Envato is one of the world’s leading marketplaces for digital assets, including website templates, code, graphics, audio, and video. Becoming an Envato Author allows you to sell your creative work to a global audience and build a sustainable online income.
If you are based in Pakistan, setting up your author account requires a clear understanding of regional payment methods, tax forms, and account verification. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process seamlessly.
Step 1: Create a Basic Envato Account
Before you can become an author, you need a standard Envato account.
- Go to Envato Author Sign-Up.
- Click on the “Become an Author” button.
- Fill in your personal details (First Name, Last Name, and Email Address). Ensure the name you enter exactly matches your government-issued ID (CNIC or Passport), as this will be required later for verification.
- Choose a unique username and a strong password.
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions and click “Create Account.”
Step 2: Set Up Your Author Profile
Once your standard account is active, you will be directed to the Author Dashboard onboarding sequence.
- Select your primary creative discipline (e.g., Web Development, Graphic Design, Video Production).
- Choose your account type: Individual or Company/Corporation. If you are operating on your own, select “Individual.”
- Fill in your professional profile details. You can add a short bio, link to your portfolio, and upload a professional avatar later to make your storefront look trustworthy.
Step 3: Complete Identity Verification
Because of global financial compliance, Envato requires all authors to verify their identity before they can publish items or receive payouts.
- Inside your Author Dashboard, look for the Verification prompt or banner.
- Envato typically utilizes a secure third-party verification service (like Veriff) which requires you to upload a clear photograph of a government ID.
- Supported Documents for Pakistan:
- Passport (Highly Recommended: English text makes approval faster).
- Smart National Identity Card (CNIC) (Must be the computerized chip card with English translation details).
- Follow the on-screen instructions to take a photo of the document, along with a quick webcam live selfie to confirm ownership. Approval usually takes anywhere from a few hours to 2 business days.
Step 4: Set Up Payout Methods for Pakistan
Envato processes payouts on a monthly basis, usually on the 15th of each month, provided you have met your selected minimum payout threshold.
For authors in Pakistan, Envato offers two main reliable payout channels:
- Payoneer (Recommended):
- Payoneer allows you to easily withdraw your US Dollar earnings directly into your local Pakistani bank account (Faysal Bank, Meezan Bank, Alfalah, etc.) or your JazzCash/Easypaisa wallet at competitive exchange rates.
- Connect your existing Payoneer account or follow the prompt to create a new one linked directly to your Envato account.
- PayPal:
- Not natively supported or legally available within Pakistan. Avoid attempting to use unverified or foreign PayPal accounts, as this can lead to permanent account suspension and frozen funds.
Step 5: Fill Out the Mandatory W-8 Tax Form
Envato is an Australian-based company, but much of its traffic and sales occur within the United States. Therefore, every author must complete a U.S. tax form through the Envato dashboard to determine the correct tax withholding rates on sales made to U.S. customers.
- Navigate to Settings > Tax Information in your Author Dashboard.
- As a non-U.S. citizen living and operating in Pakistan, select the W-8BEN Form (for individuals).
- Fill out your permanent residential address in Pakistan.
- Tax Treaty Benefits: Pakistan has an active tax treaty with the United States. Ensure you provide your National Tax Number (NTN) or your CNIC number in the “Foreign Tax Identifying Number (FTIN)” field. This allows you to claim treaty benefits, significantly reducing your U.S. royalty tax withholding rate from the standard 30% down to 0% or 10% depending on the asset category.
- Review, digitally sign, and submit the form.
Step 6: Submit Your First Item for Review
With your account fully configured, verified, and tax-compliant, you are officially ready to start uploading your work!
- Go to your dashboard and click “Upload An Item.”
- Choose the specific marketplace category and prepare your upload zip file following Envato’s strict formatting and file-structure documentation.
- Write a compelling title, a detailed description, and choose precise search tags.
- Create high-quality preview graphics or live demo links.
- Submit the item. An Envato reviewer will evaluate your submission for design quality, technical coding standards, and overall marketplace utility.
Tip: Don’t be discouraged if your first item gets rejected! Envato maintains an exceptionally high quality bar. Read the reviewer’s feedback carefully, adjust your work, and try again.