With over 426 million active users worldwide, PayPal, the digital payment giant, isn’t fully functional in Nepal. This can be frustrating for those who want to participate in the world of online transactions, especially when it comes to freelancing, e-commerce, or simply sending money to friends and family abroad.
The Good News: Sending Money is Possible!
While you can’t receive money via PayPal in Nepal (yet!), there’s a workaround to send payments:
- Get an International VISA Debit Card: Most Nepali commercial banks offer international VISA debit cards. If you don’t have one, it’s easy to apply for one at your bank.
- Link Your Card to PayPal: Create a PayPal account (if you don’t have one already) and link your Nepali VISA debit card to it. This usually involves a quick verification process.
- Start Sending Payments: Now you can use your PayPal account to make purchases online or send money to other PayPal users worldwide.
Receiving Money is Still Off-Limits
The major drawback is that you can’t receive payments into your PayPal account in Nepal. This limitation is imposed by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) policy, which prohibits money transactions in foreign currency.
What’s the Future Hold?
The good news is that the situation is constantly evolving. There’s a growing demand for PayPal and similar services in Nepal, and both the government and financial institutions are exploring ways to expand digital payment options.
Keep an eye on the news and official PayPal announcements for any updates regarding full PayPal functionality in Nepal.
