The short answer
Your invoice should show your name, the client's name, the date, an invoice number, the work you did, the amount and currency, how to pay you and who covers the transfer fees. That's enough for most foreign clients to pay you.
Your own country may also have rules on top of this. Kenya and Ghana are two that catch people out, and we cover them below. This is general information, not tax advice, reviewed on 2 November 2026. And this is for contractors only. If you're an employee, including through an employer of record, you're paid through payroll and you don't send an invoice.
What to put on it
| Item | Why it's there |
|---|---|
| Your full name and address | So the client's accounts team can match it to your contract |
| Your tax number, if you have one | Some clients ask for it, and it helps your own records |
| Client's name and address | It should show the legal name in your contract, and it shows where the client is |
| Invoice number | A simple series such as 2026-001 means no two are alike |
| Date and due date | Use the payment terms in your contract |
| Work done | Hours and rate, or a fixed price, and the period it covers |
| Total and currency | Write USD, not just the dollar sign, as several countries use dollars |
| How to pay you | Bank details with SWIFT, or your payment account |
| Who covers fees | One line, so that a short payment doesn't become an argument |
Our free invoice maker has all of these. It prints to PDF, and nothing is uploaded.
A worked example
You do 40 hours at 10 USD an hour, plus a one-off setup job of 50 USD. So your invoice says 400 + 50 = 450 USD.
Now look at what could arrive. If the client pays by SWIFT, a bank along the way can take a correspondent fee. Wise's help page says: "we estimate anywhere between 15 and 50 USD or equivalent". So 450 USD could land as 400 to 435 USD, before your own bank's charges. On a small invoice, that's a big share.
So agree this up front, and add a line such as "Client pays all transfer charges", if your contract says so. Compare your options with our payment fee comparison.
Kenya: eTIMS
KRA says "all persons carrying on business including those who are not registered for VAT are required to electronically generate and transmit their invoices". This has applied from 1 September 2023. KRA's page on eTIMS describes an Online Portal "Tailored for taxpayers in the service sector exclusively".
So if you're a Kenyan contractor doing business, a PDF on its own doesn't meet that rule, whichever tool made it. Our invoice maker doesn't replace eTIMS. You can still send a PDF that your foreign client's accounts team can read, but get your eTIMS side in order too. Read KRA's FAQ and our guide to remote work taxes in Kenya. If you aren't sure how it applies to your own work, ask KRA.
Ghana: foreign currency invoices
The Bank of Ghana says: "Foreign currency invoices may be issued only to expatriates (foreign nationals) or non-residents and proceeds from such transactions shall be paid into a Foreign Exchange Account (FEA) with any licensed bank."
So you can invoice a client in Toronto in dollars, paid into your Foreign Exchange Account. You can't invoice a Ghanaian company in dollars. Read Foreign Exchange Accounts in Ghana.
Other countries
We've only covered these two here, because they're the rules we read for this guide. Elsewhere, ask your tax authority whether you must register, or issue invoices in a set way. Nigeria's CBN manual says that, except where expressly permitted by law, "the use of foreign currency for the payment of goods and services in Nigeria is prohibited", so a Nigerian client should get a naira invoice. Tanzania's central bank says local pricing and payment must be in shillings. So being remote doesn't let you bill a local client in dollars.
If the client is in the US
A US client may ask you for Form W-8BEN before paying your first invoice. It tells them you aren't a US person. Read W-8BEN explained. It's normal, but only give it to a client you've already checked.
Common mistakes
- No invoice number. Accounts teams often send these back.
- Wrong client name. Use the legal name in your contract.
- Details that don't match. The name on your bank account should be the name on the invoice.
- Nothing kept. Save a PDF of each invoice. You'll need them for tax.
- Paying to be paid. If a client says you must pay a fee to release your invoice, stop. Our scam check explains why.
Read contractor or employee if you aren't sure which you are, and browse remote roles when you're ready for your next client.