| FedNow transfer | Up to 30 minutes |
| International wire transfer | 5-10 business days |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I receive payment from Amazon in Nigeria?
Choose your Amazon programme, check its payment requirements, and add eligible bank details. If accepted, you can use a Pouchers foreign-currency account to receive payments, convert your balance to naira, and withdraw to your Nigerian bank account.
2. Can Nigerians receive Amazon payments in dollars?
Yes. Nigerians can receive dollar payments through eligible payment methods, provided their receiving account meets Amazon’s requirements.
3. Can I receive Amazon payments in a Nigerian bank account?
It depends on the Amazon programme and marketplace. Check whether your Nigerian bank account qualifies for the available payment methods.
4. Can I use a USD account to receive Amazon payments?
Yes, if Amazon accepts the account details for your specific programme and marketplace. Having a USD account alone does not guarantee eligibility.
5. Can I use Pouchers to receive Amazon payments?
Yes, if your Amazon programme accepts the relevant Pouchers account details. Pouchers offers virtual USD, GBP, and EUR accounts for supported payments.
Conclusion
Receiving Amazon payments in Nigeria starts with choosing the right payment method for the programme you use. Whether you earn royalties through KDP, commissions through Amazon Associates, or sales proceeds through Seller Central, you need eligible account details and an understanding of the applicable payment schedule.
Pouchers gives you access to USD, GBP, and EUR virtual accounts for supported incoming payments. You can hold eligible foreign-currency balances, convert them to naira, and withdraw the proceeds to your Nigerian bank account.
[Download the Pouchers app to get a foreign bank account today]
