How Nigerian Entrepreneurs Can Safely Receive International Payments on Shopify

By now, you have done what most people never do. You have set up your Shopify store and positioned your business for success. You have gone from business novice to operator, and now you want to scale beyond borders and prove that more people, somewhere in the world, are willing to pay you for what you sell.

Now something interesting begins to happen.

Your product is so good that people on social media are noticing this is no ordinary brand. The results and reviews don’t lie. Someone in the UK is already asking in your comment section, “Do you deliver to the UK?”

And there you are, scrambling through your contact list asking everyone, “Do you know anyone travelling to the UK soon? I just need them to help me deliver something.”

While this may work for a few early customers, business does not grow on luck or favors. One international inquiry quickly becomes ten. Ten becomes fifty. And suddenly, your small Nigerian brand is no longer local , it is now global.

At that point, the question is no longer can people abroad buy from you? The question becomes can your business properly receive and process international payments at scale?

Before we continue, make sure you have already read the earlier parts of this series, where we covered selling from Nigeria to other countries using Shopify and preparing your store for international expansion. Payment setup only works properly when the foundation is already correct.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding why Shopify Payments is not available in Nigeria

2. Payment methods Nigerian entrepreneurs use: Connecting Paystack or Flutterwave

3. What actually happens when international customers pay you

4. Testing your payment system before going global

5. What this setup allows your business to do

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

7. Motivational Messages

8. News/Updates

Understanding the Shopify Payments limitation

The first thing you need to understand is simple: Shopify Payments is not available to businesses registered in Nigeria.

This means you cannot use Shopify’s native payment system to receive payouts the same way a US-based founder would. It is unfortunate, especially because Shopify was designed for global commerce.

However, Shopify allows you to connect trusted third-party payment providers, and this is the workaround Nigerian entrepreneurs use successfully.

The two most reliable options today are Paystack and Flutterwave.

Both platforms allow your Shopify store to accept international cards, including Visa and Mastercard, which are the most widely used cards globally.

The best part is that from your customer’s perspective, nothing feels different.

For example, imagine you run a Nigerian streetwear brand. A customer in New York visits your Shopify store and buys a hoodie for $60. They enter their Visa card details and click pay. The payment goes through successfully. They receive an order confirmation email.

They do not need a Nigerian account. They do not need Paystack. They do not need Flutterwave. They simply pay like they would on any online store.

Behind the scenes, Paystack or Flutterwave processes the payment and sends the funds to your Nigerian bank account. This is the exact system Nigerian entrepreneurs use to operate globally while remaining in Nigeria.

Payment methods Nigerian entrepreneurs use: Connecting Paystack or Flutterwave

Now that you understand how it works, the next step is connecting it to your Shopify store.

This is the most important technical step, but thankfully, it is straightforward. Many entrepreneurs choose to work with professionals like OATS Technologies Africa to handle this setup properly and avoid costly mistakes.

Here is what the process looks like:

Step 1: First, create an account with either Paystack or Flutterwave.

Step 2: During registration, you will verify your identity and connect your Nigerian bank account. This allows them to settle your funds after payments are received.

Step 3: Next, log into your Shopify dashboard and go to Settings, then click Payments. You will see an option to add a third-party payment provider.

Step 4: Search for Paystack or Flutterwave and connect it using your API keys.

Once connected, your Shopify store can immediately accept international payments.

Here is what this looks like in real life.

A customer in London visits your store and buys your product for $100. They enter their Mastercard and complete checkout. Paystack processes the payment, deducts its processing fee, converts the remaining amount into naira, and settles it to your Nigerian bank account.

You do not need to manually convert anything. The system handles everything automatically. This is how Nigerian brands receive international payments while operating fully from Nigeria.

What actually happens when international customers pay you

This is where managing expectations becomes important.

If a customer pays you $100, you will not receive the full $100. Payment providers charge processing fees, typically around 3–4% for international transactions. This means you may receive the naira equivalent of around $96 or $97 after fees and conversion. This is completely normal. Even US-based businesses pay payment processing fees. 

What matters most is reliability. The payment goes through. The funds settle. Your business gets paid. Most smart entrepreneurs build this into their pricing.

For example, instead of selling a product internationally for $20, they may sell it for $35 or $40, ensuring the business remains profitable after shipping, fees, and operational costs. This is not exploitation. It is proper international pricing.

Customers abroad already expect to pay more for quality, unique, or well-branded products. Your job is to build a brand that justifies that value.

Testing your payment system before going global

Before announcing international availability, test everything.

If you have access to a foreign card, use it to place a test order. If not, ask a trusted friend or customer abroad to test the checkout process.

Confirm that:

• Payment goes through successfully

• The order appears in your Shopify dashboard

• Settlement reaches your Nigerian bank account

This step protects your business from embarrassing situations where customers attempt to pay but encounter errors. Testing ensures your store is truly ready.

What this setup allows you to do

Once Paystack or Flutterwave is properly connected, your Shopify store can accept payments from customers in:

• The United States

• The United Kingdom

• Canada

• Europe

• And most countries that support Visa and Mastercard

You remain in Nigeria. Your business operates globally. This is how modern Nigerian entrepreneurs are building international brands today.

What comes next

Receiving international payments is only one part of global expansion.

Shipping is the next major step, and it involves logistics, costs, regulations, and delivery expectations.

In the next blog, we will cover exactly how Nigerian entrepreneurs calculate international shipping. Your business can scale globally without collapsing under the pressure of logistics.

Because global expansion is not just about receiving money, it is about building systems that allow your business to operate confidently beyond borders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can customers in the US or UK really pay my Nigerian Shopify store?

Yes. As long as you use Paystack or Flutterwave, customers abroad can pay using their Visa or Mastercard. From their perspective, it works like any normal online purchase.

Will I receive the money in dollars or naira?

In most cases, Paystack and Flutterwave convert the funds into naira and settle to your Nigerian bank account. This is the simplest setup.

How long does it take to receive international payments?

Settlement typically takes between one and three business days after the transaction is completed.

Will customers trust a Nigerian Shopify store enough to pay?

Yes, if your store looks professional. Clear branding, policies, and delivery timelines build trust.

Is Paystack better than Flutterwave, or should I use both?

Both platforms work well. Some business owners use both for redundancy.

Can I start receiving international payments immediately after setup?

Yes. Once your account is verified and connected, your store can begin accepting international payments.

Team Thrive

_____________________________________________________

Motivational Messages

A few lines to keep you motivated, going, and on top of the world

News/Updates

Apple’s iOS 26.4 arrives in public beta with AI music playlists, video podcasts, and more (Your iPhone just learned new tricks and you shouldn’t sleep on this)

Why investors are going gaga over solid-state transformers (Reinventing power. Because flipping a switch wasn’t impressive anymore)

The OpenAI mafia: 18 startups founded by alumni (OpenAI taught them AI, now they’re teaching the world)