First, before I discuss the issue of linking your Mpesa account with PayPal, I would like you to know that a PayPal account is a secure online account that handles different kinds of currencies. It is easier to use when one is buying products online. When it comes to withdrawing your cash, it is also convenient and does not have handles.
The good news to Kenyans and those who are registered with Mpesa service is that you can link your Mpesa account to PayPal for free. This has been made possible because Safaricom has partnered with PayPal. The partnership has made it possible for Kenyans to shop online using US Dollars without hustle.
In this article, I want to show you how to integrate your Mpesa with a PayPal account. First, it’s mandatory to have a PayPal account which is free to sign up. Armed yourself with your email and a strong password you are good to go. You need to go to www.paypal.com and sign up for free. It has two accounts for personal and business. The personal is free to sign up and shop without transaction fees, no matter how you choose to pay. You can shop globally securely and store all your financial information behind a single secure login. You can also pay on sites of all sizes worldwide and in 25 currencies.
If you are interested in a business PayPal account then you can sign up still for free. It can securely accept credit and Visa Debit card payments without a monthly fee, though it charges 2.9% + 30 cents for every transaction made. Buyers don’t need a PayPal account. You can get paid faster with Online Invoicing and PayPal Checkout. You can sell securely with PayPal Seller Protection. You can click here to sign up for free https://www.paypal.com/ca/for-you/account/create-account.
Having done the sign up now you can do a simple Mpesa-PayPal account registration. Follow the following steps.
- Log in to your PayPal Account using the email and the password you have secured your account with.
- Enter your registered Mpesa account phone number.
- Accept terms and conditions of service.
- Enter the 4-digit confirmation code which will be sent from Safaricom to the mobile number associated with your Mpesa account. That’s all.
If you have a PayPal account then you follow the following simple steps below to connect your Mpesa to your PayPal account:
- Enter your PayPal Account’s email address.
- Log in to your PayPal Account, and click to agree to the privacy policy.
- Enter the phone number which is registered for Mpesa
- Accept terms and conditions.
- Enter the 4-digit secure confirmation code sent from Safaricom to the mobile number which is associated with your Mpesa account, then click to confirm. Your account is ready.
Note the following:
You can also have a one-stop shop by going straight to https://www.paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa. With this link, all you need for the connection is on the landing page below. You can sign up or get started from this page if you do not have a PayPal account. Then you can log in from the same page.
When you login, you can either top up or withdraw your cash to and from your two connected accounts. (Mpesa-PayPal)
When topping up: Log in to your PayPal Account (https://www.paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa) you first enter the amount you want to send in dollars, then you click calculate. It will calculate the amount you need to send to your PayPal in Kenyan Shilling.
- Go to Mpesa, Lipa na Mpesa,
- Enter Business no. 800088,
- Enter your phone number as Account No.,
- Enter the Amount in Ksh.,
- Enter your Mpesa PIN and Send.
When withdrawing your money from PayPal to Mpesa you need to follow the following steps:
- Log in to your PayPal account (https://www.paypal-mobilemoney.com/m-pesa) and Select Withdraw. (The available balance will be displayed in dollars and you can withdraw the available balance only)
- Enter the amount to withdraw from your PayPal Account in US Dollars and click ‘withdraw’.
- You will be redirected to a page showing the amount to be received in KSh., the exchange rate used for the currency conversion, and an estimation of the transaction processing time.
- Click ‘Confirm’ to confirm and complete the Withdraw Transaction.
The maximum amount per transaction is Ksh. 150,000. and you can only hold up to Ksh. 300,000. in your Mpesa account. Make sure your Mpesa account can hold your withdrawal balance.
You will be charged 3% of the amount converted from US Dollars to Ksh for every withdrawal. You will also be charged 4% of the amount you are sending to your PayPal account. You need also to know that normal Mpesa charges apply for all transactions.
The money withdrawn from PayPal will take two to three days before they are credited to your Mpesa account. You shall get a confirmation SMS and an email for the same.
I think this article has helped you to get started. Thanks a lot for reading. You are free to comment or critique on our comment section.