How to Open a Fully Working PayPal Account in Nigeria (2026 Guide)

Step 1: Account Creation and Activation

• Visit a non-Nigerian PayPal homepage outside the US. (This Monaco homepage once worked.)
• Translate the page from French using the automatic pop-up that appears if you can’t read the language.
• Next, click on the “Sign Up” button shown below. (The interface might be different now)

• On the page that opens up, select “Business Account” or “Company” in the new interface and click on the “Continue” button shown below.

• On the next page, fill in your first name, surname, a phone number, a valid email not already associated with another PayPal account, and a desired password.
• In the phone number section, select “+234” as the phone code with the Nigerian flag.
• Then, tick the checkbox saying “You read and agree to the User Agreement and Privacy Statement”.
• Finally, click on the Agree and Create Account” button at the bottom of the page.

Step 2: Confirm Your Email and Complete Registration

• Click on the link sent to your provided email in the previous section.
• You may see the email confirmation button written in French, like “Confirmer votre adresse email”. Go ahead and click on it.
• On the next page that says “Your email has been confirmed”, click on the “Continue” button.
• Next, click on the “Let’s Go!” button to complete your registration.
• If you confirmed your email using a different browser, you will be required to log in with your email and your previously chosen password.
• Next, click on the “Complete your profile” link.

• Next, fill in the account type that best describes your business. Preferably, select “Business” and choose “Private Corporation” as your business type, as shown below.
• Then click the “Next” button.

• In the next step, fill in your name as your legal business name. Your name should match your ID document.
• Next, tick the “Use your legal name” checkbox to use your legal name above as your business/trading name, unless you want to use a different name for your PayPal business account.
• Skip the business registration number section if your business is not yet registered with the CAC; otherwise, enter the details in the next input field.

• Next, select “US Dollar” as your primary currency. (shown below)
• Select the service option that best matches what you plan to use your account for. For example, select “Miscellaneous Publishing and Printing”, “Digital Goods”, or Miscellaneous Personal Services” options if you are a freelancer, as may be relevant to your services.
• Next, if you have a business website, select “Yes” and enter your website in the form field; otherwise, select “No”.

• In the form field above, enter your valid phone number starting with +234 and without the first zero.
• Then, enter your business or current residential address, postal code, and other relevant fields, and click the “Next” button below.

• In the next session (shown below), enter your date of birth and select Nigeria as your nationality. Ensure the date of birth matches the details in your valid identity document.
• Next, type in your residential address or tick the checkbox beside “Same as registered business address”, especially if you don’t have a dedicated business address.
• Finally, click on the “Next” button to complete your registration.

That’s all! You now have a fully functional PayPal account for sending and receiving money. The next step will be to set it up to withdraw money to your local account.

PayPal may ask you to verify some tax information about your business. Answer all tax questions truthfully, as applicable, and proceed. If any identity documents are required, submit them as applicable.

Lastly, go to Account Settings>Account Preferences and update your preferred language from Français to English.

How To Withdraw From a Business PayPal Account

Withdrawing from a business PayPal account does not require any linkage with Paga. What you need is a US bank account provider that is accepted by PayPal, or an acceptable USD debit/credit card.

The best and working US bank account provider that works with PayPal is Cleva. And below are the steps:

Step 1: Creating Your Cleva Account

• Create a Cleva account by visiting this link using a mobile or desktop browser.
• Fill in your registration details as appropriate. Ensure the details correspond with your official identity document (NIN, Voters’ card, or International Passport).
• Then, confirm your registration by clicking on the link sent to your email.
• Next, upload any official document as may be required. NIN is okay if you have it.
• After submitting the required documents, it will take around 24 hours for your account to be verified.
• Once verified, you will get an email saying “your account has been verified.”
• Next, log in to your GetCleva account or download the app from the Play Store or App Store.
• After signing in, find the link to open a US bank account in one click. Proceed to create your US account.
• You also have the option to create a US Dollar Mastercard you can use for other transactions

How to Receive Money Through PayPal in Nigeria

To receive money through PayPal in Nigeria, give the sender the email address or mobile number connected to your account. According to PayPal’s official receiving instructions, new Nigerian customers must link their accounts to a licensed local partner before they can receive money.

To receive money through PayPal in Nigeria, you can provide your PayPal email to the sender, who will send money to it from their PayPal account. You can also use the newly introduced PayPal @ tag. Once you set it up, you will have a tag, for example, @knowseeker.

After the money has entered the PayPal account, you can then withdraw using any of the withdrawal methods above. Using the Paga app, you can view your PayPal balance and withdraw into your Paga wallet.

Here is something you may find interesting. If you do not have a PayPal account, PayPal also makes it possible to send and receive PayPal payments without an account, especially in situations where opening a new account or using PayPal directly may be difficult.

Note that you cannot receive money into your PayPal account from bank wire, card transfer, or other transfer services in Nigeria.

How to Withdraw Money From PayPal in Nigeria

Withdrawing money from PayPal is easy and straightforward. But the procedure is slightly different for Paga and Business PayPal methods.

Withdrawing from Paga

• Ensure your PayPal is connected to Paga using the Paga app
• Tap on the currency selection at the top right corner of the app, and select PayPal
• Select the PayPal balance
• Enter the amount to withdraw
• Review the exchange rate and charges
• Confirm the transaction
• Then, transfer the resulting Naira balance to a Nigerian bank for withdrawal

Paga charges $3 + 3% of the withdrawal fee when transferring from PayPal.

Transfer from Paga Naira account to your linked local Naira account is free for the first 10 transactions per month. From the 11th transaction onward, applicable fees are charged.

Withdrawing Through Cleva

• Log in to your PayPal account via the app or web
• Click on Transfer under your balance
• Enter the desired amount to withdraw (for decimal points, use a comma instead of a full stop–e.g., $10,45 instead of $10.45
• Then wait for the transfer to arrive in your Cleva account. This takes 1-3 business days (usually within a day)
• The above transaction is usually free, but Cleva now charges a flat $2 fee from the amount withdrawn
• Once it arrives, they will notify you
• Log in to your Cleva app and click on Transfer
• Enter your own bank details
• Enter the amount to transfer while reviewing the exchange rate
• Click on Continue
• The transfer is free and arrives within seconds (but the bank may charge stamp duty).

How to Avoid PayPal Account Limitations

To avoid PayPal from limiting your account, follow the following tips:

1. Use your real country and address
2. Use your correct phone number and email
3. Avoid using the same phone number for multiple accounts
4. Do not use a VPN during registration or usage
5. Use your legal names and personal details
6. Respond honestly to tax and identity verifications
7. Use your account for legitimate businesses only (know the source of the money)
8. Avoid buying a pre-created PayPal account

Alternatives to PayPal in Nigeria

Common alternative ways to receive money from your international clients include the following:

1. Payoneer
2. Grey
3. ChipperCash
4. Geegpay
5. Cleva
6. Crypto transfer
7. Raenest
8. Bank transfer via SWIFT/BIC to a domiciliary account
9. Western Union

The major limitation to these is that some of these platforms are not widely adopted internationally yet.

With the above methods, you can create a fully functional PayPal account within minutes. The personal PayPal account + Paga integration was personally completed by me in September 2026. However, PayPal may change the appearance or order of the registration screens over time.