Airwallex is a popularly known multinational financial technology company that offers financial services to people. Founded in 2015 in Melbourne, Australia and also currently has an headquarter in Singapore, the company’s platform provides global payments via its app programming interface (API) as well as proprietary financial infrastructure. Services and products include business accounts, expense cards, and payroll, among many others. It extended into investment products in 2023. Airwallex is regarded as an Australia’s third technology unicorn company overall. With the valuation of US$6.2 billion in May 2025, it has raised $1.2 billion in total funding.
Airwallex is a global financial platform for businesses. It helps companies open multi‑currency accounts, get local bank details in multiple countries, move money across borders, accept payments, and issue company cards—all from one dashboard or API. Think of it as modern “business banking without borders,” delivered by a licensed fintech with local rails in many markets.
However, If you are actually trying to figure out which countries Airwallex supports, and also which restricted regions or restricted nations apply, this my quick guide will be off great help to you. I am going to explain what Airwallex is, how it works, and where it is available today. I will also point out the kinds of “restrictions” you may bump into (and why they exist). You can skip these sections and move straight to
How Airwallex works
- Open a business account (your company must be registered in a supported country).
- Get “Global Accounts”—local bank details (like a local IBAN, sort code, or routing number) in selected currencies and markets so you can receive money like a local.
- Hold & convert balances at competitive FX, and send payouts locally or via SWIFT to 200+ countries/regions (product availability varies by country).
- Accept payments online and issue cards for team spending; issuing coverage and card features vary by region.
Why restrictions exist: Airwallex must follow local laws, licensing terms, and global sanctions. That’s why availability differs by product and location.
Restricted countries can mean different things
When people search for “airwallex restricted countries,” “restricted regions,” or “restricted nations,” they usually mean one of three things:
- Onboarding restrictions – where Airwallex can (or cannot) open new business accounts.
- Product/corridor restrictions – where certain features (like a Denmark‑based Global Account) can or cannot receive funds from.
- Sanctions and risk rules – where owners/directors or counterparties are in locations subject to sanctions or other risk blocks.
Below, we break down each one with sources and example lists.
1. Countries where you can open an Airwallex account
Airwallex maintains a living list of eligible countries and territories for onboarding. If your company isn’t registered in one of these, Airwallex won’t onboard you yet. As of 2025, the help center lists the following supported registration countries/territories (alphabetically, condensed):
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, China (Hong Kong & Macau listed separately), Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mayotte, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Romania, Saint Martin, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands
Note: Airwallex can add or remove countries over time. Always check the help center if you’re reading this later.
2. Product‑specific “restricted countries”
Some restrictions are product‑level. A clear, public example is Denmark‑based Global Accounts: incoming transfers from certain countries/regions are blocked by the bank partner. If money is sent from those locations, it gets rejected and returned. Below are examples from the official list (this list is long and Airwallex may update it).
Examples of restricted sender countries/regions for Denmark Global Accounts (not exhaustive):
Afghanistan, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire/Sint Eustatius/Saba, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Comoros, Congo (DRC), Cook Islands, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador … and many more on the official page. Transfers from these restricted regions will be returned by the bank.
Other availability footnotes you might see (examples):
- Denmark Global Accounts: Not available to customers of Airwallex Lithuania, UAB.
- Netherlands Global Accounts: Not available to HK/CN‑domiciled customers of Airwallex Hong Kong.
- UAE (AED Global Accounts): Not available to customers based in the UAE.
- US (FedNow/RTP): only for eligible customers, subject to approval.
These are product/region‑specific availability notes, not full country bans.
3. Sanctions & compliance rules
Airwallex’s eligibility policy states your company must be registered in an eligible country, operate in a supported industry, and not be on a sanctions list (and not be a shell bank or bearer‑share entity). Practically, that means owners/directors in comprehensively sanctioned or high‑risk jurisdictions may not be eligible.
Independent reviews in 2025 also note that businesses with UBOs or directors residing in Russia or Belarus currently cannot be onboarded (with limited residency exceptions)—always confirm directly with Airwallex because these policies can change.
Where cards are supported (issuing coverage)
Airwallex issues multi‑currency Visa cards; issuing coverage is expanding but commonly includes Australia, Canada, EEA (31 countries), Hong Kong SAR, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Currency “direct billing” support varies by region.
Payout coverage (where you can send money)
Airwallex’s payout network covers local and SWIFT payouts to 200+ countries/regions and 90+ currencies. Availability depends on where you’re based and the route you’re using (local rails vs SWIFT).
Quick checklist: “Is my country supported?”
- Onboarding (opening an account): Is your company registered in one of the eligible countries listed above? If yes, you can usually apply. If not, you’ll need another provider for now.
- The feature you need: For Global Accounts, check the supported regions & currencies page and any footnotes (e.g., Denmark/Netherlands/UAE notes).
- Counterparty location: If you’re receiving into a Denmark Global Account, confirm the sender isn’t in a restricted region for that account type (or the transfer will be returned).
- Sanctions & risk: Make sure your owners/directors are not in sanctioned countries and your business industry is supported.
FAQs
Is there a single global “Airwallex restricted countries” list?
Not exactly. Restrictions vary by onboarding, product, and route. Airwallex publishes an onboarding list (where you can open an account) and specific product notes (like Denmark‑based account restrictions).
Why was my payment blocked?
Common reasons include sanctions, the sender being in a restricted region for that specific account, or missing information required by local rules.
Can Airwallex change availability?
Yes. Coverage and restrictions evolve as licenses, partners, and local rules change. Always re‑check the help center if you’re planning a new corridor.
Tips to avoid surprises
- Verify both ends: Check your country of registration (for onboarding) and your counterparty’s country (for specific account restrictions).
- Choose the right rail: When possible, use local rails supported by your Global Account; they’re faster and more predictable than SWIFT.
- Have a Plan B: If a corridor is restricted (for example, a Denmark Global Account receiving from a restricted nation), consider receiving to a different currency/market or using SWIFT where allowed.
Key takeaways
- Airwallex availability depends on where your business is registered and which product you use.
- The public “Eligible Countries and Territories” list shows where you can open an account today.
- Some products (like Denmark‑based Global Accounts) have restricted sender countries/regions—transfers from those places are returned.
- Sanctions and risk rules mean some owners/directors or counterparties in restricted nations may not be eligible.
Final word
Rules change. If your flow is mission‑critical, double‑check your onboarding country, the feature you plan to use, and where money is coming from or going to. That extra minute of checking saves days of back‑and‑forth later.