Foreign Invoices as a Freelancer: CHF or Foreign Currency?

As a Swiss freelancer working regularly for clients abroad, you eventually face the same question: In which currency should you issue the invoice? CHF feels unfamiliar to a client in Germany, while EUR exposes you to currency risk. This article shows which factors should guide your decision — and what to watch for regarding VAT, exchange rate fluctuations and payment processing.

Why the currency question is more than a formality

Issuing an invoice in EUR sounds like a favour to the client. In practice, however, you bear the currency risk: if the client pays after 30 days, the CHF/EUR exchange rate may have already shifted by one or two percent. On a project fee of 5,000 EUR, that quickly adds up to 75–150 CHF difference — in either direction.

Conversely, CHF can deter some foreign clients because they manage budgets internally in EUR and need to factor in an exchange rate. It's worth making the choice deliberately and recording it in the contract — not simply going with whatever seems more convenient.

When CHF is the right choice

In the following situations, it makes sense to insist on CHF:

• Long-term framework agreements: If you work repeatedly for the same client over several months, CHF protects your income from gradual exchange rate erosion.
• Large individual projects: Once a contract value reaches around 10,000 CHF, the exchange rate risk is significant enough to negotiate.
• Clients with Swiss connections: Companies that operate in Switzerland themselves or serve Swiss customers are accustomed to CHF.
• Fixed-price projects without buffer: If your offer is already tightly calculated, CHF eliminates another variable of uncertainty.

When foreign currency is acceptable

There are certainly scenarios where EUR, USD or another currency is pragmatic:

• The client pays reliably within seven to ten days — the exchange rate window is then narrow.
• You yourself have regular expenses in EUR (e.g. software subscriptions, EU suppliers) and can naturally hedge part of your income.
• You invoice many smaller jobs where the administrative effort of currency conversion would be disproportionate.
• The market standard in your industry is clearly EUR or USD — this is often the case in international design or the tech sector.

Currency clause: how to formulate it correctly

If you invoice in EUR or USD but keep accounts internally in CHF, you need a clear clause that defines the conversion date. Typical variants:

Clause type	Advantage	Disadvantage
Exchange rate on invoice date	Simple, you know the amount immediately	Rate can shift significantly by payment
Exchange rate on payment receipt	Exact CHF posting	You only know the CHF amount after payment
Fixed rate in contract	Planning certainty for both sides	Must be renegotiated periodically

For accounting purposes, the exchange rate on the invoice date (e.g. SNB daily rate) is recommended, as you can then immediately post a defined CHF amount. Any exchange rate difference upon payment receipt is subsequently posted as a currency gain or loss.

VAT on foreign invoices: what applies?

Many freelancers confuse two concepts here. What matters is not the invoice currency, but the place of supply. For services provided to businesses abroad (B2B), the reverse-charge principle generally applies: the service is deemed provided outside Switzerland and is exempt from Swiss VAT (tax exemption under Art. 23 VAT Act). You do not show Swiss VAT on the invoice.

Important: You must still declare the service in your VAT return — it appears under non-taxable turnover. If you are not yet VAT-registered (turnover below 100,000 CHF), this question doesn't apply anyway. The exact rules on tax rates and obligations can be found in the overview of Swiss VAT basics 2026 — rates, duties and special rules.

For B2C services abroad (e.g. private individual in Germany), different rules apply — a brief check with your accountant is worthwhile.

Payment processing: how does the money arrive?

International transfers in EUR land on a standard Swiss IBAN. You don't need a separate EUR account number for this — most Swiss banks automatically convert incoming EUR to CHF, often at poor rates. Alternatives:

• EUR foreign currency account at your main bank: Costs money, but you decide when to convert.
• Neobanks like Wise or Revolut Business: Better exchange rates, simple handling for freelancers with a few larger transfers.
• SEPA transfer: Works without problems with your Swiss IBAN, is free for EU clients and usually takes one bank working day.

Note: The QR payment section on Swiss invoices is designed exclusively for CHF payments within Switzerland. For foreign invoices, it is omitted — instead you provide your IBAN and BIC (SWIFT code).

Checklist: issuing a foreign invoice correctly

Before you send the invoice, check the following points:

• Currency agreed in writing with the client
• Conversion clause (if posted internally in CHF) noted
• VAT status checked: tax exemption or non-taxable?
• No QR payment section on foreign currency invoice
• IBAN + BIC/SWIFT stated correctly
• Payment terms clearly formulated (e.g. "Payable within 30 days of invoice date")
• Service description in English or the client's language

If you want to create invoices directly in your browser without setting up complex accounting software, the SnapBill app is a quick option for individual jobs.

What to do if the client doesn't pay?

Late payments from abroad are more difficult to enforce than domestic ones. Swiss enforcement law applies only to debtors resident or domiciled in Switzerland. For foreign clients, start with a friendly but firm payment reminder process — much like described in the Swiss dunning process guide, which can also be adapted for international clients. After that, debt collection services or, for larger amounts, international arbitration according to a contract clause remain options.

At a glance

• Prefer CHF for large projects, long contract terms and tight margins.
• Accept foreign currency for short payment terms, small amounts or if you have expenses in that currency yourself.
• VAT: For B2B foreign services, generally do not show Swiss VAT — the place of supply is with the recipient.
• No QR payment section on foreign invoices in EUR or USD.
• Payment processing: For favourable exchange rates, a foreign currency account or neobank is worthwhile.
• Always: document currency agreements in writing before the project starts.