Is it better to use cash or card in Spain?
Should you pay with cash or card in Spain? A handy guide including cash etiquette, Spanish ATMs and using your UK card.
Can I use PayPal in Spain?
Travelling to Spain soon from the UK? Perhaps you’re heading there on holiday, or spending some time there for work or study. You might even be moving there permanently.
Whatever your circumstances, it’ll be useful to know whether you can continue using your UK accounts in sunny Spain.
In this handy guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using PayPal (PYPL) in Spain.
We’ll also show you an alternative - the Wise account, which lets you send, spend, receive, convert and hold euros (EUR) along with 40+ currencies.
Learn more about the Wise account
Does PayPal work in Spain?
Yes, the great news for fans of PayPal is that it does operate in Spain. This means you can use its services and accounts there.
PayPal has a dedicated website for its Spanish customers, where it offers both personal and business accounts.
Can I open a PayPal account in Spain?
Yes, you can open a new PayPal account if you’re living in Spain.
You’ll just need to provide some basic details such as your name, address and contact details.
To send money or use PayPal to pay for something, you’ll also need to add a payment method like a debit or credit card, or a bank account.
Features of PayPal accounts in Spain
So, what can you actually do with a PayPal account in Spain? Here are a few of the features:
- Pay online with PayPal, at websites which accept it at checkout as a payment method.
- Pay in participating real-world stores via QR codes which you scan on your phone.
- Send money to friends and family (you’ll need to check whether it’s possible for your recipient to receive money via PayPal in their country).
- Receive money into your PayPal account, including payments from people you know and refunds from retailers.
If you run an ecommerce or retail business, you can open a merchant PayPal account in Spain. This will let you integrate PayPal into the checkout on your website, so that customers can pay you using PayPal.
It’s also possible to use PayPal to accept payments in your shop, as the company has Point of Sale (PoS) solutions available.
Can I use my UK PayPal account in Spain?
It might be more convenient to keep using your UK PayPal account after you’ve moved to Spain. But unfortunately, PayPal won’t let you do it as part of its policies.
Instead, you’ll need to close your UK account and open a new one once you arrive, using your new Spanish residential address.¹ The process is pretty straightforward, so you should be set up with a new account in no time.
Fees for using PayPal in Spain
Now we come to the important question - how much will it cost you to use PayPal in Spain? The fees are pretty similar to the UK, although you may now have to factor in currency conversion charges.
Here are the main PayPal fees you need to know about for Spain:²
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Opening a PayPal account | Free |
| Sending money to friends and family | Free (where no currency conversion is involved) |
| Sending money internationally | €1.99 to €3.99 EUR depending on destination |
| Receiving money | Free (where no currency conversion is involved) |
| Paying for an online purchase | Free where no currency conversion is involved |
| Currency conversion fee | 3% |
| Withdrawing money from a PayPal account to a bank account | Free where no currency conversion is involved |
Manage your money in EUR and 40+ currencies with Wise
Of course, PayPal isn’t the only solution for sending, spending and managing your money in Spain. If you like the sound of a powerful multi-currency online account and a card that works in 150+ countries, check out Wise.
Open a Wise account online and you can send money to and from Spain for low fees and mid-market exchange rates.
You can also get a Wise card for a one-time cost of just £7. This clever card automatically converts currency whenever you spend, so you don’t need to worry about preloading your account or converting cash. There’s only a small conversion fee to pay. And it works online as well as in real-world shops and restaurants.
And if you need cash, your Wise card has you covered. You can withdraw up to €200 a month in 2 transactions from Spanish ATMs for free (although double-check that the ATM operator doesn’t charge its own fee).
Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.
Sources used:
Sources last checked on date: 16-Jul-2024
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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