Yes, you can send money from PayPal to Nigeria, but it goes through a money transfer service, not directly to the bank

PayPal itself does not transfer funds directly into Nigerian bank accounts. Instead, PayPal partners with money transfer services—primarily Wise (formerly TransferWise) and a few others—to move your money out of PayPal and into a Nigerian bank. The process is straightforward: you initiate the transfer from your PayPal account, choose the recipient's Nigerian bank details, and the money arrives in their account within one to three business days.

The catch is that not every Nigerian bank works with every transfer service. The major banks—GTBank, Access Bank, First Bank, UBA, and Zenith Bank—are supported by most services, but smaller regional banks may not be. You will need the recipient's account number, bank name, and sometimes a Bank Verification Number (BVN) to complete the transfer.

Exchange rates and fees vary by service. PayPal's own rate is typically higher than what you would get through Wise or other standalone transfer services, so if you are sending a large amount, it may be worth withdrawing from PayPal to your own bank account first, then using a dedicated transfer service instead.

Key Takeaways

  • PayPal transfers to Nigeria use third-party money transfer services, not direct bank-to-bank routing, and typically take one to three business days.
  • The recipient needs a Nigerian bank account with a major bank (GTBank, Access Bank, First Bank, UBA, or Zenith are most common) and their account number and bank name.
  • Exchange rates and fees are higher through PayPal than through standalone services like Wise, so large transfers may be cheaper if you withdraw to your own bank first.
  • You must have a verified PayPal account with a linked payment method (debit card, credit card, or bank account) to send money out.

What you need from the recipient before you start

The person receiving the money in Nigeria needs to provide you with their full bank account details. This includes their account number (usually 10 digits), the name of their bank, and ideally their BVN (Bank Verification Number, a 11-digit national ID). Some transfer services ask for the recipient's full name as it appears on the bank account, which must match exactly.

If the recipient is unsure of their BVN, they can find it by logging into their mobile banking app or calling their bank's customer service line. Having it ready speeds up the transfer and reduces the chance of the money being rejected or delayed.

Do not rely on the recipient to guess their account number or bank name. A single digit wrong, or the wrong bank selected from a dropdown, will cause the transfer to fail or be sent to the wrong account. Ask them to send you a screenshot of their bank app showing their account details, or ask them to call their bank and confirm the information themselves.

Step-by-step: sending money through PayPal

Log into your PayPal account on the web or mobile app. Go to the "Send Money" or "Transfer" section—the exact label depends on your app version. Select "Send money to friends and family" or "Send an international transfer," depending on what PayPal offers in your region.

Enter the recipient's email address or phone number if you have it linked to their PayPal account. If they do not have a PayPal account, select the option to send to a bank account instead. You will then enter their Nigerian bank details: account number, bank name, and full name.

Enter the amount you want to send in your home currency (USD, GBP, EUR, etc.). PayPal will show you the exchange rate and the fee before you confirm. Review both carefully—the fee is usually a flat amount plus a percentage, and the exchange rate is typically 1 to 3 percent higher than the mid-market rate. Once you confirm, the money leaves your PayPal account immediately, but it may take one to three business days to appear in the Nigerian bank account.

Keep the transaction reference number that PayPal provides. If the transfer is delayed or the recipient does not receive the money, you will need this number to contact PayPal support.

Fees, exchange rates, and how long it actually takes

PayPal charges a flat fee (usually $1 to $5 depending on the amount) plus a percentage of the transfer (typically 2 to 3 percent). On top of that, the exchange rate PayPal offers is not the real mid-market rate—it is marked up by 1 to 3 percent in PayPal's favor. For a $100 transfer, you might pay $3 to $5 in fees plus lose another $1 to $3 on the exchange rate.

The money usually arrives in the Nigerian bank account within one to three business days. "Business days" means Monday through Friday, excluding Nigerian and US holidays. If you send money on a Friday evening, it may not arrive until Wednesday or Thursday of the following week.

If the transfer is rejected—usually because the account number is wrong or the bank does not support the transfer service—PayPal will refund the money to your account within 5 to 10 business days. The recipient will not receive anything, and you will have to try again with corrected details.

When PayPal transfer fails or the money does not arrive

The most common reason a transfer fails is an incorrect account number or a mismatch between the recipient's name on file and the name you entered. If PayPal rejects the transfer, you will see an error message immediately or within a few hours. The money will be returned to your PayPal balance automatically.

If the money leaves your PayPal account but does not arrive in the Nigerian bank after five business days, contact PayPal support with your transaction reference number. They can check whether the money reached the transfer service and where it is stuck. In rare cases, the money may have been sent to the wrong bank or account; PayPal can sometimes recover it, but this process takes weeks.

To avoid problems, always ask the recipient to confirm their account details in writing before you send. Have them provide a screenshot from their banking app or a bank statement showing their account number and bank name. This takes two minutes and prevents costly mistakes.

Alternatives if PayPal fees are too high

If you are sending more than $200, you may save money by withdrawing from PayPal to your own bank account first, then using a dedicated money transfer service. Wise, OFX, and MoneyGram all offer lower exchange rates and sometimes lower fees than PayPal, especially for larger amounts.

Wise is the most popular option for Nigeria transfers. You create a free account, link your bank account or debit card, and send money to the recipient's Nigerian bank account. Wise's exchange rate is the real mid-market rate with no markup, and fees are transparent and usually lower than PayPal's. Transfers typically take one to two business days.

The trade-off is that these services require you to have your own bank account in your home country and to go through a separate verification process. If you already have a PayPal balance and do not want to link another bank account, PayPal is faster, even if it costs more.

What happens if the recipient's bank account is closed or frozen

If you send money to a Nigerian bank account that has been closed, the transfer will usually be rejected within one to three business days. The bank will return the money to the transfer service, which will refund it to your PayPal account. You will see the refund appear as a credit within 5 to 10 business days.

If the account is frozen or restricted by the bank (for example, due to suspected fraud or non-compliance with banking rules), the transfer may be held by the bank for investigation. In this case, the money does not come back to you automatically. You and the recipient will need to contact the Nigerian bank to find out why the account is frozen and whether the transfer can be released. This process can take weeks.

To avoid this, ask the recipient to confirm their account is active and in good standing before you send. If they have not used the account recently, they should log in or call their bank to make sure it is still open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a PayPal account in Nigeria to send money there?

No. You only need a verified PayPal account in your own country with a linked payment method (debit card, credit card, or bank account). The recipient does not need a PayPal account at all—the money goes directly to their Nigerian bank account.

What is the difference between sending to a PayPal account and sending to a bank account?

If the recipient has a PayPal account, the money arrives within minutes and there are no bank transfer fees. If they only have a bank account, PayPal uses a money transfer service, which takes one to three days and charges a higher fee. Bank transfers are also subject to exchange rate markup.

Can I send money to a Nigerian account if I do not know the BVN?

Yes, most transfers go through with just the account number and bank name. However, some banks or transfer services may ask for the BVN to verify the account. If you do not have it, ask the recipient to provide it or try the transfer without it first—if it fails, you can ask for the BVN and try again.

What if I send money to the wrong account by mistake?

If you realize the mistake before the transfer is processed (usually within a few hours), contact PayPal support immediately and ask them to cancel it. If the money has already been sent, you will need to contact the Nigerian bank and ask them to reverse the transfer. This is difficult and may not be possible if the recipient has already withdrawn the money. Always double-check the account details before confirming.

Is it safe to send money through PayPal to Nigeria?

PayPal transfers are encrypted and secure on your end. However, once the money reaches the Nigerian bank, it is subject to that bank's security practices. Use only major banks (GTBank, Access Bank, First Bank, UBA, Zenith) and always verify the recipient's account details before sending. Do not send money to accounts you cannot verify or to people you do not trust.