What verification means and why PayPal requires it
Account verification is PayPal's way of confirming you are who you say you are and that you own the bank account or card linked to your account. An unverified account can send money, but it cannot receive payments, withdraw funds, or use certain features. PayPal requires verification before you can do anything that moves money into your account.
Verification happens in stages. The first stage is email confirmation—PayPal sends a link to the email address you provided, and you click it. The second stage is identity verification, where PayPal asks for your name, address, and date of birth to match public records. The third stage, required only for certain activities, is bank or card verification, where PayPal confirms you own the financial account you linked.
Most people complete email and identity verification in minutes. Bank verification can take one to three business days because PayPal deposits two small amounts into your account and asks you to report the exact numbers back to them.
Key Takeaways
- Email verification happens when ready when you click the link PayPal sends; identity verification uses your name, address, and birth date against public records and usually completes within minutes.
- Bank or card verification requires you to confirm two small deposits PayPal makes to your account, which takes one to three business days and is only required if you plan to withdraw money.
- You can check your verification status in the Settings menu under Account, where each stage shows as complete, pending, or not started.
- If verification fails, PayPal will tell you why—usually a mismatch between what you entered and public records—and you can correct the information and try again.
Email verification: the first step
When you create a PayPal account, PayPal sends a confirmation email to the address you provided. Open that email and click the Confirm Your Email button or link. This step takes seconds and must happen before you can do anything else with your account.
If you do not see the email within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder. PayPal emails often land there. If it is not there, go to your PayPal account, click Settings (the gear icon), then Account, then Email Addresses. You can ask PayPal to resend the confirmation email from that page.
Once you click the confirmation link, your email is verified. You will see a checkmark next to your email address in the Settings menu.
Identity verification: confirming your name and address
After email verification, PayPal asks for your legal name, date of birth, and address. PayPal checks this information against public records—driver's license databases, credit bureaus, and address verification services. This usually takes a few minutes, though it can take up to 24 hours.
To start identity verification, go to Settings > Account > Personal Information. Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your government ID. Enter your date of birth in the format PayPal shows. Enter your current address. Make sure the address matches what is on file with your bank or credit card company, because PayPal cross-checks against those records.
If PayPal cannot verify your information when ready, it will tell you why. Common reasons are a mismatch between what you entered and what is in public records, a name that is spelled differently across databases, or an address that is too new to appear in verification systems yet. If this happens, double-check your spelling and address, then try again. If the problem persists, PayPal may ask you to upload a photo of your government ID.
Bank or card verification: confirming you own your funding source
If you want to withdraw money from PayPal to your bank account, or if you plan to receive payments regularly, PayPal will ask you to verify the bank account or card you linked. This is the longest step because it requires you to confirm two small deposits.
Here is how it works: PayPal deposits two amounts—usually between one cent and one dollar each—into your bank account. These deposits appear in your bank statement within one to three business days. Once you see them, go to Settings > Account > Bank Accounts (or Cards), click the account you want to verify, and enter the exact amounts of those two deposits. PayPal confirms the match and marks your account as verified.
If you do not see the deposits after three business days, check that you entered your bank account number correctly when you linked it. If the number is wrong, delete that account from PayPal and add it again with the correct number. You can also contact your bank to confirm the deposits went through—sometimes they are labeled as "PayPal" or "PYPL" on your statement.
What to do if verification fails or gets stuck
If PayPal rejects your identity information, you will see a message explaining why. The most common reason is that your name or address does not match what is in public records. This can happen if you recently moved, changed your name, or if your information is spelled differently in different databases.
If this happens, update your information in PayPal to match exactly what appears on your government ID or recent utility bill. Then try verification again. If it fails a second time, PayPal may ask you to upload a photo of your ID. Take a clear photo of the front of your driver's license or passport, making sure all text is readable. Upload it through the link PayPal provides. A person will review it within a few business days.
If your bank deposits do not arrive, wait the full three business days before assuming something went wrong. If three days have passed and you still do not see them, contact PayPal support through the Help Center. Have your bank account number and the date you linked it ready. PayPal can resend the deposits or verify your account another way.
Checking your verification status
You can see which verification steps are complete at any time. Go to Settings (gear icon) > Account. Look for the section labeled Account Status or Verification. You will see checkmarks next to steps you have completed and a status message for steps that are pending or not yet started.
If a step shows as incomplete, click on it to see what you need to do next. PayPal will either ask you to provide more information, upload a document, or wait for a process to finish (like the bank deposits arriving).
What you can and cannot do at each verification stage
| Verification Stage | What You Can Do | What You Cannot Do |
|---|---|---|
| Email confirmed only | Send money to other PayPal users; link a bank account or card | Receive payments; withdraw money; use certain seller features |
| Email + Identity verified | Receive payments up to certain limits; send money; link funding sources | Withdraw large amounts; use full seller features; remove withdrawal limits |
| Email + Identity + Bank verified | Withdraw money without limits; receive unlimited payments; use all seller features | None (full account access) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the whole verification process take?
Email verification is when ready. Identity verification usually takes a few minutes to a few hours. Bank verification takes one to three business days because you have to wait for the deposits to appear in your account. In total, most people are fully verified within a week, though you can send and receive money before bank verification is complete.
Can I use my PayPal account before verification is done?
Yes. You can send money to other PayPal users and link a bank account or card as soon as your email is confirmed. You can receive payments once your identity is verified. You only need bank verification if you want to withdraw money to your bank account.
What if I do not have a government ID to upload?
PayPal accepts driver's licenses, passports, and state ID cards. If you do not have any of these, contact PayPal support through the Help Center. They can sometimes verify your account using other documents, like a utility bill or lease agreement, though this takes longer.
Do I have to verify my account to use PayPal?
You must verify your email to create an account. You must verify your identity to receive payments. You only need to verify your bank account if you plan to withdraw money. If you only want to send money from a linked card, you do not need full verification.
What happens if I enter the wrong deposit amounts when verifying my bank?
PayPal will tell you the amounts do not match and ask you to try again. You have multiple attempts. If you enter the wrong amounts too many times, PayPal will ask you to wait 24 hours before trying again, or it may ask you to verify using a different method.