- If you have money in your PayPal account and want to move it directly to your M-PESA wallet, you do not need to rely on third-party money-transfer apps.
- Safaricom’s M-PESA service allows eligible customers in Kenya to link their PayPal accounts to their M-PESA wallets and move money between the two platforms.
- With the Safaricom My OneApp, the process is straightforward and can take less than five minutes.
Here is how to do it:
1. Download and open the Safaricom My OneApp
Download Safaricom’s My OneApp from the Google Play Store or App Store, then log in with your M-PESA PIN.
The app automatically identifies the phone number associated with your M-PESA account after installation, so you do not have to manually enter your number.
It is advisable to use mobile data when transacting on this App.
2. Open “Browse All Services”
Once you are inside the app, look for Browse All Services.
Tap on it to see the different services available on the platform.
Under Global Payments, go directly to the PayPal option.
You do not need another application or a separate third-party service to start the process.
3. Link your PayPal account
Tap PayPal, and you will be prompted to link your PayPal account.
The app will automatically bring up the PayPal interface, where you enter your PayPal email address and password.
Once you submit your details, your PayPal account will be linked to your M-PESA account.
The linking process is very quick.
After successful linking, you should receive a confirmation SMS from MPESAGLOBAL confirming that your M-PESA number has been linked to your PayPal account.
The message will identify the M-PESA number and the PayPal account that have been linked.
4. Check your PayPal balance
Once the accounts are linked, your PayPal balance will appear in the app.
You will also see the applicable USD-to-KES exchange rate for the transaction.
This makes it easy to see approximately how much money you will receive in your M-PESA wallet before completing the withdrawal.
5. Enter the amount you want to withdraw
Enter the amount you want to withdraw from PayPal in US dollars.
The app will calculate the equivalent amount in Kenyan shillings using the applicable exchange rate.
Safaricom’s PayPal–M-PESA terms state that a 3% conversion fee applies to withdrawals and top-ups.
Review the transaction details before proceeding.
6. Approve the withdrawal
Once you are satisfied with the amount and applicable charges, approve the transaction and complete the withdrawal.
The money will then be deducted from your PayPal balance and credited to your M-PESA wallet.
Normally, the entire process takes around 5 minutes.
What you need before withdrawing from PayPal to M-PESA
Before you start, make sure you have:
- An active M-PESA account
- The Safaricom My OneApp installed on your phone
- An eligible Kenyan PayPal account
- Access to your PayPal email address and password
- A PayPal balance available for withdrawal
How long does it take to withdraw PayPal money to M-PESA?
The actual process is remarkably quick. Once your PayPal and M-PESA accounts have already been linked, you can initiate a withdrawal, review the exchange rate, enter the amount and complete the transaction within minutes.
The first withdrawal requires you to link the two accounts, but this is also a short process.
Do you need a third-party app?
No.
If you are using Safaricom’s official M-PESA service for PayPal, you can link your eligible Kenyan PayPal account directly to your M-PESA wallet.
Safaricom’s PayPal partnership enables qualifying M-PESA customers in Kenya to link their PayPal accounts to their M-PESA wallets.
The bottom line
Moving money from PayPal to M-PESA in Kenya is no longer complicated.
With Safaricom’s M-PESA PayPal service, you can link your PayPal account, view your balance and the applicable exchange rate, enter the amount you want to withdraw and send the money directly to your M-PESA wallet.
