In this article, I will show you how to create a Paypal account, how to link your Paypal account to Mpesa, how to withdraw your money from Paypal to Mpesa, and how to top up cash into Paypal from Mpesa. This article is a step-by-step guide using a laptop. However, you can follow the same steps using your phone.
PayPal to MPesa is a convenient and easy way to transfer money from PayPal to MPESA. We’ll guide you through the process of getting your funds.
What is PayPal to MPESA Transfer Service?
The PayPal to Mpesa transfer service is a partnership between Safaricom and PayPal that was signed in 2018 that allows users with a PayPal account to transfer funds wirelessly to a mobile phone in Kenya via Mpesa. The service also allows customers to deposit funds into their PayPal account via MPESA.
I will give you all the necessary details and information to help you maneuver how to link your PayPal account with Mpesa.
After reading this article, you will have a clear understanding of the following;
- How to create a PayPal account in Kenya
- How to link PayPal to MPESA in Kenya
- How to withdraw money from your PayPal to MPESA account,
- How to deposit money from MPESA to PayPal.
- How much it costs to top up and withdraw from your PayPal account using MPESA.
Let’s start.
How to Create a PayPal Account in Kenya
The signing-up process is pretty straightforward; you will need a laptop or mobile phone and a stable internet connection.
So, let’s first create an account with PayPal. If you already have a PayPal account, skip to the next step. Here is How to Create a PayPal Account in Kenya:
- First, go to www.paypal.com/ and click the “Sign Up For Free” button. PayPal has a geolocation feature that will take you to PayPal’s sign-up page relevant to your Country of residence.
2. Select the Personal Account from the two types of accounts provided and click Continue. A personal account is recommended for personal transactions, while a business account is recommended for businesses with more than one employee or those accepting payments online. With a personal account, you can upgrade it to a Business account later if you wish.
3. Enter your email address and click “Next“.
4. Then enter your active MPESA registered number. You will then receive a 6-digit code to verify your phone. Enter the code and click next. The Safaricom number will help you link PayPal to MPesa later on.
5. Create a strong password and click “Next“.
6. Provide your personal information, including your name, National ID, and date of birth. Ensure all the details you provide are correct and verifiable and match the details on your ID.
7. In the last step, fill in your address details, agree to PayPal’s User Agreement and Privacy Statement, and click Agree and Create Account. When Requested to Link a card, you can ignore it and click Not now, as you can do that later.
8. Lastly, you need to confirm your email address. Check your email inbox or your spam folder for an email from PayPal.
The above steps are summarized in the screenshots below.
How to Link PayPal to MPESA in Kenya
You can link PayPal to MPESA in no more than ten minutes. Here are the steps to link your PayPal account with MPESA;
- On your browser, open the PayPal-Mobilemoney website.
- Click on the “Get Started” button to start the registration process.
- You will be redirected to log in to your PayPal account. Enter your correct details, and you’ll be signed in.
- Enter the MPESA number you want to link with PayPal, then click the “Link your accounts” button. Note that your MPESA name and the name on your PayPal account must match; otherwise linking process will be declined.
- You will then receive a 6-digit verification code; enter the code to confirm your phone number.
- That’s it. Your PayPal is now linked with MPESA.
You can start transacting immediately once you have linked your PayPal account with your MPESA. You can send and receive money from friends and family, shop online, and even transfer the funds to your MPESA account.
How to Withdraw Money from PayPal to MPESA in Kenya
Here are the steps to withdraw from PayPal to MPESA in Kenya;
- Go to the PayPal-Mobile Money website and click the “Get Started” button. You will be redirected to log in to your PayPal account. Enter your correct details and you’ll be signed in.
2. Click on the “Withdraw from PayPal” button. Your available balance will be displayed.
3. Next, enter the amount you would like to withdraw from your PayPal account in US Dollars. Then click the “Continue to Withdraw” button. Note that the amount must be greater than or equal to US$ 1, and you can only withdraw funds up to the available USD balance in your PayPal Account.
4. You will be redirected to a page showing the amount to be received in Kenya Shillings, the exchange rate used for the currency conversion, and an estimation of the transaction processing time.
5. Click the “Confirm” button to complete the withdrawal process.
After completing the above process, you will receive the funds in your MPESA in minutes. However, the funds transfer process from PayPal to MPESA can take up to 3 days for amounts above $700. You will receive an SMS from M-Pesa and an email from PayPal confirming that the withdrawal process has been completed. Note that the maximum amount you can withdraw per transaction is 150,000 KES.
Once you have mastered the above process, your PayPal to MPESA withdrawals will be easy onwards.
How to Deposit Money from MPESA to PayPal
Here are the steps to top up your PayPal via the MPESA Paybill No. 800088;
- Go to PayPal-Mobile Money on your browser
- Click the “Get Started” button; then you will be redirected to log in to your PayPal account.
- Click on the “Top Up PayPal” button.
- To convert your desired top-up amount to KES, enter your desired amount in USD, then click “Calculate.” From here, you can see how much you’ll need to transfer from your MPESA account. You will also see the current exchange rate displayed on the page. Calculate the USD equivalent. Once you have calculated the KES equivalent, you can move to the next step.
- Then, go to your MPESA menu.
- Select “Lipa an MPESA” and then the “Pay Bill” option
- Enter Business Number 800088
- Enter your phone number as the account number. Use your MPESA number linked to your PayPal account.
- Then, enter the amount to deposit in KES. Enter the KES equivalent calculated in step four above.
- Finally, enter your MPESA PIN and tap “Send“.
After a few minutes, you will receive a confirmation from MPESA that the USD equivalent has been added to your PayPal balance. You will also receive an email confirmation from service@intl.paypal.com confirming that the transaction has been successful and the money has been deposited to your account. You can then proceed to make online payments to friends, family, or online merchants.
PayPal to MPESA Charges
You will be charged a 3% conversion fee for every withdrawal and top-up transaction. In addition, for top-ups to PayPal, MPESA will charge you a customer-to-business PayBill charge. These fees are payable to Safaricom.
How to Unlink MPESA From PayPal.
Follow these steps to unlink your MPESA number from your PayPal account.
- Go to the PayPal-Mobile Money website and click the “Contact” page.
- Fill out the form by providing your correct Email address and phone number linked to your PayPal account.
- Click on the dropdown titled “Please select a topic” and select the “I want to unlink my account” option.
- Add the reason to unlink your MPESA from PayPal in the Message Box on the right. Complete the reCAPTCHA and then click “Send Message.”
A ticket will be created once you submit the required information, and your issue will be responded to in about 2-3 hours. Note that Thunes provides the service, and if you don’t hear them after 24 hours, you can reach out to their support via email at support@thunes.com.
How Do I Transfer Money From PayPal to MPESA?
1. Go to the PayPal-Mobile Money website.
2. Log in to your PayPal account.
3. Click on the “Withdraw from PayPal” button.
4. Enter the amount you would like to withdraw in dollars.
5. Click the “Confirm” button to complete the withdrawal process.
What is the MPESA to PayPal Paybill Number?
The Paybill number to deposit funds to your PayPal account from MPESA is 800088. The account number is your PayPal-linked phone number.
Unable to Link PayPal to MPESA
To ensure seamless linking of your PayPal and MPESA accounts, please make sure that the details in your accounts match. The details of both MPESA and PayPal accounts should match, such as Name, address, and phone. Any discrepancy in details could lead to errors in linking your PayPal with MPESA. You can change the name on my PayPal account to match your MPESA name. Note that it usually takes between 3-5 business days for the name change to be completed, and you will be notified.
What Are the Requirements to Open a PayPal Account in Kenya?
Here are the requirements to open a PayPal account in Kenya:
1. An active email address.
2. An MPESA-registered mobile number.
3. A Genuine and verifiable residential address in Kenya.
Why Can’t I Link My PayPal to MPESA?
Here are some of the reasons why you cannot link your PayPal to MPESA;
1. You are not using your Safaricom number registered with MPESA. Other mobile providers in Kenya have yet to be linked with PayPal. Therefore, you must have an MPESA registered number. You can register for MPESA by visiting any MPESA agent with your Original ID.
1. The name used to open your PayPal account, and your MPESA name do not match. Ensure that the names used to register for MPESA and PayPal match with each other and your Kenyan National ID Card.
Get Paid Via PayPal
The revolutionary PayPal to MPESA integration has made it easy for freelancers, forex traders, virtual assistants, and other online entrepreneurs to withdraw their funds directly to MPESA in minutes. You can now offer your services or products online and get paid via PayPal without getting the hassle of transferring your money to the bank, which would typically take anything between 3 – 5 working days.
Before you go, here is a quick video guide on how to withdraw money from your PayPal to MPESA within a few minutes.
