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PayPal is a popular payment service that allows you to send and receive money online. It's widely used in the United States, and many people wonder if it can be used to send money to Canada.
PayPal does support transactions from the USA to Canada, but there are some things to keep in mind. In general, PayPal transactions from the USA to Canada can take 2-4 business days to process.
To use PayPal for transactions between the USA and Canada, you'll need to have a PayPal account that's linked to a US bank account or a credit card. This will allow you to send money to a recipient in Canada.
Cross-Border Payments
You can send money from the US to Canada using PayPal, but be aware that there are some transfer costs involved.
To initiate a transfer, you'll need to follow a few steps, which can be found in the PayPal help section.
If you're looking for cheaper alternatives, you can explore other options, such as setting up a home delivery of cash, making a direct bank deposit, or having your recipient pick up the money from a participating location.
PayPal offers a few different transfer options, including cash delivery, direct bank deposit, and pickup from a participating location. However, not all options are available in all countries and currencies.
To send money internationally with PayPal, you'll need to sign in to your account, click Send and Request or Send Money, enter your recipient's email address or name, specify the amount, and choose your payment method.
PayPal has transfer limits in place, which vary depending on your country and currency. If your account is verified, you can send up to $60,000 in one transfer, but PayPal may reduce this amount under certain circumstances.
Fees and Charges
If you're planning to make a transaction from the USA to Canada using PayPal, it's essential to know about the fees involved. PayPal will charge domestic plus international transaction fees.
These fees are 5.00% for payments made from a PayPal or bank account balance, and also 5.00% for payments made using a debit or credit card.
Foreign Transaction Fees
Foreign transaction fees can be a surprise when sending money abroad. If you're sending money to someone in a different currency, you won't pay any fixed transaction fees over and above the exchange rate margin.
However, if you're sending money from the US to Canada, you'll be subject to a CAD 0.30 fixed fee in addition to the 4.4% exchange rate margin for transfers. This fee is in addition to the exchange rate margin, which can add up quickly.
It's worth noting that this fee only applies to transfers from the US to Canada, and not to other international transfers.
Fees
Fees can be a real pain when sending money internationally, but understanding them can help you avoid any surprises. PayPal charges a 5% transaction fee when sending money to a PayPal account.
You'll also pay a fixed fee of CAD 0.30 when sending money from the US to a business or non-profit in Canada. The exchange rate margin for these payments is 4.4% for transfers from the US to Canada.
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If you're using a credit card, debit card, or PayPal credit to fund your transfer, an additional fee of 2.9% applies. A fixed price determined by the currency used will also apply.
PayPal also charges a 4.5% fixed fee if you need to convert currencies before sending the money. The currency conversion fee is 4%, but slightly lower if the conversion is to US or Canadian dollars (3.5%).
Here's a breakdown of the fees you can expect to pay:
Domestic plus international transaction fees will apply if you're using PayPal to shop internationally. The fee is 5.00% for PayPal or bank account balance payments, and 5.00% for debit or credit card payments.
Exchange Rates
Sending money from the US to Canada with PayPal can be a costly affair, especially when it comes to exchange rates.
PayPal's exchange rate margin is a whopping 3.35% above the mid-market rate, which means that for every USD 1,000 you transfer, you'll only get around USD 966.50 in Canadian dollars.
This is because PayPal takes the mid-market exchange rate and adds their markup, also known as a currency conversion spread, which is usually set at 4.00% added onto the wholesale exchange rate.
To put this into perspective, if you were to transfer USD 1,000 to Canada, PayPal's fees would amount to around USD 33.50, leaving you with a total of USD 966.50 in Canadian dollars.
Here's a rough breakdown of what you can expect to pay in fees:
Keep in mind that these fees can add up quickly, making PayPal one of the most expensive ways to transfer money from the US to Canada.
It's worth noting that bank exchange rates usually include a similar markup, which can make it hard to know what you're really paying for your transfer.
Alternatives and Options
If you're looking for alternatives to PayPal for transferring money from the US to Canada, you have several options. The cheapest provider is actually PayPal, but that's not always a good thing, as you'll see.
For example, making a bank transfer from the US to Canada with Wise can save you around CAD 40 per USD 1,000 compared to PayPal. That's a significant difference, especially for larger transfers.
If you do decide to use PayPal, you have a few options for sending money abroad, including setting up a home delivery of cash or making a direct bank deposit. You can also have your recipient pick up the money from a participating location.
Some of these services are delivered through Xoom, a PayPal subsidiary specializing in certain types of payments and transfers. However, not all transfer options are available in all countries and currencies.
Here are the cheapest money transfer apps on Monito from the US to Canada in 2022:
- CurrencyFair (cheapest on 40% of searches)
- Wise (cheapest on 22%)
- OFX (cheapest on 3% - especially for big transfers over USD 50,000)
International Money Transfer
International money transfers from the US to Canada using PayPal can be a bit complex, but don't worry, I've got you covered.
To start, you need to sign in to your PayPal account, then click Send and Request or Send Money, both usually available on your account dashboard.
You can transfer up to $60,000 in one go if your PayPal account is verified, although PayPal may reduce it to $10,000 under certain circumstances.
If you want to make an international transfer with PayPal, you'll need to follow these steps, which are outlined in our handy guide on PayPal's currency conversion rates.
You can choose from a few different options when sending money abroad with PayPal, including setting up a home delivery of cash, making a direct bank deposit, or having your recipient pick up the money from a participating location.
Some of these services are delivered through Xoom, which is a PayPal subsidiary specializing in certain types of payments and transfers.
Here are the available transfer options:
Not all transfer options are available in all countries and currencies, so be sure to check the specifics before you start the transfer process.
Also, keep in mind that the recipient will need a PayPal account to access the money if you send it to their PayPal wallet, but they won't need one if you choose a different transfer option.
Work and Travel Abroad
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If you're planning to work and travel abroad, you'll be happy to know that PayPal can be a useful tool for sending money internationally. PayPal operates in over 200 countries, enabling individuals to perform cross-border transactions virtually anywhere.
When sending money from the US to Canada, you'll need to be aware of the fees and charges you'll encounter. If you and the recipient have PayPal accounts, the transfer occurs through PayPal, making it a relatively smooth process.
However, if the recipient lacks a PayPal account, you'd potentially have to send the money through Xoom, a PayPal subsidiary, to the recipient's personal bank account, subject to their country's regulations.
Work Internationally?
PayPal can be a useful tool for sending money internationally, especially from the US, but be aware of the fees and charges involved.
PayPal operates in over 200 countries, allowing individuals to perform cross-border transactions almost anywhere.
If you and the recipient have PayPal accounts, the transfer occurs directly through PayPal.
However, if the recipient lacks a PayPal account, you might need to send the money through Xoom, a PayPal subsidiary, to their personal bank account, subject to their country's regulations.
US to Canada Travel Guide
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When traveling from the US to Canada, it's essential to know how to send money between the two countries conveniently. Sending money from the US to Canada with PayPal is a convenient option, but it can be expensive.
You can log in to your PayPal account and make a transfer to any Canadian PayPal user whose balance is in Canadian dollars. To do this, click the 'Send & Request' button, enter your recipient's email address or mobile number, and specify the 'Sending to a friend' option.
To send money using PayPal, you'll need to enter the amount you'd like to send and choose CAD. You'll also have the option to pay by credit card or using your PayPal balance, but keep in mind that using your PayPal balance will subject your transaction to PayPal's exchange rate fees.
You can choose to pay at either PayPal's or your card issuer's exchange rates if you pay by credit card. This can be a significant consideration when sending money across borders.
Here are the steps to send money from the US to Canada with PayPal:
- Log in to your PayPal wallet;
- Click the 'Send & Request' button;
- Enter your recipient's email address, username, or mobile number;
- Specify the 'Sending to a friend' option;
- Enter the amount you'd like to send and choose CAD;
- Click 'Send Money Now'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PayPal charge a fee from US to Canada?
No, PayPal does not charge a fee for converting US dollars to Canadian dollars. However, a 3.5% currency conversion fee applies, which you can see in more detail in our fee table.
Can I use PayPal to pay in Canada?
Yes, you can use PayPal in Canada for domestic transfers and payments without any fees. However, fees may apply for certain transactions, such as international payments.
Sources
- https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Transactions/A-Canadian-receiving-payment-from-an-American-wondering-how-this/td-p/3106093
- https://www.monito.com/en/wiki/paypal-money-transfer-us-canada
- https://wise.com/us/blog/paypal-international-money-transfer
- https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/what-are-the-cross-border-fees-when-selling-internationally-help550
- https://www.bossrevolution.com/en-us/blog/international-money-transfers-with-paypal
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