How to set up Payfast as a photographer in South Africa
By Luke van Tonder, photographer and founder of PixsaUpdated 7 min read
Payfast is a checkout South African clients already know, which makes it the simplest way to get paid for your photos. This guide covers which Payfast account to open, the documents you need for it, how verification works, what the fees come to on a real order, and how to connect it to your Pixsa galleries.
Which account to open
Payfast has three account types. As a photographer you'll want one of these two, and the right one depends on how your business is registered, not on how big it is.
- Individual account. For sole proprietors: you trade in your own name and get paid into your own bank account. This is where most photographers start.
- Business account. For a registered business: a Pty Ltd, a close corporation or a trust, paid into the business's bank account.
Payfast also has a Cause account for registered non-profits. Skip it.
Choosing the wrong type is one of the reasons Payfast lists for slow verification, so match it to the name on your bank account. When Payfast's sign-up asks how you want to be paid, choose online payments.
The documents you need
Payfast verifies every account under South Africa's Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). Have clear scans or photos of these ready before you start.
Sole proprietor
Individual account
- A valid South African ID or passport.
- Proof of your physical address, not older than three months.
- A bank confirmation letter or a recent bank statement.
Pty Ltd or close corporation
Business account
- The company's CIPC registration documents.
- Proof of the business address.
- Confirmation of the business bank account.
- ID documents for all directors.
- Beneficial ownership information, where it applies.
Trading through a trust? Payfast lists trusts under Business accounts, but its published document list doesn't cover them, so ask Payfast's support team what to send before you apply.
Getting verified
Sign up, confirm your email address, then upload your documents in your Payfast dashboard. Payfast says verification typically takes around two business days from the time it receives valid documents. Most delays come from the paperwork.
Check these before you upload:
- Every document is there and the upload is complete.
- Your proof of address is less than three months old.
- Every scan is sharp and easy to read.
- Your details match across your ID, CIPC records and bank letter.
- You chose the right account type.
If something is held up, Payfast's live chat on its website is the quickest way to find out what it needs.
Fees in plain terms
Payfast charges a fee on each payment, and the rate depends on how your client pays. These are Payfast's published rates on 20 October 2026, excluding VAT:
| How your client pays | Payfast fee, excl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Credit or cheque card | 3.2% + R 2.00 |
| Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | 3.2% + R 2.00 |
| Instant EFT | 2.0% (min. R 2.00) |
| Capitec Pay | 2.0% (min. R 2.00) |
| What | Payfast fee, excl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Payout to your bank | R 8.70 per payout |
| Immediate payout | 0.8% (min. R 14.00) |
| Refunding a client | R 2.00 per refund |
A real order: R 1 200
Your client buys an A3 print, a canvas and two downloads.
- Paid by card
- You keepR 1 153.54Payfast fee R 46.46 incl. VAT (R 40.40 + VAT)
- Paid by Instant EFT
- You keepR 1 172.40Payfast fee R 27.60 incl. VAT (R 24.00 + VAT)
Pixsa takes 0% commission. Payout fees apply when you withdraw to your bank.
Payfast changes its pricing from time to time and offers custom rates to bigger businesses, so check Payfast's fees page for the current numbers.
Connecting Payfast to Pixsa
Once Payfast has verified you, linking it to your galleries takes two values and a minute.
- Find your merchant ID and key. Log in to Payfast and open Settings, then Integration. Some dashboard versions also show them on the home page.
- Open Pixsa's selling settings. In your Pixsa dashboard, go to Settings, then Selling.
- Paste both and save. Your merchant ID and merchant key go in the Payfast credentials card. The badge turns to Connected. Pixsa hides the key once it's saved and never shows it again.
- Set your prices and share. Add your download, print and canvas prices, then send the gallery. Clients pay through Payfast and the money goes to your Payfast account, never through Pixsa.
Selling needs a paid Pixsa plan, from Starter at R 99 a month. On the Free plan you can upload and deliver galleries, but not take payment.
Ready to open your Payfast account?
Sign-up happens on Payfast's website. Have your documents ready and choose online payments when it asks.
Open a Payfast account(opens Payfast's website in a new tab)