Setting up PayPal in Kenya – Step by Step instructions

Last updated on February 10th, 2023 at 11:04 am.

create a paypal account in Kenya PayPal in Kenya Use Equity Bank ATM Card

New Update :  You can now withdraw from Paypal to Mpesa and top up PayPal via Mpesa. Read how to withdraw into both equity and Mpesa here

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Update for 2020:

Create a paypal account Updated Feb 2016 - PayPal Account in Kenya

Watch the video above and learn how to create a Paypal Account in Kenya step by step.

How do I get a PayPal account in Kenya?

  1. Go to www.paypal.com/ke.
  2. Click on the ‘Sign Up’ button
  3. Select the type of PayPal Account. Personal account is mostly used for online purchases. Business account is used for accepting payments and can also be used for making purchases online. You can transform a personal account to business account in your PayPal dashboard. Choose business account if you’ll be asking for payments and want more merchant features. Click next .
  4. Enter your email address. If you have an equity bank account, try to use the same email you opened your bank account with. Click continue.
  5. Enter a strong password (Mix upper and lower case, Mix letters and numbers and symbols).
  6. Complete the required information such as Business contact, Business details, phone number, address, currency (use USD). Accept agreement and Click continue.
  7. If you chose , business account, describe the business details such as : Business type, product or service type , Website (optional ) and Country (optional).
  8. Enter the personal account details required. Click continue.
  9. That’s it, your account is now ready but you still need to verify debit card and email address. Any verification that will be needed in future will be easy to provide. For instance they’ll need you to upload a personal ID document and fill various info. It will be self explanatory.
  10. The only next important process is verifying a Credit / debit card.

How to verify A Kenyan debit Card on PayPal

In a Paypal business account

You should probably open an equity bank account to use with your Paypal. However, feel free to try your current card. equity just works seamlessly with PayPal considering you can withdraw your funds directly to your account.

Here is how to activate your card on Paypal.

  1. Go to Payments. Then scroll down to the cards section, click on Link a new card.
  2. Enter Card number (your ATM card is Okay),
  3. Choose card type, Enter card expiration date.
  4. Enter security code / CSC Code ( What is CSC code? This is the last 3 digits found at the back of your card.) . Click continue
  5. If your details are okay. Click on Done button that comes up.
  6. Once again Click on payments , scroll down and click, Confirm card.
  7. Then click, the Confirm Your Card again.
  8. Then click on the big blue Get a Code button. This will charge less than 250 KES on your card to confirm that it is active.
  9. Wait for about a day or 2, go to your bank, ask for your statement. With Equity, you can go to the customer service desk and they’ll read the 4 pin key for you, from your statement. The code looks like this PP*1234CODE . The entry beginning with PP*1234 . You will need to enter enter the 4 digit code that comes after PP* into Paypal.
  10. Once you get the code log into paypal and follow from step 6 . Go step by step till you successfully verify your card. This time you will just need to enter the code you got from your statement.

Once you retrieve the code from your bank, just login to paypl on your phone while still at the bank to finish step 6 to 9. You only need the 4pin code, so ask the customer service fellow to write it down for you instead of having to get a whole statement. The code looks like this PP*1234

Click here to learn how to withdraw your PayPal funds via Equity or Mpesa.

More Questions and Answers about Paypal

Can PayPal be used in Kenya?

Yes, Just create an Account as shown in the above post. you can use Paypal in Kenya to accept payments from all over the world. And to make purchases from all over the world wherever Paypl is a payment option.

How do I open a PayPal account using mpesa?

You need a bank account to create an account in Kenya. Use the guide above to successfully create your account. You can however withdraw funds into MPesa or an Equity Bank account.

How do I check my PayPal account?

Log in by going to https://www.paypal.com/ . On your dashboard you can check and update your account.

Is there a monthly fee for PayPal?

There’s no monthly fee. There a small percentage charge for merchants who sell via Pypal. Purchases via PayPl are free.

Do I need a bank account for PayPal?

You need to link a Debit / Credit card. So yeah you will need a bank account.

Can you get scammed by using PayPal?

Of course yes ! Don’t send money to people you don’t trust. Buying via paypal is very safe because they have a very stringent Customer refund policy. if you are buying online, ensure you check up on the website you are buying from. If they have been in business for long, then making a purchase via PayPl is a safe bet, since you can always file a complaint via PayPal if you do not receive the goods / services promised. As a seller yopu can also get scammed. Stay alert. In business there are risks but you shouldn’t let the risks cripple you.

Which banks are linked to PayPal in Kenya?

Equity bank. You can withdraw you funds into your Kenyan bank Account online. Try connecting your current card on Paypl , before resorting to creating an equity account. You can withdraw funds via Mpesa too.

How much does it cost to open a PayPal account?

Opening an account is free to anyone and everyone.

Can I withdraw money from PayPal to mpesa?

Yes you can withdraw funds to MPesa . Read this post : https://bizanosa.com/paypal-to-mpesa-equity/

Can I add bank account to PayPal?

In Kenya you cannot add a bank Account, however you can easily withrdaw you funds into an Equity bank Account or Mpesa.

Is PayPal safe?

Yes paypal is safe, if you don’t send money to every Tom, Dick and Harry. You can always open a resolution to ask for a refund. The refund policy is very stringent.

pay pal mpesa

You can withdraw funds from Pay Pal to Mpesa.

paypal kenya login

Just go payapl.com and click on log in.

paypl account creation

Use the post above to successfully create your pay Pal Account in Kenya.

paypal kenya contacts

You can use the resolution center or the Pay pal community forum if you need help.: https://www.paypal.com/ke/smarthelp/home .

paypal to mpesa charges

Once you choose the amount to withdraw, you will see exaclty how much will be transferred to your Mpesa number.

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OLD post

In Brief (Sourced from Equity bank Paypal site):

1. Sign up and verify your PayPal account

Sign up and verify your PayPal account in order to receive payments online.

  • Go to www.paypal.com/ke
  • Click on ‘Sign Up’
  • Select the PayPal Account
  • Complete the required information and create your account
  • Confirm your email address
  • Verify your PayPal account by clicking on ‘Get Verified’ and then linking a credit or cheque card

Funds can be withdrawn from PayPal Account to Equity Bank transactional accounts in KES, USD, GBP, or EUR excluding credit cards. If you already have an Equity Bank Account, Click here to link your Equity Bank Account to your PayPal Account.. You can now withdraw from PayPal to Mpesa. Read more on how to withdraw from Paypal.

If you do not have an Equity Bank Account, it’s easy to open one:

Within Kenya
Dial *247# from your phone to open an Account instantly

Outside Kenya
Click here to open your Account

* Ensure that the e-mail on your Equity Bank Account and PayPal Account are the same.

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OLD Post :

First of all what is PayPal? In the simplest and most comprehensive words, PayPal enables money transfers over the internet. PayPal enables you to make payments and also receive payments online. To read more about how Peter Thiel and his co-founders founded PayPal in 1998 (then Confinity ) and later sold it to eBay in 2002, feel free to read the PayPal Wikipedia page here.

In Kenya the one bank that directly supports PayPal withdrawals is Equity Bank (if there are others share with me in the comments below). So if you are looking to serve without boundaries you should set up your PayPal account and get it active using Equity bank. I will give you the step by step process here. You may skip the PayPal registration part in case you already have a PayPal account.

{ { You should also consider opening a Payoneer Account if you don’t have one} }

Registration on PayPal

1. Head over to paypal.com and click on Sign Up .

PayPal account set up for kenyans
PayPal Homepage

2. As an individual click on open an account as indicated on the image below.

Kenyan Individual account set up
Individual PayPal Account set up

3. On the next page fill all fields with your accurate information. Point to note here, use your true email because it is the way through which you will accept payment and send payments. You will also need to confirm your email so ensure you can access the email you use here.

4. On the next page input the Captcha and hit next

5. On the next page PayPal will ask for your card details. If you already have an equity debit card (ATM card) you can input the number, if you do not, then skip this step by clicking on Go To My account, which is visible below the form.   

Enter debit card information

6. You shall be directed to your account

The PayPal Dashboard
View of the PayPal Account on Signing in

First step, confirm your email. Log into your email provider (Gmail, yahoo etc), you will see a “Welcome to PayPal” email. There may be a link to confirm your email or not.

Next…

How to Confirm your PayPal Email

If the email you receive from PayPal . does not have a confirm button, then ,you will need to copy (Ctrl + C) the confirmation code which has been sent in the email and activate your email manually as explained below.

1 .  Back on your PayPal account click on Confirm Email Address on the right side of the screen. As highlighted in the screenshot.

Confirm email adress
Where to confirm your email Address on your PayPal Account

2 . On the next page click on the link that says something like ‘click here if there is no button’ . (I have no screenshot for this. This because my email had the activation link. I therefore  have no clear picture of what exactly the words are.) . However , on the same page on the third or fourth line you will see the blue text link. Click on it.

3 . On the next page you will see an input box where you will be asked for the confirmation code you received in your welcome email.  Paste (Ctrl + V) the code there and hit enter.

Your email has been confirmed. On the next page you will be asked to create a security question, do so.

This part assumes that you already have an Equity Bank account and an Equity Debit card (commonly referred to as the ATM Card) Nonetheless, be at liberty to read on even if you lack one.

1 . On your PayPal account click on link and confirm my debit/credit card .As highlighted on the image below :

Confirm Debit card

2 . On the next page add your card details. Points to note :

>Either Visa or MasterCard is okay (check your card to see which logo is there on the front of the ATM card).

>Your card number is the 16-digit ATM card number clearly written on the front of your equity bank card.

>TheSecurity code is the last three digits at the back of your debit card.

Once you have entered all the right information accurately, click Continue.

3 .

Ensure your bank account has at least KES200 which will be charged by PayPal to ensure your account’s validity. The Money shall be refunded to you. This is what is indicated by PayPal:

After you click Continue, we’ll charge this card $1.95 USD or equivalent to make sure it’s yours. We’ll refund the money into your PayPal account within 24 hours after you confirm your card.

4 . Check with your bank after 24 or 48 hours and ask for your ATM statement, you need the transaction code. Wherever branch you get your statement from ,ask them whatever questions you may have.

5 . Go log into your PayPal account . Click on link and confirm my debit/credit card, follow the steps, confirm the transaction code and finish setting up.

Once you are done with all these you are ready to sell and buy online, of course you have to deposit money into the bank account.

PayPal currently does not allow for directly adding funds to your PayPal account from Equity Bank, so what happens when you buy anything online or via PayPal? They will charge to your bank account and credit the sellers.

For Merchants (Sellers) PayPal transaction fees are 2.4% to 3.4% + $0.30 USD .

You can add as many cards as you want. To edit your card details go to Profile > My Money.

You can now sell and buy online using PayPal. You can head over to your favorite Freelance Website and sign up and activate your PayPal and start earning online.

You are welcome to Leave your comment.

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Update:
Hey there genius, PayPal COMPLETELY updated their website. So this post is History .

Head over to the Create a PayPal Update for 2016 . It is a video you can watch.

And I also have the download links for it on that page. Simple stuff.

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{ { You should also consider opening a Payoneer Account if you don’t have one} }

Update 2017:

Hey there genius, PayPal COMPLETELY updated their website. So this post is History .

{ If you know what you are doing, the steps are still valid }

Head over to the Create a PayPal Update  . It is a video you can watch.

And I also have the download links for it on that page. Simple stuff.

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