How to send a payment request on Venmo
Open the Venmo app and tap the dollar sign icon at the bottom of the screen. Select "Request" instead of "Pay". Type the person's name or phone number, enter the amount, add a note describing what the money is for (rent, dinner, loan repayment), and tap "Request". The person will see the request in their Venmo feed and can choose to pay you back or decline.
The request stays active until the other person pays it or you cancel it. They will get a notification when you send the request, and you will see a reminder in your own feed. Unlike sending money, which moves immediately, a request just sits there waiting for the other person to act on it.
You can request money from anyone in your Venmo contacts, even if you have never sent them money before. The person does not have to be a Venmo user when you first create the request, but they will need to download the app and set up an account to pay you.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the dollar sign, select "Request", enter the amount and the person's name, and send—the request then waits for them to pay.
- A request stays open until the other person pays or you cancel it; you can cancel at any time from your transaction history.
- The person you request from will see the request in their Venmo feed and get a notification, but they can ignore or decline it.
- Requests work between Venmo users; if the person is not on Venmo yet, they will need to sign up to pay you back.
- You can add a note to explain what the money is for, which helps the other person remember why they owe you.
Where to find your open requests
Open Venmo and look at your transaction history. Requests you have sent appear with a small arrow icon pointing toward the other person, distinguishing them from payments you sent (which show an arrow pointing away from you). Tap any request to see its status: unpaid, paid, or declined.
You can also see requests others have sent to you in the same feed. Requests you have received show an arrow pointing toward you. If someone requests money from you, you will see a "Pay" button next to their request, or you can swipe to decline it.
Canceling a request you no longer need
If the other person paid you through a different method or you no longer need the money back, you can cancel the request. Tap the request in your transaction history, then tap the three-dot menu icon and select "Cancel Request". The request will disappear from both your feed and theirs.
Canceling does not affect your Venmo balance or any money that has already moved. It only removes the open request. If the person has already paid the request, you cannot cancel it—the transaction is complete.
What happens when someone ignores your request
Venmo does not automatically close requests or send reminders after a set time. A request can sit open indefinitely until the other person pays it, you cancel it, or they decline it. If someone has not paid after a few days, you can send them a text or call to follow up.
Some people decline requests intentionally, which removes the request from their feed but keeps it visible to you as "declined". You can then decide whether to request again or ask them directly about the money.
Requesting money from multiple people at once
Venmo does not have a built-in feature to request money from a group in a single action. If you need to split a bill among several people, you must send individual requests to each person. Some users create a group chat alongside Venmo to coordinate who owes what, then send separate requests to each person.
Alternatively, if one person is paying you for a shared expense, you can request the full amount from them and let them handle collecting from the others—though this puts the burden on them rather than splitting it evenly through Venmo.
Why a request might not go through
If you try to send a request and it fails, check that the person's name or phone number is correct and that they have a Venmo account. Requests can also fail if Venmo's servers are temporarily down, though this is rare. Try again in a few minutes.
If you are requesting a very large amount, Venmo may flag it for review, which can delay the request from reaching the other person. Venmo also limits how much money can move through the app in a single transaction or over a rolling period; if you hit that limit, you will see an error message telling you to try again later.
The difference between requesting and paying
When you pay someone, the money leaves your Venmo balance immediately and goes to theirs. When you request money, nothing moves until they choose to pay. Requests are useful when you are not sure the other person will agree to pay, or when you want to give them time to gather the funds.
Requests also create a record that you asked for the money, which can matter if there is a dispute later. If someone claims they did not know they owed you, a declined or ignored request shows they saw the ask and chose not to pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request money from someone who is not on Venmo yet?
You can create the request, but they will not see it until they download Venmo and create an account. Once they sign up, the request will appear in their feed. If they never join Venmo, the request will sit open indefinitely unless you cancel it.
What if someone requests money from me and I do not want to pay?
Tap the request and select "Decline". This removes it from your feed and marks it as declined in the other person's transaction history. Declining does not send them a message, so if you want to explain why you are not paying, you will need to contact them separately.
Does Venmo charge a fee to send a request?
No. Sending a request is free. Venmo only charges a fee if you pay using a credit card instead of your Venmo balance or a linked bank account. The person paying the request can choose their payment method, so they may or may not incur a fee depending on how they pay.
Can I edit a request after I send it?
No. Once you send a request, you cannot change the amount or note. If you need to adjust the amount, cancel the original request and send a new one with the correct figure.
What if I request money and the person pays me through a different app instead?
You can cancel the Venmo request so it does not sit open in both your feeds. Canceling it does not affect the money they already sent you through another method—it just clears the Venmo record.