What a PayPal payment request does
A PayPal payment request is a message you send to someone asking them to pay you money. Instead of you asking for their PayPal account details and sending them money by mistake, you create a request in PayPal and send it to them. They receive a notification, review the amount and reason, and decide whether to pay. PayPal holds the request until they respond—they can pay it, decline it, or ignore it.
Payment requests work best when you know the person's email address but not their PayPal username, or when you want a record that you asked for money on a specific date for a specific reason. The person you're requesting from doesn't have to be a PayPal user yet—they can create an account after receiving your request and then pay it.
A payment request is different from sending an invoice. Invoices are formal documents with line items, dates, and payment terms; payment requests are simpler and faster. Both create a record, but invoices are better for business transactions and payment requests are better for splitting costs or collecting money from friends.
Key Takeaways
- You create a payment request in PayPal by entering the recipient's email address, the amount, and an optional note about why you're requesting the money.
- The person you request from receives a notification and can pay, decline, or ignore the request from their email or PayPal account.
- Payment requests work even if the recipient doesn't have a PayPal account yet—they can create one after receiving the request.
- Once someone pays your request, the money goes into your PayPal account and you can transfer it to your bank account or keep it in PayPal.
How to create and send a payment request
Log into your PayPal account on the website or open the PayPal app on your phone. On the website, look for the "Tools" menu or the "Send & Request" button near the top of the page. On the app, tap the money icon or "Send & Request" at the bottom. Select "Request" (not "Send").
Enter the email address of the person you want to request money from. This must be the email address they use for PayPal or the email where they want to receive the notification. If you're not sure which email they use, ask them first—a request sent to the wrong address will sit unanswered.
Type the amount you're requesting. Be precise: if you're splitting a $47.50 dinner bill three ways and your share is $15.83, enter $15.83, not $16. Add a note explaining why you're requesting the money—"Dinner at Mario's on Saturday" or "Half of the Airbnb for the beach trip." This note appears in the notification they receive and in your payment history.
Review the details, then tap or click "Send Request." PayPal sends the request immediately. The person receives an email notification and can also see it in their PayPal account if they're logged in.
What happens after you send a payment request
The person you requested money from sees a notification in their email inbox and, if they have a PayPal account, in their PayPal account as well. They can open the request and choose to pay it, decline it, or do nothing. If they pay, the money moves to your PayPal account right away—you don't have to wait for a transfer or check to clear.
You receive a notification when they pay. Your PayPal balance increases by the amount they sent. You can then transfer that money to your linked bank account, leave it in PayPal to spend with your PayPal debit card or online, or use it to send money to someone else.
If the person declines your request, you receive a notification and the request closes. You can send another request if you want, but it's better to talk to them first about why they declined. If they ignore the request, it stays open in both your account and theirs—PayPal does not automatically cancel old requests. You can cancel a request yourself at any time by opening it and selecting "Cancel Request."
Tracking and managing open payment requests
To see all your open payment requests, log into PayPal and go to "Activity" or "History." Look for requests you've sent that are still waiting for a response. PayPal shows the recipient's email, the amount, the date you sent it, and the status (pending, paid, or declined).
If a request has been pending for a long time, you can send a reminder. Open the request and select "Send Reminder" or a similar option—the exact wording depends on whether you're using the website or app. The person receives another notification about the same request. Do not send reminders more than once a week; repeated reminders can damage your relationship with the person.
If you need to cancel a request, open it and select "Cancel Request." This removes it from both your account and theirs. They will not receive a notification that you cancelled it, but the request will no longer appear in their account. Cancelling is useful if you've already been paid in cash or another way and forgot to close the request in PayPal.
When payment requests fail or don't arrive
If the person says they never received your request, the most common reason is that you sent it to the wrong email address. Ask them to confirm the email they use for PayPal, then send a new request to that address. If they have a PayPal account, they should also check their PayPal activity page directly—sometimes email notifications go to spam.
If you sent a request to an email address that is not connected to a PayPal account, the person can still pay it. They will be prompted to create a PayPal account or log in with an existing account. If they don't want to create an account, they cannot pay your request through PayPal—you'll need to ask them to send money another way.
If the person paid your request but you don't see the money in your account, check your PayPal activity page. The payment should appear within minutes. If it doesn't appear after an hour, contact PayPal support. If it appears but is marked "pending" or "unclaimed," it may be held for verification—PayPal sometimes holds payments from new senders or large amounts until they confirm the transaction is legitimate.
Payment requests versus other ways to ask for money
A payment request is fastest and simplest for small amounts between people who know each other. An invoice is better if you're a business, you're charging for a service or product, or you need to include details like a due date, itemized charges, or tax information. Invoices look more formal and professional.
If you want to split a bill with multiple people, some apps like Venmo or Splitwise are designed specifically for that and will calculate each person's share automatically. PayPal payment requests work for splitting bills too, but you have to send a separate request to each person and calculate the amounts yourself.
If the person has your PayPal username or email and wants to send you money without you asking, they can send you money directly without a request. A payment request is only necessary if you want to ask them first and have a record of the request itself.
Fees and limits on payment requests
PayPal does not charge you a fee to send a payment request. When someone pays your request, the fee depends on how they pay. If they pay with their PayPal balance or a linked bank account, there is no fee. If they pay with a credit or debit card, PayPal charges them a small fee (usually around 2.2% plus $0.30, though this varies by country and card type). That fee comes out of the amount they send, so if they pay your $20 request with a credit card, you might receive $19.50 or $19.60.
There is no limit to how many payment requests you can send or how much money you can request. However, PayPal may limit how much money you can receive in a single transaction or over a period of time if your account is new or if you have not verified your identity. If you hit a limit, PayPal will tell you and ask you to confirm your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a payment request to someone who doesn't have PayPal?
Yes. They will receive an email with your request and can create a PayPal account or log in with an existing account to pay it. They do not need to have a PayPal account before you send the request. If they don't want to create an account, they cannot pay through PayPal and you'll need to ask them to send money another way.
What if someone pays my request but I don't recognize them?
Check your PayPal activity page to see their email address and the note they included with the payment. If you don't recognize either, contact PayPal support before spending the money. In rare cases, a payment can be reversed if it was sent by mistake or fraudulently. Do not assume the payment is yours until you confirm who sent it.
Can I edit a payment request after I send it?
No. Once you send a request, you cannot change the amount or note. If you need to correct it, cancel the request and send a new one with the correct details. The person will see both requests in their account, so send them a message explaining that the first one was a mistake.
How long does a payment request stay open?
PayPal does not automatically close payment requests. A request stays open in your account and the recipient's account until they pay it, decline it, or you cancel it. If a request is very old and you no longer need the money, cancel it so it doesn't clutter either account.
Is a payment request the same as a PayPal invoice?
No. A payment request is simple and informal—just an amount and a note. An invoice is a formal document with line items, dates, and payment terms. Use a request for splitting costs or collecting money from friends; use an invoice for business transactions or when you need a detailed record.