So, how can you withdraw money from PayPal? This post keeps getting updated and gives you current and most accurate information on how withdrawal from PayPal is done.
The Problem
A few years ago, PayPal withdrawal was one of the toughest things for most freelancers to get by.
Many clients and freelancing websites pay by PayPal. Therefore, getting this cash from the internet to M-Pesa, local bank account or a Kenyan ATM was a real struggle.
But things have just kept getting easier over the years.
This post will help protect you from scammers while directing you to Kenya’s most trusted PayPal withdrawal options.
The Truth
There are three real methods that you can use to withdraw money from PayPal in Kenya. These are:
- Equity Bank
- Payoneer – A trusted method that no longer works for new applications
- PayPal to M-Pesa
The only direct withdrawal method is withdrawing through Payoneer, the rest are all indirect.
Let’s now check out the viable options you have…
1. Getting Money from PayPal to your Equity Bank account
Equity Bank is currently one of the slowest options for withdrawing PayPal cash. It takes one business day to get the cash in your bank account. However, it can be convenient for those who receive bigger payments, e.g. $3,000+.
If you have a local dollar account, you can receive the money there, withdraw in dollars, then exchange the dollars at good exchange rates from a forex bureau.
You can still perfectly use it to receive money in your KES bank account.
Read: How to Withdraw from PayPal to Equity in 1 Day
2. Using the official PayPal to M-Pesa Service
There’s an official collaboration between PayPal and Safaricom. This came in April 2018 and was an answered prayer to most Kenyans.
You can use this method to send money from PayPal to M-Pesa. Or from M-Pesa to PayPal.
Transactions take between a few minutes and 3 days to complete. Smaller amounts ($200 and below) take minutes (even one minute sometimes). The system shows you how long it will take to process each transaction.
Read: How to Officially Withdraw from PayPal to M-Pesa
3. How to Withdraw Money from PayPal using Payoneer
Editor’s note: Unfortunately, this method was stopped by PayPal in 2014. It no longer works for new applications. People who were using it earlier can still continue using it.
Payoneer is a friendly payment processor that is accepted by many freelancing websites and online payment platforms.
Even PayPal itself used to accept it. It is the most trusted and ONLY method of withdrawing PayPal money directly. Here, I mean that you withdraw by going to PayPal and clicking “Withdraw”. The M-Pesa and Equity Bank methods are all handled by separate sites.
When you receive the cash in your Payoneer account, you can withdraw it from ATMs and banks worldwide, including here in Kenya.
Note that joining Payoneer through any of my affiliate links will earn you free $25 once your cumulative withdrawal adds up to $1,000. I’ll also receive a commission.
Currently, when you join Payoneer, you also automatically get the Global Payment Service. This is a fantastic service that you can use to receive money from different companies all over the world. For example, you’re given a US account number, just like a local US citizen would.
When companies pay you using the Global Payment Service, the cash is deposited into your Payoneer account.
In case you already have a Payoneer account as you’re reading this and don’t have the Global Payment Service, simply send an email to Payoneer through their online contact form and they’ll get you sorted out real quick. You can also call or chat with them.
Once again, this PayPal withdrawal method was stopped in 2014 but Payoneer is still one of the best payment services. You can use it to receive money from your clients without using PayPal.
Bottom line
All these methods are great for PayPal withdrawal in Kenya.
It may be advisable to have all these accounts ready since that way, if you have an emergency you can make a quick PayPal to M-Pesa withdrawal.
When withdrawing volumes of cash, you can use Equity Bank or Payoneer because of the low commissions. Remember PayPal to Payoneer no longer works for new applications.
The Equity option is also great for those who would want to access loans in the future. You know how hard it is for freelancers to get big loans.
At the end of the day, the great thing is that these are legit ways through which you can withdraw money from PayPal in Kenya without being scammed.
NOTE: If you join Payoneer through this affiliate link, you get free $25 once you hit $1,000 in your Payoneer account. Also, note that PayPal is not the best way to receive payments. You can consider Payoneer, Paxful, or Wise (formerly TransferWise) where applicable.
Have you tried any of the above PayPal withdrawal methods? What’s your favorite?
Walter akolo i have problem i withdraw my PayPal money to my mpesa account and i didn’t receive the money and the money already left my PayPal account and it been five days both accounts am not seeing anything the money is missing
Hi Hodhan,
Sorry about that.
Please contact PayPal support immediately.
How to create paypal account which cannot be permanently limited
Hi Theo,
You have to follow their terms of use to avoid limitation.
Hello I had funds in my PayPal , that was held for more than 180 days now , few days back they sent me an email saying that I can now withdraw my funds , however I have been trying to make withdraw to my connected safaricom MPESA ,but still I get an error message as if the account is still restricted , what should I do now brother to get my funds since I don’t have any US Bank account to withdraw to as PayPal suggest
Hi Daniel,
Sorry about that.
Keep contacting them via their contact page, Twitter, call, etc. Tell them to allow you to withdraw to M-Pesa or Equity. They’ve allowed many to do that.
Hello, do you still offer PayPal withdrawal services? Sometimes back I used to send money to you and you assisted me to draw.
Hi Daniel,
Sorry, I stopped offering those services in 2015.
Hello
Kindly help,
Is there a way to delink a paypal account with equity and reconnect with a new paypal account?
Regards
Hi Denis,
Contact Equity for assistance on this.
I can confirm, the PayPal and Mpesa thing works perfectly. In less than 2 hours, I received my money.
Please how do u connect ur account with Mpesa
Pascalina, click here and proceed https://www.paypal-mobilemoney.com/
That’s awesome, Wyclef!
I am having issues withdrawing from PayPal to equity even though in the past, I managed to withdraw severally. Could there be a problem with PayPal now? Reading this post has just reminded me of the collaboration between PayPal and Mpesa. I have to try it out, now that withdrawing to my equity bank is not working for me. Thanks a lot Mr Walter.
Hi Wayne,
Sorry about that. You’ll need to follow up with Equity.
Hi Walter,
Thanks for the good work you continue doing. Currently, PayPal is allowing one to link a bank account directly. This another important withdrawal option for users which I think you should update on this awesome article.
Thanks
Hi Pita,
Have you tried and proven this? Which bank did you use?
I”ve already linked my PayPal account with my Equity bank account. However, I’ve not made any transaction yet. Since this service was only available for US clients, I guess withdrawals will take the same time (three business/working days).
Alright. A few people are trying this out. Once I get full info I’ll update the post. Thank you!
Hi Walter,
So, I’d just like to be clear to see if I’ve got this straight because it can all be a bit confusing.
So when I go to the ATM with my Visa card in order to verify my PayPal account all I have to do is slip in my card and expect to see several options on the screen of which one would be “verify PayPal account”? And then I’d just simply press ‘yes’ and HEY PRESTO! My PayPal account is verified! ! !
Is this so? And how come I’ve never noticed that PayPal option before? Please explain, Walter.
Thank you,
Brenda
Hi Brenda,
No, you don’t do it that way.
You log in to PayPal, go to Wallet, click on “Link a credit card, fill card details, and get the requested code from your bank statement. You’ll use that code to verify. The process is quite clear from PayPal itself, when you start, you simply follow the prompts.
I just joined airbnb and seems the best choice at payouts are through paypal and through “Payoneer prepaid debit master card”.. You have mentioned that Payoneer are not taking on anymore applications,is this still the situation or can i sign up for Payoneer?
Hi Peter,
You can sign up for Payoneer. Feel free to click here to use my affiliate link to join. That way you’ll stand a chance of getting free $25 once your get to $1,000 on your Payoneer account.
It seems Payoneer has increased the requirement for the $25 referral bonus from $100 to $1000.
payoneer.com/refer-a-friend/
Hi Anon,
Yes, it has. Just updated the post as well.
hi Walter..glad to read your views and how much you have been of help to many people. Just want to inquire whether this site called “the panel station” is a genuine one or its a scam. Thanks ii advance
Thanks Queenter. It’s always a joy for me to see people succeed. Never heard of that site. You can google it for reviews.
How can I deactivate my simcard line from Paypal
You can contact Safaricom for assistance.
Thanks a lot bro. This article have been very helpful to me and it is straight and simple to understand
Thanks Eric.
Hi, Thanks for your dedication in replying to the comments. I received some money via paypal and since I had no Equity Bank account, a friend suggested i use Epay. I am not sure if it worked right because I could not understand the ticket thing. Finally I transferred the money to their email. I have not received any response. When I write to them, I get no response, please help.
Thanks for reaching out to us through this forum. Being your first time, we appreciate you had challenges in figuring out how we operate. You withdrew your funds from your ePay account to M-pesa on Saturday when we had already closed (we close at 1pm and resume on Monday). I presume you have already been assisted this morning and that you have already received your money. I am sure the process should be more straight forward moving forward. Thank you for using our services.
Awesome Cza. All cleared up!
I believe all will be great henceforth, Agnes.
Hi walter, I got sorted out. Whoa, it was quite a trip for me..thanks anyway, so cooperative..
Awesome! Told you they were legit 🙂 Now things will be smooth from here.
Hi Agnes,
Thanks for your comment.
You did not follow the right procedure, and that’s why you’re facing those challenges.
Let me call their attention to this and they’ll clarify further. They’re 100% legit and will aptly handle this soon.
Thanks Walter, I now know I am in good hands.
Hi, i have finally managed to do it. I ran into problems but it is all because i was new to the whole thing. Thanks a lot.
Walter, I still have not got the money…24hrs down
Hi Walter, how lo long does it take to get the money in the Mpesa? Just wondering coz sijapata after like 10 hours…But I managed to withdraw from Epay..
Told you they’re awesome! Glad you finally managed.
Would it be a good alternative to use the withdraw service from Auction Essistance? It looks like you can withdraw from PayPal and they load your Payoneer card for a fee. I contacted them, but haven’t heard a response yet.
Never used their service. You can google for reviews.
Hi Walter, I must say that your write-up was quite helpful. I’m Nigerian and i plan on coming to kenya to open a paypal account as that’s the only mode of payment on a site i work with.
I will be very glad if you could please advise me on how to go about opening an Equity bank account. I dont mind securing an apartment as a proof of address. You can reply to my contact email. Thanks alot.
Hello,
How can I withdraw funds from paypal limited account after 180days are over. Have tried the equity bank procedure and does not work. I don’t have US bank account to do withdraw either.
Hi Charles,
You’ll need to use a US account.
Feel free to email me via my contact page in case you still get stuck.
Hi Walter,
What if I don’t have a US account?
Hi Jeff,
Contact PayPal and ask them to allow you to withdraw to M-PESA or Equity.
Hi walter,
I want to start working online. Can you advise on how to get US account?
Hi Shiru. If you’re talking about PayPal, you can just use a normal Kenyan account. Charles was asking about a PayPal account that was limited for 180 days. At that time, one would need to use a US account to access the cash. Right now you can access it via Equity Bank.
Hi Walter,
How can I withdraw money held by PayPal for 180 days through Equity?
I have tried but in vain.
Kindly help.