Can PayPal be used internationally?
Sending money overseas used to mean long bank forms and even longer waits. These days there are dozens of ways to do it, and if PayPal is already the app on your phone, it's natural to wonder whether you can just use that instead of signing up for something new.
The short answer to “Can PayPal be used internationally?” is: it depends on where you and the recipient live. PayPal isn't a single, uniform service everywhere. What you're allowed to do with your account changes depending on your country, so it's worth understanding the fees, exchange rates, and quirks before you rely on it for a cross-border payment.
Can you PayPal internationally?
PayPal operates in 200 markets worldwide1, but "operates in" doesn't mean "offers everything." In some countries you can send money but not receive it. In others, you can receive funds but can't withdraw them to a local bank. A handful of markets only support personal accounts, not business ones.
Basically, if you're asking "can PayPal do international transactions," the honest answer is "yes, with caveats that depend on your location." PayPal keeps an official country availability page that spells out exactly what's supported where, and it's worth a quick check before you count on it for a payment.
Which countries support PayPal?
Do you have questions like “Can I do international transactions with PayPal?” Well, PayPal is present across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and beyond. But availability isn't uniform, and it's shaped by things like local banking regulations, sanctions, and compliance rules that vary country to country.
Some countries face trade restrictions or regulatory hurdles that block PayPal entirely, or limit it to certain functions. A country might let you send payments out but not receive them, or restrict withdrawals to a local bank account.
Here's a snapshot of how this plays out in a few countries:
| Country | Send | Receive | Withdraw |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Canada | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Philippines | Yes | Yes | Yes |
These rules shift over time as regulations and local partnerships change, so it's worth checking PayPal's official country list rather than assuming last year's setup still applies.
How to send money internationally with PayPal?
The process itself isn't complicated, but keep in mind both you and the person you're paying typically need PayPal accounts for this to work.
Make sure you've got a funding source ready - your PayPal balance, a linked bank account, or a card.
You'll need their email address or the mobile number tied to their PayPal account. Double-check it, because a mistyped email is the easiest way to send money to a stranger.
If the payment involves converting currencies, PayPal will show you the exchange rate and the converted total before you commit to anything.
PayPal breaks down any transfer fees or conversion charges in the transaction summary. Read this before you hit send, not after.
Check the recipient, the amount, and the currency one last time. Once it's sent, the recipient can access it depending on what their account and country allow.
The recipient generally gets the money straight into their PayPal balance, though the amount that lands may be a bit different from what you typed in, thanks to fees and exchange rates.
Does PayPal charge international fees?
A few things that typically factor into the cost:
- A sending fee, which PayPal may apply on top of the transfer itself.
- A currency conversion markup, if you're sending in a currency different from your own.
- Miscellaneous charges tied to your account type or payment method.
As a rule of thumb, sending money abroad through PayPal tends to cost more than a domestic transfer, simply because there's more processing and currency exchange involved. Always check the summary screen before confirming, it'll show you the real total, fees included.
Is PayPal good for international transactions?
It depends on what you need. PayPal is convenient if you already have an account and just need to send a smaller amount without much hassle. For people who send money internationally on a regular basis, though, it's not always the cheapest route.
- Works in a huge number of countries
- Simple, familiar interface
- Payments usually go through fast
- Well-established, trusted brand
- International fees add up
- Exchange rates aren't always the best
- What you can do varies by country
- The recipient needs a PayPal account too
If you're sending money occasionally, the convenience probably outweighs the extra cost. If you're doing this every month, it's worth comparing PayPal's fees against a service built specifically for international transfers.
PayPal vs international money transfer services
Services designed specifically for cross-border payments, rather than general-purpose platforms like PayPal, often give recipients more ways to actually get their money, including direct bank deposits, cash pickup locations, and mobile wallets.
Here's a comparison of how PayPal stacks up against BOSS Money for a few common transfer scenarios:
The exact numbers move with the exchange rate on any given day and the payout method you pick, so it's worth pricing out both options before sending anything sizable.
| Destination | Provider | Current base rate ($1 USD) | For $100 USD transfer | Hidden markups & transfer fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico (MXN) | BOSS Money | 17.69 MXN | 1769 MXN | $0 fee promo (first 5 transfers); near mid-market rate |
| Mexico (MXN) | PayPal | 16.83 MXN2 | 1683 MXN | 4.0% retail exchange markup + cross-border flat fees |
| Philippines (PHP) | BOSS Money | 63 PHP | 6300 PHP | $0 fee promo; minimal daily rate spread |
| Philippines (PHP) | PayPal | 59.69 PHP2 | 5969 PHP | 4.0% embedded currency conversion markup |
International money transfers with BOSS Money
BOSS Money is built around cross-border payments specifically, which shows in the options it gives recipients:
money goes straight into a recipient's account, where that's supported.
the recipient collects cash in person at a supported location.
available in select countries as another way to receive funds.
you can see exactly what the recipient will get before you send anything.
If sending money abroad is a regular thing for you, knowing the full cost and the payout options ahead of time makes it a lot easier to pick the right service for the job.
Final thoughts
Can you do international transactions with PayPal? Yes, but how well it works for you depends on your country, the fees involved, and what currency you're dealing with.
PayPal is a solid, convenient option for many people sending money abroad, but it's worth weighing the costs and exchange rates against services built specifically for international transfers, especially if you're doing this more than once in a while.
Sources: all third party information obtained from applicable website as of July 16, 2026
- https://www.paypal.com/c2/webapps/mpp/country-worldwide?locale.x=en_C2
- https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/where-can-i-find-paypals-currency-calculator-and-exchange-rates-help109
This article is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to address every aspect of the matters discussed herein. The information in this article is not intended as specific personal advice. The information in this article does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory or other professional advice from IDT Payment Services, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “IDT”), and should not be taken or used as such by any individual. IDT makes no representation, warranty or guaranty, whether express or implied, that the content in this article is current, accurate, or complete. You should obtain professional or other substantive advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information in this article.
