In the growing age of technology that we now live in, online financial platforms like PayPal have become very popular, especially when trying to transfer money across the world.
If you live in South Africa, you may be wondering if you can use PayPal and how it works? I looked into PayPal South Africa and this is what I discovered!
Does PayPal Work in South Africa In 2025?
Fortunately, PayPal does operate in South Africa, therefore, you can receive, spend, and withdraw money in 2025. Additionally, because of South Africa’s exchange control regulations, when you receive money through PayPal, you have to withdraw the money to your bank account to be able to access it. However, PayPal does not currently support the South African currency, the Rand.
If you want to learn more about how to create a PayPal in South Africa, how to link and withdraw money to your bank account, and more, then continue reading!
How do I get a PayPal Account in South Africa?
Creating a PayPal account in South Africa is the same process as creating a PayPal account in any other country:
- Begin by going to a PayPal.com home page and clicking “Sign Up”
- You can go to any PayPal.com home page, whether it says U.S., South Africa, or somewhere else because you can change the “county/region”
- Then, choose between a Personal Account or a Business Account and then click “Sign Up Now”
- Next, enter the “country/region” where you live and your phone number
- Following, PayPal will send you a 6 digit security code that they will ask you to enter to confirm that it is you signing up for the account
- Then, enter the other information that is required such as your first and last name, address, and email address
- Finally, you will need to check the box next to PayPal’s policies and click “Agree and Create Account”
After this is finished, you have an active PayPal account and you can now receive money through PayPal.
Unfortunately, to be able to withdraw or send money with PayPal there are a few more steps to complete.
You have to link your payment options such as your bank account and your debit or credit card.
Furthermore, to use PayPal in South Africa using your bank account, you need to have either an FNB bank account or an FNB online banking profile along with your non-FNB bank account.
Therefore, if you already have an FNB bank account, here is how to link it to your PayPal account:
- First, log in to your FNB banking profile at www.fnb.co.za
- Second, click “Forex” and then click “PayPal Services”
- Next, click on the menu bar on the side of the screen and then click “Link PayPal Profile”
- Lastly, follow all the directions the website gives you to link your accounts
Additionally, when you are done linking your accounts, you will have to log into your PayPal account to confirm your account.
Furthermore, if you do not have an FNB bank account, you can link your PayPal profile to your other South African bank account by:
- First going to www.fnb.co.za
- Then, click “Register”
- Last, click “Register for PayPal for non FNB customers”
In addition, to register your PayPal account for non FNB customers, you will have to submit certain FICA, the Financial Intelligence Center Act, documents.
Moreover, you can submit these documents through email at paypalkyc@fnb.co.za.
After the FICA process is completed, you will be able to link your “verified PayPal account” to your non-FNB bank account.
Additionally, you can link your credit or debit card to your PayPal account.
Even though PayPal does not support South African currency, the Rand, linking your credit or debit card to your PayPal account will allow you to spend money, or pay for items and services.
This is possible because the money will already be converted to Rand through your bank or card issuer.
Therefore, to add and confirm your credit or debit card to your PayPal account:
- First, log in to your PayPal account and click “Wallet”
- Second, click “Associate a debit or credit card”
- Next, you need to enter the information for your card and then click, “Associate Card”
- Then, click on the card you just linked and click “Confirm card”
- Finally, click “Get Code” and then click “Done”
How do I Withdraw Money from PayPal in South Africa?
In South Africa, you have to have either an FNB bank account or an FNB online banking profile, along with your non-FNB bank account to withdraw money from PayPal.
I previously explained how to create a non-FNB online banking profile and how to link your FNB or non-FNB bank account to our PayPal account.
Therefore, once your FNB, or non-FNB, bank account is fully linked to your PayPal account you can withdraw money:
- Start by logging in to your FNB Online Banking profile through www.fnb.co.za
- Then, click “Forex” and then click “PayPal Services”
- Next, click the menu tab on the left side of the screen and click “Withdraw from PayPal”
- After, put in the amount of money you want to withdraw in USD
- Finally, follow the rest of the directions to review and confirm the exchange rate, the Rand amount you will get back, and the transaction terms and conditions
Additionally, when completing the last steps and finalizing the withdrawal, you will be taken to your PayPal account to review the withdrawal and then taken back to your FNB profile.
Then, you will receive the money in your bank account in 3 to 5 business days.
To know more, you can also read our posts on whether or not PayPal exchanges currency, how to unblock on PayPal, intriguing PayPal facts and statistics, and PayPal complaints.
Conclusion
Thankfully PayPal is accepted in South Africa, however, PayPal does not currently support the South African currency, the Rand. Therefore, when receiving money in South Africa you receive the funds in the sender’s currency and have to convert it to Rand.
Furthermore, to convert the funds you received to Rand, you have to transfer the funds to your bank account in South Africa and your bank will convert them into Rand. Additionally, to withdraw funds from PayPal you have to have an FNB bank account or online banking profile.
