PayPal in Nepal (2026): Can You Use It, and What Freelancers Use Instead
Updated 28 October 2026. Based on PayPal’s own pages, Nepal Rastra Bank and Nepali news reports. This is general information, not legal or financial advice; check with your bank before moving money.
Short answer: PayPal does not operate in Nepal. Nepal is not on PayPal’s list of countries that can receive payouts, and PayPal is not among the foreign payment companies licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank. That may change: in 2026 the government promised legal recognition for international payment gateways, and a bill to let foreign payment firms apply to Nepal Rastra Bank moved forward in the House in September. Until then, Nepali freelancers use Khalti with Stripe (since April 2026), Wise transfers to Nepali banks, and dollar cards for paying online.
Does PayPal work in Nepal?
- PayPal’s own pages: Nepal does not appear on PayPal’s payouts list of countries that can receive or withdraw money. PayPal’s help pages say members in some countries can only send payments, without naming them.
- Nepal Rastra Bank: its licensed list includes only three foreign payment companies, all card networks: Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay International. PayPal is not on it.
- Using someone else’s account is risky: Nepal Rastra Bank has called the use of relatives’ PayPal and Payoneer accounts abroad "digital hundi", because the money moves outside the tracked, taxed system.
In 2024 Nepal Rastra Bank’s deputy governor said the bank had tried to contact PayPal and had asked Fonepay and Standard Chartered Bank to reach out. No result has been announced.
Is PayPal coming to Nepal?
There is movement, but no PayPal launch yet:
- May 2026: the government’s policy and programme said it will give legal recognition to international payment gateways, to make it easier to earn foreign currency from remote work and service exports.
- September 2026: Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle introduced the Payment and Settlement (First Amendment) Bill. It would let foreign payment companies apply to Nepal Rastra Bank if they have 10 years of payment operations, or operate in at least 10 countries for 10 years. On 23 September the House approved it at an early stage; reports differ on whether that was final passage or the motion to consider it, with committee review to follow. No company, including PayPal, is named in the bill.
How freelancers in Nepal get paid instead
| Method | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Khalti + Stripe (from April 2026) | Create a payment link in Khalti; your client pays by card, bank transfer (ACH or SEPA), Apple Pay or Google Pay. | Money arrives in Nepali rupees in your Khalti wallet. Needs KYC, PAN and occupation details. |
| Wise | Your client sends Nepali rupees through Wise to your Nepali bank account. | Up to NPR 1 million per transfer and NPR 2 million a day. Wise says transfers go to personal accounts, not businesses, and cannot be sent from Nepal. |
| Bank transfer (SWIFT) | Your client wires money to your bank account in Nepal. | Ask your bank about its exchange rate and charges. Service-exporting businesses can also get foreign exchange facilities through banks. |
| Remittance companies | eSewa Money Transfer partners such as Remitly, MoneyGram, WorldRemit and Ria; Visa Direct since October 2026. | These are built for family remittance, not business income. |
Video: Receive international payments with Stripe in Khalti, by Khalti
Posted by Khalti on 4 August 2026.
More on the wallet itself: Khalti in Nepal.
Paying online from Nepal: dollar cards
- Prepaid dollar card: since 2021, banks can issue a prepaid USD card to any Nepali, with online spending capped at USD 500 a year. Bank pages still list this limit in 2026.
- IT prepaid cards (April 2026): under a new Nepal Rastra Bank directive reported by B360 Nepal, banks may issue IT cards for IT, communication and broadcasting services with a standard limit of USD 3,000 a year, and USD 5,000 for businesses that export IT services. Only one outlet reported the figures, so confirm them with your bank.
- October 2026: foreign currency earned from exporting services through cards can now build up to USD 10,000 on the card (up from USD 5,000) before the extra must move to a domestic or foreign currency account.
Our international payment in Nepal post covers more background, and the ChatGPT in Nepal guide shows how a dollar card handles a monthly subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Is PayPal available in Nepal?
No. Nepal is not on PayPal’s list of countries that can receive payouts, and PayPal is not licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank. Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay are the only foreign payment companies on its list.
When will PayPal come to Nepal?
There is no date. In May 2026 the government promised legal recognition for international payment gateways, and in September 2026 a bill to let foreign payment companies apply to Nepal Rastra Bank moved forward in the House. PayPal itself has announced nothing.
How can freelancers in Nepal receive money from abroad?
Common options are Khalti’s Stripe payment links (since April 2026), Wise transfers to Nepali bank accounts, and SWIFT transfers to your bank.
Can I use a relative’s PayPal account abroad?
Nepal Rastra Bank has called this "digital hundi" because the money moves outside the official, taxed system. Use a legal channel instead.
How much can I spend with a dollar card in Nepal?
A prepaid dollar card allows USD 500 of online spending a year. In April 2026 Nepal Rastra Bank allowed IT cards with a standard USD 3,000 yearly limit, according to B360 Nepal.
What changed for freelancers in October 2026?
Nepal Rastra Bank raised the card balance allowed from service-export earnings to USD 10,000 (from USD 5,000) before the extra must be moved to a bank account.
Sources
- Payouts: countries and supported features, PayPal Developer
- Why does my PayPal account have only send capabilities?, PayPal Help
- Licensed list of PSOs and PSPs, Nepal Rastra Bank
- PayPal in Nepal: NRB, Fonepay and Standard Chartered, Nepali Telecom, 2024 (updated 2025)
- International payment finally allowed in Nepal, ShareSansar, 29 December 2020
- Nepali banks can issue prepaid dollar cards, OnlineKhabar English, 27 March 2021
- Government to give legal recognition to international payment gateways, eKantipur, 11 May 2026
- Nepal moves to open payment market to foreign companies, OnlineKhabar English, 3 September 2026
- Pathway opened for foreign payment institutions, English Ratopati, 4 September 2026
- Motion to consider the Payment and Settlement amendment bill approved, English Ratopati, 23 September 2026
- House unanimously passes Payment and Settlement amendment bill, Republica, 23 September 2026
- Khalti by IME enables direct international payments for freelancers, B360 Nepal, 23 April 2026
- Nepali freelancers can receive money on Khalti via Stripe, Nepali Telecom, 9 May 2026
- Guide to NPR transfers, Wise Help Centre
- CAN Federation welcomes NRB directive on foreign currency for ICT, B360 Nepal, 6 April 2026
- Nepal Rastra Bank increases foreign exchange limits, English Ratopati, 6 October 2026
- eSewa Money Transfer partners with Visa, The Kathmandu Post, 14 October 2026
- MBL Smart Dollar Card, Machhapuchchhre Bank