Is PayPal Available in the Philippines?

PayPal is widely available in the Philippines, serving as a significant platform for online transactions. It facilitates various financial activities, including online payments, cross-border remittances, and e-commerce transactions for both individuals and businesses. The platform’s presence in the country supports a growing digital economy, offering convenience for managing funds across different currencies. PayPal continues to be a relevant tool for Filipinos engaging in online shopping, receiving payments for services, and facilitating international money transfers.

Setting Up Your PayPal Account

Setting up a PayPal account in the Philippines involves registering on the official PayPal website. You’ll choose between a personal or business account and provide your full name, email address, and a secure password.

After creating your account, link financial instruments like a local Philippine bank account, credit, or debit cards to your PayPal profile. This allows you to fund transactions and withdraw money by entering your bank or card details into your PayPal wallet.

Account verification unlocks full functionality and higher transaction limits. PayPal requires you to confirm your linked bank account by verifying small deposits. You may also need to provide identification documents, such as a passport, driver’s license, or national ID, to comply with regulatory requirements.

Managing Funds with PayPal

Once your PayPal account is established and verified, you can send and receive money. To send funds, log into your account, select “Send & Request,” enter the recipient’s email, mobile number, or name, specify the amount, and choose a funding source from your linked accounts or cards.

You can add a note detailing the payment’s purpose before confirming. Funds are deducted from your chosen source and sent to the recipient’s PayPal account.

Receiving money requires the sender to use your registered PayPal email address. Funds appear in your PayPal balance, and you receive a notification. This facilitates payments from clients, international remittances, or online sales proceeds.

Accessing Your Funds in the Philippines

To access funds in the Philippines, withdraw your PayPal balance to a linked Philippine bank account. Navigate to your PayPal wallet, select “Transfer money” or “Withdraw,” and choose your bank account as the destination.

Standard withdrawals to local banks in the Philippines take 3 to 5 business days to clear. Users can also link PayPal accounts with local mobile wallets, such as GCash, for quicker transfers, often within minutes or less than two working days.

Minimum withdrawal amounts or transaction limits may apply. A fee of 50 PHP applies for withdrawals less than 7,000 PHP to a personal bank account. Withdrawals of 7,000 PHP or more to a local bank account incur no fees if no currency conversion is involved.

Key Considerations for Using PayPal in the Philippines

Fees for using PayPal in the Philippines vary by transaction type and fund source or destination. Domestic commercial transactions may incur a fee of 3.9% plus 15 PHP. Receiving funds in a foreign currency may also incur a currency conversion fee when converting to Philippine Pesos.

Currency conversion rates are a factor for international transactions involving different currencies, such as USD to PHP. PayPal applies its own conversion rate, including a spread, typically around 4% of the converted amount. For example, the exchange rate for PayPal USD to PHP is approximately ₱56.49 as of August 2025.

Transaction limits differ between unverified and verified accounts. Verified accounts have higher sending, receiving, and withdrawal limits. Common uses for PayPal in the Philippines include cross-border online shopping, receiving payments from international clients for freelance work, and facilitating family remittances.