How to Withdraw Money from PayPal: Complete Guide 2025

1. What is PayPal balance and how to manage it?

Before any transfer, make sure your PayPal balance is available and properly verified:

Verify your PayPal account:

• Log into PayPal and in “Settings → Resolution Center” complete identity verification.
• Link an international debit/credit card or local bank account if PayPal allows it.
• Confirm your phone and email.

Review your PayPal balance in 2025:

• In the top menu, select “PayPal Balance” to see your balance in USD, EUR or any other currency.
• If you have multiple currencies, decide which one you’ll convert or transfer first.

Tips for using your PayPal balance:

• Keep in your balance only what you need short-term; PayPal doesn’t pay interest.
• If local inflation is high, quickly plan how to transfer or convert your balance to protect your purchasing power.

2. Transfer dollars from PayPal to bank account

The most traditional way to withdraw money from PayPal is by transferring dollars from PayPal to bank account. This applies to most countries, with slight regional variations:

2.1 General steps (apply to most countries)

Link your bank account to PayPal:

• Go to PayPal → “Wallet” → “Link bank account”.
• Complete banking details (IBAN, interbank CLABE, SWIFT or equivalent) and confirm with micropayments that PayPal sends to verify ownership.

Request the transfer:

• In “Wallet”, select your USD balance (or the currency you want to withdraw).
• Click “Withdraw funds” → “Transfer to bank account”.
• Choose the linked account and confirm the transaction.

Times and fees:

• Times: Between 1 and 5 business days (depends on bank and country).
• Fees: PayPal charges a fixed fee or percentage for currency conversion if your bank is in another currency, plus a small international withdrawal fee (for example, USD 5).

2025 Tip: Always check updated rates in your PayPal profile, as they may vary by country and currency.

Security:

• Verify that the linked bank account is exclusively yours.
• If the transfer is delayed more than 5 business days, contact PayPal support and your bank to track the movement.

3. Convert PayPal to Argentine pesos

If you live in Argentina and want to know how to convert PayPal to Argentine pesos, these are the steps:

3.1 Official option with local bank transfer

Link your ARS bank account to PayPal:

• In PayPal → “Wallet” → “Link bank account” → choose your bank (Banco Nación, BBVA, Santander, etc.).
• Complete bank verification so PayPal confirms your ownership.

Transfer and convert automatically:

• In “Withdraw funds” select the ARS account. PayPal will show the official USD → ARS conversion rate.
• If you accept, PayPal converts your USD balance to ARS and deposits it in your bank account.

Fees and times (2025):

• Conversion fee: PayPal may add a percentage (3%–4% over the official dollar).
• Processing time: 2–4 business days.

🔑 Tip: Compare the rate PayPal offers with the “blue” (parallel) rate. If the difference is very large, evaluate P2P methods to get a better rate.

4. How to withdraw money from PayPal in Argentina (2025)

Below are the most common alternatives to withdraw money from PayPal in Argentina:

4.1 Direct ARS transfer (via PayPal)

Advantages:

• 100% official process within PayPal.
• Security and PayPal support.

Disadvantages:

• High conversion rate (3%–4% surcharge).
• 2–4 business day delay.

4.2 P2P platforms

How it works:

• You join a P2P market (Telegram, Facebook groups, specialized forums).
• You look for someone who buys USD via PayPal and pays ARS at parallel or intermediate rate.
• You send USD to their PayPal account, and they transfer ARS to your CBU, virtual wallet (MercadoPago, Ualá) or cash.

Advantages:

• Better exchange rate (close to parallel).
• Fast payments (24h or less).

Disadvantages:

• Risk of scams if you don’t verify the buyer.
• Intermediary fees (1%–2%).

4.3 Prepaid cards and ATMs

Some fintech companies issue international prepaid cards that are recharged with PayPal.

You can withdraw cash from compatible ATMs, although:

• High fees (can reach 10%–15%).
• Limited availability in certain areas.

5. How to withdraw money from PayPal in Bolivia

In Bolivia, due to exchange regulation and dollar scarcity, these are the options to withdraw money from PayPal:

5.1 Transfer to local bank account

Link your Bolivian bank to PayPal:

• In “Wallet” add your USD account (if your bank accepts it) or in BOB.
• Verify through micropayments to complete.

Transfer in USD (if your bank allows it):

• Select “Withdraw funds → Bank account in USD”.
• You’ll receive USD in your account and can withdraw cash or keep them in dollars.

Transfer in BOB (if you don’t have USD account):

• PayPal will convert USD to BOB with its internal rate (5%–7% margin over official).
• Deposit takes 3–5 business days.
• Always compare with parallel before accepting conversion.

5.2 P2P platforms and online exchange houses

Crypto-P2P:

• Convert your PayPal balance to USDT/USDC on platforms like Paxful or LocalBitcoins.
• Sell your USDT/USDC to another user in Bolivia for BOB or USD in cash.
• Receive payment by local transfer (Personal Wallet, Vivawallet) or cash.

Online exchange houses:

• Request exchange of PayPal USD balance to BOB.
• The exchange house transfers to your bank with 3%–5% fee.

5.3 Recommended alternative: Airtm (see section 7)

Although P2P and exchange houses work, Airtm offers a safe and fast method to withdraw PayPal in Bolivia, selling USD at the real parallel rate and protecting your funds.

6. Alternatives to exchange PayPal balance

If you don’t want to use your bank or direct P2P platforms, there are other ways to exchange PayPal balance:

International prepaid cards

• You recharge your card (for example, Neteller, Skrill) with PayPal and withdraw from ATMs.
• Cons: High fees (10%–15%).

Gift cards and discount coupons

• You sell PayPal balance in exchange for Amazon, iTunes cards, etc.
• Then, you commercialize those cards in the local market.
• Cons: Large loss margin (15%–30%).

Exchange forums (Facebook/Telegram)

• Informal exchange offers PP → ARS/BOB.
• Risk: Scams and lack of guarantees.

7. How to link your Airtm USA Virtual Account to PayPal

To eliminate excessive fees and take advantage of Airtm’s P2P Market, follow these steps that correct common misconceptions:

7.1 Create your USA Virtual Account in Airtm

Register in Airtm

• Open app.airtm.com/signup, enter your email and create a password.
• Verify your identity by uploading your ID document (DNI or passport) and a selfie.
• Complete profile with local banking data and withdrawal methods from your country.

Request your USA Virtual Account

• In the Airtm panel, go to “Virtual accounts”.
• Click “Create new” and choose USA Virtual Account (USD).
• The following will be generated:
  • Routing Number (ABA)
  • Account Number
• Wait a few minutes until Airtm confirms that your USA Virtual Account is active.

Video tutorial or this article.

🚀 HOW TO WITHDRAW PAYPAL BALANCE FOR 5% FEE ☁️🤑

8. Sell your PayPal balance (now in Airtm) at parallel rate

Once your USD are in Airtm as USDC, follow these steps to withdraw in local currency at the best exchange rate:

Access Airtm’s P2P Market

• In the Airtm menu, select “Market” → “P2P”.
• Filter by your country (Argentina or Bolivia) and look for USDC (or USD) purchase offers at parallel dollar price.

Create a sell order

• Click “Sell USDC”.
• Enter the amount you want to sell and choose the offer with the best rate (close to parallel).
• Confirm buyer data (check their reputation and ratings).

Receive your local payment

• The buyer will send ARS (for Argentina) or BOB (for Bolivia) directly to your bank CBU, mobile wallet (MercadoPago, Ualá, Vivawallet) or cash at a local payment point.
• Once payment is confirmed, mark the order as “paid” in Airtm. Airtm will automatically release the USDC to the buyer and the operation will be closed.

Time and fees

• The complete process (from PayPal → Airtm → P2P Market) can take between 1 and 3 hours, depending on your counterpart’s speed.
• Total fee is around 2%–4% (withdraw from PayPal to Airtm + P2P spread close to 1%–2%).
• You get a rate very close to the real parallel, protecting your money from local inflation.

9. Other alternatives to withdraw PayPal (summary)

Although Airtm is the most recommended option in 2025, briefly review other methods:

Direct bank transfer (USD or conversion to local currency):

• Advantage: totally official and secure.
• Disadvantage: high conversion rate and several days delay.

Traditional P2P platforms (Argentina / Bolivia):

• Advantage: better exchange rate close to parallel.
• Disadvantage: fraud risk and intermediary fees.

International prepaid cards and ATMs:

• Advantage: quick access to USD cash.
• Disadvantage: very high fees and little availability.

Gift cards and exchange forums:

• Advantage: convert PayPal balance without bank.
• Disadvantage: significant value loss (15%–30%).

10. Conclusion and final recommendations