Guide for how to receive and withdraw money on PayPal in the Philippines

PayPal¹ is a handy way to spend online, and to send or receive local and international payments. If you’re not sure how to receive money from PayPal the good news is that it’s pretty easy once you have an active account. This guide walks through how to use PayPal to receive money, the options available and how to find out about any PayPal receive money fee that may apply.

How to use PayPal to receive money in the Philippines

So, how can I receive money from PayPal easily?

To receive money with PayPal in the Philippines you’ll first need to sign up for a PayPal account. Once you have a live account other people can send you money - to either a PayPal personal or business account. Payments can be sent in around 25 currencies, from pretty much anywhere in the world.

PayPal personal accounts are ideal for anyone who shops online and sends or receives payments from friends and family. PayPal personal accounts can also be used for occasional business transactions - such as selling a few items after clearing out your home or closet. However, if you’re using PayPal to take regular payments on behalf of your registered business you’ll need to change your account to a business product. The features and fees associated with a PayPal business account³ are different to PayPal personal, so do read through the terms and conditions carefully before you switch.

How to sign up to PayPal to receive money

Here’s how to use PayPal to sign up to receive money⁴:

1. Open the PayPal desktop site or app
2. Select Sign up
3. Enter your personal details - including first and last name and address
4. Enter your contact information like your phone number and email address
5. Create a password for your account and choose 2 security questions

Once your account has been registered you can start to receive payments with PayPal. In effect that means you can receive money with an unverified PayPal account. However, to start sending payments you’ll also need to add your bank account or card information for payment and verification purposes.

Fees to receive money with PayPal in the Philippines

There are several possible fees involved with sending and receiving a PayPal payment in the Philippines. However, some costs are paid for by the sender, and some by the recipient - the charges can also vary depending on where in the world the sender is, which can ultimately make it a bit tricky to unpick the cost of a PayPal transfer.

Wondering: why is PayPal charging me a fee to receive money? It may well be about the currency that was sent to you. Here’s a summary of the key points for receiving money to a PayPal Philippines personal account⁵:

• If you’re receiving a payment in the Philippines in PHP, there should be no fee for you to pay
• If you’re receiving a payment in the Philippines in a foreign currency, a 4% conversion fee will apply when you convert back to PHP
• When you need to withdraw your money from PayPal to your bank, there’s a fee of 50 PHP if you withdraw less than 7,000 PHP

The other costs involved in a payment are paid by the sender. The exact fees depend on where in the world your sender is and how they choose to pay.

For domestic payments in the Philippines, the sender may pay no fee if they use a bank account or PayPal balance to make the transfer. If they use a card they’ll pay 3.4% and a small fixed fee.

If your sender is overseas, the charge they pay can vary - often in the region of about 4.99 USD, plus any required card fee or currency conversion fee.

We mentioned earlier that the fees to receive money with PayPal if you have a PayPal business or merchant account are different. Fees vary based on the type of payment you receive, but to give an idea you may find you pay around 3.4% for domestic payments, and 4.4% for international transfers coming into your PayPal account⁶.

Getting paid from overseas? Receive money from abroad without hidden fees with Wise

If you’re a freelancer or a dependent of an overseas foreign worker, receiving payments has never been easier with the Wise account!

The Wise account lets you receive money for free from abroad, without the need to have bank accounts in multiple countries. You can get your own unique bank account details in 9+ different currencies (including AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HUF, NZD, SGD, USD, and TRY) and receive like a local.

After you’ve received the money you can easily move funds from your Wise Account to your local bank account or e-wallet, by converting to PHP at the mid-market exchange rate - like the one you see on Google - and low transparent fees!

It also comes with the Wise prepaid card, which lets you spend globally in 160+ countries and shop online at the same mid-market exchange rate. Start bringing your money home in a smart way without extra hidden fees with Wise!

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Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

How many days does it take to receive money with PayPal?

PayPal transfers can be instant. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you can spend your money right away.

PayPal transfers are sent from one PayPal account to another PayPal account. They’re not deposited into a bank - so if you want to get your money in cash or to spend with your bank debit card, you’ll need to withdraw your PayPal balance to your bank manually. This may take a few days. Alternatively you can use your PayPal balance to shop online or to send to others pretty much right away.

How long does it take to receive money from PayPal internationally?

PayPal international payments may be received very quickly - it depends a little on how the sender chooses to pay. If they make a transfer from a PayPal balance or with a card, it’s usually very quick or instant. Transfers from a bank may take longer.

Bear in mind that money is deposited to your PayPal account - not your bank. Withdrawing to a bank is a separate step that may take time.

How to receive money from PayPal to your Philippine bank account or ewallet?

You can withdraw your PayPal balance to your bank account if you’d prefer to have the money as cash or want to use your bank card for spending. In the Philippines you can withdraw money to a bank account using a standard transfer which will take 1 - 5 business days depending on the specific bank⁸. There’s a fee of 50 PHP if you withdraw less than 7,000 PHP in a single transaction for personal account holders⁵.

Learn more about how to withdraw money from PayPal Philippines to a bank - and how to get money from PayPal to GCash, here.

Frequently asked questions

Still not sure about sending and receiving PayPal transfers in the Philippines? Here are the answers to a few more common questions to help you figure out if PayPal is right for you.

Can I receive money on PayPal without linking a bank account?

Yes. You can receive payments to PayPal as soon as you’ve registered your account, simply by giving the person sending your money your email or phone number. You will then need to link a bank account to withdraw your money or to send a payment yourself. If you don’t want to link a bank account you can use your PayPal account balance for online spending or to send to others, instead.

Can you receive money with an unverified PayPal?

The process to verify a PayPal account includes linking a bank account or card. However, you don’t need to do this to receive a payment to your PayPal account. Others can send you money as soon as your account is up and running - but you won’t be able to withdraw your funds from PayPal until you link a bank account.

What is my PayPal ID to receive money?

There’s no separate PayPal ID to receive a payment to your PayPal account. All you need to do is give the person sending the money your email or phone number - the same one that you used to register with PayPal - and the money will arrive safely.

PayPal Philippines has lots of great features, and easy ways to spend online and send money to others. Use this guide to learn all about how to receive money on PayPal in the Philippines. Or if you’re still researching your options, check out Wise as a low cost way to send and receive payments globally with the mid-market rate and conversion fees from as low as 0.42%².