How to Set Up and Use Airwallex for International Wealth Management

Complete Airwallex Setup Tutorial

This tutorial covers the full setup process for using Airwallex as international wealth management infrastructure.

Step 1: Determine Whether Airwallex Is Right for Your Situation

Airwallex is most useful if you have: regular international transactions, holdings or income in multiple currencies, international investment activity, or significant foreign spending. If your financial life is entirely domestic and single-currency, Airwallex adds less value.

Step 2: Open Your Account

Go to airwallex.com. Prepare: business registration documents, government-issued photo ID, proof of address, information about your primary business activities and expected transaction volumes.

Open an Airwallex Account →

Step 3: Complete Verification

Submit required documents. Verification typically takes 1–3 business days. During this period, explore the interface and plan your currency setup.

Step 4: Set Up Multi-Currency Wallets

Navigate to Wallets. Create wallets for each currency you regularly use. For a Norwegian investor with international exposure: NOK, EUR, GBP, USD at minimum. Each wallet holds a separate currency balance — Airwallex supports 60+ currencies.

Step 5: Add Local Receiving Accounts

Navigate to Receiving Accounts. Activate local account details for markets where you receive payments: UK (sort code + account number), US (routing + account number), EU (IBAN). Share these with counterparties so they can pay you in local currency without international wire fees.

Step 6: Set Up Your First FX Conversion

Navigate to FX or Convert. Select source currency, destination currency, and amount. Check the offered rate against mid-market rate at xe.com. The typical saving versus traditional banking is 1.5–3% per transaction. For large amounts, Airwallex may offer forward contracts or limit orders.

Step 7: Set Up International Payments

Navigate to Payments or Send Money. Add recipients with their local bank details. Save recurring recipients for future use.

Step 8: Issue Cards If Needed

Navigate to Cards. Issue cards in the currencies you use most. Cards charge local currency at transaction — eliminating foreign transaction fees that typically add 2–3% at traditional banks.

Step 9: Monitor FX Exposure Regularly

If you hold significant balances in currencies that are not your home currency, review your FX exposure. Currencies fluctuate. Large balances in a moving currency create P&L exposure that may or may not be intentional.

Step 10: Review Costs Annually

At least once a year, calculate the FX and transfer costs incurred through Airwallex and compare to what the same activity would have cost through traditional banking. This confirms ongoing value and identifies any high-cost routes where alternatives might be appropriate. Most users report annual savings of $2,000–15,000 depending on transaction volume.

For the full Airwallex review, see our Airwallex review 2026. For the broader wealth management toolkit, see our wealth management tools guide.

See our disclosure for affiliate relationships.