M-PESA and PayPal are popular mobile money transfer platforms used by Kenyans and citizens of other nations.
M-PESA is owned by Kenya’s telecommunications giant, Safaricom, while PayPal is an independent American company.
From time to time, customers try to transfer money from M-PESA to PayPal but are unsure of how to do it. This article outlines the steps to transfer money from M-Pesa to a PayPal account.
To transfer money from M-PESA to PayPal, you must first link your accounts through the M-Pesa app. Once linked, you can initiate a “top-up” from M-PESA to your PayPal account.
This service is specifically for Kenyan M-PESA users and requires both accounts to be in the same name.
Requirements for Transferring M-PESA to PayPal
One must meet the following requirements before transferring funds from Safaricom’s mobile money platform, M-PESA, to PayPal:
- A registered M-Pesa account with Safaricom.
- A Kenyan PayPal account (nationality set to Kenya).
- The M-Pesa app (updated to the latest version on Android or iOS).
Also Read: How to Register for M-PESA Global That Allows International Money Transfers
- Matching names and phone numbers on both M-Pesa and PayPal accounts.
- An Android or iOS device with internet access.
Steps to Link PayPal to Safaricom’s Mobile Money Transfer Platform
- Open the M-Pesa App and ensure the app is updated via the App Store or Play Store.
- Navigate to the PayPal Section: Go to the “Finance” or “Global Payments” section and select the “PayPal” option.
- Log in to PayPal by entering your PayPal email and password.
- If your accounts are not linked yet, enter your Safaricom mobile number registered with M-PESA. You will get a 4-digit confirmation code by SMS. Enter the code to verify and link your accounts. Make sure the names on both accounts match exactly to avoid any errors.
Steps to Transfer Money from M-Pesa to PayPal
To transfer money from M-Pesa to PayPal, open the M-Pesa app, navigate to the Global Payments section, and then select PayPal.
Select the option to top up your PayPal account and enter the desired amount in US dollars.
The app will automatically display the equivalent in Kenyan shillings along with the applicable exchange rate.
Also Read: How to Qualify for a KCB M-PESA Loan and Increase Your Limit
A 4% conversion fee will be charged for the top-up, in addition to the standard M-Pesa transaction costs.
To complete the transfer, enter your M-Pesa PIN or use biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or face ID. Before confirming, review the transaction details, including the exchange rate and estimated processing time.
Once the process is complete, you will receive a confirmation notification within the app, an SMS from Safaricom indicating the USD amount credited to your PayPal account, and an email from PayPal with the transaction details. A transaction ID will also be provided for reference.
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