Does PayPal work in Ireland? Account, card, app and more!

Heard about PayPal and wondering how it all works? Well, look no further, this guide is here to help!

We’re going to delve into what there is to know about how a personal PayPal account works in Ireland, including what you can and can’t do, cards, fees and whether or not it’s safe.

We’ll also let you know a bit about the Wise Account and how it works, so you have another option too.

Wise: +40 currencies
in one account 💰

What is and how does PayPal work?

PayPal is a payment solutions provider that offers services to personal and business customers. If you open a personal PayPal account you can send and receive money, as well as pay for goods and services.¹

Does PayPal work in Ireland?

PayPal does work in Ireland and you can open an account in the country.¹ To give you a better idea of how it works, here are the key services you can access using an PayPal account from Ireland:

• Pay online using your PayPal account instead of entering card details
• Pay in person with PayPal using a QR code
• Send and receive money to other PayPal users
• Receive payments using PayPal.me

What can't you do with PayPal in Ireland ❌

When thinking about what you can’t do with a PayPal account, there are two areas that may be important to you.

Firstly, in Ireland there’s no debit card available for personal PayPal account holders. This means you can’t withdraw cash from an ATM, and don’t have access to a card to pay at the checkout.²

Second, it’s important to note that a PayPal account is necessary for you to send and receive money either online, with the PayPal app or using PayPal.me.¹

While that’s no issue if the other person involved in your transaction has PayPal, it becomes trickier if they don’t. They will have to set an account up or you need to find an alternate way to complete the transfer.

Sending money with PayPal from Ireland

To send money with PayPal you just need to know the name, username, email address, or mobile phone number linked to the recipient's PayPal account. Once you know that, login to your account and follow the prompts to complete the transfer.

Xoom

If you need to send money to friends and family who don’t have PayPal and don’t want to sign up then it’s possible if you use Xoom instead.⁶

Xoom is a PayPal service that you can log into on the Xoom website using your PayPal credentials. Once you’re logged in, there are a few options for how you can send money.

• Transfer money to a bank account, debit card, or mobile wallet
• Send cash for pick up or home delivery
• Pay foreign bills

PayPal exchange rate

For currency conversions PayPal sets its own exchange rates. You can use their currency converter tool to have an idea on what they are in different types of transactions.⁷

When looking, it’s a good idea to compare the rates to the mid-market rate to see how it stacks up.

The mid-market rate, which is what Wise uses, is the middle point between the buy and sell prices on the currency exchange market. Wise doesn't add any hidden fees or margins to the exchange rate.

Is a PayPal business account available in Ireland?

PayPal does have a account available that allows Irish businesses to process payments and handle finances using PayPal services.⁴ It offers flexible check out options, payment resolution services, and integrates with a range of account softwares, e-commerce platforms and social media tools.

If you’re looking for a business account, why not check out the Wise Business account while you’re at it.

One of the biggest benefits of the Wise Business account is the ability to gain local account details for +9 currencies, but you can also connect to account systems like Xero or Quickbooks, manage +40 currencies in a single account and collaborate with team members while controlling their account access permissions.

Try Wise for business 💼

FAQ: PayPal in Ireland

Is PayPal free? What are the fees?

While it’s free to open and maintain a PayPal account there are some fees for using it.³ The main PayPal fees to be aware of are for currency conversions and completing international personal transactions.

Can you have a PayPal card in Ireland?

You can’t have a PayPal card in Ireland if you have a Personal account. If you open a PayPal Business account it’s a different story, as business customers have access to the PayPal Business Debit Mastercard.²

If you need a personal physical debit card then perhaps the Wise card may be of interest instead.

Available to holders of a Wise Account, you can use this card in 150+ countries to make payments and cash withdrawals in +40 currencies. You always get the mid-market exchange rate when you need to convert money and there are also virtual cards available to make your life easier and more secure.

How can you set up a PayPal account?

It’s fairly simple to open a PayPay account, you just need to go to the website, select sign up, then follow the prompts for a Personal Account.

During the process you’ll need to provide an email address and phone number, as well as some personal information, security question answers, and a password.

Is PayPal safe in Ireland?

It’s natural to worry about security when it comes to finances and PayPal has a few different ways they look after buyers that use their system⁵:

• Accounts are password protected
• Two factor authentication is an option
• Eligible purchases are covered under buyers protection
• Transactions are monitored 24/7 for signs of fraud, phishing and identity theft
• Transactions are encrypted

Send, receive and spend money with Wise

While PayPal is a viable option used by many, it may not be the best option for you. Before deciding, make sure you check out what else is out there. One good option for sending and receiving money, especially foreign currency, is the Wise Account.

When you open a Wise account you can send money to +160 countries, and the recipient doesn't need an account with Wise to get the money.

You'll also be able to manage +40 currencies in one account, checking and converting currencies via the website or Wise app.

Wise will always use the mid-market exchange rate when exchanging currencies, and you'll receive the status of your transactions.

When travelling, don't forget to order your Wise card or use the virtual card option. These cards will be connected with your Wise multi-currency account.

Open your Wise
personal account for free 🚀

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 18 September 2024