Source: https://rivet.global/blog/paying-creators-across-borders
Published: 2026-11-02 · Updated: 2026-11-02 · By William Sunjo M.

# How agencies pay creators and influencers in other countries

How marketing agencies pay creators and influencers across borders: contracts, tax forms, currencies, local payout rails, batch payments and the records brands ask for.

## Key takeaways

- Treat creators as independent contractors with a written agreement covering deliverables, usage rights, payment terms and disclosure.
- Collect tax forms before the first payment: W-9 for US creators, W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E for creators abroad when you are a US company.
- Pay in the creator's local currency to their bank account where you can. It is faster and they receive the agreed amount.
- Run campaign payments as one batch, with a reference per creator and deliverable.
- Brands and auditors will ask for proof that each creator was paid, so keep the batch record with the contract.

Creator campaigns have become a payments job as much as a marketing one. A single launch can involve dozens of creators across several countries, each with a different currency, bank, tax form and idea of when they should be paid. Agencies that handle this well win repeat work from both brands and creators.

## Start with the agreement

Every creator gets a short written agreement before work starts. It should cover:

- deliverables and posting dates
- usage rights: where and how long the brand can reuse the content
- fee, currency and when it is paid (on posting, or 50% up front)
- disclosure requirements for sponsored content
- that the creator is an independent contractor

## Collect tax forms first

For a US agency:

| Creator | Form | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| US person | W-9 | 1099-NEC if paid $2,000 or more in the year (from 2026) |
| Individual abroad | W-8BEN | No 1099 for work done outside the US |
| Company abroad | W-8BEN-E | No 1099 for work done outside the US |

Agencies elsewhere have their own rules. The [W-8BEN vs W-8BEN-E guide](/blog/w-8ben-vs-w-8ben-e) and [1099-NEC threshold article](/blog/form-1099-nec-2000-threshold) cover the US side.

## Pay in their currency

A creator in Mexico City who invoiced 20,000 pesos wants 20,000 pesos, not a dollar amount reduced by their bank's conversion. Paying in local currency to a local bank account:

- arrives faster, often the same day on local rails,
- gives the creator exactly the agreed amount,
- costs you one conversion at a rate you see.

Some creators prefer USD to a dollar account, or a wallet. Ask once, store it, and stick to it.

## Pay the whole campaign at once

Gather approved deliverables, then pay everyone in one batch. Give each line a reference with the campaign and deliverable, for example "SUMMER26 TikTok x2". That reference is what you show the brand when it asks for proof of payment. The [bulk payments guide](/blog/bulk-payments-explained) explains how batches work.

## Fund campaigns from the brand's currency

If brands pay you in dollars, hold dollars and convert at payout time. If a European brand pays euros, pay European creators from euros. Our article on [paying a remote team abroad](/blog/paying-a-remote-team-abroad) covers currency matching in more detail.

## Keep a campaign file

Brands, auditors and tax authorities ask for the same three things: the agreement, the deliverable and the payment. Keep them together, per creator, per campaign.

## Creator payouts on Rivet

Rivet pays creators and contractors in more than 120 countries, one at a time or as a batch from a CSV, priced before you approve. See [Payouts](/payouts).

## Questions

### Are influencers employees or contractors?

Usually contractors. They control how they create the content and work for several brands. Write that into the agreement. If an agency controls when and how someone works full time, local employment law may treat them as an employee.

### Should I pay creators through PayPal?

Many do, and some creators prefer it. Fees and currency conversion can take a noticeable share of each payment, and PayPal is not available everywhere. A local bank transfer in the creator's currency usually costs less and arrives in full.

### Do I have to issue 1099s to creators?

A US company issues a 1099-NEC to a US creator it paid $2,000 or more for work in 2026, under the new threshold. Creators abroad working outside the US do not get a 1099; collect a W-8 form instead.

### What disclosure rules apply to sponsored posts?

In the US, the FTC requires clear disclosure of material connections such as payment. The UK's ASA and CMA and regulators in the EU have similar rules. Put the disclosure duty in the creator agreement.