Upwork does not issue a Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate. It can request FIRA/NOC information from the payment processor that sent an India withdrawal and forward that information to the freelancer. The beneficiary bank may then handle the FIRC or related document.
The distinction matters because asking Upwork for “the FIRC” may not produce the document expected. Depending on the processor and bank, the freelancer may receive a FIRA, NOC, BIRC, disbursement receipt or proof of transfer.
Information to send Upwork Support
Upwork’s official instructions ask for:
- the withdrawal transaction ID;
- the withdrawal date; and
- the amount in INR.
Contact Upwork Support with those details and request the FIRA/NOC information for the transaction. Keep the withdrawal confirmation and bank credit entry available in case the bank asks for them.
Upwork says FIRA/NOC receipts are usually issued within four weeks. Withdrawals older than two years may take longer, and documentation may not be available for some older payments.
Who handles purpose-code changes
Upwork’s article says purpose codes are hardcoded to P0103 or P1006 and that Upwork cannot request a code change. A freelancer who needs an amendment must work through the authorised dealer bank where the account is held.
The article also gives quarterly amendment windows: requests are due within 30 days after the quarter ends. It lists 30 April for January to March transactions, 31 July for April to June, 31 October for July to September, and 31 January for October to December.
Because purpose-code treatment can affect compliance, confirm the current requirement with the bank or an India-qualified adviser. The Upwork help page is evidence of Upwork’s process, not a substitute for professional advice.
Why the document may show INR
Upwork says clients pay on the platform in USD, but the currency on the bank statement and FIRA/NOC depends on the withdrawal method and receiving account. Direct to Local Bank normally produces local-currency documentation. A freelancer seeking to receive USD would need a USD bank account and the USD wire method, subject to availability, fees and bank rules.
If the bank asks for a different document
Ask the bank exactly which document and transaction fields it requires. Then compare that request with what the processor supplied. Upwork notes that some banks can provide only a disbursement receipt, proof of transfer, NOC or FIRA rather than an FIRC.
Do not rename one document as another. Preserve the original file name and issuer, and keep the Upwork transaction ID tied to the bank credit. That paper trail is more useful than a generic certificate request with no transaction reference.
Official sources
- https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/11494386652179-How-to-understand-and-request-your-FIRC-from-Upwork
- https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211060918-How-to-get-paid-on-Upwork
Observed and reviewed: July 31, 2026. Verify current account-level terms before withdrawing.