Yes, you can link an international bank account to PayPal, but the process and what you can do with it depends on which country your bank is in and where your PayPal account is registered

PayPal accepts bank accounts from over 200 countries and territories, but the connection works differently depending on whether your bank is in the same country as your PayPal account or not. If your PayPal account is registered in the United States but your bank account is in Canada, the UK, or another country, you can still link it—but you may face limits on what transactions you can perform, and the verification process takes longer. If both your PayPal account and bank account are in the same country outside the US, the process is usually straightforward.

The real constraint is not whether the account is international, but whether PayPal's system recognizes your bank's routing information. Some banks provide this information readily; others do not. And some countries' banking systems do not integrate with PayPal's verification tools at all, which means you may not be able to link the account directly no matter what you do.

Key Takeaways

  • PayPal can link bank accounts from most countries, but the process is slower and verification may fail if your bank does not provide routing data to PayPal's system.
  • If your PayPal account and bank account are in different countries, you will likely face withdrawal limits and may not be able to transfer money out for weeks or months.
  • Some countries' banks do not work with PayPal at all; in those cases, you may need to use a local payment method like a debit card or a third-party money transfer service instead.
  • Verification usually requires PayPal to deposit small test amounts into your account and you to confirm the exact deposit amounts back to PayPal, a process that can take 5 to 10 business days.
  • Once linked, an international bank account may only receive transfers, not send them, depending on your account type and country regulations.

How to link an international bank account step by step

Log into your PayPal account and go to Wallet (or Settings on mobile), then select Link a bank account. PayPal will ask you to enter your bank's name, your account number, and your routing number or SWIFT code. For international accounts, you will almost always need the SWIFT code rather than a routing number—this is the international equivalent and identifies your specific bank branch.

If you do not know your SWIFT code, contact your bank directly or look it up on your bank's website. Do not guess or use a code you find online without confirming it with your bank, because an incorrect code will cause the verification to fail and you will have to start over.

After you submit this information, PayPal will attempt to verify the account. For accounts in the same country as your PayPal registration, this can happen when ready. For cross-border accounts, PayPal usually sends two small deposits (typically under $1 each) to your bank account. You will need to check your bank statement, find the exact amounts of these deposits, and enter them back into PayPal within 30 days. Once PayPal confirms the amounts match, your account is linked.

Why verification fails and what to do about it

The most common reason verification fails is that PayPal cannot reach your bank's system to confirm the account exists. This happens when your bank does not participate in PayPal's verification network or when your country's banking infrastructure does not support the connection. You will see an error message like "We were unable to verify your bank account" or "This bank is not supported."

If this happens, contact your bank and ask whether they support PayPal transfers or international ACH (Automated Clearing House) payments. Some banks require you to enable international transfers in your account settings before PayPal can connect. Others straightforward do not work with PayPal and never will. If your bank falls into the second category, you will need to use an alternative: a debit card linked to the same account, a local payment method PayPal supports in your country, or a third-party money transfer service like Wise or OFX.

If your bank says they do support PayPal but verification still fails, ask them to check whether your account is flagged for international transactions. Some banks block outgoing transfers to US-based services by default for fraud prevention. Your bank can usually lift this restriction once you confirm you authorized the transfer.

What you can and cannot do with a linked international bank account

Once your international bank account is linked, what you can do with it depends on your PayPal account type and your country's regulations. If you have a Personal PayPal account, you can usually receive money from other PayPal users and withdraw it to your bank account. You cannot send money directly from your bank account to another PayPal user—you have to receive money first, hold it in PayPal, and then withdraw it.

If you have a Business PayPal account, you can both receive and send money, but only if your bank account and PayPal account are registered in the same country. If they are in different countries, you can receive money but you will face restrictions on withdrawals. Some countries' regulations prevent PayPal from allowing cross-border withdrawals to bank accounts, even if the account is linked.

Withdrawal timing also changes. A withdrawal to a domestic bank account (same country as your PayPal account) usually takes 1 to 3 business days. A withdrawal to an international bank account can take 5 to 10 business days or longer, depending on your bank's processing speed and whether there are currency conversions involved.

Currency conversion and fees for international transfers

If your bank account is in a different currency than your PayPal account, PayPal will convert the money before sending it. PayPal charges a currency conversion fee on top of the withdrawal fee. The conversion fee is not a fixed percentage—it varies based on the currency pair and market conditions, but it typically ranges from 2% to 4% of the amount you are withdrawing.

On top of the conversion fee, PayPal charges a withdrawal fee for bank transfers. This fee varies by country and account type. In some countries, the withdrawal fee is waived for the first withdrawal each month. In others, there is always a fee. Check your PayPal account settings under Fees to see what PayPal charges for your specific country and account type.

Your bank may also charge a fee to receive an international transfer. This is separate from PayPal's fee and depends entirely on your bank's policy. Contact your bank before you withdraw to ask whether they charge incoming international transfer fees and how much they are.

Countries where PayPal bank linking does not work

PayPal does not support direct bank account linking in every country. In some places, PayPal only accepts debit cards, credit cards, or local payment methods. In others, PayPal does not operate at all. If you are in a country where bank linking is not supported, you will see a message when you try to add a bank account, or the option will not appear in your menu at all.

Countries with limited or no bank linking support include parts of Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East, though this list changes as PayPal expands. If you are unsure whether your country is supported, go to PayPal's Service Status page and search for your country by name. This page lists exactly what payment methods PayPal accepts in each location.

If your country is not supported for bank linking, your options are to use a debit card instead, to transfer money to a PayPal account in a supported country first and then withdraw from there, or to use a money transfer service that operates in your country.

Holding period and withdrawal limits on new international accounts

When you first link an international bank account to PayPal, your account may be subject to a holding period before you can withdraw. This is a fraud prevention measure. PayPal may hold your money for 21 days or longer before allowing you to transfer it out, even after the account is verified. During this time, you can still receive money and hold it in PayPal, but you cannot move it to your bank.

PayPal also sets withdrawal limits on new accounts. You may be limited to withdrawing a certain amount per transaction or per month. These limits usually increase over time as your account history builds and PayPal gains confidence that your account is legitimate. If you hit a limit, you will see a message when you try to withdraw, and you will have to wait until the limit resets (usually monthly) to withdraw more.

If you need to withdraw a large amount and you hit a limit, contact PayPal Support and explain your situation. They sometimes raise limits for accounts with good standing, but they are not obligated to do so. There is no way to force a limit increase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link a bank account from a country where I do not live?

Yes, but PayPal will verify that the account belongs to you, and you will need to be able to access it to confirm the test deposits. If you have a bank account in your home country but you now live elsewhere, you can link it to a PayPal account registered in your current country, though you may face withdrawal limits and longer processing times.

What if PayPal sends test deposits but I do not see them in my bank account?

Wait at least 5 to 10 business days—international transfers are slow. If you still do not see them after two weeks, contact your bank and ask whether the transfers arrived and were held or rejected. If your bank rejected them, ask why. Then contact PayPal Support with your bank's explanation and ask them to try again or to use an alternative verification method.

Can I withdraw money from PayPal to an international bank account if my PayPal account is in a different country?

You can try, but PayPal may block the withdrawal or explore extra fees and longer processing times. Some countries' regulations prevent PayPal from sending money across borders to bank accounts. Check your PayPal account settings or contact PayPal Support to confirm whether cross-border withdrawals are allowed for your specific account and country combination.

What is the difference between a SWIFT code and a routing number?

A routing number is a nine-digit code used only in the United States to identify a specific bank branch. A SWIFT code is an international equivalent used everywhere else in the world. It is usually 8 to 11 characters long and includes letters and numbers. For international bank accounts, you will always need the SWIFT code, never a routing number.

How long does it take to link an international bank account?

If PayPal can verify your account when ready, it takes a few minutes. If PayPal needs to send test deposits, the process takes 5 to 10 business days for the deposits to arrive, plus a few minutes for you to confirm them. In total, expect 1 to 2 weeks from start to finish for an international account.