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FariaPay: OpenApply Built-in Payments

The OpenApply Team
The OpenApply Team
  • Updated

Introducing FariaPay: Built-In Payments for OpenApply

Schools can now collect application and enrolment fees directly through OpenApply with bank transfers, credit cards, and digital wallets - all powered by FariaPay.

FariaPay is OpenApply's new built-in payment solution, powered by UniPaaS. It allows schools to accept fees from parents through a secure hosted checkout - without leaving the OpenApply platform.

This release brings end-to-end onboarding, automatic payment reconciliation, and an embedded merchant dashboard, designed specifically for international schools that need a payments alternative tailored to their workflow.

OpenApply Integrations page with FariaPay highlighted
FariaPay onboarding begins from School Settings > Integrations > FariaPay.

Overview

FariaPay is designed for two audiences:

  • School Administrators and Finance Staff who manage fee collection and want a payment provider tailored to international schools.
  • Parents and guardians paying application or enrolment fees at participating schools.

Unlike general-purpose gateways, FariaPay supports bank transfer, credit card, and - for the first time in OpenApply - digital wallets. Onboarding, reconciliation, and reporting all happen inside OpenApply.

FariaPay Onboarding Overview

Review the onboarding workflow, payment setup requirements, and merchant configuration process using the presentation below.

FariaPay Video Walkthrough

Watch the guided walkthrough for configuring and onboarding FariaPay within OpenApply.

If the video does not load, please open it in a new tab.

What's New

For School Administrators

  • Integrated onboarding - connect a FariaPay merchant account from School Settings > Integrations > FariaPay without leaving OpenApply.
  • Embedded merchant dashboard - finance staff access payouts, settlements, and transaction details under Finance > FariaPay.
  • Charges log - view every payment attempt (student, amount, currency, status, date) at Finance > FariaPay.
  • Manual reconciliation - record any FariaPay payment that wasn't captured automatically, directly from the student's payments page.

For Parents

  • One-click hosted checkout - selecting FariaPay opens a secure window for payment.
  • Automatic confirmation - fees are marked as paid within seconds of completing checkout, with no manual steps.
  • Multiple payment methods - bank transfer, credit card, or digital wallet, depending on the school's configuration.

Step-by-Step Navigation

Onboarding FariaPay (Administrator)

School Settings > Payments > Payment Methods > FariaPay

  1. From the OpenApply dashboard, open School Settings > Payments.
OpenApply Settings page with the Payments option highlighted
Open the Payments section from the main Settings page.
  1. Select the Payment Methods tab and choose the payment method you want to configure.
  2. Enter a Payment Method ID and select FariaPay as the payment provider.
FariaPay payment method showing Vendor ID and Onboarding Status
Once onboarding is complete, the FariaPay payment method displays the Vendor ID and Onboarding Status.

Connecting Your FariaPay Merchant Account

School Settings > Integrations > FariaPay

  1. Navigate to School Settings > Integrations and locate the FariaPay section.
Integrations page with FariaPay highlighted
Locate FariaPay in the Integrations list and open it.
  1. Click Connect to begin onboarding.
FariaPay integration page with the Connect button highlighted
Click Connect to launch the onboarding workflow.
  1. Select your entity type:
    • Company - for for-profit schools
    • Non-Profit - for non-profit organisations (you'll then choose Schools, Associations, or Charities as a sub-type)
Onboarding form with Company entity type selected
Company selection (for-profit schools).
Onboarding form with Non-Profit entity type and sub-type dropdown
Non-Profit selection with sub-type options.
  1. Enter your contact details: first name, last name, and email address.
  2. Click Continue and complete the banking and compliance steps in the FariaPay onboarding widget.
  3. Once onboarding finishes, FariaPay is automatically enabled for your school.
FariaPay integration page showing completed onboarding status
A successful integration shows the Vendor ID and an Onboarding Status of COMPLETED.

Reviewing the FariaPay Portal (Administrator)

Finance > FariaPay

The embedded merchant dashboard gives finance staff a single place to monitor balances, payouts, and individual transactions without leaving OpenApply.

FariaPay portal Balance and Activity dashboard inside OpenApply
The Balance and Activity tab displays payable funds, scheduled payouts, and a filterable list of payments, refunds, disputes, and payouts.
Payouts list with date range and status filters
Use the Filters panel to narrow payouts by date range or status.

Configuring Direct Debit and Checkout Methods

Schools enrolled for Direct Debit can configure mandates and review upcoming collections from the same dashboard.

Direct Debit tab showing communication email and upcoming collections
The Direct Debit tab shows mandates and upcoming collections, along with the communication email used for payer notices.

To adjust which payment methods appear at checkout or update business identity branding, open the settings menu in the top-right of the dashboard.

Settings dropdown showing General settings and Service agreement options
Open General settings to manage business identity and payment methods.
Settings modal with Business Identity and Payment Methods sections
The Settings panel groups business identity and payment method configuration in one place.
Payment methods configuration showing Cards always enabled and toggles for Instant Bank Transfer and Direct Debit
Cards and digital wallets are always enabled. Toggle additional methods like Instant Bank Transfer and Direct Debit on or off according to your preference.

Paying a Fee (Parent)

Parent Portal > Invoices & Fees > Payment

  1. Log in to the parent portal and open the Invoices & Fees section, then click Pay Now on the relevant fee.
Parent Invoices and Fees page with Pay Now button
Parents see outstanding invoices and can initiate payment from the Invoices & Fees tab. The example shows parent Ann Epelbaum paying a $30.00 Application fee for student Chloe Epelbaum.
  1. Select FariaPay as the payment method.
  2. Click Submit - a secure checkout window opens.
Payment provider selection screen with FariaPay highlighted alongside other configured methods
Parents see FariaPay alongside any other configured payment methods (e.g. Flywire, Zenda, Credit Card).
  1. Complete payment using the preferred method (bank transfer, credit card, or digital wallet).
  2. The window closes automatically and the fee is marked as paid.
UniPaaS hosted secure checkout page
The hosted checkout page processes the payment securely and confirms the transaction back to OpenApply automatically.

Tips & Best Practices

  • Run alongside existing gateways. Enabling FariaPay does not disable Stripe, Zenda, or other configured providers - parents see all available options.
  • Trust the automation. Payment confirmation happens automatically within seconds; manual reconciliation is only needed for rare edge cases like temporary connectivity issues.
  • Use the merchant dashboard for reporting only. Fee amounts and student data live in OpenApply, not in the FariaPay portal.
  • Review charge history regularly at Finance > FariaPay to spot any pending or expired transactions early.

Warnings & Important Notes

  • Available payment methods (bank transfer, card, digital wallet) are determined by FariaPay based on your merchant account configuration and country. OpenApply does not control which methods appear at checkout.
  • Mobile users are redirected back to the OpenApply app automatically once checkout is complete.
  • Onboarding is completed entirely inside OpenApply - there is no need to visit the UniPaaS website separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does FariaPay replace Stripe or other gateways?

No. FariaPay sits alongside existing payment methods. Parents will see all options enabled by your school.

What happens if a parent's checkout window doesn't open?

Most often this is caused by pop-up blockers. Ask the parent to allow pop-ups for OpenApply and try again.

Do I need to reconcile FariaPay payments manually?

In normal use, no - confirmation is automatic. Manual reconciliation exists for rare cases like temporary connectivity issues, available on each student's payments page.

Which payment methods will my parents see?

The available methods depend on your country and your FariaPay merchant configuration. You can typically expect bank transfer, credit card, and digital wallet support.

Where do I view payouts and transaction history?

Open Finance > FariaPay in OpenApply to access the embedded merchant dashboard, where you can review balances, payouts, and individual transactions.

In Summary

  • FariaPay is OpenApply's new built-in payment provider, powered by UniPaaS.
  • Schools onboard, configure, and reconcile fees entirely from inside OpenApply.
  • Parents pay through a secure hosted checkout supporting bank transfer, card, and - for the first time - digital wallets.

With FariaPay, fee collection moves from a fragmented, multi-vendor process to a single, school-friendly experience inside OpenApply.

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