What you need to create a PayPal account

You can open a PayPal account in about 10 minutes with an email address, a password, and basic personal information. PayPal does not charge you to create an account. You will need to provide your full name, date of birth, and address during signup. If you plan to send or receive money, you will also need to add a bank account, debit card, or credit card to your account.

PayPal offers two account types: Personal and Business. A Personal account is free and lets you send and receive money, pay bills, and shop online. A Business account is also free but includes invoicing tools and is designed for people who sell goods or services. Most people start with a Personal account.

Before you begin, have your email address ready. You will use this to log in every time. If you already have a PayPal account, you do not need to create another one — you can simply log in with your existing email and password.

Key Takeaways

  • You need only an email address and password to create a PayPal account, which takes about 10 minutes and costs nothing.
  • PayPal will ask for your full name, date of birth, and home address during the signup process.
  • Adding a bank account, debit card, or credit card to your account is required before you can send or receive money.
  • PayPal offers Personal accounts for everyday users and Business accounts for people who invoice or sell, both free to open.
  • You can verify your identity by linking a bank account or confirming a code PayPal sends to your phone or email.

Step-by-step signup process

Go to paypal.com and click the "Sign Up" button at the top of the page. Choose whether you want a Personal or Business account. Personal is the right choice if you are sending money to friends, paying bills, or receiving payments from one or two people. Click "Next" and enter your email address, create a password, and provide your date of birth.

On the next screen, enter your full name, street address, city, state, and ZIP code. PayPal will ask you to confirm your email address — check your inbox for a message from PayPal and click the link inside it. If you do not see the email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or request a new confirmation email from PayPal.

After you confirm your email, PayPal will ask you to add a payment method. You can link a bank account, debit card, or credit card. To link a bank account, you will need your routing number and account number, which you can find on a check or in your online banking portal. To link a card, enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV (the three-digit code on the back).

PayPal will then verify your identity. The most common method is to confirm a code sent to your phone via text message or to your email. Enter the code PayPal sends you, and your account will be active.

Linking a bank account versus a card

Linking a bank account is the most secure way to fund PayPal transfers and gives you access to more features. When you link a bank account, PayPal makes two small deposits (usually under $1 each) to your account within one to two business days. You will then log into your bank's website, find those deposit amounts, and enter them into PayPal to confirm you own the account. This process is called microdeposit verification.

Linking a debit or credit card is faster — PayPal verifies it instantly using your card issuer's system — but some features like PayPal Credit may not be available until you also add a bank account. Credit cards carry higher fees when you use them to send money to friends or family, so most people use them only for shopping online.

You can add multiple payment methods to your account. Many people link both a bank account and a card so they have options depending on what they are doing.

Setting up your profile and security

After your account is active, log in and go to your account settings. Add a profile picture and a brief bio if you want — this is optional but can help people recognize you. More importantly, set up two-factor authentication to protect your account from unauthorized access. In your security settings, choose whether you want PayPal to send you a code by text message or email each time you log in from a new device.

Create a strong password that includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use your name, birthday, or common words. If you ever forget your password, PayPal will send you a reset link to your email address, so make sure you have access to the email account you used to sign up.

Review your privacy settings if you want to control who can see your profile or send you money requests. By default, anyone with your email address can send you a payment request, but you can change this to allow requests only from your contacts.

What happens after you verify your identity

Once PayPal confirms your identity, you can send and receive money immediately. If you linked a bank account, you can transfer money from PayPal back to your bank account, though this usually takes one to three business days. If you linked only a card, you can still receive money and use it to shop, but you may not be able to transfer funds back to that card.

PayPal places temporary limits on new accounts. You may not be able to send large amounts or receive money above a certain threshold until you have used the account for a while and built a history. These limits typically lift after 180 days of account activity, though PayPal can lift them sooner if you provide additional verification.

Keep your account information current. If you move, update your address in your settings. If you change your phone number or email, update those too. PayPal uses this information to protect your account and to contact you if there is suspicious activity.

Troubleshooting common signup problems

If PayPal rejects your email address, it may already be registered to another account. Try logging in with that email instead, or use a different email address to create a new account. You can link multiple email addresses to one PayPal account later if you want.

If the confirmation email does not arrive, check your spam or promotions folder — PayPal emails sometimes get filtered. If it is not there, go back to PayPal and request a new confirmation email. If you still do not receive it after 15 minutes, try a different email address.

If PayPal asks for additional verification during signup, it may be because your name, address, or date of birth did not match your bank or card records. Double-check that you entered everything exactly as it appears on your official documents. If there is a mismatch, PayPal will ask you to upload a photo of your ID or provide other proof of identity.

If you cannot add a payment method, make sure the card or bank account is in your name and is active. Some banks block PayPal temporarily as a security measure — contact your bank to allow PayPal access. If you are using a prepaid card, PayPal may not accept it unless it is registered with your name and address.

Using your account for the first time

Once your account is set up, you can send money to anyone with an email address. Go to "Send Money," enter the recipient's email address or phone number, the amount, and a note explaining why you are sending it. The recipient will receive a notification and can claim the money by opening a PayPal account or transferring it to their bank account if they already have one.

To receive money, share your PayPal email address with the person sending it, or use the "Request Money" tool to send them a payment request. They can pay you with their PayPal account, card, or bank account — they do not need to have a PayPal account to send you money.

You can also use PayPal to pay bills, shop online at stores that accept PayPal, or set up automatic payments for subscriptions. Each of these features works the same way once your account is verified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a bank account to create a PayPal account?

No. You can create a PayPal account with just an email address and password. However, you will need to add a payment method — a bank account, debit card, or credit card — before you can send or receive money. A debit or credit card is the fastest option if you do not want to link a bank account.

How long does it take to verify my PayPal account?

Email verification is instant if you click the link PayPal sends you right away. Identity verification via text code or email usually takes a few minutes. If you link a bank account using microdeposits, verification takes one to two business days for PayPal to deposit the amounts, plus the time it takes you to log into your bank and confirm them — usually another one to two days.

Can I change my email address after I create my PayPal account?

Yes. Log into your account, go to settings, and add a new email address. PayPal will send a confirmation link to the new email. Once you confirm it, you can make it your primary login email. You can keep your old email linked to the account if you want, or remove it.

What if I forget my PayPal password?

Go to paypal.com and click "Log In." Click "Having trouble logging in?" and enter your email address. PayPal will send a password reset link to your email. Click the link, create a new password, and log in. If you do not have access to your email account, contact PayPal support for help recovering your account.

Is it safe to link my bank account to PayPal?

PayPal uses encryption and fraud detection to protect your information. Your bank account number is never shared with merchants or other PayPal users. If unauthorized activity occurs on your account, PayPal's Buyer Protection policy covers most transactions. You can also set up two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.